IV.DEITIES
32(1)Heedfulness
An expanded parallel of 6:32.
Then,when the night had advanced,a certain deity of stunning beauty,illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove,[28]approached the Blessed One,
paid homage to him,stood to one side,
and said to the Blessed One:
"Bhante,there are these seven qualities that lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What seven?
Reverence for the Teacher,reverence for the Dhamma,reverence for the Sangha,rever-ence for the training,reverence for concentration,reverence for heedfulness,and reverence for hospitality.
These seven qualities lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu."
This is what that deity said.
The Teacher agreed.
Then that deity,[thinking]:"The Teacher agrees with me,"paid homage to the Blessed One,circumambulated him keeping the right side toward him,and disappeared right there.
Then,when the night had passed,the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus:
"Last night,bhikkhus,when the night had advanced;a certain deity of stunning beauty,illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove,approached me,
paid homage to me,stood to oneside,
and said to me:
Bhante,there are these seven qualities that lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What seven?
Reverence for the Teacher....and reverence for hospitality.These seven qualities lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.'
This is what that deity said.
Then that deity paid homage to me,circumambulated me keeping the right side toward me,and disappeared right there."
Respectful toward the Teacher,respectful toward the Dhamma,deeply revering the Sangha,
respectful toward concentration,ardent,deeply respectful toward the training;
respectful toward heedfulness,holding hospitality in reverence:
this bhikkhu cannot fall away,but is close to nibbāna.
33(2)Moral Shame
An expanded parallel of 6:33.
"Last night,bhikkhus,when the night had advanced,a certain deity of stunning beauty,illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove,[29]approached me,
paid homage to me,stood to one side,
and said to me:
Bhante,there are these seven qualities thatlead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What seven?
Reverence for the Teacher,reverence for the Dhamma,reverence for the Sangha,reverence for the trairing,reverence for concentration,reverence for a sense of moral shame,and reverence for moral dread.
These seven qualities lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.'
This is what that deity said.
Then the deity paid homage to me,circumambulated me keeping the right side toward me,and disappeared right there."
Respectful toward the Teacher,respectful toward the Dhamma,deeply revering the Sangha,
respectful toward concentration,ardent,deeply respectful toward the training;
endowed with moral shame and moral dread,deferential and reverential:
such a one cannot fall away but is close to nibbāna.
34(3)Easy to Correct(1)
"Last night,bhikkhus,when the night had advanced,a certaindeity of sturining beauty,illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove,approached me,paid homage to me,stood to one side,andsaid to me:
"Bhante,there are these seven qualities that lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What seven?
Reverence for theTeacher,reverence for the Dhamma,reverence for the Sangha,reverence for the training,reverence for concentration,being easy to correct,and good friendship.
These seven qualities lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.'
This is what that deity said.
Then the deity paid homage to me,circumambulated me keeping the right side toward me,and disappeared right there."
Respectful toward the Teacher,respectful toward the Dhamma,deeply revering the Sangha,
respectful toward concentration,ardent,deeply respectful toward the training;
cultivating good friends,being easy to correct;
deferential and reverential:
such a one cannot fall away but is close to nibbana.[30]
35(4)Easy to Correct(2)
An expanded parallel of 6:69,without the preliminary portion of the latter.
"Last night,bhikkhus,when the night had advanced,a certaindeity of stunning beauty,illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove,approached me,paid homage to me,stood to one side,andsaid to me:'Bhante,there are these seven qualities that lead tothe non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What seven?
Reverence for theTeacher,reverence for the Dhamma,reverence for the Sangha,reverence for the training,reverence for concentration,being easy to correct,and good friendship.
These seven qualities leadto the non-decline of a bhikkhu.'
This is what that deity said.
Then the deity paid homage to me,circumambulated me keeping the right side toward me,and disappeared right there."
When this was said,the Venerable Sariputta said to the Blessed One:
"Bhante,I understand in detail the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One has spoken in brief to be as follows.
Here,a bhikkhu himself reveres the Teacher and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher;
he encourages other bhikkhus who do not revere the Teacher to develop reverence for the Teacher
and,at the proper time,genuinely and truthfully,he speaks praise of those bhikkhus who revere the Teacher.
