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Ud 6.9
PTS: Ud 72
Upāti Sutta: Rushing
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
© 2012
Alternate translation: Olendzki
Alternate format:

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī at Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now on that occasion, in the pitch-black darkness of the night, the Blessed One was sitting in the open air while oil lamps were burning. And on that occasion, many flying insects, flying into & around those lamps, were meeting their downfall, meeting their misfortune, meeting their downfall & misfortune in those oil lamps. The Blessed One saw those flying insects, flying into & around those lamps, meeting their downfall, meeting their misfortune, meeting their downfall & misfortune in those oil lamps.

Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

Rushing headlong, missing what's essential, bringing on one new bond after another, they fall, like insects into a flame: those intent on things seen, things heard.