{"collection":"Digha Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_dn12/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_dn12","id":"suttacentral_dn12","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/dn12/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Digha Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of five hundred mendicants when he arrived at S\u0101lavatik\u0101. Now at that time the brahmin Lohicca was living in S\u0101lavatik\u0101. It was a crown property given by King Pasenadi of Kosala, teeming with living creatures, full of hay, wood, water, and grain, a royal park endowed to a brahmin. Now at that time Lohicca had the following harmful misconception: \u201cShould an ascetic or brahmin achieve some skillful quality, they ought not inform anyone else. For what can one person do for another? Suppose someone cut off an old bond, only to create another new bond. That\u2019s the consequence of such a wicked, greedy deed, I say. For what can one person do for another?\u201d Lohicca heard: \u201cIt seems the ascetic Gotama\u2014a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family\u2014has arrived at S\u0101lavatik\u0101, together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of five hundred mendicants. He has this good reputation: \u2018That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.\u2019 He has realized with his own insight this world\u2014with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans\u2014and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that\u2019s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that\u2019s entirely full and pure. It\u2019s good to see such perfected ones.\u201d Then Lohicca addressed his barber Rosika, \u201cHere, dear Rosika, go to the ascetic Gotama and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then ask him whether he, together with the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha, would please accept tomorrow\u2019s meal from the brahmin Lohicca.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d Rosika replied. He did as he was asked, and the Buddha consented with silence. Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Rosika rose from his seat, went to Lohicca, and said to him, \u201cI gave the Buddha your message, and he accepted.\u201d And when the night had passed Lohicca had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, \u201cHere, dear Rosika, go to the ascetic Gotama and announce the time, saying: \u2018It\u2019s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d Rosika replied. He did as he was asked. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to S\u0101lavatik\u0101 together with the Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants. Now, Rosika was following behind the Buddha, and told him of Lohicca\u2019s views, adding, \u201cSir, please dissuade him from that harmful misconception.\u201d \u201cHopefully that\u2019ll happen, Rosika, hopefully that\u2019ll happen.\u201d Then the Buddha approached Lohicca\u2019s home, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then Lohicca served and satisfied the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. 1. Questioning Lohicca When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Lohicca took a low seat and sat to one side. The Buddha said to him, \u201cIs it really true, Lohicca, that you have such a harmful misconception: \u2018Should an ascetic or brahmin achieve some skillful quality, they ought not inform anyone else. For what can one person do for another? Suppose someone cut off an old bond, only to create another new bond. That\u2019s the consequence of such a wicked, greedy deed, I say. For what can one person do for another?\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Lohicca? Do you reside in S\u0101lavatik\u0101?\u201d \u201cYes, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cLohicca, suppose someone were to say: \u2018The brahmin Lohicca resides in S\u0101lavatik\u0101. He alone should enjoy the revenues produced in S\u0101lavatik\u0101 and not share them with anyone else.\u2019 Would the one who spoke like that make it difficult for those whose living depends on you or not?\u201d \u201cThey would, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cBut is someone who creates difficulties for others acting kindly or unkindly?\u201d \u201cUnkindly, sir.\u201d \u201cBut does an unkind person have love in their heart or hostility?\u201d \u201cHostility, sir.\u201d \u201cAnd when the heart is full of hostility, is there right view or wrong view?\u201d \u201cWrong view, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cAn individual with wrong view is reborn in one of two places, I say: hell or the animal realm. What do you think, Lohicca? Does King Pasenadi reign over K\u0101si and Kosala?\u201d \u201cYes, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cLohicca, suppose someone were to say: \u2018King Pasenadi reigns over K\u0101si and Kosala. He alone should enjoy the revenues produced in K\u0101si and Kosala and not share them with anyone else.\u2019 Would the one who spoke like that make it difficult for yourself and others whose living depends on King Pasenadi or not?\u201d \u201cThey would, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cBut is someone who creates difficulties for others acting kindly or unkindly?\u201d \u201cUnkindly, sir.\u201d \u201cBut does an unkind person have love in their heart or hostility?\u201d \u201cHostility, sir.\u201d \u201cAnd when the heart is full of hostility, is there right view or wrong view?\u201d \u201cWrong view, worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cAn individual with wrong view is reborn in one of two places, I say: hell or the animal realm. So it seems, Lohicca, that should someone say such a thing either of Lohicca or of King Pasenadi, that is wrong view. In the same way, suppose someone were to say: \u2018Should an ascetic or brahmin achieve some skillful quality, they ought not inform anyone else. For what can one person do for another? Suppose someone cut off an old bond, only to create another new bond. That\u2019s the consequence of such a wicked, greedy deed, I say. For what can one person do for another?