Majjhima Nikaya - Nagaravindeyya Sutta

150. Nagaravindeyya Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA III
5. 8. Nagaravindeyyasuttaü
(150) The Discourse Delivered at Nagaravindika

I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One was touring the Kosala country with a large
Community of bhikkhus and arrived at the brahmin village Nagaravindika of
Kosala. The brahmin householders of Nagaravindika heard `The good recluse
Gotama, son of the Sakyas, who became homeless, while touring the Kosala country
with a large Community of bhikkhus have arrived at the brahmin village
Nagaravindika. This is the fame that has spread about him. That Blessed One is
worthy, rightfully enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, has gone
well, knows the worlds, is the incomparable tamer of those to be tamed, Teacher
of gods and men, enlightened and blessed. We should see such worthy ones. Then
the brahmin householders of Nagaravindika approached the Blessed One. Some of
them exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One and sat on a side. Some
joined their hands in reverence and sat on a side. Some made their names and
clans heard in the presence of the Blessed One and sat on a side and the rest
silently sat on a side.
To the brahmin householders of Nagaravindika the Blessed One said.
ßHouseholders, if the homeless ascetics of other beliefs ask you: "Householders,
what kind of recluses and brahmins should not be revered, esteemed and
worshipped?" You should reply them thus. Those recluses and brahmins, without
dispelled greed, aversion and delusion, for forms cognizable by
eye-consciousness, internally not appeased, abide with good and bad conduct by
body, speech and mind. Such recluses and brahmins should not be revered,
esteemed and worshipped. For we too are without dispelled greed, aversion and
delusion, for forms cognizable by eye-consciousness, internally not appeased,
abide with good and bad conduct by body, speech and mind. Not seeing any good
conduct above that, we should not revere, esteem and worship those good recluses
and brahmins. Those recluses and brahmins, without dispelled greed, aversion and
delusion, for sounds cognizable by ear-consciousness, ... re ... for scents
cognizable by nose consciousness, ... re ... for tastes cognizable by
tongue-consciousness, ... re ... for touches cognizable by body consciousness
and for thoughts cognizable by mind-consciousness internally not appeased, abide
with good and bad conduct by body, speech and mind. Such recluses and brahmins
should not be revered, esteemed and worshipped. For we too are without dispelled
greed, aversion and delusion, for thoughts cognizable by mind-consciousness,
internally not appeased, abide with good and bad conduct by body, speech and
mind. Not seeing any good conduct above that, we should not revere, esteem and
worship those good recluses and brahmins. Householders, you should reply those
ascetics of other beliefs in this manner.
Householders, if the homeless ascetics of other beliefs ask you: "Householders,
what kind of recluses and brahmins should be revered, esteemed and worshipped?"
You should reply them thus. Those recluses and brahmins, with dispelled greed,
aversion and delusion, for forms cognizable by eye-consciousness, internally
appeased, abide with the right conduct by body, speech and mind. Such recluses
and brahmins should be revered, esteemed and worshipped. For we are without
dispelled greed, aversion and delusion, for forms cognizable by
eye-consciousness, internally not appeased, abide with good and bad conduct by
body, speech and mind. Seeing good conduct in these recluses and brahmins above
us, we should revere, esteem and worship those good recluses and brahmins. Those
recluses and brahmins, with dispelled greed, aversion and delusion, for sounds
cognizable by ear-consciousness, ... re ... for scents cognizable by nose
consciousness, ... re ... for tastes cognizable by tongue-consciousness, ... re
... for touches cognizable by body consciousness, ... re ... and for thoughts
cognizable by mind-consciousness internally appeased, abide with the right
conduct by body, speech and mind. Such recluses and brahmins should be revered,
esteemed and worshipped. For we are without dispelled greed, aversion and
delusion, for thoughts cognizable by mind-consciousness, internally not
appeased, abide with good and bad conduct by body, speech and mind. Seeing good
conduct in these recluses and brahmins above us, we should revere, esteem and
worship those good recluses and brahmins. Householders, you should reply those
ascetics of other beliefs in this manner.
Householders, if the homeless ascetics of other beliefs ask you: Householders,
what are the ways and behavior patterns, of those venerable ones, that you say:
Indeed these venerable ones are free of greed, or fallen to train for it? Free
of aversion or fallen to train for it and free of delusion, or fallen to train
for it? You should reply them thus. Those venerable ones abide in forest
dwellings and leaves huts, where such forms cognizable by eye consciousness
could not be enjoyed. Such sounds cognizable ear-consciousness could not be
enjoyed, such scents cognizable nose-consciousness could not be enjoyed, such
tastes cognizable tongue-consciousness could not be enjoyed, such touches
cognizable body-consciousness could not be enjoyed. Because of these ways and
behavior patterns, we say that these venerable ones are free of greed, or fallen
to train for it, free of aversion or fallen to train for it, free of delusion,
or fallen to train for it.û
When this was said the brahmin householders of Nagaravindika said. `Good Gotama,
now we understand. It's like something overturned was reinstated ... re ... From
today, until we live, remember us as your disciples.û