Thus have I heard
At one time, Budha was staying on Mount Grdhrakuuta in Raajagriha, accompanied by five hundred great Bhikshus.
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti was also staying in a small hut on the side of Mount Grdhrakuuta in Raajagriha, meditating in solitude.
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti was afflicted with a severe illness and thought, “Where does this pain arise from? Where does it cease? Where does it lead?” Then, the Venerable Subhuuti spread his sitting mat in an open area, straightened his body, focused his mind, and sat in full lotus posture, contemplating the sense bases to overcome the pain.
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, knowing the thoughts of the Venerable Subhuuti, addressed the celestial musician Pancashikha with this verse:
“Subhuuti, who is freed from all bonds through good deeds,
Resides on Vulture Peak.
Now he is afflicted with severe illness,
Yet he delights in emptiness and meditative concentration.
Quickly go and inquire about his health,
And pay respects to his noble countenance.
By doing so, you will attain great merit—
No act of virtue surpasses this.”
Pancashikha replied, “Yes, lord!”
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, along with five hundred devas and Pancashikha, vanished from the Heaven of the Thirty-Three and, in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, appeared on Mount Grdhrakuuta, not far from the Venerable Subhuuti. Shakra then addressed Pancashikha with this verse:
“Now awaken Subhuuti, who delights in meditative concentration,
With your gentle and pure voice,
And rouse him from his meditation.”
Pancashikha replied, “Yes, lord.”
At that time, Pancashikha, having heard Shakra’s words, tuned his crystal lute and went to Subhuuti. He then praised Subhuuti with this verse:
“You who have exhausted all fetters without remainder,
Whose thoughts are never disturbed,
And whose defilements are completely eradicated—
Please rise quickly from your meditation.
You who have calmed your mind and crossed the river of existence,
Who have subdued Maara and overcome all fetters,
Whose merit is as vast as the ocean—
Please rise quickly from your concentration.
Your eyes are as pure as lotuses,
Forever free from all impurities.
You are the refuge for those without refuge—
Please rise quickly from your meditation on Sunya.
You have crossed the four floods and attained the unconditioned,
Skillfully understanding the absence of old age and sickness.
Having escaped the calamities of conditioned existence—
O Honored One, please rise from your meditation.
Five hundred devas are above,
And Shakra himself has come in person,
Wishing to behold your noble countenance—
O master of Sunya, please rise quickly.”
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti rose from his seat and praised Pancashikha, saying, “Excellent, Pancashikha! Your voice and the lute are in perfect harmony, and the lute and your voice are in perfect harmony, without any difference. Yet, the sound of the lute does not exist apart from the song, and the song does not exist apart from the sound of the lute. The two together create a wonderful melody.”
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, went to the Venerable Subhuuti, bowed at his feet, and sat to one side. Shakra then said to Subhuuti, “How is it that the suffering caused by illness increases or decreases? Does this bodily illness arise from the body or from the mind?”
The Venerable Subhuuti replied, “Excellent, Kaushika! Phenomena arise by themselves and cease by themselves. Phenomena disturb each other and settle by themselves. Just as, Kaushika, there is poison and there is an antidote to poison, so too, Shakra, phenomena disturb each other and settle by themselves. Phenomena can give rise to other phenomena.
Dark phenomena are counteracted by bright phenomena, and bright phenomena are counteracted by dark phenomena. Shakra, the illness of desire is cured by the contemplation of impurity, the illness of anger is cured by loving-kindness, and the illness of ignorance is cured by wisdom.
Thus, Shakra, all things return to Sunya—there is no self, no person, no life, no soul, no man, no woman, no form, no image. Just as, Shakra, the wind destroys a great tree, causing its leaves to fall, and thunder and hail destroy young sprouts, causing flowers and fruits to wither without water, but timely rain allows the sprouts to survive—so too, Shakra, phenomena disturb each other and settle by themselves. The pain and suffering I previously experienced have now been eradicated, and I am free from illness.”
Shakra then said to Subhuuti, “I too had worries and troubles, but after hearing this teaching, I am free from worry. There are many matters to attend to, and I must return to heaven. Both my own affairs and the affairs of the devas are numerous.”
Subhuuti said, “Now is the time. You may go.”
At that time, Shakra rose from his seat, bowed at Subhuuti’s feet, circumambulated him three times, and departed.
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti spoke this verse:
“The Compassionate One has spoken these words,
Which are complete in their essence.
The wise attain peace and security,
And hearing the Dharma eradicates all illnesses.”
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, hearing the Venerable Subhuuti’s words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.