English
consciousness established in the lower realm, thus in the future is the production of renewed existence. "If, Ānanda, kamma ripening in the form-sphere realm were not, would form-sphere existence be discerned?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Thus, Ānanda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the moisture. For beings hindered by ignorance, bound by craving, consciousness established in the middle realm, thus in the future is the production of renewed existence. "If, Ānanda, kamma ripening in the formless-sphere realm were not, would formless-sphere existence be discerned?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Thus, Ānanda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the moisture. For beings hindered by ignorance, bound by craving, consciousness established in the sublime realm, thus in the future is the production of renewed existence. Thus, Ānanda, does existence come to be." The Sixth. 7. The Second Discourse on Existence 78. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One… …the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Existence, existence," Venerable Sir, is said. How far, Venerable Sir, does existence come to be?" "If, Ānanda, kamma ripening in the sense-sphere realm were not, would sense-sphere existence be discerned?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Thus, Ānanda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the oil. For beings hindered by ignorance, bound by craving, their intention is established in the lower realm, their aspiration is established. Thus, in the future, there is rebirth. "And if, Ananda, there were no kamma ripening in the form realm, would a form existence be discerned?" "No, venerable sir." "Thus, Ananda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the oil. For beings hindered by ignorance, bound by craving, their intention is established in the middle realm, their aspiration is established. Thus, in the future, there is rebirth." "And if, Ananda, there were no kamma ripening in the formless realm, would a formless existence be discerned?" "No, venerable sir." "Thus, Ananda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the oil. For beings hindered by ignorance, bound by craving, their intention is established in the sublime realm, their aspiration is established. Thus, in the future, there is rebirth. In this way, Ananda, existence comes to be." The seventh. 8. The Discourse on Moral Practices Then the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To the Venerable Ananda, sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this: "Is all moral practice, Ananda, all living of the holy life, all service, fruitful?" "Not entirely so, venerable sir." "Then, Ananda, explain it." "That moral practice, venerable sir, that living of the holy life, that service, by practicing which unwholesome states increase and wholesome states decrease, such moral practice, living of the holy life, service, is unfruitful. But that moral practice, venerable sir, that living of the holy life, that service, by practicing which unwholesome states decrease and wholesome states increase, grow, such a life of virtue, a holy life, has support as its essence, is fruitful." This the venerable Ānanda said; the Teacher approved. Then indeed the venerable Ānanda, thinking "My Teacher has approved," rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise, and departed. Then indeed the Blessed One, not long after the venerable Ānanda had departed, addressed the monks – "Ānanda, monks, is a learner; and it is not easy to find one equal to him." The Eighth. 9. The Discourse on Kinds of Fragrance 80. Then indeed the venerable Ānanda went to where the Blessed One was; having approached, he saluted the Blessed One, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, indeed the venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One – "There are these three kinds of fragrance, venerable sir, whose scent goes only with the wind, not against the wind. Which three? Root fragrance, wood-heart fragrance, flower fragrance – these indeed, venerable sir, are the three kinds of fragrance, whose scent goes only with the wind, not against the wind. Is there, venerable sir, any kind of fragrance whose scent goes with the wind, and against the wind, and both with and against the wind?" "There is, Ānanda, a kind of fragrance whose scent goes with the wind, and against the wind, and both with and against the wind." "And which, venerable sir, is that kind of fragrance whose scent goes with the wind, and against the wind, and both with and against the wind?" "Here, Ānanda, in whatever village or town, a woman or a man has gone for refuge to the Buddha, has gone for refuge to the Dhamma, has gone for refuge to the Saṅgha, abstains from taking life, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from fermented and distilled intoxicants which are a basis for heedlessness, is virtuous, of good conduct, with a mind free from stain and stinginess, dwells in a home, generous, with clean hands, delighting in giving up, fit to be asked, delighting in sharing gifts. Of him, ascetics and brahmins in all directions speak praise: ‘In such and such a village or town, a woman or a man has gone for refuge to the Buddha, has gone for refuge to the Dhamma, has gone for refuge to the Sangha, abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from fermented and distilled intoxicants which are a basis for heedlessness, is virtuous, of good conduct, with a mind free from stain and stinginess, dwells in a home, generous, with clean hands, delighting in giving up, fit to be asked, delighting in sharing gifts.’ Even devas speak praise of him: ‘In such and such a village or town, a woman or a man has gone for refuge to the Buddha, has gone for refuge to the Dhamma, has gone for refuge to the Sangha, abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from fermented and distilled intoxicants which are a basis for heedlessness, is virtuous, of good conduct, with a mind free from stain and stinginess, dwells in a home, generous, with clean hands, delighting in giving up, fit to be asked, delighting in sharing gifts.’ This, Ananda, is that kind of fragrance whose scent goes with the wind, whose scent goes against the wind, whose scent goes both with and against the wind. The scent of flowers does not go against the wind, nor sandalwood, tagara, or jasmine; but the scent of the virtuous goes against the wind, the good person pervades all directions. Then indeed, the venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the venerable Ananda then the Blessed One... He said this: "Directly from the Blessed One, venerable sir, I heard this, directly I received it: 'Ananda, a disciple of the Blessed One Sikhi, named Abhibhū, standing in the Brahma-world, made his voice heard throughout a thousandfold world-system.' But, venerable sir, how far can the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, make his voice heard?" "He was a disciple, Ananda. Tathāgatas are immeasurable." A second time, venerable Ananda said this to the Blessed One: "Directly from the Blessed One, venerable sir, I heard this, directly I received it: 'Ananda, a disciple of the Blessed One Sikhi, named Abhibhū, standing in the Brahma-world, made his voice heard throughout a thousandfold world-system.' But, venerable sir, how far can the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, make his voice heard?" "He was a disciple, Ananda. Tathāgatas are immeasurable." A third time, venerable Ananda said this to the Blessed One: "Directly from the Blessed One, venerable sir, I heard this, directly I received it: 'Ananda, a disciple of the Blessed One Sikhi, named Abhibhū, standing in the Brahma-world, made his voice heard throughout a thousandfold world-system.' But, venerable sir, how far can the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, make his voice heard?" "Have you heard, Ananda, of the thousandfold minor world-system?" "Now is the time, Blessed One! Now is the time, Fortunate One! Let the Blessed One speak. Having heard the Blessed One, the monks will remember." "Then, Ananda, listen well, pay careful attention, I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," venerable Ananda replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "As far, Ananda, as the moon and sun revolve, illuminating the directions, so far extends a thousandfold world. In that thousandfold world, there are a thousand moons, a thousand suns, a thousand Sineru, kings of mountains, a thousand Jambudīpas." a thousand of Aparagoyāna, a thousand of Uttarakuru, a thousand of Pubbavideha, four thousand great oceans, four thousand great kings, a thousand of Cātumahārājika, a thousand of Tāvatiṃsa, a thousand of Yāma, a thousand of Tusita, a thousand of Nimmānaratī, a thousand of Paranimmitavasavattī, a thousand of Brahma worlds – this, Ānanda, is called a minor thousandfold world-system. As far, Ānanda, as the minor thousandfold world-system extends, so far is the world a thousandfold. This, Ānanda, is called a middling two-thousandfold world-system. As far, Ānanda, as the middling two-thousandfold world-system extends, so far is the world a thousandfold. This, Ānanda, is called a great three-thousandfold world-system. If the Tathāgata wishes, Ānanda, he could make his voice heard throughout the great three-thousandfold world-system, as far as he wishes. “But how, Venerable Sir, could the Blessed One make his voice heard throughout the great three-thousandfold world-system, as far as he wishes?” “Here, Ānanda,