{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an5.180/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an5.180","id":"suttacentral_an5.180","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an5.180/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants. While traveling along a road the Buddha saw a large sal grove in a certain spot. He left the road, went to the sal grove, and plunged deep into it. And at a certain spot he smiled. Then Venerable \u0100nanda thought, \u201cWhat is the cause, what is the reason why the Buddha smiled? Realized Ones do not smile for no reason.\u201d So Venerable \u0100nanda said to the Buddha, \u201cWhat is the cause, what is the reason why the Buddha smiled? Realized Ones do not smile for no reason.\u201d \u201cOnce upon a time, \u0100nanda, there was a city in this spot that was successful and prosperous, populous and full of people. And Kassapa, a blessed one, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, lived supported by that city. He had a lay follower named Gaves\u012b who had not fulfilled all the precepts. And the five hundred lay followers who were taught and advised by Gaves\u012b also had not fulfilled all the precepts. Then Gaves\u012b thought: \u2018I\u2019m the helper, leader, and adviser of these five hundred lay followers, yet neither I nor they have fulfilled the precepts. We\u2019re the same, I\u2019m in no way better. So let me do better.\u2019 Then Gaves\u012b went to those five hundred lay followers and said to them: \u2018From this day forth may the venerables remember me as one who has fulfilled the precepts.\u2019 Then those five hundred lay followers thought: \u2018Master Gaves\u012b is our helper, leader, and adviser, and now he will fulfill the precepts. Why don\u2019t we do the same?\u2019 Then those five hundred lay followers went to Gaves\u012b and said to him: \u2018From this day forth may Master Gaves\u012b remember these five hundred lay followers as having fulfilled the precepts.\u2019 Then Gaves\u012b thought: \u2018I\u2019m the helper, leader, and adviser of these five hundred lay followers, and both I and they have fulfilled the precepts. We\u2019re the same, I\u2019m in no way better. So let me do better.\u2019 Then Gaves\u012b went to those five hundred lay followers and said to them: \u2018From this day forth may the venerables remember me as one who is chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex.\u2019 Then those five hundred lay followers did the same. \u2026 Then Gaves\u012b thought: \u2018These five hundred lay followers \u2026 are chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex. We\u2019re the same, I\u2019m in no way better. So let me do better.\u2019 Then Gaves\u012b went to those five hundred lay followers and said to them: \u2018From this day forth may the venerables remember me as one who eats in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night, and from food at the wrong time.\u2019 Then those five hundred lay followers did the same. \u2026 Then Gaves\u012b thought: \u2018These five hundred lay followers \u2026 eat in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night, and food at the wrong time. We\u2019re the same, I\u2019m in no way better. So let me do better.\u2019 Then the lay follower Gaves\u012b went up to the blessed one Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha and said to him: \u2018Sir, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence?\u2019 And he received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence. Not long after his ordination, the mendicant Gaves\u012b, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. He understood: \u2018Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 And the mendicant Gaves\u012b became one of the perfected. Then those five hundred lay followers thought: \u2018Master Gaves\u012b is our helper, leader, and adviser, He has shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and gone forth from the lay life to homelessness. Why don\u2019t we do the same?\u2019 Then those five hundred lay followers went up to the blessed one Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha and said to him: \u2018Sir, may we receive the going forth and ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence?\u2019 And they did receive the going forth and ordination in the Buddha\u2019s presence. Then the mendicant Gaves\u012b thought: \u2018I get the supreme bliss of freedom whenever I want, without trouble or difficulty. Oh, may these five hundred mendicants do the same!\u2019 Then those five hundred mendicants, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. They lived having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. They understood: \u2018Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 And so, \u0100nanda, those five hundred mendicants headed by Gaves\u012b, trying to go higher and higher, better and better, realized the supreme bliss of freedom. So you should train like this: \u2018Trying to go higher and higher, better and better, we will realize the supreme bliss of freedom.\u2019 That\u2019s how you should train.\u201d","title":"About Gaves\u012b","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":895}