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18th Chapter (177) 1. Discourse on the Human World 802. Should it not be said – "The Buddha, the Blessed One, dwelt in the human world"? Yes. Are there not stupas where the Buddha resided, monasteries, dwellings, villages, towns, cities, kingdoms, and countries? Yes. If there are stupas where the Buddha resided, monasteries, dwellings, villages, towns, cities, kingdoms, and countries, then indeed it should be said – "The Buddha, the Blessed One, dwelt in the human world." Should it not be said – "The Buddha, the Blessed One, dwelt in the human world"? Yes. Was not the Blessed One born in Lumbinī, fully enlightened at the root of the Bodhi tree, did not the Blessed One set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma in Bārāṇasī, did he not relinquish the life-formation at Cāpāla Shrine, and did not the Blessed One attain final Nibbāna in Kusinārā? Yes. If the Blessed One was born in Lumbinī... ...and attained final Nibbāna in Kusinārā, then indeed it should be said – "The Buddha, the Blessed One, dwelt in the human world." Should it not be said – "The Buddha, the Blessed One, dwelt in the human world"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One – "On one occasion, bhikkhus, I was dwelling in Ukkaṭṭhā, in the Subhaga Wood, at the root of a royal sal tree"? "On one occasion, bhikkhus, I was dwelling in Uruvelā, at the Ajapāla Banyan tree, having just attained full enlightenment"? "On one occasion, bhikkhus, I was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Place"? "On one occasion, bhikkhus, I was dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery"? "On one occasion, bhikkhus, I was dwelling in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall"? Are there not such discourses? Yes. Then indeed, the Buddha, the Blessed One, dwelt in the human world. 803. Did the Buddha, the Blessed One, dwell in the human world? Yes. Was not the Blessed One born in the world, grew up in the world, and dwells having overcome the world, untainted by the world? Yes. If the Blessed One was born in the world, grew up in the world... grown, he lives having overcome the world, unsoiled by the world. But it should not be said: "The Buddha, the Blessed One, stood in the human world." The discourse on the human world is finished. 18. The Eighteenth Chapter (178) 2. The discourse on the teaching of the Dhamma 804. Should it not be said: "The Dhamma was taught by the Buddha, the Blessed One"? Yes. By whom was it taught? It was taught by a created (form). Is the created (form) a conqueror, a teacher, a Fully Self-Awakened One, omniscient, all-seeing, master of the Dhamma, a refuge in the Dhamma? It should not be said so… (etc.)… Should it not be said: "The Dhamma was taught by the Buddha, the Blessed One"? Yes. By whom was it taught? It was taught by Venerable Ānanda. Is Venerable Ānanda a conqueror, a teacher, a Fully Self-Awakened One, omniscient, all-seeing, master of the Dhamma, a refuge in the Dhamma? It should not be said so… (etc.)… 805. Should it not be said: "The Dhamma was taught by the Buddha, the Blessed One"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One: "Indeed, Sāriputta, I might teach the Dhamma concisely; Sāriputta, I might teach the Dhamma extensively; Sāriputta, I might teach the Dhamma concisely and extensively; but those who understand are rare"? Is there such a Sutta? Yes. Therefore, the Dhamma was taught by the Buddha, the Blessed One. 806. Should it not be said: "The Dhamma was taught by the Buddha, the Blessed One"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One: "Monks, I teach the Dhamma with direct knowledge, not without direct knowledge; Monks, I teach the Dhamma with a cause, not without a cause; Monks, I teach the Dhamma with a marvel, not without a marvel; Therefore, Monks, for me, who teaches the Dhamma with direct knowledge, not without direct knowledge, who teaches the Dhamma with a cause, not without a cause, who teaches the Dhamma with a marvel, not without a marvel, instruction is to be given, admonition is to be given; And it is enough for you, Monks, for satisfaction, enough for contentment, enough for joy – sam The Blessed One is perfectly enlightened, The Dhamma is well-proclaimed, The Saṅgha is well-practiced. And when this exposition was being spoken, the ten-thousand-world-system trembled! Is there a Suttanta? Yes. Therefore, the Dhamma was taught by the Buddha, the Blessed One. The discourse on the teaching of the Dhamma is concluded. 18. The Eighteenth Chapter (179) 3. Discourse on Compassion 807. Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have no compassion? Yes. Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have no loving-kindness? It should not be said so... (etc.) Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have no compassion? Yes. Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have no appreciative joy... (etc.) ...equanimity? It should not be said so... (etc.) Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have loving-kindness? Yes. Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have compassion? It should not be said so... (etc.) Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have appreciative joy... (etc.) ...equanimity? Yes. Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have compassion? It should not be said so... (etc.) Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have no compassion? Yes. Is the Blessed One uncompassionate? It should not be said so... (etc.) Is not the Blessed One compassionate, a benefactor of the world, sympathetic to the world, one who acts for the welfare of the world? Yes. If the Blessed One is compassionate, a benefactor of the world, sympathetic to the world, one who acts for the welfare of the world, then it should certainly not be said – "The Buddha, the Blessed One, has no compassion"... (etc.) Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have no compassion? Yes. Did not the Blessed One attain the absorption of great compassion? Yes. If the Blessed One attained the absorption of great compassion, then it should certainly not be said – "The Buddha, the Blessed One, has no compassion." 808. Does the Buddha, the Blessed One, have compassion? Yes. Is the Blessed One with passion? It should not be said so. Therefore, the Buddha, the Blessed One, has no compassion. The discourse on compassion is concluded. 18. The Eighteenth Chapter (180) 4. Discourse on Kinds of Odour 809. Does the excrement and urine of the Buddha, the Blessed One, surpass other kinds of odours? Yes. Does the Blessed One feed on odours? It should not be said so... (etc.) Is not the Blessed One one who eats rice... Does he not eat rice gruel? Yes. If the Blessed One eats rice gruel, then it should not be said – "The Buddha's excrement and urine surpass other fragrant substances." Does the Buddha's excrement and urine surpass other fragrant substances? Yes. Are there some who bathe with, anoint themselves with, rub themselves with, store in a basket, put in a box, display in a shop the Buddha's excrement and urine, and with that fragrance make fragrant things? It should not be said thus... The discourse on fragrant substances is finished. 18. The Eighteenth Chapter (181) 5. Discourse on One Path 810. Does one realize the four fruits of recluseship by one noble path? Yes. Is there a combination of four contacts... ...of four perceptions? It should not be said thus... Does one realize the four fruits of recluseship by one noble path? Yes. By the stream-entry path? It should not be said thus... By the once-returner path... By the non-returner path? It should not be said thus... By which path? By the path of Arahantship. Does one abandon personality view, doubt, and clinging to rites and rituals by the path of Arahantship? It should not be said thus... Does one abandon personality view, doubt, and clinging to rites and rituals by the path of Arahantship? Yes. Has not the abandonment of the three fetters been declared by the Blessed One as the fruit of stream-entry? Yes. If the abandonment of the three fetters has been declared by the Blessed One as the fruit of stream-entry, then it should not be said – "One abandons personality view, doubt, and clinging to rites and rituals by the path of Arahantship." Does one abandon gross sensual desire and gross ill-will by the path of Arahantship? It should not be said thus... Does one abandon gross sensual desire and gross ill-will by the path of Arahantship? Yes. Has not the attenuation of sensual desire and ill-will been declared by the Blessed One as the fruit of once-returning? Yes. If the attenuation of sensual desire and ill-will Both the fruit of once-returning is said by the Blessed One. Indeed, it should not be said: "By the path of arahantship, gross sensual desire, gross ill-will are abandoned." By the path of arahantship, latent sensual desire, latent ill-will are abandoned? It should not be said thus... By the path of arahantship, latent sensual desire, latent ill-will are abandoned? Yes. Is not the complete abandonment of sensual desire and ill-will the fruit of non-returning said by the Blessed One? Yes. If the complete abandonment of sensual desire and ill-will is the fruit of non-returning said by the Blessed One, indeed, it should not be said: "By the path of arahantship, latent sensual desire, latent ill-will are abandoned." 811. It should not be said: "By one noble path, the four fruits of recluseship are realized?" Yes. By the Blessed One, the stream-entry path is developed? Yes. The Blessed One is a stream-enterer? It should not be said thus... By the Blessed One, the once-returner path... the non-returner path is developed? Yes. The Blessed One is a non-returner? It should not be said thus... 812. The Blessed One by one noble path realizes the four fruits of recluseship, disciples by four noble paths realize the four fruits of recluseship? Yes. Disciples will see what is not seen by the Buddha, the Blessed One, will attain what is not attained, will realize what is not realized? It should not be said thus... The discourse on one path is finished. 18. The Eighteenth Chapter (182) 6.