12. Lohicca
Sutta
To
Lohicca
translated
by Bhikkhu Thanissaro
I have
heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was on a wandering tour among
the Kosalans with a large community of monks -- approximately 500 monks
in all -- and arrived at Salavatika. Now at that time the brahmin Lohicca
was reigning with feudatory rights over Salavatika -- together with its
wealth, grass, timber, and grain -- through a royal grant bestowed by King
Pasenadi Kosala. And at that time an evil viewpoint to this effect had
arisen to him: "Suppose that a priest or contemplative were to arrive at
a skillful doctrine. Having arrived at a skillful doctrine, he should not
declare it to anyone else, for what can one person do for another? It would
be just the same as if, having cut through an old bond, one were to make
another new bond. I say that such a thing is an evil, greedy deed, for
what can one person do for another?"
Then
Lohicca heard it said, "Gotama the contemplative -- the son of the Sakyans,
having gone forth from the Sakyan clan -- on a wandering tour among the
Kosalans with a large community of monks -- approximately 500 monks in
all -- has arrived at Salavatika. And of that Master Gotama this fine reputation
has spread: 'He is indeed a Blessed One, worthy, and rightly self-awakened,
consummate in knowledge and conduct, well-gone, a knower of the cosmos,
an unexcelled trainer of those persons ready to be tamed, teacher of human
and divine beings, awakened, blessed. He has made known -- having realized
it through direct knowledge -- this world with its devas, maras, and brahmas,
its generations with their contemplatives and priests, their rulers and
common people; has explained the Dhamma admirable in the beginning, admirable
in the middle, admirable in the end; has expounded the holy life both in
its particulars and in its essence, entirely perfect, surpassingly pure.
It is good to see such a worthy one.'"
So
Lohicca said to Rosika the barber: "Come, dear Rosika. Go to Gotama the
contemplative and, on arrival, ask whether he is free from illness and
affliction, is carefree, strong, and living in comfort, saying: 'The brahmin
Lohicca, Master Gotama, asks whether you are free from illness and affliction,
are carefree, strong, and living in comfort.' And then say: 'May Master
Gotama, together with the community of monks, consent to tomorrow's meal
with the brahmin Lohicca.'"
Responding,
"As you say, sir," to the brahmin Lohicca, Rosika the barber went to the
Blessed One and, on arrival, bowing down to him, sat to one side. As he
was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, "The brahmin Lohicca, lord,
asks whether the Blessed One is free from illness and affliction, is carefree,
strong, and living in comfort. And he says, 'May the Blessed One, together
with the community of monks, consent to tomorrow's meal with the brahmin
Lohicca.'" The Blessed One consented through silence.
Then
Rosika the barber, understanding the Blessed One's consent, rose from his
seat, bowed down to the Blessed One, circumambulated him -- keeping him
to his right -- and returned to the brahmin Lohicca. On arrival he said
to him, "I have informed the Blessed One of your words, [saying,] 'The
brahmin Lohicca, lord, asks whether the Blessed One is free from illness
and affliction, is carefree, strong, and living in comfort. And he says,
"May the Blessed One, together with the community of monks, consent to
tomorrow's meal with the brahmin Lohicca."' And the Blessed One has consented."
Then,
as the night was ending, the brahmin Lohicca had choice staple and non-staple
foods prepared in his own home and then said to Rosika the barber, "Come,
dear Rosika. Go to Gotama the contemplative and on arrival announce the
time, [saying,] 'It is time, Master Gotama. The meal is ready.'"
Responding,
"As you say, sir," to the brahmin Lohicca, Rosika the barber went to the
Blessed One and, on arrival, bowing down to him, stood to one side. As
he was standing there, he announced the time, [saying,] "It is time, lord.
The meal is ready."
Then
the Blessed One, having put on his robes early in the morning, carrying
his bowl and outer robe, went together with a community of monks to Salavatika.
Meanwhile, Rosika the barber was following right behind the Blessed One
and said to him, "Lord, an evil viewpoint to this effect has arisen to
the brahmin Lohicca: 'Suppose that a priest or contemplative were to arrive
at a skillful doctrine. Having arrived at a skillful doctrine, he should
not declare it to anyone else, for what can one person do for another?
