Saviṭṭha Thera draft

Saviṭṭha Thera. In the Aṅguttara (AN.i.118f) he is represented as saying, in the course of a conversation between him, Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita, that he preferred the person who obtains relief by faith (saddhā), to one who testifies to the truth with the body or one who has won view. The Commentary (AN­a.i.353) explains that Saviṭṭha himself won Arahant-ship through faith, and that therefore he praises faith.

The Saṁyutta (SN.ii.115) contains two conversations of Saviṭṭha, both of which took place at the Ghositārāma in Kosambī. The first is with Musīla and deals with the paṭiccasamuppāda. Musīla, in answer to Saviṭṭha’s questions, says that he has realized the truth of the paṭiccasamuppāda as his very own. “Then you are an Arahant,” says Saviṭṭha, and Musīla remains silent. In the other conversation, Nārada, present at the discussion, in the company of Ānanda, requests that the same questions be put to him. This Saviṭṭha does, and he tells Saviṭṭha that he has realized the truth of the paṭiccasamuppāda by right insight and that, yet, he is not an Arahant. He is like a man who sees a well containing water, but who has neither rope nor vessel. “Now, what will you say of Nārada?” asks Ānanda. “Nothing that is not lovely and good,” answers Saviṭṭha.