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The Discourse to Āḷavaka Question – By that Blessed One, friend, ... (abbreviated) ... the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Āḷavaka Sutta in the Saṃyutta of Yakkhas spoken? Answer – In Āḷavī, Venerable Sir, in the dwelling of the yakkha Āḷavaka, concerning the yakkha Āḷavaka, it was spoken. Venerable Sir, the yakkha Āḷavaka addressed the Blessed One with a verse: What indeed is the best wealth for a person? What well-practiced brings happiness? What indeed is sweeter than flavors? How living, do they say, is the best life? In that context, Venerable Sir – Faith indeed is the best wealth for a person, Dhamma well-practiced brings happiness; Truth indeed is sweeter than flavors, Living with wisdom, they say, is the best life. Thus, and so on, Venerable Sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Indeed, friend, I will not leave you. Whatever you wish to do, do it. I will ask you a question, ascetic. If you do not answer me, I will either throw your mind into confusion, or burst your heart, or seize you by the feet and throw you across the Ganges! What indeed is the best wealth for a person? What well-practiced brings happiness? What indeed is sweeter than flavors? How living, do they say, is the best life? Here, faith is the best wealth for a person, Dhamma well-practiced brings happiness; Truth indeed is sweeter than flavors, living with wisdom, they say, is the best life. How indeed does one cross the flood? How indeed does one cross the ocean? How indeed does one overcome suffering? How indeed does one become purified? By faith one crosses the flood, by diligence the ocean; By effort one overcomes suffering, by wisdom one becomes purified. How indeed does one gain wisdom? How indeed does one find wealth? How indeed does one attain fame? How indeed do friends does he bind. From this world to the other world, How does one not grieve after passing on? One who has faith in the Arahants, In the Dhamma for the attainment of Nibbāna; One who is attentive gains wisdom, The vigilant, the discerning one; One who acts appropriately, is diligent, Energetic, finds wealth; By truth one obtains fame, By giving one binds friends; From this world to the other world, Thus one does not grieve after passing on; For whom these four qualities, Are present in a faithful householder; Truth, Dhamma, steadfastness, generosity, He indeed does not grieve after passing on. Sakka Saṃyutta Vatapada Sutta Question: Friend, where, concerning whom, and how was the Vatapada Sutta in the Sakka Saṃyutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: At Sāvatthī, venerable sir, concerning many bhikkhus, the Blessed One spoke thus: "Bhikkhus, in the past, when Sakka, the lord of devas, was a human being, seven vows were fully undertaken and observed by him. Because of the undertaking of these, Sakka attained the state of Sakka." Thus, venerable sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Bhikkhus, in the past, when Sakka, the lord of devas, was a human being, these seven vows were fully undertaken and observed by him. A being who supports mother and father, Who honors the elders in the family; Who speaks gently and kindly, Who abandons backbiting; Who is engaged in overcoming stinginess, A person who is truthful and overcomes anger; Him indeed the Tāvatiṃsa devas, Call "a good person." Dalidda Sutta Question: Friend, where, concerning whom, and how was the Dalidda Sutta spoken? Answer: At Rājagaha, venerable sir, concerning many bhikkhus, the Blessed One spoke thus: "Bhikkhus, in the past, a certain man in this very Rājagaha was poor among men, wretched among men, miserable among men. He undertook faith in the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Tathāgata, he undertook morality, learning, generosity, wisdom." Thus, venerable sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Whose faith in the Tathāgata, Is unshaken, well-established; And whose morality is good, Noble and praised. Yajamāna Sutta Question: Friend, where did the Blessed One speak the Yajamāna Sutta? Where, concerning whom, and in what context was it spoken? Answer – In Rājagaha, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning Sakka, king of devas. Sakka, venerable sir, king of devas, addressed the Blessed One with a verse: “For humans making offerings, beings seeking merit; Doing meritorious deeds that lead to rebirth, where is a gift greatly fruitful?” In that context, venerable sir: “Four are on the path, four are established in the fruit; This Saṅgha is upright, endowed with wisdom and virtue; For humans making offerings, beings seeking merit; Doing meritorious deeds that lead to rebirth, a gift given to the Saṅgha is greatly fruitful.” Thus, venerable sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. For humans making offerings, beings seeking merit, Doing meritorious deeds that lead to rebirth, where is a gift greatly fruitful? Four are on the path, four are