It would be just the same as if, having cut through an old bond, one were
to make another new bond. I say that such a thing is an evil, greedy deed,
for what can one person do for another?' It would be good if the Blessed
One would extract the brahmin Lohicca from this evil viewpoint."
"Perhaps
that will be, Rosika. Perhaps that will be."
Then
the Blessed One went to the brahmin Lohicca's home. On arrival, he sat
down on a seat made ready. The brahmin Lohicca, with his own hand, served
and satisfied the Blessed One and the community of monks with choice staple
and non-staple foods. Then, when the Blessed One had eaten and had removed
his hand from his bowl, the brahmin Lohicca took a lower seat and sat down
to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him, "Is
it true, Lohicca, that an evil viewpoint to this effect has arisen to you:
'Suppose that a priest or contemplative were to arrive at a skillful doctrine.
Having arrived at a skillful doctrine, he should not declare it to anyone
else, for what can one person do for another? It would be just the same
as if, having cut through an old bond, one were to make another new bond.
I say that such a thing is an evil, greedy deed, for what can one person
do for another?'?"
"Yes,
Master Gotama."
"What
do you think, Lohicca. Don't you reign over Salavatika?"
"Yes,
Master Gotama."
"Now,
suppose someone were to say, 'The brahmin Lohicca reigns over Salavatika.
He alone should consume the fruits and revenues of Salavatika, and not
share them with others.' Would someone speaking in this way be a creator
of obstacles for your subjects, or would he not?"
"He
would be a creator of obstacles, Master Gotama."
"And,
being a creator of obstacles, would he be sympathetic for their welfare
or not?"
"He
would not be sympathetic for their welfare, Master Gotama."
"And
in one not sympathetic for their welfare, would his mind be established
in good will for them, or in animosity?"
"In
animosity, Master Gotama."
"When
the mind is established in animosity, is there wrong view or right view?"
"Wrong
view, Master Gotama."
"Now,
for one of wrong view, Lohicca, I tell you, there is one of two destinations:
either hell or the animal womb.
"What
do you think, Lohicca. Doesn't King Pasenadi Kosala reign over Kasi and
Kosala?"
"Yes,
Master Gotama."
"Now,
suppose someone were to say, 'King Pasenadi Kosala reigns over Kasi and
Kosala. He alone should consume the fruits and revenues of Kasi and Kosala,
and not share them with others.' Would someone speaking in this way be
a creator of obstacles for King Pasenadi's subjects -- you and others --
or would he not?"
"He
would be a creator of obstacles, Master Gotama."
"And,
being a creator of obstacles, would he be sympathetic for their welfare
or not?"
"He
would not be sympathetic for their welfare, Master Gotama."
"And
in one not sympathetic for their welfare, would his mind be established
in good will for them, or in animosity?"
"In
animosity, Master Gotama."
"When
the mind is established in animosity, is there wrong view or right view?"
"Wrong
view, Master Gotama."
"Now,
for one of wrong view, Lohicca, I tell you, there is one of two destinations:
either hell or the animal womb.
"So
then, Lohicca, if anyone were to say, 'The brahmin Lohicca reigns over
Salavatika. He alone should consume the fruits and revenues of Salavatika,
and not share them with others,' he, speaking in this way, would be a creator
of obstacles for your subjects. Being a creator of obstacles, he would
not be sympathetic for their welfare. In one not sympathetic for their
welfare,
the mind would be established in animosity for them. When the mind is established
in animosity, there is wrong view. For one of wrong view, I tell you, there
is one of two destinations: either hell or the animal womb. In the same
way, if anyone were to say, 'Suppose that a priest or contemplative were
to arrive at a skillful doctrine. Having arrived at a skillful doctrine,
he should not declare it to anyone else, for what can one person do for
another? It would be just the same as if, having cut through an old bond,
one were to make another new bond. I say that such a thing is an evil,
greedy deed, for what can one person do for another?' -- he, speaking in
this way, would be a creator of obstacles for those children of good family
who, coming to the doctrine and discipline revealed by the Tathagata, attain
the sort of grand distinction where they attain the fruit of stream-entry,
the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of non-returning, the fruit of arahantship;
and for those who ripen deva wombs for the sake of bringing about the deva
state. Being a creator of obstacles, he would not be sympathetic for their
welfare. In one not sympathetic for their welfare, the mind would be established
in animosity for them. When the mind is established in animosity, there
is wrong view. For one of wrong view, I tell you, there is one of two destinations:
either hell or the animal womb.
