Majjhima Nikaya - Dhammacetiya Sutta

89. Dhammacetiya Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA II
II. 4. 9 Dhammacetiyasuttaü
(89) Monuments to the Teaching

ßI heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living with the Sakyas in a
hamlet of the Sakyas named Medhalumpa. At that time king Pasenadi of Kosala, had
come to Nangaraka for some purpose, and he said to Dãgha Kàràyana, `Friend
Kàràyana, yoke good carriages we like to tour the parklands and see the good
soil,' He agreed, and yoking suitable carriages, informed king Pasenadi of
Kosala. `Great king the carriages are yoked, it is time to do what is fit,' King
Pasenadi of Kosala ascended a suitable carriage and left Nangaraka in great
splendour, going as far as the carriages could go, descended from the carriages
and entered the parklands. King Pasenadi of Kosala walking about in the
parklands, saw the roots of trees that were pleasing, noiseless, away from
humans, and suitable for seclusion and thought of the Blessed One. He thought,
on account of these roots of trees that are pleasing, noiseless, away from
humans and suitable for seclusion, I should associate the Blessed One, perfect
and rightfully enlightened. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala addressed Digha
Kàràyana. `Friend Kàràyana, these roots of trees, that are pleasing, noiseless,
away from humans, and suitable for seclusion recall to me the Blessed One,
perfect and rightfully enlightened. Friend where does he abide now?' `Great
king, there is a hamlet of the Sakyas, Medalumpa, the Blessed One, perfect and
rightfully enlightened lives there now,' `Friend, Kàràyana, how far is Medalumpa
from Nangaraka? ` `It isn't very far about one and twenty miles from here,'
`Could we reach there by night fall?' `Then friend, Kàràyana yoke suitable
carriages, I want to see that Blessed One, perfect, rightfully enlightened,'
Then Dãgha Kàràyana agreeing yoked suitable carriages and informed the king.
`Great king, the carriages are yoked, it is the time to do the suitable,' Then
king Pasenadi of Kosala, ascended the well yoked carriages and left Nangaraka,
to reach the hamlet Medalumpa of the Sakyas. When it was dark, they reached
Medalumpa. Going in the carriage as far as it could reach, descending from the
carriages came to the monastery grounds. At that time many bhikkhus, were doing
the walking meditation in the open and king Pasenadi of Kosala approached them
and asked. `Venerable sirs, where is the Blessed One at this time, we like to
see that Blessed One perfect and rightfully enlightened?' `Great king the door
of the living house is closed, approach it quietly, without intruding, step up
to the terrace cough and knock on the cross bar. The Blessed One will open the
door. At that point the king of Kosala, gave the sword and crown to Dãgha
Kàràyana, and it occurred to him, the king wishes to be alone. I should not
proceed. King Pasenadi of Kosala quietly approached the closed door of the
living house without intruding stepped on the terrace, coughed and knocked on
the cross bar. The Blessed One opened the door. King Pasenadi of Kosala, entered
the living house, placed his head at the feet of the Blessed One kissed the feet
and stroked them with his hands. Then he announced, venerable sir, I'm king
pasenadi of Kosala.'
ßGreat king, seeing what good, do you show highest reverence and make these
friendly offerings to this body?'
ßVenerable sir, I have come to the main drift of the Blessed One's Teaching. The
Blessed One is rightfully enlightened, the Teaching of the Blessed One is well
proclaimed. The disciples of the Blessed One have come to the right path.
Venerable sir, I see recluses and Brahmins, who lead the holy life for ten,
twenty, thirty or even forty years. Later I see them having bathed and decorated
themselves, with hair and beard shortened, partaking of sensual pleasures, well
provided. Here I see bhikkhus leading the holy life complete and pure until the
end of life, until they breathe their last breath. Venerable sir, on account of
this too I have come to the main drift of the Blessed One's Teaching. The
Blessed One is rightfully enlightened, the Teaching of the Blessed One is well
proclaimed. The disciples of the Blessed One have come to the right path.
Again venerable sir, kings dispute with kings, warriors with warriors, Brahmins
with Brahmins, householders with householders, the mother with the son, the son
with the mother, the father with the son, the son with the father, brother with
brother, brother with sister, the sister with the brother, friend with friend.
Here, venerable sir, I see bhikkhus united and friendly, without a dispute,
mixing like milk and water, abide seeing each other with friendly eyes.
Venerable sir, on account of this too I have come to the main drift of the
Blessed One's Teaching. The Blessed One is rightfully enlightened, the Teaching
of the Blessed One is well proclaimed. The disciples of the Blessed One have
come to the right path.
Again, venerable sir, I wander from one monastery to the other, from one park to
the other, there I see certain recluses and Brahmins wasted, unpleasant,
discoloured with jaundice, with protruding veins, not attractive to the eyes.
Then it occurs to me. Indeed these venerable ones live the holy life not
attached to it. Or they have some undisclosed demerit. On account of which they
are wasting, unpleasant, discoloured with jaundice, are with protruded veins,
not attractive to the eyes.