He himself reveres the Dhamma...reveres the Sangha...reveres the training...reveres concentration...is easy to correct...has good friends and speaks in praise of good friendship;
he encourages other bhikkhus who do not have good friends to find good friends and,
at the proper time,genuinely and truthfully,he speaks praise of those bhikkhus who have good friends.
It is in such a way,Bhante,that I understand in detail the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One has spoken in brief."
[The Blessed One said:]"Good,good,Sariputta!
It is good that you understand in detail the meaning of this statement that I have spoken in brief in such a way."
[The Buddha here repeats the whole statement of Sariputta,ending:][31]
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"It is in such a way,Sāriputta,that the meaning of this statement that I spoke in brief should be understood in detail."
36(5)A Friend(1)
An expanded parallel of 3:135.
"Bhikkhus,one should associate with a friend who possesses seven factors.
What seven?
(1)He gives what is hard to give.(2)He does what is hard to do.(3)He patiently endures what is hard to endure.(4)He reveals his secrets to you.(5)He preserves your secrets.(6)He does not forsake you when you are in trouble.(7)He does not roughly despise you.
Khinena natimannati.I translate on the supposition that khinena is an adverb mearing"hurtfully,roughly"(see DOPsv khina²).Mp,however,explains the line on the assumption that khinena means"in [time of]loss,when wealth has been exhausted":"When one's wealth is exhausted,he does not despise one because of one's loss.He does not think too highly of himself and look down on the other"(tassa bhoge khine tena khayena tamnatimanniati,tasmim omānam attanica atimanam na karoti).On Mp's interpretation,though,I do not see how this factor would differ from the preceding one.
One should associate with a friend who possesses these seven factors."
A friend gives what is hard to give,and he does what is hard to do.
He forgives you your harsh words and endures what is hard to endure.
He tells you his secrets,
yet he preserves your secrets.
He does not forsake you in difficulties,nor does he roughly despise you.
The person here in whom
these qualities are found is a friend.
One desiring a friend should resort to such a person.[32]
37(6)A Friend(2)
"Bhikkhus,one should associate with a bhikkhu friend who Possesses seven qualities;one should resort to him and attend on him even if he dismisses you.
What seven?
(1)He is pleasing and agreeable;(2)he is respected and (3)esteemed;(4)he is a speaker;
Vatta.Mp says only"he is skilled in speech"(vacanakusalo).Since giving deep talks is listed as a separate item,here presumably the meaning is that he gives good advice.(5)he patiently endures being spoken to;(6)he gives deep talks;and (7)he does not enjoin one to do what is wrong."
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He is dear,respected,and esteemed,a speaker and one who endures speech;
he gives deep talks and does not enjoin one to do what is wrong
The person here in whom
these qualities are found is a friend,
benevolent and compassionate.
Even if one is dismissed by him,one desiring a friend should resort to such a person.
38(7)Analytical Knovledges(1)
"Bhikkhus,when he possesses seven qualities,a bhikkhu might soon realize for himself with direct knowledge the four analytical knowledges and acquire mastery over them.
On the four analytical knowledges (patisambhida),see 4:172.
What seven?
"Here,(1)a bhikkhu understands as it really is:'This is mental sluggishness in me.'
I translate the text exactly as it has come down,but it seems that in the course of transmission a phrase dropped out suggesting that mental' sluggishness has arisen on a particular occasion.Mp thus provides the missing phrase,up panne cetaso Linatte,"when mental sluggishness has arisen."
(2)Or when the mind is constricted internally,he understands as it really is:My mind is constricted internally.'
(3)Or when his mind is distracted externally,he understands as it really is:'My mind isdistracted externally.
Mp connects internal constriction with dullness and drowsiness,and external distraction with attraction toward the five objects of sensual pleasure.See in this connection SN 51:20,279,28-280,4.
(4)He knows feelings as they arise,as they remain present,as they disappear;
(5)he knows perceptions as they arise,as they remain present,[33]as they disappear;
(6)he knows thoughts as they arise,as they remain present,as they disappear.
