sakka quest sakka panha sutta

8/13/2019 Sakka Quest Sakka Panha Sutta

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Sakka's QuestSakka-pah Sutta

Introduction, Translation and Comments

by

Sister Vajira

Buddhist Publication Societyandy ! Sri "anka

The #heel Publication $o% &

Copyright Kandy; Buddhist Publication Society 2008First Edition 1!" #eprinted 1$% and 18$

BPS &nline Edition '2008()igital *ranscription Source+ BPS and ,ccess to -nsight *ranscription Pro.ect

For /ree distribution *his or 3ay be republished" re/or3atted" reprinted and redistributed in any3ediu3 4oe5er" any such republication and redistribution is to be 3ade a5ailable to the public on a/ree and unrestricted basis" and translations and other deri5ati5e ors are to be clearly 3ared assuch


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Introduction

*he Buddhist te6t 'Sutta or )iscourse( discussed here belongs to a group o/ Buddhist scriptures called)7gha i9ya" the Collection o/ :ong )iscourses" and is the *enty/irst )iscourse in it -t tells thestory o/ a deity descending /ro3 his hea5enly real3 to our earth /or 3eeting and ; but it has a 5ery realistic and s 5isit to the Buddha had a purpose that concerns all hu3ans in the 5ery sa3e ayas it concerned that deity" Saa" to thousand and /i5e hundred years ago

Be/ore presenting to the reader the translation o/ the te6t" it see3s desirable to gi5e /irst so3egeneral in/or3ation about it *he s real3 and ours" range the C9tu3ah9r9.ia )e59" the Four @reat Kings or@uardians o/ the Four uarters *hey are closely connected ith Saa and the *hirtythree gods &neo/ these Four @reat Kings is Gessa5ana or Ku5era" lord o5er the orthern direction and the treasures o/

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the 4i3alayan regions 4e is 3ild and bene5olent" and his is the -deal :and o/ per/ect beauty"har3ony and abundance?the Htopia drea3t o/ by 3any a poet &ne /airy o/ his suite occurs in theSutta 4er na3e is BhuI.at7

*he @andhabbas" sub.ects o/ the Four @reat Kings" are the hea5enly 3usicians attending on Saaand the *hirtythree gods *he King o/ the @andhabbas is *i3baru" /a3ed /or his e6cellence in 3usic"and his lo5ely daughter is Baddh9 SJriya5accas9" engaged to the son o/ Saa>s charioteer" 9tali

&/ the @andhabbas one is repeatedly 3entioned in the Suttas -t is PaIcasiha" the young@andhabba" possessor o/ the 3iraculous panduvnhich is said to ha5e belonged once to 9ra" theE5il &ne *his /a3ous pandu57n9" so3e say" is a yello lute o/ 5il5aood; others say it is a lyre o/ thesa3e ood -n our Sutta" here the young @andhabba" PaIcasiha" also plays his role" it is describedas a lyre o/ red 5il5aood

*he deities 3entioned so /ar are all 5oluntary sub.ects o/ Saa and the *hirtythree" and are higherbeings than 3en Saa" hoe5er" has also so3e poer/ul and /erocious /oes?the ,suras" rangingloer than 3en *hey are said to be a ind o/ giants" li5ing in the ocean Further it is said o/ the3 thatthey once ere Saa>s brothers; /or reasons unnon they ere banished by Saa into the oceanith the help o/ Saa>s thunderbolt *he hostility beteen *95atiDsa )e5as and ,suras beco3es

acute /ro3 ti3e to ti3e" and battles tae place beteen the3hat no about the spiritual standard o/ all these beings Early Buddhist tradition re5eals that in

general the Buddha and his great disciples sho little regard /or these pleasurelo5ing deities o/in/erior intellect and super/icial understanding o/ the )ha33a *he Buddha and his early disciples callthe3 the =puthukya"> the co33on /ol" as e shall see &nly later" hen actual noledge o/ thesebeings disappeared" ere intellectual abilities" superior to those o/ 3en" /alsely attributed to the3 ,good proo/ o/ their inade so3eti3es addressing hi3 =yasm"> =Generable &ne> *o /urther na3es o/ Saa occur?Kosiya" being the na3e o/ his /ather" and Gasa59