established in the fruit; This Saṅgha is upright, endowed with wisdom and virtue; For humans making offerings, beings seeking merit; Doing meritorious deeds that lead to rebirth, a gift given to the Saṅgha is greatly fruitful. Householder's Homage Sutta Question – And where, friends, concerning whom, and how was the Householder's Homage Sutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken by the Blessed One concerning many bhikkhus, beginning with, “Formerly, bhikkhus, Sakka, king of devas, addressed Mātali the charioteer…” The three-knowledge holders pay homage to him, all earthly khattiyas; And the four great kings, and the glorious Tāvatiṃsa devas; But who is that yakkha, whom you, Sakka, pay homage to? I pay homage to those endowed with virtue, long-established in concentration; Rightly gone forth, devoted to the holy life. Those householders who do good deeds, virtuous lay followers; Who support their families righteously, them I pay homage to, Mātali. The Chapter on Origination (Nidāna Vagga) The Connected Discourses on Origination (Nidāna Saṃyutta) The Dependent Origination Sutta Question – Then, friends, by the Blessed One… (abbreviated)… the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, the first Sutta recited in the Nidāna Vagga Saṃyutta was the Dependent Origination Sutta. Where was that spoken? Concerning whom? On what occasion? And how? Answer: Venerable sir, it was spoken in Sāvatthī, concerning five hundred country-dwelling monks. Venerable sir, five hundred country-dwelling monks, all of quick understanding, observers of ascetic practices, with aroused energy, devoted to practice, insight-practitioners, desiring a subtle, refined teaching on emptiness and dependent origination, saluted the Blessed One, surrounded the Blessed One, and sat down. On that occasion, venerable sir, the Blessed One spoke, beginning with: "Monks, I will teach you dependent origination. Listen to it, pay careful attention, I will speak." And what, monks, is dependent origination? With ignorance as condition, monks, volitional formations; with volitional formations as condition, consciousness; (and so on) with birth as condition, aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair arise. Thus is the origin of this entire mass of suffering. This, monks, is called dependent origination. But with the complete fading away and cessation of ignorance, is the cessation of volitional formations; (and so on) with the cessation of birth, aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair cease. Thus is the cessation of this entire mass of suffering. The Discourse on Analysis Question: There, friend, the second recited Discourse on Analysis, where was it spoken by the Blessed One? Concerning whom? On what occasion? And how? Answer: Venerable sir, it was spoken in Sāvatthī, concerning five hundred country-dwelling monks of developed understanding. Venerable sir, five hundred country-dwelling monks of developed understanding, observers of ascetic practices, with aroused energy, devoted to practice, insight-practitioners, desiring a subtle, refined teaching connected with emptiness and dependent origination, surrounded the Blessed One and sat down. On that occasion, venerable sir, the Blessed One spoke, beginning with: "Monks, I will teach you, I will analyze dependent origination. Listen to it, pay careful attention, I will speak." Five Dangers The Iron Sutta Question: Friend, where, concerning whom, and how was the discourse on the five fears and enmities spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: Venerable sir, it was spoken at Sāvatthī, concerning Anāthapiṇḍika the householder, thus: "Householder, when for a noble disciple the five fears and enmities are allayed, and he is endowed with the four factors of stream-entry, and the noble method is well seen and well penetrated by him with wisdom, then if he wishes, he may declare of himself: 'I am one for whom hell is destroyed, the animal realm is destroyed, the realm of hungry ghosts is destroyed, the states of woe, the bad destinations, the lower realms are destroyed. I am a stream-enterer, not subject to falling, assured, bound for full enlightenment.'" Thus, venerable sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Question: Friend, how was the allaying of the five fears and enmities for a noble disciple declared by the Blessed One there? Answer: "What are the five fears and enmities that are allayed? Householder, whoever takes life, because of taking life, produces fear and enmity in this present life, produces fear and enmity in the next life, and experiences mental suffering and displeasure. For one who abstains from taking life, that fear and enmity are thus allayed." Thus, venerable sir, beginning with this, was the allaying of the five fears and enmities for a noble disciple declared by the Blessed One there. Question: Friend, how was the noble disciple's endowment with the four factors of stream-entry declared by the Blessed One there? Answer: