9. Sedaka Sutta
Discourse Given at Sedaka

      385. At one time the Bhagava was staying at Sedaka, the market-town of the Sumbha people in the country of Sumbha. At that time the Bhagava said to the bhikkhus:

      "Bhikkhus, this had happened before: an acrobatic performer who was an expert-pole climber, plant (a pole on the ground) and (having climbed to the top of the pole) said to his pupil by the name of Medakathalika thus, "Come, Medakathalika", "Come, Medakathalika, climb up this pole and stand on my shoulder." "Very well, master", replied his pupil, Medakathalika. And, bhikkhus, climbing up the pole, the pupil stood on the shoulder of his master. Then, bhikkhus, the acrobatic performer said to his pupil Medakathalika: "You, Medakathalika, take good care of me: I shall also take care of you. Thus, safeguarding each other and taking care of each other, we shall display our skill and make plenty of money. And, we shall get down the pole harmlessly." Bhikkhus. when this was said, Medakathalika, the pupil said to the acrobatic performer thus, "It should not be as you said, master; Master, you take care of yourself and I shall take care of myself. In this way, safeguarding ourselves, taking care of ourselves, we shall display our skill and make plenty of money. And, we shall get down the pole harmlessly."

      The Bhagava said, "Of these two, what Medakathalika, the pupil, said is right and proper. Bhikkhus, whoever thinks of taking care himself, should practise (the Four Methods of) Steadfast Mindfulness. Whoever thinks of taking care of another, should practise (the four methods of) steadfast mindfulness. Bhikkhus, he who takes care of himself, takes care of another. He who takes care of another, takes care of himself.

      Bhikkhus, how does one take care of another by taking care of oneself? By cultivating and repeatedly practising (meditation). In this way, Bhikkhus, by taking care of oneself one takes care of another too¹. Bhikkhus, how does one takes care of oneself, by taking care of another? By practising forbearance, harmlessness, by developing good-will and compassion towards others. In this manner, Bhikkhus, by taking care of another, one takes care of oneself also².

      Bhikkhus, whoever thinks taking care of himself should practise the Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness. Whoever thinks taking care of another, should practise the Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness. Bhikkhus, by taking care of oneself, one takes care of another; and by taking care of another, one takes care of oneself also.

End of the Sedaka Sutta,

the ninth in this Vagga.

      1. By taking care of oneself, one takes care of another too: The Commentary explains thus: "By repeatedly cultivating and practising the Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness, the bhikkhu attains Arahattaphala; seeing the bhikkhu who has gained the Arahatship, devotional piety is aroused in one, for which one gets to a happy destination after death.

      2. By taking care of another, one takes care of oneself also:

      According to the Commentary, by practising forbearance, by developing good-will and compassion towards others, the bhikkhu attains Jhana concentration, based on the Jhana concentration; based on the Jhana concentration, he goes on to Vipassana Meditation, ultimately attaining Arahataphala.