"And
if anyone were to say, 'King Pasenadi Kosala reigns over Kasi and Kosala.
He alone should consume the fruits and revenues of Kasi and Kosala, and
not share them with others,' he, speaking in this way, would be a creator
of obstacles for King Pasenadi's subjects -- you and others. Being a creator
of obstacles, he would not be sympathetic for their welfare. In one not
sympathetic for their welfare, the mind would be established in animosity
for them. When the mind is established in animosity, there is wrong view.
For one of wrong view, I tell you, there is one of two destinations: either
hell or the animal womb. In the same way, if anyone were to say, 'Suppose
that a priest or contemplative were to arrive at a skillful doctrine. Having
arrived at a skillful doctrine, he should not declare it to anyone else,
for what can one person do for another? It would be just the same as if,
having cut through an old bond, one were to make another new bond. I say
that such a thing is an evil, greedy deed, for what can one person do for
another?' -- he, speaking in this way, would be a creator of obstacles
for those children of good family who, coming to the doctrine and discipline
revealed by the Tathagata, attain the sort of grand distinction where they
attain the fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit
of non-returning, the fruit of arahantship; and also for those who ripen
deva wombs for the sake of bringing about the deva state. Being a creator
of obstacles, he would not be sympathetic for their welfare. In one not
sympathetic for their welfare, the mind would be established in animosity
for them. When the mind is established in animosity, there is wrong view.
For one of wrong view, I tell you, there is one of two destinations: either
hell or the animal womb.
"Lohicca,
there are these three sorts of teacher who are worthy of criticism in the
world, and when anyone criticizes these sorts of teachers, the criticism
is true, factual, righteous, and unblameworthy. Which three?
"There
is the case where a certain teacher has not attained the goal of the contemplative
life for which one goes forth from the home life into homelessness. He,
not having attained that goal of the contemplative life, teaches his disciples,
'This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.' His disciples don't
listen, don't lend ear, don't put forth an intent for gnosis. They practice
in a way deviating from the teacher's instructions. He should be criticized,
saying, 'You, venerable sir, have not attained the goal of the contemplative
life for which one goes forth from the home life into homelessness. Not
having attained that goal of the contemplative life, you teach your disciples,
"This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness." Your disciples
don't listen, don't lend ear, don't put forth an intent for gnosis, and
practice in a way deviating from the teacher's instructions. It's just
as if a man were to pursue [a woman] who pulls away, or to embrace one
who turns her back. I say that such a thing is an evil, greedy deed, for
what can one person do for another?' This is the first teacher who is worthy
of criticism in the world, and when anyone criticizes this sort of teacher,
the criticism is true, factual, righteous, and unblameworthy.
"Then
there is the case where a certain teacher has not attained the goal of
the contemplative life for which one goes forth from the home life into
homelessness. He, not having attained that goal of the contemplative life,
teaches his disciples, 'This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.'
His disciples listen, lend ear, put forth an intent for gnosis, and practice
in a way not deviating from the teacher's instructions. He should be criticized,
saying, 'You, venerable sir, have not attained the goal of the contemplative
life for which one goes forth from the home life into homelessness. Not
having attained that goal of the contemplative life, you teach your disciples,
"This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness." Your disciples
listen, lend ear, put forth an intent for gnosis, and practice in a way
not deviating from the teacher's instructions. It's just as if a man, neglecting
his own field, were to imagine that another's field should be weeded. I
say that such a thing is an evil, greedy deed, for what can one person
do for another?' This is the second teacher who is worthy of criticism
in the world, and when anyone criticizes this sort of teacher, the criticism
is true, factual, righteous, and unblameworthy.