-t is true that a great 3any o/ these deities are /ond o/ the Bhaga59" not" hoe5er" /or theBhaga59>s pro/ound isdo3 and pure 5irtue hich they are hardly able to appreciate" but ratherbecause they no that the appearance o/ a Buddha increases their poer and eaens theiropponents" the ,suras and other loer beings *hey no that a Buddha 3aes 3any /ollo thegood path and discourages the3 /ro3 /olloing the e5il path; and so he upli/ts 3any to hea5en andpre5ents 3any /ro3 don/all

Saa" hoe5er" is an e6ception altogether 4e" as already indicated by the /re


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happened a/ter another god" ho lieise as a /or3er disciple o/ the Bhaga59" re3inded the3 o/ theBuddhas9sana" the )ispensation o/ the Buddha" and o/ their /or3er aspirations hich" in theen.oy3ent o/ hea5enly pleasures" they had al3ost /orgotten

Saa e5idently had li5ed up to the principles o/ the )ha33a and had succeeded in puri/ying his3ind /ro3 grosser de/ile3ents 4is


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% o Saa" the ing o/ gods" addressed PaIcasiha" the young @andhabba" M4ard o/ access" 3ydear PaIcasiha" are *ath9gatas 'Per/ect &nes( to /ols lie us; 3ostly are they in retreat" absorbed in3editation" delighted therein hat" 3y dear PaIcasiha" i/ you /irst ere to gain o5er the Bhaga59@ained o5er by you" 3y dear" e a/terards shall dra near to see the Bhaga59" the ,rahant" Sa339Sa3buddhaN

MSo be itO ,nd good luc unto you"N said PaIcasiha" the young @andhabba" in assent to Saa" the

ing o/ gods" and too his lyre o/ red 5il5aood and approached the -ndas9la @rotto! 4a5ing dran near" he thought to hi3sel/" MFro3 here it ill be neither too /ar nor too near /or the

Bhaga59 to hear the song"N and he stood aside Standing aside" PaIcasiha" the young @andhabba" lethis lyre o/ red 5il5aood be heard and a song alluding to the Buddha" the )ha33a" to ,rahants" andto lo5e

$ *he song being o5er" the Bhaga59 addressed PaIcasiha" the young @andhabba" M*he sound o/your strings" PaIcasiha" har3onies ith that o/ your song" and the sound o/ your song ith that o/your strings; but" 5erily" PaIcasiha" your strings neither go beyond your song" nor does your song gobeyond your strings But hen" PaIcasiha" did you co3pose these stanas alluding to the Buddha" the)ha33a" ,rahants and to lo5eN

M*here as a ti3e" :ord" hen the Bhaga59 delt at Hru5el9" on the ban o/ the eraI.an9 ri5er" atthe /oot o/ the goatherds> banyantree" soon a/ter his supre3e enlighten3ent ,t that 5ery ti3e" :ord"as - ena3oured o/ Baddh9 SJriya5accas9" the daughter o/ *i3baru" King o/ the @andhabbas *hisgirl" hoe5er" :ord" as in lo5e ith another" ith Sihaddh7" the son o/ the charioteer 9tali" /orho3 she longed Since - could not in that girl by any 3eans hatsoe5er" - too 3y lyre o/ red 5il5aood" approached the abode o/ *i3baru" ing o/ the @andhabbas" and" ha5ing dran near" let 3y lyreo/ red 5il5aood be heard and the song alluding to the Buddha" the )ha33a" ,rahants and to lo5e

