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and by whom and how was it spoken? Answer: Among the devas, venerable sir, in Tāvatiṃsa, about Sakka, lord of devas, [it was spoken by the Buddha, beginning with:] "Good, O lord of devas, is taking refuge in the Buddha, the Buddha..." "Because of going for refuge, O King of Devas, some beings here, at the breaking up of the body, after death, are reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world." Thus, and so on, was it spoken by the Venerable Elder Mahāmoggallāna. Citta Saṃyutta Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta Sutta Question – In the Citta Saṃyutta, friends, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, by whom, and how was the Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta Sutta, the eighth compiled by the ancient great elders who collected the Dhamma, spoken? Answer – In Macchikāsaṇḍa, venerable sirs, concerning Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta, it was spoken by Citta the householder. Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta, venerable sirs, said to Citta the householder, "Do you believe, householder, that there is a concentration of the recluse Gotama that is without initial application and sustained application, that there is a cessation of initial application and sustained application?" On that occasion, venerable sirs, "I do not go by faith in the Blessed One on this matter, venerable sirs, that there is a concentration without initial application and sustained application, that there is a cessation of initial application and sustained application," thus, and so on, was it spoken by Citta the householder. Let the venerable ones see this. How straightforward is this Citta the householder. "Venerable sirs, as long as I wish, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, I enter upon and abide in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by initial application and sustained application, born of seclusion, with rapture and pleasure." Let the venerable ones see this. Acelakassapa Sutta Question – There, friends, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, by whom, and how was the Acelakassapa Sutta, the ninth compiled by the ancient great elders who collected the Dhamma, spoken? Answer – There, venerable sirs, in Macchikāsaṇḍa, concerning Acelakassapa, it was spoken by Citta the householder. Acelakassapa, venerable sirs, said to Citta the householder, "In these thirty years, householder, have you attained any superhuman state, any distinction in noble knowledge and vision, any comfortable abiding?" On that occasion, venerable sirs, "Even for a householder, venerable sirs, it might be. For I, venerable sirs, as long as I wish, I wish, having quite secluded myself from sensual pleasures, having secluded myself from unwholesome states, with initial application and sustained application, born of seclusion, with rapture and pleasure, I might dwell in the first jhāna." Thus spoke the householder with such a mind. Connected Discourses with Village Headmen The Discourse on the Fierce One Question: Where, venerable sirs, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the first Discourse on the Fierce One in the Connected Discourses with Village Headmen spoken by that Blessed One, the Fully Self-Awakened One? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning the fierce village headman. The fierce village headman, venerable sir, said this to the Blessed One: "What, venerable sir, is the reason, what is the cause, whereby some person here is called 'fierce' as 'fierce'? And what, venerable sir, is the reason, what is the cause, whereby some person here is called 'gentle' as 'gentle'?" In that context, venerable sir, the Blessed One spoke thus: "Here, village headman, the passion of some person is not abandoned. Because of the non-abandonment of passion, others provoke him. Being provoked by others, he manifests anger. He is called 'fierce' as 'fierce'." Thus spoke the Blessed One. The Discourse on the Simile of the Field Question: There, venerable sirs, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the seventh discourse, the Discourse on the Simile of the Field, recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma? Answer: In Nāḷandā, venerable sir, in Pāvārika's mango grove, it was spoken concerning the village headman Asibandhakaputta. The village headman Asibandhakaputta, venerable sir, said this to the Blessed One: "Does not the Blessed One, venerable sir, dwell with compassion for the welfare of all living beings?" "Yes, village headman, the Tathāgata dwells with compassion for the welfare of all living beings." "Then why, venerable sir, does the Blessed One teach the Dhamma diligently to some, but not so diligently to others?" In that context, venerable sir, the Blessed One spoke thus: "Then, village headman, I will question you in return about this. As it seems fit to you, so you should answer it." Thus spoke the Blessed One. The Discourse on the Conch Blower Question: There, venerable sirs, by the ancient elders who compiled the Dhamma The