English
Friends, where, concerning whom, and on what occasion was the Discourse on the Simile of the Saw spoken by that Blessed One... the Perfectly Self-Awakened One? Answer – Lord, it was spoken in Sāvatthī, concerning the venerable Moḷiyaphagguna. Lord, the venerable Moḷiyaphagguna was dwelling excessively associated with bhikkhunīs. Lord, it was spoken on that occasion. Question – Then, friends, having heard that advice of the Blessed One, how did the mind of the venerable Moḷiyaphagguna arise? And how did the Blessed One further advise the bhikkhus? Answer – Then, Lord, having heard this advice of the Blessed One, the mind of Moḷiyaphagguna did not arise with the thought: "I will withdraw, I will desist from association with bhikkhunīs." Lord, his mind arose with non-restraint. And, Lord, the Blessed One further advised the bhikkhus, saying: "Indeed, bhikkhus, at one time the bhikkhus gratified my mind," and so on. Even if, bhikkhus, robbers or brigands were to saw off your limbs with a two-handled saw. The Discourse on the Simile of the Water-Snake Question – Friends, where, concerning whom, and on what occasion was the Discourse on the Simile of the Water-Snake spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – Lord, it was spoken in Sāvatthī, concerning the bhikkhu Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-killer. Lord, such a wicked view arose in the bhikkhu Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-killer... arose: "I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One in such a way that those obstructive things spoken of by the Blessed One, when indulged in, are not an obstacle." It was spoken, venerable sir, concerning that matter. Question – Then, friend, how did the thought arise in the mind of Venerable Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer? And how did the Blessed One further continue the Dhamma teaching for the bhikkhus? Answer – Then, venerable sir, in the bhikkhu Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, the thought arose thus: "Even though the Blessed One calls me a foolish man, it is not that I lack the supporting condition for the paths and fruits. Therefore, I will strive and exert myself to bring forth the paths and fruits." Thus, venerable sir, did the thought arise in his mind. And the Blessed One, venerable sir, after showing the simile of the water-snake to the unwise, and showing the simile of the water-snake as a teaching, and showing the teaching of escape to the wise through the simile of the water-snake and the simile of the raft, and showing the six views, and the manner of disentangling those six views, and finally showing the meditation on the aggregates culminating in Arahantship, further continued the Dhamma talk for the bhikkhus. The Ant Hill Sutta Question – And the Dhammika Sutta, friend, where, concerning whom, and on what occasion was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning Venerable Kumārakassapa. Venerable Kumārakassapa, venerable sir, approached the Blessed One and asked the question about the ant hill. It was spoken, venerable sir, concerning that matter. The Relay Chariots Sutta Question – And the Rathavinīta Sutta, friend, where and by whom was it spoken? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken by Venerable Sāriputta the Elder, the General of the Dhamma, and by Venerable Puṇṇa, son of Mantāṇī, in the manner of mutual questioning and answering. The Bait Sutta Question – And the Nivāpa Sutta, friend, where and concerning whom was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, It was spoken concerning those many bhikkhus. Question – Friends, in this discourse, what is the bait? Who is the bait-layer? What is the bait-layer's assembly? What is the herd of deer? How should the meaning of this simile be understood? Answer – Venerable sir, in this discourse, the bait, venerable sir, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure. The bait-layer, venerable sir, is a designation for Māra the Evil One. The bait-layer's assembly, venerable sir, is a designation for Māra's assembly. The herd of deer, venerable sir, is a designation for recluses and brahmins. Venerable sir, the meaning of this [simile] in this discourse should be understood thus. The Discourse on the Heap of Snares Question – Friends, by which Blessed One... (etc.) ...the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, where, concerning whom, and on what occasion was the Pāsarāsisutta spoken? Answer – Venerable sir, it was spoken at Sāvatthī, concerning many bhikkhus. Venerable sir, many bhikkhus were sitting together for a Dhamma talk concerning the Blessed One, in the hermitage of Rammaka the brahmin. Venerable sir, it was spoken on that occasion. Question – And then, friends, what kind of Dhamma talk did the Blessed One give to those many bhikkhus who were sitting together for a Dhamma talk? Answer – "Good, bhikkhus! This, bhikkhus, is fitting for you, sons of good families, who have gone forth from home to homelessness out of faith, that you should sit together for a