This episode is a narration of the 33rd Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, The Mahāgopālaka Sutta, which translates as “the longer discourse on the cowherd”. In this sutta the Buddha enumerates eleven reasons a cowherd is not able to properly look after a herd. The Buddha then compares this to the spiritual growth of a mendicant.

This translation of the Mahāgopālaka Sutta is by Bhikkhu Sujato and was sourced from Sutta Central.

If you'd like to understand more about this sutta you could listen to a sutta study class led by Ajahn Hasapanna about this sutta. There are links in the show notes below.

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