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B0102030107brāhmaṇasaṃyuttaṃ (brahmana samyutta sutra)

English

Then that great brahmin took one pair of cloths and went to where the Blessed One was; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the courteous and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that great brahmin said to the Blessed One: “We, good Gotama, are brahmins who seek the teacher’s fee for our teacher. May the good Gotama accept my teacher’s fee.” The Blessed One accepted, out of compassion. Then that great brahmin said to the Blessed One: “Excellent, good Gotama… (and so on) … may the good Gotama remember me as a lay follower, who has gone for refuge from today until my life’s end.” 5. The Arrogant Sutta 201. Occasion at Sāvatthī. At that time, a brahmin named Mānatthaddha (Arrogant) was residing in Sāvatthī. He did not salute his mother, nor his father, nor his teacher, nor his elder brother. At that time, the Blessed One was teaching the Dhamma surrounded by a large assembly. Then it occurred to the brahmin Mānatthaddha: “This ascetic Gotama is teaching the Dhamma surrounded by a large assembly. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama? If the ascetic Gotama addresses me, I will also address him. If the ascetic Gotama does not address me, I will also not address him.” Then the brahmin Mānatthaddha Mānatthaddha approached the Blessed One; Having approached, silent, he stood to one side. Then the Blessed One did not speak to him. Then the brahmin Mānatthaddha – thinking ‘This recluse Gotama knows nothing’ – was about to turn back from there. Then the Blessed One, knowing with His mind the thought-process in the mind of the brahmin Mānatthaddha, addressed the brahmin Mānatthaddha with a verse: "Not good is pride, brahmin, For one who seeks here, brahmin; That for which you came, That alone should you pursue." Then the brahmin Mānatthaddha – thinking "The recluse Gotama knows my mind" – right there fell with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and with his mouth kissed the Blessed One's feet, and with his hands massaged them, and announced his name – "I am Mānatthaddha, good Gotama, I am Mānatthaddha, good Gotama!" Then that assembly was filled with wonder – 'Oh, how amazing, oh, how wonderful! This brahmin Mānatthaddha does not bow to his mother, nor bow to his father, nor bow to his teacher, nor bow to his elder brother; yet he shows such supreme reverence to the recluse Gotama!' Then the Blessed One said to the brahmin Mānatthaddha – "Enough, brahmin, rise, sit on your own seat. Since your mind is pleased with me." Then the brahmin Mānatthaddha, having sat on his own seat, addressed the Blessed One with a verse – "Towards whom should one not show pride, Towards whom should one be respectful; Who should be honored by him, Who should be well-worshipped?" "Towards mother and father too, And towards the elder brother; Towards the teacher, the fourth, Towards these one should not show pride; Towards these one should be respectful, These should be honored by him, These should be well-worshipped. "Towards Arahants, cooled, Who have done their duty, without defilements; Having cast off pride, without arrogance, One should bow to them... answer." When this was said, the arrogant brahmin said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, good Gotama... May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower from this day forth, as one who has gone for refuge for life." 6. The Discourse on the Adversary 202. Occasion at Sāvatthī. Now at that time, a brahmin named Paccanīkasāta was living in Sāvatthī. Then it occurred to the brahmin Paccanīkasāta: "Why don't I approach the ascetic Gotama? Whatever the ascetic Gotama says, I will be an adversary to it." Now at that time, the Blessed One was walking in the open air. Then the brahmin Paccanīkasāta approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said to the Blessed One who was walking: "Speak, ascetic, your doctrine!" "Not by one who is an adversary, is a well-spoken word easily understood; by one whose mind is defiled, and full of contention. But whoever removes contention, and the lack of clarity of mind; having abandoned ill-will, he indeed will know the well-spoken word." When this was said, the brahmin Paccanīkasāta said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, good Gotama, excellent, good Gotama... May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower from this day forth, as one who has gone for refuge for life." 7. The Discourse on the New Workman 203. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now at that time, the brahmin Navakammikabhāradvāja was having work done in that forest grove. The brahmin Navakammikabhāradvāja saw the Blessed One seated at the root of a certain sal tree, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him. Having seen him, it occurred to him: "Indeed, I am enjoying myself having work done in this forest grove. What is this ascetic Gotama enjoying himself doing?" Then The brahmin Navakammikabhāradvāja approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he addressed the Blessed One in verse: “What works are being done, O bhikkhu, in your sal-wood forest? Since alone in the wilderness, Gotama finds delight.” “I have no work to do in the forest, My forest, a thicket, is uprooted; So I, free from the forest, without an arrow, Alone delight, having abandoned discontent.” When this was said, the brahmin Navakammikabhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: “Excellent, good Gotama… May good Gotama remember me as a lay follower, who has taken refuge for life, from this day forth.” 8. The Wood-Gatherers Sutta 204. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans in a certain forest thicket. Now at that time, many young brahmin students, wood-gatherers, belonging to a certain brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, approached that forest thicket. Having approached, they saw the Blessed One seated in that forest thicket, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him. Having seen him, they approached the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan. Having approached, they said to the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan: “Sir, you should know! In that certain forest thicket, a recluse is seated, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him.” Then the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, together with those young students, approached that forest thicket. He saw the Blessed One seated in that forest thicket, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him. Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he addressed the Blessed One in verse: “In a deep, very dreadful forest, Having entered a desolate, lonely wilderness; Unmoving, standing beautifully, O bhikkhu, you meditate with such a lovely form. “Where there is no song, Nor any music, alone in the Another sage dwelling in the forest. This appears wonderful to me, That one alone, joyful in mind, dwells in the forest. "I suppose you desire companionship with the lord of the world, wishing for the unsurpassed heaven. Why, venerable sir, resorting to a lonely forest, do you here practice asceticism for the attainment of Brahma?" "Whatever doubts or cravings, manifold, always present in various elements, arising from the root of ignorance, proliferated, all of them have been eliminated by me, together with their roots. Therefore, I am without doubt, unattached, without grasping, with pure vision in all phenomena. Having attained the unsurpassed, auspicious enlightenment, I meditate, O brahmin, in solitude, fearless." When this was said, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, good Gotama, excellent, good Gotama! Just as if one were to set upright what had been overturned, or to reveal what had been hidden, or to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the darkness so that those with eyes could see forms—in the same way has the good Gotama made the Dhamma clear in various ways. I go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. From this day forth, for as long as life lasts, I go for refuge." 9. The Discourse on the Supporter of Mother 205. Occasion at Sāvatthī. Then the brahmin Mātuposaka 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 Mātuposaka said to the Blessed One: "Indeed, good Gotama, I seek alms righteously, and having sought alms righteously, I support my mother and father. Am I, good Gotama, doing my duty in this way?" "Indeed, brahmin, you are doing your duty in this way. For whoever, brahmin, seeks alms righteously, and having sought alms righteously, supports his mother and father, he generates much merit." "Whoever, a mortal, supports mother or father righteously; for that service towards mother and father, the wise praise him right here; after death, he rejoices in heaven." When this was said, the brahmin Mātuposaka said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, good Gotama, excellent, good Gotama! Just as if one were to set upright what had been overturned, or to reveal what had been hidden, or to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the darkness so that those with eyes could see forms—in the same way has the good Gotama made the Dhamma clear in various ways. I go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May the good Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth, for as long as life lasts." 10. The Discourse on the Beggar 206. Occasion in Sāvatthī. Then a mendicant 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.