I approach them and ask. `Why are the venerable ones wasting, unpleasant,
discoloured with jaundice, with protruding veins, not attractive to the eyes'
They tell me. `Great king, we suffer from jaundice,' `Venerable sir, here we see
bhikkhus, pleased, in good spirits, pleasant to the sight with satisfied mental
faculties, leading a carefree life, without fear and ready to help, abiding with
the mind of a wild animal. Venerable sir, it occurs to me'Indeed these venerable
ones, see some gradual distinction in themselves, that they are pleased, in good
spirits, pleasant to the sight, are with satisfied mental faculties, leading a
carefree life, without fear are ready to help, abide with minds like those of
wild animals. Venerable sir, on account of this too I have come to the main
drift of the Blessed One's Teaching. The Blessed One is rightfully enlightened,
the Teaching of the Blessed One is well proclaimed. The disciples of the Blessed
One have come to the right path.
Again venerable sir, as a head anointed warrior king, I have power in my
kingdom, to kill, destroy or banish, those who need to be killed, destroyed or
banished. Yet when I sit for jurisdiction, I find it impossible to do justice as
various interruptions come to me. I even tell them, good sirs, do not interrupt
me, wait till I finish, my talk. Venerable sir, when the Blessed One is teaching
various hundreds of bhikkhus, even the sound of a sneeze or a cough is not
heard. Once it happened, that the Blessed One was teaching a gathering of some
hundreds. Then a certain disciple of the Blessed One coughed and another
disciple of the Blessed One nudged him on the knee, to say, make no noise, the
Blessed One is teaching. Venerable sir, then it occurred to me, it is amazing
the gathering is well behaved, without, stick or weapon. Venerable sir, I have
not seen a disciplined gathering like this anywhere else. On account of this too
I have come to the main drift of the Blessed One's Teaching. The Blessed One is
rightfully enlightened, the Teaching of the Blessed One is well proclaimed. The
disciples of the Blessed One have come to the right path.
Again venerable sir, I see a certain wise, clever, warrior disputant, going
about thinking to pull down wise ones and their views. Hearing that the recluse
Gotama has visited a certain village or hamlet, they concoct a question. We will
approach the recluse Gotama and ask this question when he explains it, we will
draw him to a dispute. When they approach, the Blessed One advises them, incites
them and makes their hearts light. Advised, incited and made the hearts light,
they do not even ask the question, how is a dispute to come up? They become all
round disciples of the Blessed One On account of this too I have come to the
main drift of the Blessed One's Teaching. The Blessed One is rightfully
enlightened, the Teaching of the Blessed One is well proclaimed. The disciples
of the Blessed One have come to the right path.
Again venerable sir, I see a certain wise, clever Brahmin, .... re... a
householder, ...re.... arecluse, disputant going about thinking to pull down
wise ones and their views. Hearing that the recluse Gotama has visited a certain
village or hamlet, they concoct a question. We will approach the recluse Gotama
and ask this question. He will explain it thus and we will draw him to a
dispute. When they approach, the Blessed One advises them, incites them and
makes their hearts light. Advised, incited and made the hearts light, they do
not even ask the question, how is a dispute to come up? They become all round
disciples of the Blessed One On account of this too I have come to the main
drift of the Blessed One's Teaching. The Blessed One is rightfully enlightened,
the Teaching of the Blessed One is well proclaimed. The disciples of the Blessed
One have come to the right path.
Again, venerable sir, the master builders, Isãdatta and Puràna, were brought up
by me, given life by me, raisedto that state by me. Yet these two do not show
that same reverence to me, that they give to the Blessed One. Venerable sir, in
the past, when the army was marching against me, it happened that I went to a
difficult dwelling of the master builders Isãdatta and Puràna, they advised me
late into the night. They toldthat they sleep, placing their heads towards where
the Blessed One was, and their feet towards me. Then it occurred to me. It is
wonderful and surprising, the master builders Isãdatta and puràna were brought
up by me, given life by me, raised to that state by me. Yet these two do not
show that same reverence to me, that they give to the Blessed One. Indeed these
venerable ones see some gradual distinction in themselves. On account of this
too I have come to the main drift of the Blessed One's Teaching. The Blessed One
is rightfully enlightened, the Teaching of the Blessed One is well proclaimed.
The disciples of the Blessed One have come to the right path.
Again, venerable sir, I'm a warrior, a man of Kosala eighty years old, the
Blessed One too is a warrior, of Kosala and is eighty years of age. On account
of this, too I show highest reverence and make these friendly offerings to this
body. Venerable sir, now we go, there is much work to be done.
ßGreat king do, as you think fit.'
King Pasenadi of Kosala got up from his seat, worshipped and circumambulated the
Blessed One and went away.
Soon after king Pasenadi of Kosala had gone, the Blessed One addressed the
bhikkhus. `Bhikkhus, kingPasenadi of Kosala made monuments of the Teaching.
Bhikkhus, learn those monuments to the Teaching. They are conducive to good and
belong to the fundamentals of the holy life.'
The Blessed One said that and those bhikkhus delighted in the words of the
Blessed One.