{"collection":"Digha Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_dn18/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_dn18","id":"suttacentral_dn18","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/dn18/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Digha Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"1. Declaring the Rebirths of People From \u00d1\u0101tika and Elsewhere So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying at \u00d1\u0101tika in the brick house. Now at that time the Buddha was explaining the rebirths of devotees all over the nations; the K\u0101sis and Kosalans, Vajjis and Mallas, Cet\u012bs and Vacchas, Kurus and Pa\u00f1c\u0101las, Macchas and S\u016brasenas: \u201cThis one was reborn here, while that one was reborn there. Over fifty devotees in \u00d1\u0101tika have passed away having ended the five lower fetters. They\u2019ve been reborn spontaneously, and will be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world. More than ninety devotees in \u00d1\u0101tika have passed away having ended three fetters, and weakened greed, hate, and delusion. They\u2019re once-returners, who will come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. More than five hundred devotees in \u00d1\u0101tika have passed away having ended three fetters. They\u2019re stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.\u201d When the devotees of \u00d1\u0101tika heard about the Buddha\u2019s answers to those questions, they became uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness. Venerable \u0100nanda heard of the Buddha\u2019s statements and the \u00d1\u0101tikans\u2019 happiness. 2. \u0100nanda\u2019s Suggestion Then Venerable \u0100nanda thought, \u201cBut there were also Magadhan devotees\u2014many, and of long standing too\u2014who have passed away. You\u2019d think that A\u1e45ga and Magadha were empty of devotees who have passed away! But they too had confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha, and had fulfilled their ethics. The Buddha hasn\u2019t declared their passing. It would be good to do so, for many people would gain confidence, and so be reborn in a good place. That King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha was a just and principled king who benefited the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country. People still sing his praises: \u2018That just and principled king, who made us so happy, has passed away. Life was good under his dominion.\u2019 He too had confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha, and had fulfilled his ethics. People say: \u2018Until his dying day, King Bimbis\u0101ra sang the Buddha\u2019s praises!\u2019 The Buddha hasn\u2019t declared his passing. It would be good to do so, for many people would gain confidence, and so be reborn in a good place. Besides, the Buddha was awakened in Magadha; so why hasn\u2019t he declared the rebirth of the Magadhan devotees? If he fails to do so, they will be disheartened.\u201d After pondering the fate of the Magadhan devotees alone in private, \u0100nanda rose at the crack of dawn and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and told the Buddha of his concerns, finishing by saying, \u201cWhy hasn\u2019t the Buddha declared the rebirth of the Magadhan devotees? If he fails to do so, they will be disheartened.\u201d Then \u0100nanda, after making this suggestion regarding the Magadhan devotees, rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. Soon after \u0100nanda had left, the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered \u00d1\u0101tika for alms. He wandered for alms in \u00d1\u0101tika. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he washed his feet and entered the brick house. He paid attention, applied the mind, and concentrated wholeheartedly on the fate of Magadhan devotees, and sat down on the seat spread out, thinking, \u201cI shall know their destiny, where they are reborn in the next life.\u201d And he saw where they had been reborn. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat. Emerging from the brick house, he sat down on the seat spread out in the shade of the porch. Then Venerable \u0100nanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cSir, you look so serene; your face seems to shine owing to the clarity of your faculties. Have you been abiding in a peaceful meditation today, sir?\u201d The Buddha then recounted what had happened since speaking to \u0100nanda, revealing that he had seen the destiny of the Magadhan devotees. He continued: 3. Janavasabha the Spirit \u201cThen, \u0100nanda, an invisible spirit called out: \u2018I am Janavasabha, Blessed One! I am Janavasabha, Holy One!\u2019 \u0100nanda, do you recall having previously heard such a name as Janavasabha?\u201d \u201cNo, worthy sir. But when I heard the word, I got goosebumps! I thought, \u2018This must be no ordinary spirit to bear such an exalted name as Janavasabha.\u2019\u201d \u201cAfter making himself heard while invisible, \u0100nanda, an exceptionally beautiful spirit appeared in front of me. And for a second time he called out: \u2018I am Bimbis\u0101ra, Blessed One! I am Bimbis\u0101ra, Holy One! This is the seventh time I am reborn in the company of the Great King Vessava\u1e47a. When I pass away from here, I can become a king of men. Seven from here, seven from there\u2014 fourteen transmigrations in all. I remember these lives where I lived before. For a long time I\u2019ve known that I won\u2019t be reborn in the underworld, but that I still hope to become a once-returner.