{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an10.167/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an10.167","id":"suttacentral_an10.167","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an10.167/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"Now, at that time it was the sabbath. The brahmin J\u0101nusso\u1e47i had bathed his head and dressed in a new pair of linen robes. Holding a handful of fresh grass, he stood to one side not far from the Buddha. The Buddha saw him, and said, \u201cBrahmin, why have you bathed your head and dressed in a new pair of linen robes? Why are you standing to one side holding a handful of fresh grass? What\u2019s going on today with the brahmin clan?\u201d \u201cWorthy Gotama, today is the ceremony of descent for the brahmin clan.\u201d \u201cBut how do the brahmins observe the ceremony of descent?\u201d \u201cWell, worthy Gotama, on the sabbath the brahmins bathe their heads and dress in a new pair of linen robes. They make a heap of fresh cow dung and spread it with green grass. Then they make their beds between the boundary and the fire chamber. That night they rise three times and worship the fire with cupped palms: \u2018We descend, lord! We descend, lord!\u2019 And they serve the fire with abundant ghee, oil, and butter. And when the night has passed they serve the brahmins with delicious fresh and cooked foods. That\u2019s how the brahmins observe the ceremony of descent.\u201d \u201cThe ceremony of descent observed by the brahmins is quite different from that observed in the training of the Noble One.\u201d \u201cBut worthy Gotama, how is the ceremony of descent observed in the training of the Noble One? Worthy Gotama, please teach me this.\u201d \u201cWell then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d J\u0101nusso\u1e47i replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cIt\u2019s when a noble disciple reflects: \u2018Killing living creatures has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up killing living creatures, they descend from killing living creatures. \u2026 \u2018Stealing has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up stealing, they descend from stealing. \u2026 \u2018Sexual misconduct has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up sexual misconduct, they descend from sexual misconduct. \u2026 \u2018Lying has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up lying, they descend from lying. \u2026 \u2018Backbiting has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up backbiting, they descend from backbiting. \u2026 \u2018Harsh speech has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up harsh speech, they descend from harsh speech. \u2026 \u2018Talking nonsense has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up talking nonsense, they descend from talking nonsense. \u2026 \u2018Covetousness has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up covetousness, they descend from covetousness. \u2026 \u2018Ill will has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up ill will, they descend from ill will. \u2018Wrong view has a bad result in the present life and in lives to come.\u2019 Reflecting like this, they give up wrong view, they descend from wrong view. This is the ceremony of descent in the training of the Noble One.\u201d \u201cThe ceremony of descent observed by the brahmins is quite different from that observed in the training of the Noble One. And, worthy Gotama, the ceremony of descent observed by the brahmins is not worth a sixteenth part of the ceremony of descent observed in the training of the Noble One. Excellent, worthy Gotama, excellent! \u2026 From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"The Brahmin Ceremony of Descent","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":646}