English
Then Pañcakaṅga the householder, after Venerable Anuruddha had eaten and removed his hand from the bowl, took a low seat and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Pañcakaṅga the householder said to Venerable Anuruddha: “Here, venerable sir, elder monks approached me and said: ‘Householder, cultivate the immeasurable liberation of mind.’ Some elders said: ‘Householder, cultivate the great liberation of mind.’ Venerable sir, are these qualities— the immeasurable liberation of mind and the great liberation of mind— different in meaning and different in phrasing, or are they one in meaning and only different in phrasing?” “Then, householder, let that occur to you. There will be no doubt about it.” “Venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: ‘The immeasurable liberation of mind and the great liberation of mind— these qualities are one in meaning and only different in phrasing.’” “Householder, the immeasurable liberation of mind and the great liberation of mind— these qualities are different in meaning and different in phrasing. And by this method, householder, it should be understood how these qualities are different in meaning and different in phrasing.” “And what, householder, is the immeasurable liberation of mind? Here, householder, a monk dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, in all ways, the entire world he dwells pervading with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, vast, great, immeasurable, without hostility, without ill-will. With a mind imbued with compassion… with a mind imbued with appreciative joy… with a mind imbued with equanimity he dwells pervading one direction, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth; thus above, below, across, everywhere, in all ways, the entire world he dwells pervading with a mind imbued with equanimity, vast, great, immeasurable, without hostility… He dwells pervading with non-ill-will. This is called, householder, the boundless liberation of mind. 231. And what, householder, is the great liberation of mind? Here, householder, a monk, pervading as far as one tree root, dwells having resolved it as great. This is called, householder, the great liberation of mind. But here, householder, a monk, pervading as far as two or three tree roots, dwells having resolved them as great. This too is called, householder, the great liberation of mind. But here, householder, a monk, pervading as far as one village field, dwells having resolved it as great. This too is called, householder, the great liberation of mind. But here, householder, a monk, pervading as far as two or three village fields, dwells having resolved them as great. This too is called, householder, the great liberation of mind. But here, householder, a monk, pervading as far as one great kingdom, dwells having resolved it as great. This too is called, householder, the great liberation of mind. But here, householder, a monk, pervading as far as two or three great kingdoms, dwells having resolved them as great. This too is called, householder, the great liberation of mind. But here, householder, a monk, pervading as far as the earth bounded by the ocean, dwells having resolved it as great. This too is called, householder, the great liberation of mind. By this method, householder, it should be understood how these phenomena are different in meaning and different in expression. 232. These, householder, are four kinds of rebirth. Which four? Here, householder, some person, pervading 'limited radiance', dwells having resolved it. He, with the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn into the company of the gods of limited radiance. But here, householder, some person, pervading 'boundless radiance', dwells having resolved it. He, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn into the companionship of the gods of immeasurable radiance. Here, householder, someone, having pervaded and resolved, dwells with the thought, 'I am of undefiled radiance.' He, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn into the companionship of the gods of undefiled radiance. Here, householder, someone, having pervaded and resolved, dwells with the thought, 'I am of purified radiance.' He, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn into the companionship of the gods of purified radiance. These, householder, are the four types of rebirth. There comes a time, householder, when those deities gather together. When they are gathered together, a diversity of color is discerned, but not a diversity of radiance. Just as, householder, a man might bring many oil lamps into one house. When they are brought into one house, a diversity of flame might be discerned, but not a diversity of radiance; even so, householder, there comes a time when those deities gather together. When they are gathered together, a diversity of color is discerned, but not a diversity of radiance. There comes a time, householder, when those deities depart from there. When they depart from there, a diversity of color is discerned and a diversity of radiance. Just as, householder, a man might take those many oil lamps out of that house. When they are taken out from there, a diversity of flame might be discerned and a diversity of radiance; even so, householder, there comes a time when those deities depart from there. When they depart from there, a diversity of color is discerned and a diversity of radiance. It does not occur to those deities, householder, 'This is permanent for us,' or 'This is stable,' or 'This is eternal.' But wherever those deities become attached, there they delight. Just as, householder, a fly When flies are carried by a pole or a basket, it does not occur to them: 'This is ours, or permanent, or stable, or eternal.' But wherever those flies settle, there, there those flies delight. Just so, householder, for those deities it does not occur: 'This is ours, or permanent, or stable, or eternal.' But wherever those deities settle, there, there those deities delight. 233. When this was said, Venerable Sabhiya Kaccana said this to Venerable Anuruddha: "Good, Venerable Anuruddha! And I have a further question to ask about this. Those deities of radiance, Venerable, are all of them of limited radiance, or are there some deities here of immeasurable radiance?" "By that very nature, friend Kaccana, there are some deities here of limited radiance, and there are some deities here of immeasurable radiance." "What then, Venerable Anuruddha, is the reason, what is the cause, why among those deities reborn in one group of deities, some are of limited radiance, and some are of immeasurable radiance?" "Then, friend Kaccana, I will question you about this very matter. As it seems fit to you, so you should explain it. What do you think, friend Kaccana? A monk who dwells pervading and resolving 'great' as far as one tree root, and a monk who dwells pervading and resolving 'great' as far as two or three tree roots – of these two developments of mind, which development of mind is greater?" "Venerable, the monk who dwells pervading and resolving 'great' as far as two or three tree roots – this development of mind is greater of these two developments of mind." "What do you think, friend Kaccana, a monk who (pervades) as far as two or three r..." who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as tree roots, and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as one village area – of these two mental developments, which mental development is more extensive?" "That, venerable sir, monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as one village area – this is more extensive of these two mental developments." "What do you think, friend Kaccāna? That monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as one village area, and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as two or three village areas – of these two mental developments, which mental development is more extensive?" "That, venerable sir, monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as two or three village areas – this is more extensive of these two mental developments." "What do you think, friend Kaccāna? That monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as two or three village areas, and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as one great kingdom – of these two mental developments, which mental development is more extensive?" "That, venerable sir, monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as one great kingdom – this is more extensive of these two mental developments." "What do you think, friend Kaccāna? That monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as one great kingdom, and that monk who dwells having pervaded and resolved as 'extensive' as far as two or three great kingdoms – of these two mental developments, which mental development is more extensive?" "That, venerable sir, monk who dwells as far as t or three great kingdoms pervading and abiding with the thought 'great' – this is greater than these two mind-developments." "What do you think, friend Kaccāna? That bhikkhu who pervades and abides with the thought 'great' as far as two or three great kingdoms, and that bhikkhu who pervades and abides with the thought 'great' as far as the earth bounded by the ocean – of these two mind-developments, which mind-development is greater?" "That bhikkhu, venerable sir, who pervades and abides with the thought 'great' as far as the earth bounded by the ocean – this is greater than these two mind-developments." "This, friend Kaccāna, is the reason, this is the cause, why among those deities born into one divine host, some deities have limited radiance, and some deities have immeasurable radiance."