\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s incredible and amazing that you, the venerable spirit Janavasabha, should say: \u201cFor a long time I\u2019ve been aware that I won\u2019t be reborn in the underworld\u201d and also \u201cBut I still hope to become a once-returner.\u201d But from what source do you know that you\u2019ve achieved such a high distinction?\u2019 \u2018None other than the Blessed One\u2019s instruction! None other than the Holy One\u2019s instruction! From the day I had absolute devotion to the Buddha I have known that I won\u2019t be reborn in the underworld, but that I still hope to become a once-returner. Just now, sir, I had been sent out by the great king Vessava\u1e47a to the great king Vir\u016b\u1e37haka\u2019s presence on some business, and on the way I saw the Buddha giving his attention to the fate of the Magadhan devotees. But it comes as no surprise that I have heard and learned the fate of the Magadhan devotees in the presence of the great king Vessava\u1e47a as he was speaking to his assembly. It occurred to me, \u201cI shall see the Buddha and inform him of this.\u201d These are the two reasons I\u2019ve come to see the Buddha. 4. The Council of the Gods Sir, it was more than a few days ago\u2014on the fifteenth day sabbath on the full moon day at the entry to the rainy season\u2014when all the gods of the thirty-three were sitting together in the Hall of Clear Right. A large assembly of gods was sitting all around, and the four great kings were seated at the four quarters. The Great King Dhatara\u1e6d\u1e6dha was seated to the east, facing west, in front of his gods. The Great King Vir\u016b\u1e37haka was seated to the south, facing north, in front of his gods. The Great King Vir\u016bpakkha was seated to the west, facing east, in front of his gods. The Great King Vessava\u1e47a was seated to the north, facing south, in front of his gods. When the gods of the thirty-three have a gathering like this, that is how they are seated. After that come our seats. Sir, those gods who had been recently reborn in the company of the thirty-three after leading the spiritual life under the Buddha outshone the other gods in beauty and glory. The gods of the thirty-three became uplifted and overjoyed at that, full of rapture and happiness, saying, \u201cThe heavenly hosts swell, while the titan hosts dwindle!\u201d Seeing the joy of those gods, Sakka, lord of gods, celebrated with these verses: \u201cThe gods rejoice\u2014 the thirty-three with their Lord\u2014 revering the Realized One, and the clear rightness of the teaching; and seeing the new gods, so beautiful and glorious, who have come here after leading the spiritual life under the Buddha! They outshine the others in beauty, glory, and lifespan. Here are the distinguished disciples of he whose wisdom is vast. Seeing this, they delight\u2014 the thirty-three with their Lord\u2014 revering the Realized One, and the clear rightness of the teaching.\u201d The gods of the thirty-three became even more uplifted and overjoyed at that, saying: \u201cThe heavenly hosts swell, while the titan hosts dwindle!\u201d Then the gods of the thirty-three, having considered and deliberated on the matter for which they were seated together in the Hall of Clear Right, advised and instructed the four great kings on the subject. Each one, having been advised, stood at his own seat without leaving. The Kings were instructed, and heeded good advice. With clear and peaceful minds, they stood by their own seats. Then in the northern quarter a magnificent light arose and radiance appeared, surpassing the glory of the gods. Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three, \u201cAs indicated by the signs\u2014light arising and radiance appearing\u2014The Divinity will appear. For this is the harbinger for the appearance of the Divinity, namely light arising and radiance appearing.\u201d As indicated by the signs, The Divinity will appear. For this is the sign of the Divinity: a light vast and great. 5. On Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra Then the gods of the thirty-three sat in their own seats, saying, \u201cWe shall find out what has caused that light, and only when we have realized it shall we go to it.\u201d And the four great kings did likewise. Hearing that, the gods of the thirty-three agreed in unison, \u201cWe shall find out what has caused that light, and only when we have realized it shall we go to it.\u201d When the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra appears to the gods of the thirty-three, he does so after manifesting a solid incarnation. For a Divinity\u2019s normal appearance is imperceptible in the visual range of the gods of the thirty-three. When the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra appears to the gods of the thirty-three, he outshines the other gods in beauty and glory, as a golden statue outshines the human form. When the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra appears to the gods of the thirty-three, not a single god in that assembly greets him by bowing down or rising up or inviting him to a seat. They all sit silently on their couches with their cupped palms raised, thinking, \u201cNow the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra will sit on the couch of whatever god he chooses.