Majjhima Nikaya - Acchariyabbhutadhamma Sutta

123. Acchariyabbhutadhamma Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA III
3. 3. Acchariyabbhutadhammasuttaü
(123) The Discourse On Wonderful Things

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by
Anathapindika in Jeta's grove in Savatthi. Then a lot of bhikkhus after the
mid-day meal, were assembled and seated in the attendance hall and this
conversation arose among them
ßFriends, it is wonderful and surprising how the Thus Gone One knows the
Enlightened Ones of yore. How they came to final extinction, cut the
diffusedness of the world, cut short their journey and cameto the end of the
journey and end of all unpleasàntness. Saying, those Blessed Ones were of such
birth, name, clan, virtues, thoughts, wisdom, abidings and such releases,' When
this was said venerable ânanda said thus; `Friends, indeed the Thus Gone One has
wonderful and surprising things and is endowed with them.û
When this conversation was going on, the Blessed One got up from his seclusion
approached the attendance hall, sat on the prepared seat and addressed the
bhikkhus. `Bhikkhus, with what talk were you seated here and what other talk did
take place?û
ßVenerable sir, after the mid-day meal, we were assembled and seated in the
attendance hall and this conversation arose among us. Friends, it is wonderful
and surprising how the Thus Gone One knows the Enlightened Ones of yore. How
they came to final extinction, cut the diffusedness of the world, cut short
their journey and cameto the end of the journey and end of all unpleasàntness.
Saying, those Blessed Ones were of such birth, name, clan, virtues, thoughts,
wisdom, abidings and such releases. Venerable sir, when this was said venerable
ânanda said thus; Friends, indeed the Thus Gone One has wonderful and surprising
things and is endowed with them. When this conversation was going on, the
Blessed One arrived.
Then the Blessed One addressed venerable ânanda. `If so ânanda, for the great
pleasure of many declare the wonderful and surprising things of the Thus Gone
One.û
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, the one aspiring enlightenment was born with the
gods of happiness, with mindful awareness. " Venerable sir, this I bear as
something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One.
`Venerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, the one aspiring enlightenment abode with the gods
of happiness, with mindful awareness. " Venerable sir, this I bear as something
wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, the one aspiring enlightenment abode with the gods
of happiness, until the end of that life span. " Venerable sir, this I bear as
something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, the one aspiring enlightenment, disappeared fromthe
gods of happiness, and descended into the mother's womb with mindful awareness.
" Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful and surprising of the
Blessed One
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, disappeared
fromthe gods of happiness, and descended into the mother's womb, in the world of
gods and men, Màras, Brahmàs, recluses and brahmins there arose an immeasurable
effulgence transcending the splendour of the gods. Even the dark
uncoveredrecesses between the world systems where the resplendent moon and sun
do not shine there arose an immeasurable effulgence transcending the splendour
of the gods. Beings born there saw each other on account of that effulgence and
knew that there were other beings born there. The ten thousandfold world system
shivered and trembled on account of that immeasurable effulgence transccending
the splendour of the gods" Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful and
surprising of the Blessed One
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, was born to
this world from the mother's womb four gods stood guarding the four directions.
They thought may the one aspiring enlightenment or his mother be not hurt by a
human, non human or anyone in the world " Venerable sir, this I bear as
something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One.
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, was born into
this world from the mother's womb, the mother by nature was virtuous, abstaining
from, destroying living things, taking the not given, misbehaving sexually,
telling lies and intoxicating drinks" Venerable sir, this I bear as something
wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, from the day the one aspiring enlightenment,
descended to the mother's womb, sensual desires about men did not arise in the
mind of his mother. She had risen above attachment to thoughts of any man"
Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed
One `Venerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, was born to
this world the mother of the one aspiring enlightenment was endowed and provided
with the five sense pleasures" Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful
and surprising of the Blessed One .
`Venerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, was born to
this world the mother of the one aspiring enlightenment was healthy, happy and
had no ailments what so ever. She could see the one in her womb complete with
all limbs large and small. Like a well completed comely lapis gem with eight
facets, with a thread of blue, yellow, red, white or pale running through it. A
man who could see would place it in his palm and would reflect. This is the well
completed comely lapis gem with eight facets, with a thread of blue, yellow,
red, white or pale running through it In the same manner, when the one aspiring
enlightenment, was born to this world the mother of the one aspiring
enlightenment was healthy, happy and had no ailments what so ever. She could see
the one in her womb complete with all limbs large and small. Venerable sir, this
I bear as something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One .
`Venerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, seven days after the birth ofthe one aspiring
enlightenment, the mother of the one aspiring enlightenment passed away and was
born with the happy gods" Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful and
surprising of the Blessed One .
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, other women give birth bearing the womb for about
nine or ten months. That is not so with the one aspiring enlightenment, the
mother of the one aspiring enlightenment bore the womb for complete ten months
and gaves birth" Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful and
surprising of the Blessed One .
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, other women give birth either seated or lyingThat is
not so with the one aspiring enlightenment, the mother of the one aspiring
enlightenment gave birth standing" Venerable sir, this I bear as something
wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One .
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, was born in
this world first the gods accepted him and next humans" Venerable sir, this I
bear as something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One .
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, was born in
this world, before he placed a foot on earth, four gods accept him and placing
him in front of the mother said, queen be happy, you have given birth to a
powerful son. " Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful and surprising
of the Blessed One . `Venerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed
One himself and you acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring
enlightenment, was born, he was born pure uncontaminated with water in the
passage, phlegm, blood or any impurity. As though a gem was placed on a Kashmire
cloth. The Kashmire cloth is not soiled by the gem, nor the gem by the Kashmire
cloth. This is on account of the purity of both. In the same manner when the one
aspiring enlightenment, was born he was born pure uncontaminated with water in
the passage, phlegm, blood or any impurity. " Venerable sir, this I bear as
something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One .
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, soon after the one aspiring enlightenment was born
he stood on his feet, and while the white umbrella was borne over him, went
seven steps to the north, looked in all directions and utterred majestic words.
I'm the chief in this world, the most accepted and the most senior. This is my
last birth, I will not be born again. " Venerable sir, this I bear as something
wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One
ßVenerable sir I have heard these words from the Blessed One himself and you
acknowledged them. "ânanda, when the one aspiring enlightenment, was born in
this world, in the world of gods and men, Màras, Brahmàs, recluses and brahmins
there arose an immeasurable effulgence transcending the splendour of the gods.
Even the dark uncoveredrecesses between the world systems where the resplendent
moon and sun do not shine there arose an immeasurable effulgence transcending
the splendour of the gods. Beings born there saw each other on account of that
effulgence and knew that there were other beings born there. The ten
thousandfold world system shivered and trembled on account of that immeasurable
effulgence transccending the splendour of the gods" Venerable sir, this I bear
as something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed One.û
ßThen Ananda, bear this too as something wonderful and surprising of the Blessed
One. Ananda, to the Thus Gone One knowing feelings, arise, persist and fade,
knowingperceptions, arise, persist and fade, knowing thoughts, arise, persist
and fade. Ananda, bear this too as something wonderful and surprising of the
Blessed One.
ßVenerable sir, that to the Thus Gone One knowing feelings, arise, persist and
fade, knowingperceptions, arise, persist and fade, knowing thoughts, arise,
persist and fade. Venerable sir, this I bear as something wonderful and
surprising of the Blessed One.û
Venerable Ananda said thus, and was delighted knowing the Teacher acknowledges
my words. Those bhikkhus delighted in the words of the venerable Ananda.