Dhamma talk. When you are gathered, bhikkhus, there are two things to be done: either a Dhamma talk or noble silence. These two, bhikkhus, are quests: the noble quest and the ignoble quest." Venerable sir, beginning thus, the Blessed One, to those bhikkhus who were gathered, expounded and taught the noble quest and the ignoble quest. Question – And how, friends, did the Blessed One declare that he himself, having abandoned the ignoble quest, had sought the noble quest? Answer – "I too, bhikkhus, before my full enlightenment, while still an unenlightened Bodhisatta, being myself subject to birth, sought that which is subject to birth..." I seek, I myself, subject to aging, subject to sickness, subject to death, subject to sorrow, subject to defilement, being such, I seek only what is defiling. In this way, venerable sir, the Blessed One having himself abandoned ignoble search, declared that he sought the noble search. Question – Thus, for the Blessed One, friend, who was first fully enlightened, sitting at the foot of the Ajapāla Banyan tree, having made the resolution to teach the Dhamma, what kind of thought arose in his mind? And how was his wandering for teaching the Dhamma? And how was the first teaching of the Dhamma? Answer – "To whom now should I teach the Dhamma first? Who will quickly understand this Dhamma?" Such, venerable sir, was the thought that arose in the mind of the Blessed One, who was first fully enlightened, at the foot of the Ajapāla Banyan tree, having made the resolution to teach the Dhamma. Then, venerable sir, the Blessed One, having stayed in Uruvelā as long as he wished, set out on foot towards Bārāṇasī for the purpose of teaching the Dhamma. "These two extremes, monks, should not be followed by one who has gone forth. Which two? That which is devotion to sensual pleasures, low, vulgar, worldly, ignoble, unbeneficial; In this way, venerable sir, was the Blessed One's first teaching of the Dhamma. All-conquering, all-knowing am I, Untainted by all things; Having abandoned all, released through the destruction of craving, Having known it myself, whom should I point to? Question – And how, friend, did the Blessed One conclude that teaching with the simile of the net? Answer – "These five, monks, are strands of sensual pleasure. Which five? Forms cognizable by the eye, desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, associated with sensual desire, enticing. Sounds cognizable by the ear. Odours cognizable by the nose. Tastes cognizable by the tongue. Tangibles cognizable by the body, desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, associated with sensual desire, enticing. These, monks, are the five strands of sensual pleasure. Whatever recluses or brahmins, monks, are entangled, infatuated, immersed in these strands of sensual pleasure, not seeing the danger Those with defilements, without wisdom for escape, they consume. They should be known thus: "Fallen into ruin, fallen into misfortune, to be done with as the evil one wishes." In this way, Venerable Sir, the Blessed One concluded the discourse on Dhamma with the simile of the heap of snares. The Shorter Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint Question: By that knowing one, friend, ...by the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, was the Shorter Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint spoken? Answer: In Sāvatthī, Venerable Sir, concerning the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi, it was spoken. The brahmin Jāṇussoṇi, Venerable Sir, having approached the Blessed One, reported to the Blessed One all the conversation he had with the wanderer Pilotika. On that occasion, Venerable Sir, it was spoken. Question: And how, friend, did the Blessed One expound the simile of the elephant's footprint, completing it in detail? Answer: "Not, brahmin, is the simile of the elephant's footprint completed in detail by this much. But brahmin, how the simile of the elephant's footprint is completed in detail, that listen! Attend carefully! I will speak!" In this way, Venerable Sir, the Blessed One expounded the simile of the elephant's footprint, completing it, to the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi. The Longer Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint Question: And friend, where, concerning whom, by whom, was the Longer Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint spoken? Answer: In Sāvatthī, Venerable Sir, concerning many bhikkhus, it was spoken by the Venerable Elder Sāriputta, the General of the Dhamma. The Longer Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood Question: And friend, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, was the Longer Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: In Rājagaha, Venerable Sir, concerning Devadatta, it was spoken. Devadatta, Venerable Sir, having split the Saṅgha, and having caused blood to flow, had recently departed. On that occasion, Venerable Sir, it was spoken. The Shorter Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood Question: