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The Discourse at Isigili: The Mountain That Swallowed Sages
Everyday life

The Discourse at Isigili: The Mountain That Swallowed Sages

Isigilisuttaṃ

The mountains around Rājagaha once had other names, but Isigili has always had this one, because people saw five hundred paccekabuddhas walk into it and never saw them come out, so they called it the mountain that swallows sages. The Buddha names the paccekabuddhas one by one, then invites the monks to pay homage to those who have attained final nibbāna.

6 points

In the Isigili Sutta of the Final Fifty of the Majjhima Nikāya, the Buddha is staying on Isigili near Rājagaha. He points out the mountains around the city one by one, Vebhāra, Paṇḍava, Vepulla and Gijjhakūṭa, and says those mountains once had other names and designations, but Isigili has always had this name and designation.

He tells how five hundred paccekabuddhas once lived on this mountain for a long time. People saw them as they entered the mountain, but once they had gone in they were seen no more, so people said, "This mountain swallows these sages," and the name Isigili arose. He then names the paccekabuddhas, both one by one in prose and in a long verse.

The discourse ends by inviting the monks to pay homage to those paccekabuddhas who have attained final nibbāna, who have gone beyond all ties and whose virtues are immeasurable. Where on the mountain they lived, and what the other mountains used to be called, the discourse doesn't say.

  1. 1

    Names and designations that change Aññāva samaññā ahosi aññā paññatti

    The Buddha asks the monks whether they see Mount Vebhāra, Paṇḍava, Vepulla and Gijjhakūṭa, then says these mountains once had one name and another designation. The mountains are the same, but the words people use for them have changed.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you cling to a title or label for yourself, remember it's only what people have agreed to call you, and it will change one day. What you really are lies in your actions.

  2. 2

    A name born from what people saw Isigilītveva samaññā udapādi

    Five hundred paccekabuddhas once lived on this mountain. People saw them walk in but, once inside, never saw them again, so they said the mountain swallows sages, and the name Isigili arose. No one gave it this name; it came from what people saw again and again.

    Applying it in daily life

    Ask yourself: if the people around you gave you a nickname based on what they see you do every day, what would it be? Then adjust your daily actions to match the name you'd like to have.

  3. 3

    Long-time residents of this place Ciranivāsī ahosi

    The Buddha names the paccekabuddhas one by one, such as Ariṭṭha, Upariṭṭha, Tagarasikhī and Yasassī, and each name is followed by the same sentence: he was a long-time resident of this Isigili mountain. The place is remembered through those who once lived there peacefully.

    Applying it in daily life

    How will your home, workplace or community be remembered because you lived there? Try to make where you are a little more peaceful, such as speaking more quietly and helping look after shared spaces.

  4. 4

    Awakened on their own Paccekamevajjhagamama subodhiṃ

    The verse describes the paccekabuddhas as beings of essence, untroubled and without longing, who each attained awakening individually, free of the dart and highest among people. They didn't found a Saṅgha or proclaim a teaching as a fully awakened Buddha does.

    Applying it in daily life

    Goodness doesn't need followers or a stage to be valuable. Someone who quietly does good where no one sees is doing something fully worthwhile.

  5. 5

    Names followed by virtues Bhavanettikhīṇā

    In the verse, many names carry a description of virtue: one who cut the bonds of existence, one who cut off craving, one free of lust, one who reached the peaceful state, one who conquered Māra and his army, one whose mind is well liberated. All of them together are called those in whom the craving that leads to becoming is destroyed.

    Applying it in daily life

    Write one phrase you'd like people to add after your name, such as "who never speaks ill behind others' backs" or "who keeps their word", and use it as a compass for small decisions each day.

  6. 6

    Paying homage to those who have passed Parinibbute vandatha appameyye

    The discourse ends: these and other paccekabuddhas of great power have destroyed the craving that leads to becoming; pay homage to them, who have gone beyond all ties, great seers, attained to final nibbāna, immeasurable.

    Applying it in daily life

    Think of earlier generations who left good things you use every day: those who built the roads, teachers whose names you've forgotten, or ancestors. Thank them silently once, even without knowing their names.

Try it in daily life

This short discourse is about names. The names of mountains change with the ages, and so do the names of people. The titles, nicknames or reputation we hold on to today may be different words tomorrow. What lasts longer than a name is the goodness people remember.

The name Isigili arose because people repeatedly saw peaceful ones walking into that mountain. Our reputation likewise comes from what people see us do again and again, not from what we announce ourselves to be.

The end of the discourse invites us to pay homage to those who have passed, most of whom we know nothing of beyond their names. It is training in gratitude towards earlier generations who did good without anyone remembering them.

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