{"collection":"Digha Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_dn27/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_dn27","id":"suttacentral_dn27","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/dn27/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Digha Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in the stilt longhouse of Mig\u0101ra\u2019s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Now at that time V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha and Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja were living on probation among the mendicants in hopes of being ordained. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came downstairs from the longhouse and was walking mindfully in the open air, beneath the shade of the longhouse. V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha saw him and said to Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja, \u201cReverend Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja, the Buddha is walking mindfully in the open air, beneath the shade of the longhouse. Come, reverend, let\u2019s go to the Buddha. Hopefully we\u2019ll get to hear a Dhamma talk from him.\u201d \u201cYes, reverend,\u201d replied Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja. So they went to the Buddha, bowed, and walked beside him. Then the Buddha said to V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, \u201cV\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, you are both brahmins by birth and family, and have gone forth from the lay life to homelessness from a brahmin family. I hope you don\u2019t have to suffer abuse and insults from the brahmins.\u201d \u201cActually, sir, the brahmins do insult and abuse us with their typical insults to the fullest extent, holding nothing back.\u201d \u201cBut how do the brahmins insult you?\u201d \u201cSir, the brahmins say: \u2018Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are the Divinity\u2019s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity. You\u2019ve both abandoned the best class to join an inferior class, namely these shavelings, fake ascetics, primitives, black spawn from the feet of our kinsman. This is not right, it\u2019s not proper!\u2019 That\u2019s how the brahmins insult us.\u201d \u201cActually, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, the brahmins are forgetting their tradition when they say this to you. For brahmin women are seen menstruating, being pregnant, giving birth, and breast-feeding. Yet even though they\u2019re born from a brahmin womb they say: \u2018Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are the Divinity\u2019s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity.\u2019 They misrepresent the brahmins, speak falsely, and brim with much wickedness. 1. Purification in the Four Classes V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, there are these four classes: aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials. Some aristocrats kill living creatures, steal, and commit sexual misconduct. They use speech that\u2019s false, backbiting, harsh, and nonsensical. And they\u2019re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. These things are unskillful, blameworthy, not to be cultivated, unworthy of the noble ones\u2014and are reckoned as such. They are dark deeds with dark results, criticized by sensible people. Such things are exhibited in some aristocrats. And they are also seen among some brahmins, peasants, and menials. But some aristocrats refrain from killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual misconduct. They refrain from speech that\u2019s false, backbiting, harsh, and nonsensical. And they\u2019re content, kind-hearted, with right view. These things are skillful, blameless, to be cultivated, worthy of the noble ones\u2014and are reckoned as such. They are bright deeds with bright results, praised by sensible people. Such things are exhibited in some aristocrats. And they are also seen among some brahmins, peasants, and menials. Both these things occur like this, mixed up in these four classes\u2014the dark and the bright, that which is praised and that which is criticized by sensible people. Yet of this the brahmins say: \u2018Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are the Divinity\u2019s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity.\u2019 Sensible people don\u2019t grant this. Why is that? Because any mendicant from these four classes who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014is said to be foremost by virtue of principle, not against principle. For principle, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. And here\u2019s a way to understand how this is so. King Pasenadi of Kosala knows that the ascetic Gotama has gone forth from the neighboring clan of the Sakyans. And the Sakyans are his vassals. The Sakyans show deference to King Pasenadi by bowing down, rising up, greeting him with cupped palms, and observing proper etiquette for him. Now, King Pasenadi shows the same kind of deference to the Realized One. But he doesn\u2019t think: \u2018The ascetic Gotama is well-born, I am ill-born. He is powerful, I am weak. He is handsome, I am ugly. He is illustrious, I am insignificant.