Q M*he song being o5er" Baddh9 SJriya5accas9 addressed 3e+ =- did not see yet" Sir" that Bhaga59/ace to /ace 4oe5er" - ha5e heard o/ the Bhaga59 hen - ent to dance at the pleasure hall o/ the*hirtythree gods Since you" Sir" spoe in praise o/ that Bhaga59" let there be a 3eeting beteen ustoday> ,nd so" :ord" there as a 3eeting beteen that girl and 3e; but don>t let 3e spea on this any/urtherN

8 o" Saa" the ing o/ gods" thought to hi3sel/+ MPaIcasiha" the young @andhabba" is inpleasant con5ersation ith the Bhaga59 and the Bhaga59 ith hi3N

,nd he addressed PaIcasiha" the young @andhabba+ My dear PaIcasiha" you no pay 3yrespects to the Bhaga59 and say" =Saa" :ord" the ing o/ gods" ith his 3inisters and suite paysho3age at the /eet o/ the Bhaga59>N

MSo be itO ,nd good luc unto youON said PaIcasiha" the young @andhabba" in assent to Saa" theing o/ gods" and did as res @rotto o/ the -ndas9la" saluted theBhaga59 and stood aside" and so did the gods o/ the *hirtythree and PaIcasiha" the young@andhabba

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But 5erily" at that ti3e those une5en spots o/ the -ndas9la @rotto had beco3e e5en" the narrospaces idened" the darness 5anished" and light had arisen" as i/ through the hea5enly poer o/ thegods

*hereupon the Bhaga59 addressed Saa" the ing o/ gods" Monder/ul is this" s suite" ith clasped hands saluting the Bhaga59 stood near *hen -" addressing BhuI.at7"said+ =Sister" you pay 3y respects to the Bhaga59 and say" =Saa" :ord" the ing o/ gods" ith his3inisters and suite pays ho3age at the /eet o/ the Bhaga59> *o 3y re =ell" sister" you then 3aysalute the Bhaga59 in 3y na3e a/ter the Bhaga59 has arisen /ro3 that absorption> )id" :ord" thatsister salute the Bhaga59" and does the Bhaga59 re3e3ber her ordsN

M*hat sister" ing o/ gods" did salute 3e" and - do re3e3ber her ords - had arisen /ro3 that

absorption through the sound o/ the Generable>s chariot heelsN

11 MFro3 those gods" :ord" ho ere born be/ore us in the real3 o/ the *hirtythree" - ha5e heardthat hene5er *ath9gatas arise in the orld" ,rahants" Sa339 Sa3buddhas" the hea5enly hosts groin nu3ber and the ,sura hosts decrease ,nd that is true" :ord" - 3ysel/ ha5e realied it" /or since the*ath9gata" the ,rahant" Sa339 Sa3buddha" has appeared in the orld" the hea5enly hosts gre innu3ber andAsurahosts decreased

M*ae this instance" :ord *here as" :ord" a daughter o/ the S9yan clan in Kapila5atthu 4er na3eas @opi9 She as de5oted to the Buddha" the )ha33a and SaAgha and as o/ acco3plished5irtue )isgusted ith the o3anly nature" she culti5ated the nature o/ a 3an" and at the breaing upo/ the body" a/ter death" she rose to a happy state" to the hea5enly orld" to co33unity ith the gods

o/ the *hirtythree" and obtained =sonship> by us ,nd there they no hi3 as =@opaa" son o/ thegods; @opaa" son o/ the gods>

MBut" :ord" three bhihus ho had led the holy li/e under the Bhaga59 ere born in the loer rano/ @andhabbas *hey en.oy the /i5e sense pleasures surrounding the3" and they co3e to ait uponand 3inister to us *his being so" @opaa" the son o/ gods" ad3onished the3+ =here ere your ears -onder" Sirs" hen you listened to the doctrine o/ the Bhaga59 -" ha5ing been only a /e3ale laydisciple" a3 no a god" son o/ Saa" the ing o/ gods Rou" hoe5er" Sirs" ho led the holy li/e underthe Bhaga59 ha5e risen but to the loer ran o/ @andhabbas , sad sight indeed is this to us that eshould see the /olloers o/ the higher li/e appearing in the loer ran o/ @andhabbasO>

