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B0102040707mahāvaggo (great chapter)

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with wealthy brahmins, some reappeared in companionship with wealthy householders. were reborn into it. Then, monks, it occurred to the teacher Sunetta: ‘Indeed, it is not proper for me that I should have the same destination as my disciples in the future. What if I were to cultivate further loving-kindness?’ Then, monks, the teacher Sunetta cultivated the mind of loving-kindness for seven years. Having cultivated the mind of loving-kindness for seven years, for seven aeons of world-contraction and expansion, he did not return to this world again. When the world was contracting, monks, he went to the realm of the Abhassara gods. When the world was expanding, he was reborn into an empty Brahma-mansion. There, monks, he was a Brahma, a Great Brahma, a conqueror, unconquered, an all-seeing one, a wielder of power. Thirty-six times, monks, he was Sakka, king of the gods. Many hundreds of times he was a Wheel-turning Monarch, a righteous king of righteousness, a conqueror of the four quarters, established in the stability of his country, endowed with the seven treasures. More than a thousand sons he had, brave, heroic in form, crushers of enemy armies. He conquered and dwelt over this earth, bounded by the ocean, without rod, without weapon, by righteousness. Even so, monks, the teacher Sunetta, being of such long life, being of such long duration, was not liberated – ‘from birth, from old age, from death, from sorrows, lamentations, pains, griefs, and despairs, not liberated from suffering,’ I say. For what reason? Due to not comprehending, not penetrating, four things. Which four? Due to not comprehending, not penetrating, the noble virtue, monks; due to not comprehending, not penetrating, the noble concentration; due to not comprehending, not penetrating, the noble wisdom; due to not comprehending, not penetrating, the noble liberation. But this, monks, the noble virtue, has been comprehended, penetrated; the noble concentration has been comprehended, penetrated; the noble wisdom has been comprehended, penetrated; the noble liberation has been comprehended, penetrated; the craving for existence has been cut off; the guide to existence has been destroyed; no further no more rebirth." This the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, then spoke further: "Virtue, concentration, and wisdom, and liberation unsurpassed; These are the things understood, by Gotama, the glorious one. "Thus the Buddha, having known, taught the Dhamma to the bhikkhus; The Teacher, an ender of suffering, the one with vision, fully unbound." Second. 3. The Discourse on the Simile of the City 67. "When, bhikkhus, a king's frontier city is well-guarded by seven city defenses, and obtains the four foods at will, without difficulty, without trouble. This, bhikkhus, is called a king's frontier city impregnable to external enemies and adversaries. "By which seven city defenses is it well-guarded? Here, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city, there is a pillar with a deep foundation, well-planted, unmoving, unshaking. By this first city defense, the king's frontier city is well-guarded for the protection of those within and the repulsion of those without. "Furthermore, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city, there is a moat both deep and wide. By this second city defense, the king's frontier city is well-guarded for the protection of those within and the repulsion of those without. "Furthermore, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city, there is a circumambulatory path both high and wide. By this third city defense, the king's frontier city is well-guarded for the protection of those within and the repulsion of those without. "Furthermore, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city, much weaponry is stored, both spears and missiles. By this fourth city defense, the king's frontier city is well-guarded for the protection of those within for warding off outsiders. Furthermore, monks, in the king's border city a large army resides, namely – elephant riders, horse riders, charioteers, archers, scouts, spies, stipendiaries, nobles, princes, assaulters, great warriors, heroes, shield-fighters, sons of slaves. With this fifth city-requisite the king's border city is well-guarded for the protection of those within, for warding off outsiders. Furthermore, monks, in the king's border city there is a doorkeeper, wise, skilled, intelligent, one who keeps out strangers, one who lets in acquaintances. With this sixth city-requisite the king's border city is well-guarded for the protection of those within, for warding off outsiders. Furthermore, monks, in the king's border city there is a wall, both high and broad, and well-plastered and smeared. With this seventh city-requisite the king's border city is well-guarded for the protection of those within, for warding off outsiders. With these seven city-requisites it is well-guarded. Of which four kinds of food does one obtain at will, obtain without difficulty, obtain without trouble? Here, monks, in the king's border city much grass, wood, and water is stored up for the enjoyment of those within, for their freedom from anxiety, for their comfortable living, for warding off outsiders. Furthermore, monks, in the king's border city much rice and barley is stored up for the enjoyment of those within, for their freedom from anxiety, for their comfortable living, for warding off outsiders. Furthermore, monks, in the king's border city much sesame, mung beans, black gram, and other grains is stored up for the enjoyment of those within, for their freedom from anxiety, for their comfortable living, for warding off outsiders. Furthermore, monks, in the king's border city much medicine is stored up, namely – ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, molasses, salt. for the inner ones' delight, for their freedom from agitation, for their comfortable dwelling, and for the repulsion of the outer ones. Of these four foods, monks, he is a willing obtainer, an un-troubled obtainer, an un-difficult obtainer. When, monks, a king's frontier city is well-guarded with these seven city defenses, and he is a willing obtainer, an un-troubled obtainer, an un-difficult obtainer of these four foods, this, monks, is called a king's frontier city that cannot be overcome by outer enemies, by adversaries. Even so, monks, when a noble disciple is endowed with seven good qualities, and he is a willing obtainer, an un-troubled obtainer, an un-difficult obtainer of the four jhānas, which are mental attainments, comfortable dwellings in this very life, this, monks, is called a noble disciple who cannot be overcome by Māra, who cannot be overcome by the Evil One. With what seven good qualities is he endowed? Just as, monks, in a king's frontier city there is a pillar with a deep base, well-planted, unmoving, unwavering, for the protection of the inner ones, for the repulsion of the outer ones. Even so, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with faith; he has faith in the Tathāgata's enlightenment: 'Indeed, that Blessed One is Arahant, perfectly enlightened...' A noble disciple with faith as his pillar, monks, abandons what is unwholesome, develops what is wholesome; abandons what is blameworthy, develops what is blameless; he maintains himself in purity. He is endowed with this first good quality. Just as, monks, in a king's frontier city there is a moat, both deep and wide, for the protection of the inner ones, for the repulsion of the outer ones. Even so, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with shame; he is ashamed of misconduct in body, misconduct in speech, misconduct in mind; he is ashamed of falling into evil, unwholesome states. A noble disciple with shame as his moat, monks, abandons what is unwholesome, develops what is wholesome; abandons what is blameworthy, develops what is blameless; he maintains himself in purity. he keeps himself pure. He is endowed with this second good teaching. Just as, monks, in a king's frontier city there is a circumambulatory path, high and wide, for the protection of those within, for the repulsion of those without. Even so, monks, an noble disciple is scrupulous, he is scrupulous about misconduct by body, misconduct by speech, misconduct by mind, he is scrupulous about falling into evil, unwholesome states. With the circumambulatory path of scrupulousness, monks, an noble disciple abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he keeps himself pure. He is endowed with this third good teaching. Just as, monks, in a king's frontier city much weaponry is stored, both spears and bows, for the protection of those within, for the repulsion of those without. Even so, monks, an noble disciple is learned... penetrated well by understanding. With the weapon of learning, monks, an noble disciple abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he keeps himself pure. He is endowed with this fourth good teaching. Just as, monks, in a king's frontier city a large army resides, that is to say: elephant riders, horse riders, charioteers, archers, standard bearers, camp followers, provisioners, officers, princes, shock troops, great warriors, heroes, shield bearers, slave-sons, for the protection of those within, for the repulsion of those without. Even so, monks, an noble disciple dwells with aroused energy for the abandoning of unwholesome states, for the acquisition of wholesome states, steadfast, firm in exertion, not laying down the burden in wholesome states. With the army of energy, monks, an noble disciple abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome; abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless; he keeps himself pure. He is endowed with this fifth good teaching. has not come.