\u2019 Rather, in showing such deference to the Realized One he is only honoring, respecting, and venerating principle. And here\u2019s another way to understand how principle is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, you have different births, names, clans, and families, yet have gone forth from the lay life to homelessness. When they ask you what you are, you claim to be ascetics who follow the Sakyan. But only when someone has faith in the Realized One\u2014settled, rooted, and planted deep, strong, not to be shifted by any ascetic or brahmin or god or M\u0101ra or divinity or by anyone in the world\u2014is it appropriate for them to say: \u2018I am the Buddha\u2019s bosom son, born from his mouth, born of principle, created by principle, heir to principle.\u2019 Why is that? For these are terms for the Realized One: \u2018the embodiment of principle\u2019, and \u2018the embodiment of divinity\u2019, and \u2018the manifestation of principle\u2019, and \u2018the manifestation of divinity\u2019. There comes a time when, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, after a very long period has passed, this cosmos contracts. As the cosmos contracts, sentient beings are mostly headed for the realm of sublime luminosity. There they are mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-radiant, wandering in midair, steadily glorious, and they remain like that for a very long time. There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, this cosmos expands. As the cosmos expands, sentient beings mostly pass away from that host of luminous deities and come back to this realm. Here they are mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-radiant, wandering in midair, steadily glorious, and they remain like that for a very long time. 2. The Earth\u2019s Nectar Appears But the single mass of water at that time was utterly dark. The moon and sun were not found, nor were stars and constellations, day and night, months and fortnights, years and seasons, or male and female. Beings were simply known as \u2018beings\u2019. After a very long period had passed, the earth\u2019s nectar curdled in the water. It appeared just like the curd on top of hot milk-rice as it cools. It was beautiful, fragrant, and delicious, like ghee or butter. And it was as sweet as pure dwarf-bee honey. Now, one of those beings was reckless. Thinking, \u2018Oh my, what might this be?\u2019 they tasted the earth\u2019s nectar with their finger. They enjoyed it, and craving was born in them. And other beings, following that being\u2019s example, tasted the earth\u2019s nectar with their fingers. They too enjoyed it, and craving was born in them. 3. The Moon and Sun Appear Then those beings started to eat the earth\u2019s nectar, breaking it into lumps. But when they did this their radiance vanished. And with the vanishing of their radiance the moon and sun appeared, stars and constellations appeared, days and nights were distinguished, and so were months and fortnights, and years and seasons. So far had the world evolved once more. Then those beings eating the earth\u2019s nectar, with that as their food and nourishment, remained for a very long time. But so long as they ate that earth\u2019s nectar, their bodies became more solid and they diverged in appearance; some beautiful, some ugly. And the beautiful beings looked down on the ugly ones: \u2018We\u2019re more beautiful, they\u2019re the ugly ones!\u2019 And the vanity of the beautiful ones made the earth\u2019s nectar vanish. They gathered together and bemoaned, \u2018Oh, what a taste! Oh, what a taste!\u2019 And even today when people get something tasty they say: \u2018Oh, what a taste! Oh, what a taste!\u2019 They\u2019re just remembering an ancient primordial saying, but they don\u2019t understand what it means. 4. Ground-Fungus When the earth\u2019s nectar had vanished, ground-fungus appeared to those beings. It appeared just like a mushroom. It was beautiful, fragrant, and delicious, like ghee or butter. And it was as sweet as pure dwarf-bee honey. Then those beings started to eat the ground-fungus. With that as their food and nourishment, they remained for a very long time. But so long as they ate that ground-fungus, their bodies became more solid and they diverged in appearance; some beautiful, some ugly. And the beautiful beings looked down on the ugly ones: \u2018We\u2019re more beautiful, they\u2019re the ugly ones!\u2019 And the vanity of the beautiful ones made the ground-fungus vanish. 5. Bursting Pods When the ground-fungus had vanished, bursting pods appeared, like the fruit of the kadam tree. They were beautiful, fragrant, and delicious, like ghee or butter. And they were as sweet as pure dwarf-bee honey. Then those beings started to eat the bursting pods. With that as their food and nourishment, they remained for a very long time. But so long as they ate those bursting pods, their bodies became more solid and they diverged in appearance; some beautiful, some ugly. And the beautiful beings looked down on the ugly ones: \u2018We\u2019re more beautiful, they\u2019re the ugly ones!\u2019 And the vanity of the beautiful ones made the bursting pods vanish. They gathered together and bemoaned, \u2018Oh, what we\u2019ve lost! Oh, what we\u2019ve lost\u2014those bursting pods!\u2019 And even today when people experience suffering they say: \u2018Oh, what we\u2019ve lost! Oh, what we\u2019ve lost!\u2019 They\u2019re just remembering an ancient primordial saying, but they don\u2019t understand what it means. 