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7. The Connected Discourses with Brahmins 1. The Arahant Chapter 1. The Dhanañjānī Sutta 187. Thus have I heard – on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Place. Now at that time, a certain brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan had a brahmin woman named Dhanañjānī who was deeply devoted to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha. Then, as the brahmin woman Dhanañjānī was bringing food to the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, she stumbled and three times uttered an exclamation: "Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One; Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One; Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One." When this was said, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the brahmin woman Dhanañjānī: " 'Just so, this wretched woman speaks praise of that shaven-headed ascetic wherever she goes. Now, wretched woman, I will challenge that teacher of yours to a debate!' " " 'I do not see, brahmin, in the world with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, among the generation of ascetics and brahmins, devas and humans, anyone who could challenge that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, to a debate. But you, brahmin, go; having gone, you will know.' " Then the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, angry and displeased, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the courteous and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan addressed the Blessed One with a verse: "What, having cut off, does one sleep happily? What, having cut off, does one not grieve? Of what one thing, Gotama, Do you approve the destruction?" "Having cut off anger, one sleeps happily; Having cut off anger, one does not grieve. Of anger, with its poisonous root, and sweet tip, brahmin, The Noble Ones praise its destruction; for having cut that off, one does not grieve." When this was said, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, good Gotama! Excellent, good Gotama! Just as, good Gotama, one might set upright what was overturned, or reveal what was hidden, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see forms; even so has the good Gotama made the Dhamma clear in many ways. I go for refuge, venerable sir, to the good Gotama, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of bhikkhus. May I receive the going forth in the presence of the good Gotama, may I receive the full ordination." Indeed, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One, and received the full ordination. Not long after his full ordination, Venerable Bhāradvāja, dwelling alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, and resolute, not long thereafter, by his own direct knowledge, realized and entered upon that supreme goal of the holy life, for the sake of which sons of good families rightly go forth from the home life into homelessness, the culmination of the holy life, in this very life. He understood: "Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being." And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants. 2. The Discourse on Abuse 188. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now the brahmin Akkosaka Bhāradvāja heard that: "A brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, they say, has gone forth from the home life into homelessness in the presence of the ascetic Gotama." Angered and displeased, he approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he abused and reviled the Blessed One with rude and harsh words. When this was said, the Blessed One said to the brahmin Akkosaka Bhāradvāja: "What do you think, brahmin? Do your friends, acquaintances, relatives, and guests ever come to you?" "Sometimes, good Gotama, my friends, acquaintances, relatives, and guests do come to me." "Then what..." What do you think, brahmin, do you give them food to eat, or food to chew, or food to taste? Sometimes, good Gotama, I do not give them food to eat, or food to chew, or food to taste. If they, brahmin, do not accept it, whose is it then? If they, good Gotama, do not accept it, it is ours alone. Even so, brahmin, when you revile us who do not revile, when you scold us who do not scold, when you abuse us who do not abuse, we do not accept it. It is yours alone, brahmin; it is yours alone, brahmin. Indeed, brahmin, whoever reviles back one who reviles, whoever scolds back one who scolds, whoever abuses back one who abuses, this one, brahmin, is said to partake and exchange. We do not partake or exchange with you. It is yours alone, brahmin; it is yours alone, brahmin. The assembly with the king, good Gotama, knows you thus: 'The recluse Gotama is an Arahant.' Yet, good Gotama, you get angry. From where is anger for one without anger, for one tamed, living in equanimity; for one rightly freed by perfect knowledge, for one peaceful, such? Worse for him indeed is it, who gets angry back at one who is angry; not getting angry back at one who is angry, he conquers a battle hard to conquer. He acts for the good of both, of himself and of the other; who, knowing the other to be angry, mindful, calms down. People think them foolish, those who are unskilled in the Dhamma, who are treating both, themselves and the other. When this was said, the brahmin Akkosakabhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Excellent, good Gotama… I go for refuge to the good Gotama, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of bhikkhus. May I receive, venerable sir, the going forth in the presence of good Gotama, may I receive the full ordination. Indeed, the brahmin Akkosakabhāradvāja received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One, received the full ordination. Not long after And indeed, the venerable Akkosaka Bhāradvāja, having been fully ordained, dwelling alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, resolute, not long thereafter – for the sake of which noble sons rightly go forth from home to homelessness, that unsurpassed culmination of the holy life, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge in this very life, he attained and dwelt therein. He understood: "Birth is destroyed, 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 Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants. 3. The Discourse with Asurindaka 189. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now the brahmin Asurindaka Bhāradvāja heard: "It is said that a brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan has gone forth from home to homelessness in the presence of the recluse Gotama." Angered and displeased, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he reviled and abused the Blessed One with rude and harsh words. When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent. Then the brahmin Asurindaka Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: "You are defeated, recluse! You are defeated, recluse!" "The fool indeed thinks he has won, speaking harsh words; But for the knowing one, that is a victory, which is patience. "Worse for him by that, who retaliates in anger; Not retaliating in anger, one wins a battle hard to win. "He acts for the good of both, of himself and of the other; Who, knowing the other to be angry, mindfully calms himself. "Those who cure both, themselves and others; People think them fools, who are unskilled in the Dhamma." When this was said, the brahmin Asurindaka Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, good Gotama... he understood. And the venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants." 4. The Discourse with Bilaṅgika 190. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now the brahmin Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja heard: "It is said that a brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan The brahmin, "a recluse has gone forth from home to homelessness in the presence of the ascetic Gotama," angry and displeased, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he stood silent to one side. Then the Blessed One, knowing with his mind the thought-process in the mind of Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja the brahmin, addressed Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja the brahmin with a verse: Whoever harms a man who is harmless, a pure person, free from blemish; that evil returns to that fool, like fine dust thrown against the wind. When this was said, Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja the brahmin said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, Master Gotama... he understood. And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants." 5. The Discourse on Ahiṃsaka 191. Occasion at Sāvatthī. Then Ahiṃsaka Bhāradvāja the brahmin approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the courteous and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Ahiṃsaka Bhāradvāja the brahmin said to the Blessed One: "I am non-harming, Master Gotama, I am non-harming, Master Gotama." May you be as your name, may you indeed be non-harming; Whoever does not harm by body, speech, or mind; He is truly non-harming, who does not injure another. When this was said, Ahiṃsaka Bhāradvāja the brahmin said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, Master Gotama... he understood. And Venerable Ahiṃsaka Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants." 6. The Discourse on the Tangle 192. Occasion at Sāvatthī. Then Jaṭā Bhāradvāja the brahmin approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the courteous and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Jaṭā Bhāradvāja the brahmin addressed the Blessed One with a verse: Within is a tangle, without is a tangle, the people are entangled in a tangle. That I ask you, Gotama, who