"Then
there is the case where a certain teacher has attained the goal of the
contemplative life for which one goes forth from the home life into homelessness.
He, having attained that goal of the contemplative life, teaches his disciples,
'This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.' His disciples don't
listen, don't lend ear, don't put forth an intent for gnosis. They practice
in a way deviating from the teacher's instructions. He should be criticized,
saying, 'You, venerable sir, have attained the goal of the contemplative
life for which one goes forth from the home life into homelessness. Having
attained that goal of the contemplative life, you teach your disciples,
"This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness." Your disciples
don't listen, don't lend ear, don't put forth an intent for gnosis, and
practice in a way deviating from the teacher's instructions. It's just
as if, having cut through an old bond, one were to make another new bond.
I say that such a thing is an evil, greedy deed, for what can one person
do for another?' This is the third teacher who is worthy of criticism in
the world, and when anyone criticizes this sort of teacher, the criticism
is true, factual, righteous, and unblameworthy."
When
this was said, the brahmin Lohicca said to the Blessed One, "But is there,
Master Gotama, any teacher who is not worthy of criticism in the world?"
"There
is, Lohicca, a teacher who is not worthy of criticism in the world."
"But
which teacher, Master Gotama, is not worthy of criticism in the world?"
"There
is the case, Lohicca, where a Tathagata appears in the world, worthy and
rightly self-awakened. He teaches the Dhamma admirable in its beginning,
admirable in its middle, admirable in its end. He proclaims the holy life
both in its particulars and in its essence, entirely perfect, surpassingly
pure.
"A
householder or householder's son, hearing the Dhamma, gains conviction
in the Tathagata and reflects: 'Household life is confining, a dusty path.
The life gone forth is like the open air. It is not easy living at home
to practice the holy life totally perfect, totally pure, like a polished
shell. What if I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre
robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness?'
"So
after some time he abandons his mass of wealth, large or small; leaves
his circle of relatives, large or small; shaves off his hair and beard,
puts on the ochre robes, and goes forth from the household life into homelessness.
"When
he has thus gone forth, he lives restrained by the rules of the monastic
code, seeing danger in the slightest faults. Consummate in his virtue,
he guards the doors of his senses, is possessed of mindfulness and alertness,
and is content [for details, see DN 2]...
(Abandoning
the Hindrances)
"Endowed
with this noble aggregate of virtue, this noble restraint over the sense
faculties, this noble mindfulness and alertness, and this noble contentment,
he seeks out a secluded dwelling: a wilderness, the shade of a tree, a
mountain, a glen, a hillside cave, a charnel ground, a forest grove, the
open air, a heap of straw. After his meal, returning from his alms round,
he sits down, crosses his legs, holds his body erect, and brings mindfulness
to the fore.
"Abandoning
covetousness with regard to the world, he dwells with an awareness devoid
of covetousness. He cleanses his mind of covetousness. Abandoning ill will
and anger, he dwells with an awareness devoid of ill will, sympathetic
with the welfare of all living beings. He cleanses his mind of ill will
and anger. Abandoning sloth and drowsiness, he dwells with an awareness
devoid of sloth and drowsiness, mindful, alert, percipient of light. He
cleanses his mind of sloth and drowsiness. Abandoning restlessness and
anxiety, he dwells undisturbed, his mind inwardly stilled. He cleanses
his mind of restlessness and anxiety. Abandoning uncertainty, he dwells
having crossed over uncertainty, with no perplexity with regard to skillful
mental qualities. He cleanses his mind of uncertainty.
"Suppose
that a man, taking a loan, invests it in his business affairs. His business
affairs succeed. He repays his old debts and there is extra left over for
maintaining his wife. The thought would occur to him, 'Before, taking a
loan, I invested it in my business affairs. Now my business affairs have
succeeded. I have repaid my old debts and there is extra left over for
maintaining my wife.' Because of that he would experience joy and happiness.
"Now
suppose that a man falls sick -- in pain and seriously ill. He does not
enjoy his meals, and there is no strength in his body. As time passes,
he eventually recovers from that sickness. He enjoys his meals and there
is strength in his body. The thought would occur to him, 'Before, I was
sick...Now I am recovered from that sickness. I enjoy my meals and there
is strength in my body.' Because of that he would experience joy and happiness.