M&/ those" :ord" ad3onished by @opaa" the son o/ the gods" to gods regained 3ind/ulness at

once" and passed into the orld o/ BrahmaPurohita" and only one god re3ained in sensual pleasuresN12 '@opaas2Song(

M@opi9" the Seer>s de5oteeLas -Faith/ul to the Buddha and the :a"

2=@opaa> is the 3asculine and =@opi9> the /e3inine /or3 o/ the na3eLUpsika:a /e3ale lay disciple o/ a Buddha

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*o the Co33unity - happily 3inistered"Hntiringly con/or3ing to the Buddha>s or3

*o *95atiDsa>s real3 - rose" a3 Saa>s son"&/ poer great and splendour great",s =@opaa> they no 3e here"But" a3ong @andhabba/ols"

*he 3ons o/ @ota3a - sa*o ho3 e /or3erly" at ho3e"Seated at the bhihus> /eet"4ad o//ered /ood and drin

hy did you" sirs" not grasp*he Buddha>s :a" ellpropounded"E5ident" and recogniedBy the3 ho ha5e eyes to see

Fro3 you it as - too ha5e learnt*his teaching /air+ ,3 Saa>s son"

&/ poer great and splendour great"*o *95atiDsa>s real3 - rose

But you" though choosing hat is best"*he unsurpassed :i/e o/ Purity"4a5e no appeared in loer ran+-nappropriate your rebirth see3sO

, sad sight indeed is this to us?*he /olloers o/ the 4igher :i/e,ppearing but in loer ran+,s @andhabba/ols" & sirs"Rou co3e to ait upon us godsO

- stayed at ho3e" yet behold the di//erence+, o3an then" today - a3 a 3an" a god",nd hea5enly delights are 3ineON

@opaa" stalart o/ the or3"*hus incited ae in the3;Falling in ith hi3" they spoe+Mell then",n e//ort let us 3ae" let>s stri5e onO:est the ser5ants e ould be o/ others hereON

,nd to o/ the3 put /orth their energy"*he or3 o/ @ota3a they called to 3ind;*hey cleansed their thoughts ithout delay",nd realied the retchedness o/ carnal .oys

,s an elephant 3ight brea his chains"So they cast o// the bounds o/ /leshly lusts"*he yoes o/ 9ra" hard to o5erco3e",nd le/t behind the real3 o/ *hirtythree

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Putting an end to passion"*he stainless heroes transcended all+*he gods ho ere asse3bled-n *95atiDsa>s pleasure hall"*ogether ith their chie/ and


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II

1 #ecei5ed into audience" Saa" the ing o/ gods" put the /irst s anser 4e is .ubilant to /ind there3edy to hat so sorely aggrie5ed hi3" na3ely" to puri/y one>s 3ind /ro3 en5y and sel/ishness4ero too his lo/ty spirit is re5ealed -t 3ust be re3e3bered that Saa" as a deity" e6tre3elyseldo3" perhaps once in 3illions o/ years" personally e6periences the har3/ul result o/ en5y andsel/ishness" na3ely ani3osity 4is li/e /or the 3ost part is /ull o/ har3ony because o/ theco3parati5e eaness o/ these de/ile3ents ithin hi3 But Saa" ha5ing once /ully understoodthat en5y and sel/ishness are e5il" is no longer interested in 3ore or less o/ the3; he ants to seenothing but the /inal destruction o/ en5y and sel/ishness

So deeply concerned is he ith the 3atter that he no begins a radical in


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Mhat brings on en5y and sel/ishness" & ing o/ gods" are lies and dislies :ies and dislies aretheir origin Fro3 lies and dislies do they spring :ies and dislies gi5e rise to the3 :ies anddislies being present" en5y and sel/ishness appear :ies and dislies not being present" en5y andsel/ishness do not appearN