\u201d And the god on whose couch the Divinity sits is overjoyed and brimming with happiness, like a king on the day of his coronation. Then the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra manifested a solid incarnation, taking on the appearance of the youth Pa\u00f1casikha, and appeared to the gods of the thirty-three. Rising into the air, he sat cross-legged in the sky, like a strong man might sit cross-legged on a well-appointed couch or on level ground. Seeing the joy of those gods, the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra celebrated with these verses: \u201cThe gods rejoice\u2014 the thirty-three with their Lord\u2014 revering the Realized One, and the clear rightness of the teaching; and seeing the new gods, so beautiful and glorious, who have come here after leading the spiritual life under the Buddha! They outshine the others in beauty, glory, and lifespan. Here are the distinguished disciples of he whose wisdom is vast. Seeing this, they delight\u2014 the thirty-three with their Lord\u2014 revering the Realized One, and the clear rightness of the teaching!\u201d That is the topic on which the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra spoke. And while he was speaking on that topic, his voice had eight qualities: it was clear, comprehensible, charming, audible, lucid, undistorted, deep, and resonant. He makes sure his voice is intelligible as far as the assembly goes, but the sound doesn\u2019t extend outside the assembly. When someone has a voice like this, they\u2019re said to have the voice of the Divinity. Then the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra, having manifested thirty-three life-forms, sat down on the couches of each of the gods of the thirty-three and addressed them, \u201cWhat do the good gods of the thirty-three think? How the Buddha has acted for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans! For consider those who have gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha, and have fulfilled their ethics. When their bodies break up, after death, some are reborn in the company of the gods who control what is created by others, some with the gods who love to create, some with the joyful gods, some with the gods of Yama, some with the gods of the thirty-three, and some with the gods of the four great kings. And at the very least they swell the hosts of the centaurs.\u201d That is the topic on which the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra spoke. And hearing the sound of the Divinity speaking on that topic, the gods fancied, \u201cThe one sitting on my couch is the only one speaking.\u201d When one is speaking, all the forms speak. When one sits in silence, they all remain silent. But those gods imagine\u2014 the thirty-three with their Lord\u2014 that the one on their seat is the only one to speak. Next the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra merged into one corporeal form. Then he sat on the couch of Sakka, lord of gods, and addressed the gods of the thirty-three: 6. Developing the Bases of Psychic Power \u201cWhat do the good gods of the thirty-three think? How well described by the Blessed One\u2014who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha\u2014are the four bases of psychic power! They are taught for the amplification, burgeoning, and transformation of psychic power. What four? It\u2019s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort. They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort. These are the four bases of psychic power taught by the Buddha for the amplification, burgeoning, and transformation of psychic power. All the ascetics and brahmins in the past, future, or present who wield the many kinds of psychic power do so by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power. Gentlemen, do you see such psychic might and power in me?\u201d \u201cYes, Great Divinity.\u201d \u201cI too became so mighty and powerful by developing and cultivating these four bases of psychic power.\u201d That is the topic on which the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra spoke. And having spoken about that, he addressed the gods of the thirty-three: 7. The Three Openings \u201cWhat do the good gods of the thirty-three think? How well understood by the Buddha are the three opportunities for achieving happiness! What three? First, take someone who lives mixed up with sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities. After some time they hear the teaching of the noble ones, rationally apply the mind to how it applies to them, and practice in line with the teaching. They live aloof from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities. That gives rise to pleasure, and more than pleasure, happiness, like the joy that\u2019s born from gladness. This is the first opportunity for achieving happiness. Next, take someone whose coarse physical, verbal, and mental processes have not died down. After some time they hear the teaching of the noble ones, rationally apply the mind to how it applies to them, and practice in line with the teaching. Their coarse physical, verbal, and mental processes die down. That gives rise to pleasure, and more than pleasure, happiness, like the joy that\u2019s born from gladness. This is the second opportunity for achieving happiness. Next, take someone who doesn\u2019t truly understand what is skillful and what is unskillful, what is blameworthy and what is blameless, what should be cultivated and what should not be cultivated, what is inferior and what is superior, and what has a portion of dark or bright. After some time they hear the teaching of the noble ones, rationally apply the mind to how it applies to them, and practice in line with the teaching. They truly understand what is skillful and what is unskillful, and so on. Knowing and seeing like this, ignorance is given up and knowledge arises. That gives rise to pleasure, and more than pleasure, happiness, like the joy that\u2019s born from gladness. This is the third opportunity for achieving happiness. These are the three opportunities for achieving happiness that have been understood by the Buddha.