"Now
suppose that a man is bound in prison. As time passes, he eventually is
released from that bondage, safe and sound, with no loss of property. The
thought would occur to him, 'Before, I was bound in prison. Now I am released
from that bondage, safe and sound, with no loss of my property.' Because
of that he would experience joy and happiness.
"Now
suppose that a man is a slave, subject to others, not subject to himself,
unable to go where he likes. As time passes, he eventually is released
from that slavery, subject to himself, not subject to others, freed, able
to go where he likes. The thought would occur to him, 'Before, I was a
slave...Now I am released from that slavery, subject to myself, not subject
to others, freed, able to go where I like.' Because of that he would experience
joy and happiness.
"Now
suppose that a man, carrying money and goods, is traveling by a road through
desolate country. As time passes, he eventually emerges from that desolate
country, safe and sound, with no loss of property. The thought would occur
to him, 'Before, carrying money and goods, I was traveling by a road through
desolate country. Now I have emerged from that desolate country, safe and
sound, with no loss of my property.' Because of that he would experience
joy and happiness.
"In
the same way, when these five hindrances are not abandoned in himself,
the monk regards it as a debt, a sickness, a prison, slavery, a road through
desolate country. But when these five hindrances are abandoned in himself,
he regards it as unindebtedness, good health, release from prison, freedom,
a place of security. Seeing that they have been abandoned within him, he
becomes glad. Glad, he becomes enraptured. Enraptured, his body grows tranquil.
His body tranquil, he is sensitive to pleasure. Feeling pleasure, his mind
becomes concentrated.
(The
Four Jhanas)
"Quite
withdrawn from sensual pleasures, withdrawn from unskillful mental qualities,
he enters and remains in the first jhana: rapture and pleasure born from
withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought and evaluation. He permeates
and pervades, suffuses and fills this very body with the rapture and pleasure
born from withdrawal. Just as if a skilled bathman or bathman's apprentice
would pour bath powder into a brass basin and knead it together, sprinkling
it again and again with water, so that his ball of bath powder -- saturated,
moisture-laden, permeated within and without -- would nevertheless not
drip; even so, the monk permeates...this very body with the rapture and
pleasure born of withdrawal. There is nothing of his entire body unpervaded
by rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal. When a disciple of a teacher
attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca, that is a teacher not
worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were to criticize this
sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual, unrighteous,
and blameworthy.
"Furthermore,
with the stilling of directed thought and evaluation, he enters and remains
in the second jhana: rapture and pleasure born of composure, one-pointedness
of awareness free from directed thought and evaluation -- internal assurance.
He permeates and pervades, suffuses and fills this very body with the rapture
and pleasure born of composure. Just like a lake with spring-water welling
up from within, having no inflow from the east, west, north, or south,
and with the skies supplying abundant showers time and again, so that the
cool fount of water welling up from within the lake would permeate and
pervade, suffuse and fill it with cool waters, there being no part of the
lake unpervaded by the cool waters; even so, the monk permeates...this
very body with the rapture and pleasure born of composure. There is nothing
of his entire body unpervaded by rapture and pleasure born of composure.
When a disciple of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca,
that is a teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were
to criticize this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual,
unrighteous, and blameworthy.
"And
furthermore, with the fading of rapture, he remains in equanimity, mindful
and alert, and physically sensitive of pleasure. He enters and remains
in the third jhana, of which the noble ones declare, 'Equanimous and mindful,
he has a pleasurable abiding.' He permeates and pervades, suffuses and
fills this very body with the pleasure divested of rapture. Just as in
a lotus pond, some of the lotuses, born and growing in the water, stay
immersed in the water and flourish without standing up out of the water,
so that they are permeated and pervaded, suffused and filled with cool
water from their roots to their tips, and nothing of those lotuses would
be unpervaded with cool water; even so, the monk permeates...this very
body with the pleasure divested of rapture. There is nothing of his entire
body unpervaded with pleasure divested of rapture. When a disciple of a
teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca, that is a teacher
not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were to criticize this
sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual, unrighteous,
and blameworthy.
