English
6. The Connected Discourses with Brahmā 1. The First Chapter 1. The Discourse on Brahmā's Request 172. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Uruvelā, on the bank of the Nerañjarā River, at the foot of the Ajapāla Banyan tree, having just attained full enlightenment. Then, while the Blessed One was in seclusion, having retired for meditation, this thought arose in his mind: “This Dhamma that I have attained is profound, difficult to see, difficult to comprehend, peaceful, sublime, beyond the sphere of mere logic, subtle, to be experienced by the wise. But this generation delights in attachment, rejoices in attachment, is pleased with attachment. For a generation that delights in attachment, rejoices in attachment, and is pleased with attachment, this state is difficult to see, namely, specific conditionality and dependent origination. This state is also difficult to see, namely, the stilling of all formations, the relinquishing of all acquisitions, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna. If I were to teach the Dhamma, others would not understand me; that would be weariness for me, that would be vexation for me.” Then, unbidden, these verses, never heard before, occurred to the Blessed One: “With difficulty have I attained it, Enough now with proclaiming it. By those overcome by lust and hatred, This Dhamma is not easily understood. “Going against the current, subtle, Profound, difficult to see, minute; Those delighting in passion will not see it, Enveloped as they are by a mass of darkness.” As the Blessed One reflected thus, his mind inclined to inaction, not to teaching the Dhamma. Then Brahmā Sahampati, knowing with his mind the thought in the Blessed One’s mind, thought: “Alas, the world is perishing! Alas, the world is being destroyed! For the mind of the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, inclines to inaction, not to teaching the Dhamma!” Then Brahmā Sahampati, just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm, vanished from the Brahmā world He appeared before the Blessed One. Then Brahmā Sahampati, arranging his upper robe over one shoulder, kneeling with his right knee on the ground, and raising his joined hands towards the Blessed One, spoke to the Blessed One thus: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! May the Fortunate One teach the Dhamma! There are beings with little dust in their eyes; they are perishing from not hearing the Dhamma. There will be those who understand the Dhamma." This is what Brahmā Sahampati said. Having said this, he further spoke: In Magadha, in the past, an impure Dhamma, conceived by the defiled, appeared. Open this door to the Deathless! Let them hear the Dhamma, understood by the Stainless One. As one standing on a mountain peak, might see the people all around; So too, O wise one, ascend the palace of Dhamma, O All-Seeing One; free from sorrow, look upon the sorrow-stricken multitude, overcome by birth and old age. Arise, O Hero, victor in battle! O Caravan Leader, debtless, wander in the world! May the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! There will be those who understand. Then the Blessed One, understanding Brahmā's request, and out of compassion for beings, surveyed the world with his Buddha-eye. As the Blessed One surveyed the world with his Buddha-eye, he saw beings with little dust in their eyes, and with much dust in their eyes; with keen faculties, and with dull faculties; of good disposition, and of bad disposition; easy to teach, and difficult to teach; some living seeing fear in faults concerning the other world, and some living not seeing fear in faults concerning the other world. Just as in a pond of blue lotuses, or red lotuses, or white lotuses, some blue lotuses, or red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water, grown in the water, remain submerged in the water, nourished within; and some blue lotuses, or red lotuses, or white lotuses, born in the water, grown in the water, reaching the surface... some stand, some lotuses or water lilies or white lotuses, born in the water, grown in the water, stand having risen above the water, untainted by the water; even so, the Blessed One, surveying the world with the Buddha-eye, saw beings with little dust, with much dust, with keen faculties, with dull faculties, of good disposition, of bad disposition, easy to teach, difficult to teach, some living seeing fear in faults of the other world, some living not seeing fear in faults of the other world. Having seen, he addressed Sahampati Brahmā with a verse: “Opened are the doors to the Deathless for them, Let those with ears release their faith; Thinking of vexation, I did not speak the excellent, Dhamma among humans, Brahmā.” Then Sahampati Brahmā, thinking, “I have been given an opportunity by the Blessed One for the teaching of the Dhamma,” having saluted the Blessed One, and circumambulated him, vanished right there. 