MBut hat" & :ord" brings on lies and dislies hat is their origin Fro3 hat do they springhat gi5es rise to the3 hat being present" lies and dislies appear hat not being present" lies

and dislies do not appearNMhat brings on lies and dislies" & ing o/ gods" is desire )esire is their origin Fro3 desire do

they spring )esire gi5es rise to the3 )esire being present" lies and dislies appear )esire not beingpresent" lies and dislies do not appearN

MBut hat" & :ord" brings on desire hat is its origin Fro3 hat does it spring hat gi5es rise toit hat being present" desire appears hat not being present" desire does not appearN

Mhat brings on desire" & ing o/ gods" is 'rong( re/lection%#e/lection is its origin Fro3 re/lectiondoes it spring #e/lection gi5es rise to it #e/lection being present" desire appears #e/lection not beingpresent" desire does not appearN

MBut hat" & :ord" 3aes /or 'rong( re/lection hat is its origin Fro3 hat does it spring hatgi5es rise to it hat being present" re/lection appears hat not being present" re/lection does notappearN

Mhat 3aes /or 'rong( re/lection" & ing o/ gods" is 3ultiplicity o/ perception ultiplicity o/perception is its origin Fro3 3ultiplicity o/ perception does it spring ultiplicity o/ perception gi5esrise to it ultiplicity o/ perception being present" re/lection appears ultiplicity o/ perception notbeing present" re/lection does not appearN

Comment%-n this set o/ s teaching is represented"the idea o/ conditionality 'paicca-samuppda(" in a ne /or3ula *he condition o/ en5y andsel/ishness 'iss-macchariya(" lies and dislies 'piyappiy(" the condition o/ lies and dislies isdesire 'chanda(; the condition o/ desire is 'rong( re/lection 'vitakka(; and the condition o/

re/lection is 3ultiplicity o/ perception (papaca-sa-sakha( By the cessation o/ 3ulti/ariousperception re/lection ceases; by the cessation o/ re/lection desire ceases; by the cessation o/ desirelies and dislies cease" and by the cessation o/ lies and dislies en5y and sel/ishness areuprooted" and so all ani3osity

*he idea o/ conditionality 'paicca-samuppda( is non to Saa; that is e5ident /ro3 the ayhe s


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inner and outer orld o/ an indi5idual" dependent on /or3er action 'a33a(" and the causeo/ /resh one

*he cessation o/ di5ersi/ied perception thus really 3eans the cessation o/ e6istence itsel/'U cessation o/ a33a(" the ulti3ate goal" ibb9na ,nd this is e5ident to Saa at once 4ehas /ound the co3prehensi5e outloo that appeals to hi3; no he ants to no ho thiscan be brought about

L M,nd ho" & :ord" 3ust a bhihu conduct hi3sel/ to be endoed ith the path /it /or leading tothe dissolution o/ the continual in/lu6 o/ 3ulti/arious perceptionsN

M4appiness" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be /olloeda/ter Sorro too" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be /olloeda/ter ,nd also indi//erence" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not tobe /olloed a/ter

M4appiness" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be /olloeda/ter ,nd hy -/ one nos o/ a happiness+ =*his happiness hen /olloed a/ter by 3e 3aes e5ilstates 'akusal dhamm( gro and good states 'kusal dhamm( 5anish"> then that happiness" thehappiness connected ith orldliness" should not be /olloed a/ter $ ,nd again" i/ one nos o/ a

happiness+ =*his happiness hen /olloed a/ter by 3e 3aes e5il states 5anish and goods states gro">then that happiness" Vthe happiness that arises /ro3 truly understanding the e5anescent nature o/ allpheno3ena" and the detach3ent connected ith such an understandingW"Qshould be /olloed a/ter*his 3ay be done ith re/lection and discursi5e thining ' savitakka-savicra(8or ithout re/lection anddiscursi5e thining 'avitakka-avicra( &/ the to" that ithout re/lection and discursi5e thining is thebetter 4appiness" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be/olloed a/ter -/ this as said" it as said /or that reason