\u201d That is the topic on which the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra spoke. And having spoken about that, he addressed the gods of the thirty-three: 8. Mindfulness Meditation \u201cWhat do the good gods of the thirty-three think? How well described by the Buddha are the four kinds of mindfulness meditation! They are taught for achieving what is skillful. What four? It\u2019s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body internally\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they meditate in this way, they become rightly immersed in that, and rightly serene. Then they give rise to knowledge and vision of other people\u2019s bodies externally. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings internally \u2026 Then they give rise to knowledge and vision of other people\u2019s feelings externally. They meditate observing an aspect of the mind internally \u2026 Then they give rise to knowledge and vision of other people\u2019s minds externally. They meditate observing an aspect of principles internally\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they meditate in this way, they become rightly immersed in that, and rightly serene. Then they give rise to knowledge and vision of other people\u2019s principles externally. These are the four kinds of mindfulness meditation taught by the Buddha for achieving what is skillful.\u201d That is the topic on which the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra spoke. And having spoken about that, he addressed the gods of the thirty-three: 9. Seven Prerequisites of Immersion \u201cWhat do the good gods of the thirty-three think? How well described by the Buddha are the seven prerequisites of immersion for the development and fulfillment of right immersion! What seven? Right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, and right mindfulness. Unification of mind with these seven factors as prerequisites is called noble right immersion \u2018with its vital conditions\u2019 and also \u2018with its prerequisites\u2019. Right view produces right purpose. Right purpose produces right speech. Right speech produces right action. Right action produces right livelihood. Right livelihood produces right effort. Right effort produces right mindfulness. Right mindfulness produces right immersion. Right immersion produces right knowledge. Right knowledge produces right freedom. If anything should be rightly described as \u2018a teaching that\u2019s well explained by the Buddha, apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves; and the doors to freedom from death are flung open,\u2019 it\u2019s this. For the teaching is well explained by the Buddha\u2014apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves\u2014and the doors to freedom from death are flung open. Whoever has experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha, and has the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones; and whoever is spontaneously reborn, and is trained in the teaching; more than 2,400,000 such Magadhan devotees have passed away having ended three fetters. They\u2019re stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. And there are once-returners here, too. And as for the rest of folk, who I think have shared in merit\u2014 I couldn\u2019t even number them, for fear of speaking falsely.\u201d That is the topic on which the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra spoke. And while he was speaking on that topic, this thought came to the great king Vessava\u1e47a, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing! That there should be such a magnificent Teacher, and such a magnificent exposition of the teaching! And that such achievements of high distinction should be made known!\u201d And then the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra, knowing the great king Vessava\u1e47a\u2019s train of thought, said to him, \u201cWhat does Great King Vessava\u1e47a think? In the past, too, there was such a magnificent Teacher, and such a magnificent exposition of the teaching! And such achievements of high distinction were made known! In the future, too, there will be such a magnificent Teacher, and such a magnificent exposition of the teaching! And such achievements of high distinction will be made known!\u201d That, sir, is the topic on which the divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra spoke to the gods of the thirty-three. And the great king Vessava\u1e47a, having heard and learned it in the presence of the Divinity as he was speaking on that topic, informed his own assembly.\u2019\u201d And the spirit Janavasabha, having heard and learned it in the presence of the great king Vessava\u1e47a as he was speaking on that topic to his own assembly, informed the Buddha. And the Buddha, having heard and learned it in the presence of the spirit Janavasabha, and also from his own direct knowledge, informed Venerable \u0100nanda. And Venerable \u0100nanda, having heard and learned it in the presence of the Buddha, informed the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. And that\u2019s how this spiritual life has become successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and fully revealed among gods and humans.","title":"With Janavasabha","tradition":"Digha Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":3559}