At 4:41S3,this is called"the development of concentration that leads to mindfulness and clear comprehension."Mp:"Feeling, etc.,are the roots of mental proliferation(papañca).For feeling is the root of craving,which arises in relation to pleasure.Perception is the root of views,which arise toward an unclear object. And thought is the root of conceit,which arises through the thought,'I am."(7)Then,among qualities suitable and unsuitable,inferior and superior,dark and bright along with their counterparts,he has grasped the mark well,attended to it well,reflected upon it well,and penetrated it well with wisdom.
Mp explains"mark"(nimitta)here as cause(karana).
When he possesses these seven qualities,a bhikkhu might soon realize for himself with direct knowledge the four analytical knowledges and acquire mastery over them."
39(8)Analytical Knowledges(2) Ee prints this as a continuation of the preceding sutta,but Ce and Be,which I follow,treat it as distinct.My numbering again exceeds that of Ee by two.
Ee prints this as a continuation of the preceding sutta,but Ce and Be,which I follow,treat it as distinct.My numbering again exceeds that of Ee by two."Bhikkhus,when he possessed seven qualities,Sariputta realized for himself with direct knowledge the four analytical knowledges and acquired mastery over them.
What seven?
"Here,(1)Sariputta understood as it really is:'This is mental sluggishness in me.'
Though the text here uses the present tense pajānati,I construe this as the historical present,referring to the time before Sariputta attained arahantship.As an arahant he would no longer have been prone to mental sluggishness,internal constriction,or external distraction.(2)Or when the mind was constricted internally,he understood as it really is:'My mind is constricted internally.'
(3)Or when his mind was distracted externally,he understood as it really is:'My mind is distracted externally.'(
4)For him;feelings were known as they arose,as they remained present,as they disappeared;
(5)perceptions were known as they arose,as they remained present,as they disappeared;(6)thoughts were known as they arose,as they remained present,as they disappeared.
(7)Then,among qualities suitable and unsuitable,inferior and superior,dark and bright along with their counterparts,he took up the mark well,attended to it well,reflected upon it well,and penetrated it well with wisdom.
When he possessed these seven qualities,Sariputta realized for himself with direct knowledge the four analytical knowledges and acquired mastery over them."[34]
40(9)Mastery(1)
"Bhikkhus,possessing seven qualities,a bhikkhu exercises mastery over his mind and is not a servant of his mind.
What seven?
Here,(1)a bhikkhu is skilled in concentration,(2)skilled in the attainment of concentration,(3)skilled in the duration of concentration,(4)skilled in emergence from concentration,
(5)skilled in fitness for concentration,(6)skilled in the area of concentration,and(7)skilled in resolution regarding concentration.
Six of these skills;excluding the first,are mentioned.at 6:24.
Possessing these seven qualities,a bhikkhu exercises mastery over his mind,and is not a servant of his mind."
41(10)Mastery(2)Again,Ee prints' this as a continuation of the preceding sutta,but Ce and Be consider it distinct.Since I follow Ce and Be,my numbering now exceeds Ee by three.
Again,Ee prints' this as a continuation of the preceding sutta,but Ce and Be consider it distinct.Since I follow Ce and Be,my numbering now exceeds Ee by three."Bhikkhus,possessing seven qualities,Sariputta exercises mastery over his mind and is not a servant of his mind.
What seven?
Here,(1)Sariputta is skilled in concentration,(2)skilled in the attainment of concentration,(3)skilled in the duration of concentration,(4)skilled in emergence from concentration,
(5)skilled in fitness for concentration,(6)skilled in the area of concentration,and (7)skilled in resolution regarding concentration.
Possessing these seven qualities,Sariputta exercises mastery over his mind and is not a servant of his mind."
42(11)Bases for[Being]"Ten-less"(1)
*On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthī in Jeta's Grove,Anathapindika's Park.*Then,in the morning,the Venerable Sariputta dressed,took his bowl and robe,and entered Savatthī for alms.
It then occurred to him:[35]
"It is still too early to walk for alms in Sāvatthī.
Let me go to the park of the wanderers of other sects."
Then the Venerable Sariputta went to the park of the wanderers of other sects.