"And
furthermore, with the abandoning of pleasure and pain -- as with the earlier
disappearance of elation and distress -- he enters and remains in the fourth
jhana: purity of equanimity and mindfulness, neither-pleasure-nor-pain.
He sits, permeating the body with a pure, bright awareness. Just as if
a man were sitting covered from head to foot with a white cloth so that
there would be no part of his body to which the white cloth did not extend;
even so, the monk sits, permeating the body with a pure, bright awareness.
There is nothing of his entire body unpervaded by pure, bright awareness.
When a disciple of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca,
that is a teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were
to criticize this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual,
unrighteous, and blameworthy.
(Insight
Knowledge)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he
directs and inclines it to knowledge and vision. He discerns: 'This body
of mine is endowed with form, composed of the four primary elements, born
from mother and father, nourished with rice and porridge, subject to inconstancy,
rubbing, pressing, dissolution, and dispersion. And this consciousness
of mine is supported here and bound up here.' Just as if there were a beautiful
beryl gem of the purest water -- eight faceted, well polished, clear, limpid,
consummate in all its aspects, and going through the middle of it was a
blue, yellow, red, white, or brown thread -- and a man with good eyesight,
taking it in his hand, were to reflect on it thus: 'This is a beautiful
beryl gem of the purest water, eight faceted, well polished, clear, limpid,
consummate in all its aspects. And this, going through the middle of it,
is a blue, yellow, red, white, or brown thread.' In the same way -- with
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability --
the monk directs and inclines it to knowledge and vision. He discerns:
'This body of mine is endowed with form, composed of the four primary elements,
born from mother and father, nourished with rice and porridge, subject
to inconstancy, rubbing, pressing, dissolution, and dispersion. And this
consciousness of mine is supported here and bound up here.' When a disciple
of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca, that is a
teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were to criticize
this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual, unrighteous,
and blameworthy.
(The
Mind-made Body)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he
directs and inclines it to creating a mind-made body. From this body he
creates another body, endowed with form, made of the mind, complete in
all its parts, not inferior in its faculties. Just as if a man were to
draw
a reed from its sheath. The thought would occur to him: 'This is the sheath,
this is the reed. The sheath is one thing, the reed another, but the reed
has been drawn out from the sheath.' Or as if a man were to draw a sword
from its scabbard. The thought would occur to him: 'This is the sword,
this is the scabbard. The sword is one thing, the scabbard another, but
the sword has been drawn out from the scabbard.' Or as if a man were to
pull a snake out from its slough. The thought would occur to him: 'This
is the snake, this is the slough. The snake is one thing, the slough another,
but the snake has been pulled out from the slough.' In the same way --
with his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free
from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability,
the monk directs and inclines it to creating a mind-made body. From this
body he creates another body, endowed with form, made of the mind, complete
in all its parts, not inferior in its faculties. When a disciple of a teacher
attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca, that is a teacher not
worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were to criticize this
sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual, unrighteous,
and blameworthy.
(Supranormal
Powers)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he
directs and inclines it to the modes of supranormal powers. He wields manifold
supranormal powers. Having been one he becomes many; having been many he
becomes one. He appears. He vanishes. He goes unimpeded through walls,
ramparts, and mountains as if through space. He dives in and out of the
earth as if it were water. He walks on water without sinking as if it were
dry land. Sitting cross-legged he flies through the air like a winged bird.
With his hand he touches and strokes even the sun and moon, so mighty and
powerful. He exercises influence with his body even as far as the Brahma
worlds. Just as a skilled potter or his assistant could craft from well-prepared
clay whatever kind of pottery vessel he likes, or as a skilled ivory-carver
or his assistant could craft from well-prepared ivory any kind of ivory-work
he likes, or as a skilled goldsmith or his assistant could craft from well-prepared
gold any kind of gold article he likes; in the same way -- with his mind
thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects,
pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability -- the monk
directs and inclines it to the modes of supranormal powers...He exercises
influence with his body even as far as the Brahma worlds. When a disciple
of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca, that is a
teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were to criticize
this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual, unrighteous,
and blameworthy.
