{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an7.47/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an7.47","id":"suttacentral_an7.47","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an7.47/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"Now at that time the brahmin Uggatasar\u012bra had prepared a large sacrifice. Bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats and rams\u2014five hundred of each\u2014had been led to the post for the sacrifice. Then the brahmin Uggatasar\u012bra went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha, \u201cWorthy Gotama, I have heard that kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post is very fruitful and beneficial.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve also heard this, brahmin.\u201d For a second time \u2026 and third time Uggatasar\u012bra said to the Buddha, \u201cWorthy Gotama, I have heard that kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post is very fruitful and beneficial.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve also heard this, brahmin.\u201d \u201cThen the worthy Gotama and I are in total agreement in this matter.\u201d When he said this, Venerable \u0100nanda said to Uggatasar\u012bra, \u201cBrahmin, you shouldn\u2019t ask the Buddha in this way. You should ask in this way: \u2018Sir, I want to kindle the sacrificial fire and raise the sacrificial post. May the Buddha please advise and instruct me. It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u2019\u201d Then Uggatasar\u012bra said to the Buddha, \u201cWorthy Gotama, I want to kindle the sacrificial fire and raise the sacrificial post. May the worthy Gotama please advise and instruct me. It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u201d \u201cEven before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one raises three unskillful knives which ripen and result in suffering. What three? The knives of the body, speech, and mind. Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one gives rise to the thought: \u2018May this many bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats, and rams be slaughtered for the sacrifice!\u2019 Thinking, \u2018May I make goodness\u2019, one makes wickedness. Thinking, \u2018May I do good\u2019, one does bad. Thinking, \u2018May I seek the path to a good rebirth\u2019, one seeks the path to a bad rebirth. Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one raises this first unskillful mental knife which ripens and results in suffering. Furthermore, even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one says such things as: \u2018May this many bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats, and rams be slaughtered for the sacrifice!\u2019 Thinking, \u2018May I make goodness\u2019, one makes wickedness. Thinking, \u2018May I do good\u2019, one does bad. Thinking, \u2018May I seek the path to a good rebirth\u2019, one seeks the path to a bad rebirth. Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one raises this second unskillful verbal knife which ripens and results in suffering. Furthermore, even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one first personally undertakes preparations for the sacrificial slaughter of bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats, and rams. Thinking, \u2018May I make goodness\u2019, one makes wickedness. Thinking, \u2018May I do good\u2019, one does bad. Thinking, \u2018May I seek the path to a good rebirth\u2019, one seeks the path to a bad rebirth. Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one raises this third unskillful bodily knife which ripens and results in suffering. Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one raises these three unskillful knives which ripen and result in suffering. Brahmin, these three fires should be given up and shunned, not cultivated. What three? The fires of greed, hate, and delusion. And why should the fire of greed be given up and shunned, not cultivated? A greedy person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. That\u2019s why the fire of greed should be given up and shunned, not cultivated. And why should the fire of hate be given up and shunned, not cultivated? A hateful person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. That\u2019s why the fire of hate should be given up and shunned, not cultivated. And why should the fire of delusion be given up and shunned, not cultivated? A deluded person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. That\u2019s why the fire of delusion should be given up and shunned, not cultivated. These three fires should be given up and shunned, not cultivated. Brahmin, you should properly and happily take care of three fires, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating them. What three? The fire of those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods. The fire of a householder. And the fire of those worthy of a religious donation. And what is the fire of those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods? Your mother and father are called the fire of those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods. Why is that? Since it is from them that you\u2019ve been incubated and produced. So you should properly and happily take care of this fire, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating it. And what is the fire of a householder? Your children, partners, bondservants, servants, and workers are called a householder\u2019s fire. So you should properly and happily take care of this fire, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating it. And what is the fire of those worthy of a religious donation? The ascetics and brahmins who refrain from intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves are called the fire of those worthy of a religious donation. So you should properly and happily take care of this fire, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating it. You should properly and happily take care of these three fires, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating them. But the wood fire, brahmin, should, from time to time, be fanned, watched over with equanimity, extinguished, or put aside.\u201d When he said this, the brahmin Uggatasar\u012bra said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, 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. Worthy Gotama, I now set free these five hundred bulls, five hundred bullocks, five hundred heifers, five hundred goats, and five hundred rams. I give them life! May they eat grass and drink cool water and enjoy a cool breeze!\u201d","title":"Fires (2nd)","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1085}