He exchanged greetings with those wanderers
and,when they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk,sat down to one side.
Now on that occasion those wanderers had assembled and were sitting together when this conversation arose among them:
"Friends,anyone at all who lives the complete and purified spiritual life for twelve years is fit to be called a bhikkhu who is 'ten-less.'"
Then the Venerable Sariputta neither delighted in nor rejected the statement of those wanderers,
but rose from his seat and left,[thinking]:
"I shall find out what the Blessed One has to say about this statement."
Then,when the Venerable Sariputta had walked for alms in Sāvatthi,after his meal,on returning from his alms round,he approached the Blessed One,
paid homage to him,and sat down to one side.
[He here reports verbatim the entire course of events and asks:][36]
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"Is it possible,Bhante,in this Dhamma and discipline to describe a bhikkhu as 'ten-less'by the mere counting of years?"
"In this Dhamma and discipline;Sariputta,it isn't possible to describe a bhikkhu as 'ten-less'by the mere counting of years.
There are,Sariputta,these seven bases for [being]'ten-less'that I have proclaimed after realizing them for myself with direct knowledge.
See 7:20.
What seven?
Here,(1)a bhikkhu has a keen desire to undertake the training and does not lose his fondness for undertaking the training in the future.(2)He has a strong desire to attend to the Dhamma and does not lose his fondness for attending to the Dhamma in the future.(3)He has a strong desire to remove vain wishes and does not lose his fondness for removing vain wishes in the future.(4)He has a strong desire for seclusion and does not lose his fondness for seclusion in the
future.(5)He has a strong desire to arouse energy and does not lose his fondness for arousing energy in the future.(6)He has a strong desire for mindfulness and alertness and does not lose his fondness for mindfulness and alertness in the future.(7)He has a strong desire to penetrate by view and does not lose his fondness for penetrating by view in the future.
These are the seven bases for [being]'ten-less'that I have proclaimed after realizing them for myself with direct knowledge.
"Sariputta,if a bhikkhu possesses these seven bases for[being]'ten-less,'then,if he lives the complete and pure spiritual life for twelve years,he is fit to be called 'ten-less.'
If,too,he lives the complete and pure spiritual life for twenty-four years,he is [37]fit to be called 'ten-less.'
If,too,he lives the completeand pure spiritual life for thirty-six years,he is fit to be calledten-less.'If,too,he lives the complete and pure spiritual life forforty-eight years,he is fit to be called 'ten-less.'"
43(12)Bases for [Beingl"Ten-less"(2)
Thus have I heard.On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambi in Ghosita's Park.
Then,in the morning,the Venerable Ananda dressed,took his bowl and robe,and entered Kosambī for alms.
It then occurred to him:
"It is still too early to walk for alms in Kosambi.
Let me go to the park of the wanderers of other sects."
Then the Venerable Ananda went to theparkof the wanderersof other sects:[as in 7:42,substituting Ananda for Sariputta and Kosambi for Savatthī][38]...
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"Is it possible,Bhante,in thisDhamma and discipline to describe a bhikkhu as 'ten-less'by the mere counting of years?"
"In this Dhamma and discipline,Ananda,it isn't possible to describe a bhikkhu as 'ten-less'by the mere counting of years.
There are,Ananda,these seven bases for [being]'ten-less'that
I have proclaimed after realizing them for myself with direct knowledge.
What seven?
Here,a bhikkhu has(1)faith,(2)a sense of moral shame,(3)moral dread;(4)he is learned,(5)energetic,(6)mindful,and (7)wise.
These are the seven bases for[being]'ten-less'that I have proclaimed after realizing them for myself with direct knowledge.[39]
"
Ananda,if a bhikkhu possesses these seven bases for[being]'ten-less,'then,if he lives the complete and pure spiritual life for twelve years,he is fit to be called 'ten-less.'
If,too,he lives the complete and pure spiritual life for twenty-four years,he is fit to be called 'ten-less.'
If,too,he lives the complete and pure spiritual lifefor thirty-six years,he is fit to be called 'ten-less.'If,too,he lives the complete and pure spiritual life for forty-eight years,he is fit to be called 'ten-less.'"