(Clairaudience)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he
directs and inclines it to the divine ear-element. He hears -- by means
of the divine ear-element, purified and surpassing the human -- both kinds
of sounds: divine and human, whether near or far. Just as if a man traveling
along a highway were to hear the sounds of kettledrums, small drums, conchs,
cymbals, and tom-toms. He would know, 'That is the sound of kettledrums,
that is the sound of small drums, that is the sound of conchs, that is
the sound of cymbals, and that is the sound of tom-toms.' In the same way
-- with his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished,
free from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability
-- the monk directs and inclines it to the divine ear-element. He hears
-- by means of the divine ear-element, purified and surpassing the human
-- both kinds of sounds: divine and human, whether near or far. When a
disciple of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca,
that is a teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were
to criticize this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual,
unrighteous, and blameworthy.
(Mind
Reading)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he
directs and inclines it to knowledge of the awareness of other beings.
He knows the awareness of other beings, other individuals, having encompassed
it with his own awareness. He discerns a mind with passion as a mind with
passion, and a mind without passion as a mind without passion. He discerns
a mind with aversion as a mind with aversion, and a mind without aversion
as a mind without aversion. He discerns a mind with delusion as a mind
with delusion, and a mind without delusion as a mind without delusion.
He discerns a restricted mind as a restricted mind, and a scattered mind
as a scattered mind. He discerns an enlarged mind as an enlarged mind,
and an unenlarged mind as an unenlarged mind. He discerns an excelled mind
[one that is not at the most excellent level] as an excelled mind, and
an unexcelled mind as an unexcelled mind. He discerns a concentrated mind
as a concentrated mind, and an unconcentrated mind as an unconcentrated
mind. He discerns a released mind as a released mind, and an unreleased
mind as an unreleased mind. Just as if a young woman -- or man -- fond
of ornaments, examining the reflection of her own face in a bright mirror
or a bowl of clear water would know 'blemished' if it were blemished, or
'unblemished' if it were not. In the same way -- with his mind thus concentrated,
purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects, pliant, malleable,
steady, and attained to imperturbability -- the monk directs and inclines
it to knowledge of the awareness of other beings. He knows the awareness
of other beings, other individuals, having encompassed it with his own
awareness. He discerns a mind with passion as a mind with passion, and
a mind without passion as a mind without passion...a released mind as a
released mind, and an unreleased mind as an unreleased mind. When a disciple
of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca, that is a
teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were to criticize
this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual, unrighteous,
and blameworthy.
(Recollection
of Past Lives)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he
directs and inclines it to knowledge of the recollection of past lives
(lit: previous homes). He recollects his manifold past lives, i.e., one
birth, two births, three births, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty,
fifty, one hundred, one thousand, one hundred thousand, many aeons of cosmic
contraction, many aeons of cosmic expansion, many aeons of cosmic contraction
and expansion, [recollecting], 'There I had such a name, belonged to such
a clan, had such an appearance. Such was my food, such my experience of
pleasure and pain, such the end of my life. Passing away from that state,
I re-arose there. There too I had such a name, belonged to such a clan,
had such an appearance. Such was my food, such my experience of pleasure
and pain, such the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re-arose
here.' Thus he recollects his manifold past lives in their modes and details.
Just as if a man were to go from his home village to another village, and
then from that village to yet another village, and then from that village
back to his home village. The thought would occur to him, 'I went from
my home village to that village over there. There I stood in such a way,
sat in such a way, talked in such a way, and remained silent in such a
way. From that village I went to that village over there, and there I stood
in such a way, sat in such a way, talked in such a way, and remained silent
in such a way. From that village I came back home.' In the same way --
with his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free
from defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability
-- the monk directs and inclines it to knowledge of the recollection of
past lives. He recollects his manifold past lives...in their modes and
details. When a disciple of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction,
Lohicca, that is a teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if
anyone were to criticize this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false,
unfactual, unrighteous, and blameworthy.
(The
Passing Away and Re-appearance of Beings)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he
directs and inclines it to knowledge of the passing away and re-appearance
of beings. He sees -- by means of the divine eye, purified and surpassing
the human -- beings passing away and re-appearing, and he discerns how
they are inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate
in accordance with their kamma: 'These beings -- who were endowed with
bad conduct of body, speech, and mind, who reviled the noble ones, held
wrong views and undertook actions under the influence of wrong views --
with the break-up of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane
of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell. But these
beings -- who were endowed with good conduct of body, speech, and mind,
who did not revile the noble ones, who held right views and undertook actions
under the influence of right views -- with the break-up of the body, after
death, have re-appeared in the good destinations, in the heavenly world.'
Thus -- by means of the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human --
he sees beings passing away and re-appearing, and he discerns how they
are inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate
in accordance with their kamma. Just as if there were a tall building in
the central square [of a town], and a man with good eyesight standing on
top of it were to see people entering a house, leaving it, walking along
the street, and sitting in the central square. The thought would occur
to him, 'These people are entering a house, leaving it, walking along the
streets, and sitting in the central square.' In the same way -- with his
mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects,
pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability -- the monk
directs and inclines it to knowledge of the passing away and re-appearance
of beings. He sees -- by means of the divine eye, purified and surpassing
the human -- beings passing away and re-appearing, and he discerns how
they are inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate
in accordance with their kamma...When a disciple of a teacher attains this
sort of grand distinction, Lohicca, that is a teacher not worthy of criticism
in the world, and if anyone were to criticize this sort of teacher, the
criticism would be false, unfactual, unrighteous, and blameworthy.
(The
Ending of Mental Fermentations)
"With
his mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from
defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, the
monk directs and inclines it to the knowledge of the ending of the mental
fermentations. He discerns, as it is actually present, that 'This is stress...This
is the origination of stress...This is the cessation of stress...This is
the way leading to the cessation of stress...These are mental fermentations...This
is the origination of fermentations...This is the cessation of fermentations...This
is the way leading to the cessation of fermentations.' His heart, thus
knowing, thus seeing, is released from the fermentation of sensuality,
the fermentation of becoming, the fermentation of ignorance. With release,
there is the knowledge, 'Released.' He discerns that 'Birth is ended, the
holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world.'
Just as if there were a pool of water in a mountain glen -- clear, limpid,
and unsullied -- where a man with good eyesight standing on the bank could
see shells, gravel, and pebbles, and also shoals of fish swimming about
and resting, and it would occur to him, 'This pool of water is clear, limpid,
and unsullied. Here are these shells, gravel, and pebbles, and also these
shoals of fish swimming about and resting.' In the same way -- with his
mind thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects,
pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability -- the monk
directs and inclines it to the knowledge of the ending of the mental fermentations.
He discerns, as it is actually present, that 'This is stress...This is
the origination of stress...This is the cessation of stress...This is the
way leading to the cessation of stress...These are mental fermentations...This
is the origination of fermentations...This is the cessation of fermentations...This
is the way leading to the cessation of fermentations.' His heart, thus
knowing, thus seeing, is released from the fermentation of sensuality,
the fermentation of becoming, the fermentation of ignorance. With release,
there is the knowledge, 'Released.' He discerns that 'Birth is ended, the
holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world.'
When a disciple of a teacher attains this sort of grand distinction, Lohicca,
that is a teacher not worthy of criticism in the world, and if anyone were
to criticize this sort of teacher, the criticism would be false, unfactual,
unrighteous, and blameworthy."
When
this was said, the brahmin Lohicca said to the Blessed One: "Master Gotama,
it's as if a man, having seized by the hair another man who was falling
into the pit of hell, were to pull him up and set him on firm ground. In
the same way, Master Gotama has pulled me up as I was falling into the
pit of hell and has set me on firm ground. Magnificent, Master Gotama!
Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what had been overturned,
were to reveal what was hidden, were to show the way to one who was lost,
or were to hold up a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes could see
forms, in the same way Master Gotama has -- through many lines of reasoning
-- made the Dhamma clear. I go to Master Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma,
and to the community of monks. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower
who has gone to him for refuge, from this day forward, for life."
[Vietnamese
version]
Source:
Access-to-Insight, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/dn12.html