2. Discourse on Reverence 173. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Uruvelā, on the bank of the Nerañjarā River, at the foot of the Ajapāla Banyan tree, having just attained full enlightenment. Then, while the Blessed One was in seclusion, a thought arose in his mind thus: “It is painful to live without reverence, without deference. Whom now could I respect, honor, and rely upon, a recluse or a brahmin, and live?” Then it occurred to the Blessed One: “If I were to respect, honor, and rely upon another recluse or brahmin for the fulfillment of an unfulfilled aggregate of virtue. But I do not see in the world with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, among the generation of recluses and brahmins, devas and humans, any other recluse or brahmin more accomplished in virtue than myself, whom I could respect, honor, and rely upon. “If I were to respect, honor, and rely upon another recluse or brahmin for the fulfillment of an unfulfilled aggregate of concentration. or I might dwell relying on. But I do not see in the world with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, with its generation of ascetics and brahmins, devas and humans, another ascetic or brahmin more accomplished in concentration than myself, whom I might honor, respect, and dwell relying on. For the completion of an uncompleted aggregate of wisdom, I might honor, respect, and dwell relying on another ascetic or brahmin. But I do not see in the world with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, with its generation of ascetics and brahmins, devas and humans, another ascetic or brahmin more accomplished in wisdom than myself, whom I might honor, respect, and dwell relying on. For the completion of an uncompleted aggregate of liberation, I might honor, respect, and dwell relying on another ascetic or brahmin. But I do not see in the world with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, with its generation of ascetics and brahmins, devas and humans, another ascetic or brahmin more accomplished in liberation than myself, whom I might honor, respect, and dwell relying on. For the completion of an uncompleted aggregate of the knowledge and vision of liberation, I might honor, respect, and dwell relying on another ascetic or brahmin. But I do not see in the world with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, with its generation of ascetics and brahmins, devas and humans, another ascetic or brahmin more accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation than myself, whom I might honor, respect, and dwell relying on. What if I were to honor, respect, and dwell relying on this very Dhamma that I have fully awakened to? Then Brahmā Sahampati, having understood the thought in the Blessed One's mind by his own mind— just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm— vanished from the Brahmā world and appeared before the Blessed One. Then Brahmā Sahampati, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, bowed to the Blessed One with clasped hands and said to him: "So it is, Blessed One! So it is, Fortunate One! Those, venerable sir, who were Arahants in the past, The Fully Self-Enlightened Ones, those Blessed Ones, honored the Dhamma, respected it, and lived dependent on it. And those, venerable sir, who will be Arahants, Fully Self-Enlightened Ones in the future, those Blessed Ones too will honor the Dhamma, respect it, and live dependent on it. May the Blessed One, venerable sir, who is now an Arahant, Fully Self-Enlightened One, also honor the Dhamma, respect it, and live dependent on it. Thus spoke Brahmā Sahampati. Having said this, he further spoke: Those Enlightened Ones of the past, and those Buddhas of the future; And the Enlightened One who is now, the dispeller of sorrow for many. All honored the True Dhamma, they lived and they live; And so will they live, this is the nature of Buddhas. Therefore, one who desires their own welfare, who longs for greatness; Should honor the True Dhamma, remembering the Buddhas' teaching. 3. The Discourse on Brahmadeva Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Now at that time, a son of a certain brahmin woman, named Brahmadeva, had gone forth from the home life into homelessness in the presence of the Blessed One. Then, the Venerable Brahmadeva, living alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, and resolute, not long afterwards, by realizing it for himself with direct knowledge, here and now, entered upon and abode in that unsurpassed goal of the holy life, for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the home life into homelessness. He directly knew: "Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being." And the Venerable Brahmadeva became one of the Arahants. Then, in the morning, the Venerable Brahmadeva dressed, took his bowl and robe, and entered Sāvatthī for alms.