MSorro too" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be/olloed a/ter ,nd hy -/ one nos o/ a sorro+ =*his sorro hen /olloed a/ter by 3e3aes e5il states gro and good states 5anish"> then that sorro Vthe /rustration" sensualindulgence ine5itably results inW should not be /olloed a/ter ,nd again" i/ one nos o/ asorro+ =*his sorro hen /olloed a/ter by 3e 3aes e5il states 5anish and good states gro">then that sorro Vthe sorro o/ a holy disciple ho cra5es /or acco3plish3ent but has not yetachie5ed the destruction o/ the taints 'sav(W should be /olloed a/ter *his 3ay be done ithre/lection and discursi5e thining or ithout re/lection and discursi5e thining &/ the to" thatithout re/lection and discursi5e thining is the better Sorro too" & ing o/ gods" - declare tobe to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be /olloed a/ter -/ this as said" it as said /or thatreason

M,nd also indi//erence" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old+ as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be/olloed a/ter ,nd hy -/ one nos o/ an indi//erence+ =*his indi//erence hen /olloed a/ter by 3e3aes e5il states gro and good states 5anish"> then that indi//erence 'the stupidity and dullness o/ an

ordinary 3an ho re3ains indi//erent" into6icated by delusion( should not be /olloed a/ter ,ndagain" i/ one nos o/ an indi//erence+ =*his indi//erence hen /olloed a/ter by 3e 3aes e5il states5anish and good states gro"> then that indi//erence Vthe true e


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/ro3 insight and detach3entW should be /olloed a/ter *his 3ay be done ith re/lection anddiscursi5e thining or ithout re/lection and discursi5e thining10&/ the to" that ithout re/lection isthe better -ndi//erence too" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be/olloed a/ter -/ this as said" it as said /or that reason

M-t is thus" & ing o/ gods" that a bhihu 3ust conduct hi3sel/ to beco3e /it /or the path leading tothe dissolution o/ the continual in/lu6 o/ 3ulti/arious perceptionsN

-n this 3anner it as that Bhaga59 ansered the s saying and too delight in it+ M*hus it is" &Bhaga59O *hus it is" & SugataO Cons anser to this s saying and delighting in it" put a /urther


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se6ual actsW should not be /olloed a/ter ,nd again" i/ one nos o/ a bodily conduct+ =*his bodilyconduct hen /olloed a/ter by 3e 3aes e5il states 5anish and good states gro"> then that bodilyconduct Vabstaining /ro3 illing" stealing and se6ual actsW should be /olloed a/ter Bodily conduct" &ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be /olloed a/ter -/ this assaid" it as said /or that reason

MConduct by speech too" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be

/olloed a/ter ,nd hy -/ one nos o/ a conduct by speech+ =*his conduct by speech hen /olloeda/ter by 3e 3aes e5il states gro and good states 5anish"> then that conduct by speech Vlying" slander"harsh ords and /ri5olous talW should not be /olloed a/ter,nd again" i/ one nos o/ a conduct byspeech" =*his conduct by speech hen /olloed a/ter by 3e 3aes e5il states 5anish and good statesgro"> then that conduct by speech Vabstaining /ro3 lying" slander" harsh ords and /ri5olous talWshould be /olloed a/ter Conduct by speech too" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be/olloed a/ter and not to be /olloed a/ter -/ this as said" it as said /or that reason

M,nd also pursuit" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be /olloed a/ter and not to be/olloed a/ter ,nd hy -/ one nos o/ a pursuit+ =*his pursuit hen /olloed a/ter by 3e 3aese5il states gro and good states 5anish"> then that pursuit Vorldly pursuit?misa pariyesanWshouldnot be /olloed a/ter ,nd again" i/ one nos o/ a pursuit+ =*his pursuit hen /olloed a/ter by 3e