eighth recitation, the Saṅkhadhama Sutta, by the great reciters, where, concerning whom, in what matter, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: Indeed, venerable sir, in Nāḷandā, in the Pāvārika Mango Grove, it was spoken concerning Asibandhakaputta, the headman, a disciple of the Nigaṇṭhas. The Blessed One, venerable sir, said to Asibandhakaputta, the headman, a disciple of the Nigaṇṭhas: "How, headman, does Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta teach the Dhamma to his disciples?" "Thus, venerable sir, Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta teaches the Dhamma to his disciples: 'Whoever takes life, all such go to states of woe, to hell. (And so on) Whatever one dwells in predominantly, by that one is led.'" In that matter, venerable sir, the Blessed One spoke briefly, saying: "Headman, if whatever one dwells in predominantly, by that one is led, then in that case, no one would go to states of woe, to hell, according to the words of Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta." The "Predominant Dwelling" Teaching Question: And how, friend, did the Blessed One reveal the fault in the "predominant dwelling" teaching there? Answer: "What do you think, headman? That person who takes life, whether by night or by day, considering the time or not the time, which time is more, the time he takes life, or the time he does not take life?" In this way, venerable sir, the Blessed One there, by repeatedly questioning Asibandhaka, the headman, a disciple of Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta, revealed the fault in the "predominant dwelling" teaching. Question: And how, friend, did the Blessed One reveal the fault in the teaching of a single outcome for karma with manifold outcomes there? Answer: "Here, headman, some teacher holds such a view, holds such a doctrine: 'Whoever takes life, all such go to states of woe, to hell.'" In this way, venerable sir, the Blessed One there, by elaborating, revealed the fault in the teaching of a single outcome for karma with manifold outcomes. Question: And how, friend, did the Blessed One reveal the virtue in the teaching of Dhamma as it is, by distinguishing it there? Answer: Here, headman, Indeed, a Tathāgata arises in the world, an Arahant, a Fully Self-Awakened One, endowed with knowledge and conduct, a Fortunate One, a Knower of the world, an unsurpassed leader of men to be tamed, a teacher of gods and humans, the Awakened One, the Blessed One. He, in many ways, blames and condemns the taking of life. And he says, "Abstain from the taking of life." In this way, venerable sir, the Blessed One has, in that teaching according to the Dhamma, expounded and revealed its virtue. Bhadraka Sutta Question – There, friends, by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, the eleventh Sutta, the Bhadraka Sutta, was recited. Where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – Venerable sir, among the Mallas, in the Malla village called Uruvelakappa, it was spoken concerning Bhadraka the headman. Venerable sir, Bhadraka the headman said to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the origin and the cessation of suffering." On that occasion, venerable sir, "If, headman, I were to teach you the origin and cessation of suffering concerning the past, saying 'Thus it was in the past,' then you might have doubt, you might have perplexity." In this way, the Blessed One spoke. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the suffering, its origin and its cessation – "What do you think, headman, are there people in Uruvelakappa?" – Rāsiya Sutta Question – There, friends, by the Blessed One... (etc.)... the Fully Self-Awakened One, the twelfth Sutta, the Rāsiya Sutta, was recited in the Saṃyutta of Headmen. Where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how was it spoken? Answer – Venerable sir, among the Mallas, in the Malla village called Uruvelakappa, it was spoken concerning Rāsiya the headman. Venerable sir, Rāsiya the headman approached the Blessed One and said: "I have heard, venerable sir, that 'the recluse Gotama blames all asceticism, he utterly criticizes and denounces all ascetics who live austerely.'" "Those who said this, venerable sir, 'the recluse Gotama blames all asceticism, he utterly criticizes and denounces all ascetics who live austerely..." reviles." "Are these, venerable sir, speakers of what the Blessed One has said, and do they not falsely accuse the Blessed One, and do they explain the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma?" "In that matter, venerable sir, those headmen who said thus: 'The recluse Gotama blames all asceticism, he entirely disparages and reviles all ascetics who live a harsh life,' thus and so forth was it spoken by the Blessed One." Question: "And how, friend, there by the Blessed One were blameworthy and unblameworthy sensualists explained and distinguished in detail?" Answer: "There are, headman, three kinds of sensualists existing, found in the world. Which three? Here, headman, a certain sensualist seeks wealth unrighteously, by force;