Saṁyutta Nikāya — Discursos Conectados — 47.11 — A Great Man

1At Sāvatthī.

2Then Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

3“Sir, they speak of ‘a great man’. How is a great man defined?”

4“Sāriputta, someone whose mind is free is a great man, I say. If their mind is not free, I say they’re not a great man.

5And how does someone have a free mind? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they meditate observing an aspect of the body, their mind becomes dispassionate, and is freed from the defilements by not grasping. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they meditate observing an aspect of principles, their mind becomes dispassionate, and is freed from the defilements by not grasping. That’s how someone has a free mind.

6Someone whose mind is free is a great man, I say. If their mind is not free, I say they’re not a great man.”