3aes e5il states 5anish and good states gro"> then that pursuit Vpursuit o/ the truth; dhammapariyesanW should be /olloed a/ter ,nd also pursuit" & ing o/ gods" - declare to be to/old" as to be/olloed a/ter and not to be /olloed a/ter -/ this as said; it as said /or that reason

M-t is thus" & ing o/ gods" that a bhihu 3ust conduct hi3sel/ to be endoed ith the 3oralrestraint obligatory on hi3N

-n this 3anner the Bhaga59 ansered the s saying and too delight in it M*hus it is" & Bhaga59O *husit is" & SugataO Cons anserto this s saying and delighted in it" put a /urther


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:ord" an odour" perceptible by the nose" hich 3aes e5il states 5anish and good states gro" shouldbe /olloed a/ter , taste" & :ord" perceptible by the tongue" hich 3aes e5il states gro and goodstates 5anish" should not be /olloed a/ter; and again" & :ord" a taste" perceptible by the tongue" hich3aes e5il states 5anish and good states gro" should be /olloed a/ter , touch" & :ord" perceptibleby the body" hich 3aes e5il states gro and good states 5anish" should not be /olloed a/ter; andagain" & :ord" a touch" perceptible by the body" hich 3aes e5il states 5anish and good states gro"should be /olloed a/ter , 3indob.ect" & :ord" perceptible by the 3ind" hich 3aes e5il statesgro and good states 5anish" should not be /olloed a/ter; and again" & :ord" a 3indob.ect"perceptible by the 3ind" hich 3aes e5il states 5anish and good states gro" should be /olloeda/ter

*hus do - understand the 3eaning in /ull" & :ord" o/ hat as said in brie/ by the Bhaga59Cons anser to thiss saying and delighting in it" put a /urther *here/ore do not all Sa3aAasand Br9h3aAas ha5e the sa3e doctrine" the sa3e 3oral code" the sa3e aspiration" the sa3e ai3N

MBut" & :ord" are all Sa3aAas and Br9h3aAas absolutely per/ect" absolutely secure" absolutelypuri/ied" o/ absolutely highest achie5e3entsN

M*hey are not" & ing o/ godsN

MBut hy" & :ord" are they notNM*hose Samaas and Brhmaas" & ing o/ gods" ho ha5e achie5ed deli5erance through the

destruction o/ cra5ing" they only are absolutely per/ect" absolutely secure" absolutely puri/ied" o/absolutely highest achie5e3ent *here/ore are not all Samaas and Brhmaas absolutely per/ect"absolutely secure" absolutely puri/ied" o/ absolutely highest achie5e3entN

-n this 3anner it as that the Bhaga59 ansered the s saying and too delight in it+ M*hus it is" &Bhaga59O *hus it is" & SugataO Cons anser to this s saying and delighted in it" addressed the

Bhaga59 and spoe+ MPassion"12

& :ord" is disease" passion is a cancer" passion is a dart Passion drags a3an about /ro3 one e6istence to another" so that he /inds hi3sel/ no up abo5e" then don belo*hese proble3s" & :ord" hich ere ranling in 3e /or a long ti3e" and to hich other Sa3aAas andBr9h3aAas ha5e lent no ear" these the Bhaga59 has sol5ed /or 3e" and has re3o5ed the dart o/ doubtand uncertaintyN

12Ej'dri5e" urge( is a synony3 o/ tah=cra5ing>

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M*hen" & ing o/ gods" do you re3e3ber to ha5e ased these ,nd they ent on ,nd - e6pounded to the3 the )ha33a" as it as heard and understoodby 3e" and they ere satis/ied" e5en ith that little+ =Gerily" e ha5e seen Saa" the ing o/ godsO ,ndhat e ased o/ hi3 that he has anseredO> ,nd they actually beca3e 3y disciples" rather than !the/olloer o/ the3