\u2019 Now, there are gentlemen who, relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One, achieve a high distinction such as the following: they realize the fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-return, the fruit of non-return, or perfection. And in addition, there are those who ripen the seeds for rebirth in a heavenly state. The person who spoke like that makes it difficult for them. They\u2019re acting unkindly, their heart is full of hostility, and they have wrong view. An individual with wrong view is reborn in one of two places, I say: hell or the animal realm. 2. Three Teachers Who Deserve to Be Reprimanded Lohicca, there are three kinds of teachers in the world who deserve to be reprimanded. When someone reprimands such teachers, the reprimand is true, correct, legitimate, and blameless. What three? Firstly, take a teacher who has not reached the goal of the ascetic life for which they went forth from the lay life to homelessness. They teach their disciples: \u2018This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.\u2019 But their disciples don\u2019t want to listen. They don\u2019t actively listen or try to understand. They proceed having turned away from the teacher\u2019s instruction. That teacher deserves to be reprimanded: \u2018Venerable, you haven\u2019t reached the goal of the ascetic life; and when you teach disciples they proceed having turned away from the teacher\u2019s instruction. It\u2019s like a man who makes advances on a woman though she pulls away, or embraces her though she turns her back. That\u2019s the consequence of such a wicked, greedy deed, I say. For what can one do for another?\u2019 This is the first kind of teacher who deserves to be reprimanded. Furthermore, take a teacher who has not reached the goal of the ascetic life for which they went forth from the lay life to homelessness. They teach their disciples: \u2018This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.\u2019 Their disciples do want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand. They don\u2019t proceed having turned away from the teacher\u2019s instruction. That teacher deserves to be reprimanded: \u2018Venerable, you haven\u2019t reached the goal of the ascetic life; and when you teach disciples they don\u2019t proceed having turned away from the teacher\u2019s instruction. It\u2019s like someone who abandons their own field and presumes to weed someone else\u2019s field. That\u2019s the consequence of such a wicked, greedy deed, I say. For what can one do for another?\u2019 This is the second kind of teacher who deserves to be reprimanded. Furthermore, take a teacher who has reached the goal of the ascetic life for which they went forth from the lay life to homelessness. They teach their disciples: \u2018This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.\u2019 But their disciples don\u2019t want to listen. They don\u2019t actively listen or try to understand. They proceed having turned away from the teacher\u2019s instruction. That teacher deserves to be reprimanded: \u2018Venerable, you have reached the goal of the ascetic life; yet when you teach disciples they proceed having turned away from the teacher\u2019s instruction. Suppose someone cut off an old bond, only to create another new bond. That\u2019s the consequence of such a wicked, greedy deed, I say. For what can one person do for another?\u2019 This is the third kind of teacher who deserves to be reprimanded. These are the three kinds of teachers in the world who deserve to be reprimanded. When someone reprimands such teachers, the reprimand is true, correct, legitimate, and blameless.\u201d 3. A Teacher Who Does Not Deserve to Be Reprimanded When he had spoken, Lohicca said to the Buddha, \u201cBut worthy Gotama, is there a teacher in the world who does not deserve to be reprimanded?\u201d \u201cThere is, Lohicca.\u201d \u201cBut who is that teacher?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha \u2026 That\u2019s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics. \u2026 They enter and remain in the first absorption \u2026 A teacher under whom a disciple achieves such a high distinction is one who does not deserve to be reprimanded. When someone reprimands such a teacher, the reprimand is false, baseless, illegitimate, and blameworthy. They enter and remain in the second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption. A teacher under whom a disciple achieves such a high distinction is one who does not deserve to be reprimanded. \u2026 They project and extend the mind toward knowledge and vision \u2026 A teacher under whom a disciple achieves such a high distinction is one who does not deserve to be reprimanded. \u2026 They understand: \u2018\u2026 there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 A teacher under whom a disciple achieves such a high distinction is one who does not deserve to be reprimanded. When someone reprimands such a teacher, the reprimand is false, baseless, illegitimate, and blameworthy.\u201d When he had spoken, Lohicca said to the Buddha: \u201cSuppose, Worthy Gotama, a person was falling over a cliff, and another person were to grab them by the hair, pull them up, and place them on solid ground. In the same way, when I was falling off a cliff Worthy Gotama pulled me up and placed me on solid ground. Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what\u2019s there, worthy Gotama has made the Teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"With Lohicca","tradition":"Digha Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1927}