MBut -" & :ord" a3 the /olloer o/ the Bhaga59 , strea3enterer1L

a3 -" deli5ered /ro3 don/all"assured" bound /or enlighten3entN

M)o you re3e3ber" & ing o/ gods" e5er be/ore to ha5e e6perienced such a /eeling o/ satis/actionand happinessN

M- do re3e3ber it" & :ordN

M,nd in hich ay" & ing o/ gods" do you re3e3ber itN

M&nce" & :ord" there too place a /ight beteen gods and ,suras -n this /ight" & :ord" the godsere 5ictorious" and the ,suras ere de/eated *he /ightbeing o5er" the battle being on" - thoughtto 3ysel/" =hat there is o/ hea5enly poer and hat there is o/ Asurapoer" both ill no be

en.oyed by the godsO> ,nd so" & :ord" that /eeling o/ satis/action and happiness as 3i6ed up iththoughts o/ ar and battle" not leading to disenchant3ent" not leading to dispassion" not leading tocessation" not leading to higher noledge" not leading to enlighten3ent" not leading to ibb9na

MBut this /eeling o/ satis/action and happiness" & :ord" - e6perience" ha5ing heard the )ha33a/ro3 the Bhaga59" is not 3i6ed up ith thoughts o/ ar and battle *his solely leads todisenchant3ent" to dispassion" to cessation" to inner cal3" to higher noledge" to enlighten3entand to ibb9naN

8 MBut" & ing o/ gods" hat reasons do you percei5e to announce the e6perience o/ such a /eeling o/satis/action and happinessN

MSi6 reasons do - percei5e" & :ord+

hile li5ing here itsel/"Born a god as - a3?Fresh potency o/ li/e - in*his - announce to you" & :ord

*his is" & :ord" the /irst reason

1LSotpanna?the /irst o/ the /our stages o/ sainthood

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)eparted /ro3 the real3 o/ gods"4ea5enly potency being spent"ind/ully - choose the o3b-n hich to be reborn 3y 3ind delights

*his is" & :ord" the second reason

Hncon/used in understanding"

)elighted in the Buddha>s :a"isely shall - dell"Clearly co3prehending" 3ind/ul

*his is" & :ord" the third reason

,nd i/" hile /aring along isely"Enlighten3ent should be 3y part"- then ould dell in per/ect noledge",nd thus achie5e the end

*his is" & :ord" the /ourth reason

&r i/" departed /ro3 the real3 o/ 3en"4u3an potency being spent",gain - should beco3e a god+Chie/est - ould be o/ all the orlds di5ine

*his is" & :ord" the /i/th reason

,3ong the deities 3ost subli3e",3ong ,aniXXha so glorious"- then ould spend the last turn o/ li/e;*hat abode too aaits 3e

*his is" :ord" the si6th reason

*hese are" & :ord" the si6 reasons - percei5e to announce the e6perience o/ such a /eeling o/satis/action and happinessN

'Saas Song(

MSeeing the *ath9gata" - andered long"y 3ind in doubt" steeped in perple6ity"ith proble3s none could sol5e

*he Sa3aAas o/ lonely dellings"*heir co3pany - sought" sat near;Buddhas - i3agined the3 to be

=hat 3aes 3en reach acco3plish3ent"hat 3aes the3 /ail> *his - ased o/ the3;But neither ay nor 3ethod did they no

,nd hen they ca3e to understand*hat Saa o/ the gods it asho had appeared to the3"

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*hey e5en ased o/ 3ehat sill brought 3e the /air result

- taught the3 hat - ne"*he lore preser5ed a3ong the /ol",nd they re.oiced and said"=G9sa5a it as e saO>

But the Buddha - beheld todayOCon

sakka quest sakka panha sutta

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