6. Ripe Untilled Rice When the bursting pods had vanished, ripe untilled rice appeared to those beings. It had no powder or husk, pure and fragrant, with only the rice-grain. What they took for supper at dusk, by daybreak had grown back and ripened. And what they took for breakfast at daybreak had grown back and ripened by the evening, leaving no trace showing. Then those beings eating the ripe untilled rice, with that as their food and nourishment, remained for a very long time. 7. Sex Appears But so long as they ate that ripe untilled rice, their bodies became more solid and they diverged in appearance. And female characteristics appeared on women, while male characteristics appeared on men. Women spent too much time gazing at men, and men at women. They became lustful, and their bodies burned with fever. Due to this fever they had sex with each other. Those who saw them having sex pelted them with dirt, clods, or cow-dung, saying, \u2018Get lost, filth! Get lost, filth! How on earth can one being do that to another?\u2019 And even today people in some countries, when carrying a bride off, pelt her with dirt, clods, or cow-dung. They\u2019re just remembering an ancient primordial saying, but they don\u2019t understand what it means. 8. Sexual Intercourse What was deemed as unprincipled at that time, these days is deemed as principled. The beings who had sex together weren\u2019t allowed to enter a village or town for one or two months. Ever since they excessively threw themselves into immorality, they started to make buildings to hide their immoral deeds. Then one of those beings of idle disposition thought, \u2018Oh my, why should I be bothered to gather rice at dusk for supper, and at daybreak for breakfast? Why don\u2019t I gather rice for supper and breakfast all at once?\u2019 So that\u2019s what he did. Then one of the other beings approached that being and said, \u2018Come, good being, we shall go to gather rice.\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s no need, good being! I gathered rice for supper and breakfast all at once.\u2019 So that being, following their example, gathered rice for two days all at once, thinking: \u2018This seems fine.\u2019 Then one of the other beings approached that being and said, \u2018Come, good being, we shall go to gather rice.\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s no need, good being! I gathered rice for two days all at once.\u2019 So that being, following their example, gathered rice for four days all at once, thinking: \u2018This seems fine.\u2019 Then one of the other beings approached that being and said, \u2018Come, good being, we shall go to gather rice.\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s no need, good being! I gathered rice for four days all at once.\u2019 So that being, following their example, gathered rice for eight days all at once, thinking: \u2018This seems fine.\u2019 But when they started to store up rice to eat, the rice grains became wrapped in powder and husk, it didn\u2019t grow back after reaping, leaving a trace showing, and the rice stood in clumps. 9. Dividing the Rice Then those beings gathered together and bemoaned, \u2018Oh, how wicked things have appeared among beings! For we used to be mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-radiant, wandering in midair, steadily glorious, and we remained like that for a very long time. After a very long period had passed, the earth\u2019s nectar curdled in the water. But due to bad, unskillful things among us, the earth\u2019s nectar vanished, then the ground-fungus vanished, the bursting pods vanished, and now the rice grains have become wrapped in powder and husk, it doesn\u2019t grow back after reaping, traces are left showing, and the rice stands in clumps. We\u2019d better divide up the rice and lay down boundaries.\u2019 So that\u2019s what they did. Now, one of those beings was reckless. While guarding their own share they took another\u2019s share without it being given, and ate it. They grabbed the one who had done this and said, \u2018You have done a bad thing, good being, in that while guarding your own share you took another\u2019s share without it being given, and ate it. Do not do such a thing again.\u2019 \u2018Yes, worthy sirs,\u2019 replied that being. But for a second time \u2026 For a third time they did the same thing, and were told not to continue. And then they struck that being, some with fists, others with stones, and still others with rods. From that day on stealing was found, and blame, and lying, and the taking up of rods. 10. The Elected King Then those beings gathered together and bemoaned, \u2018Oh, how wicked things have appeared among beings, in that stealing is found, and blaming and lying and the taking up of rods! Why don\u2019t we elect one being who would rightly accuse those who deserve it, blame those who deserve it, and expel those who deserve it? We shall pay them with a share of rice.\u2019 Then those beings approached the being among them who was most attractive, good-looking, lovely, and illustrious, and said, \u2018Come, good being, rightly accuse those who deserve it, blame those who deserve it, and banish those who deserve it. We shall pay you with a share of rice.\u2019 \u2018Yes, worthy sirs,\u2019 replied that being. They acted accordingly, and were paid with a share of rice. \u2018Elected by the populace\u2019, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the meaning of \u2018popularly elected\u2019, the first term applied to them. \u2018Lord of the fields\u2019 is the meaning of \u2018aristocrat\u2019, the second term applied to them. \u2018They please others with principle\u2019 is the meaning of \u2018king\u2019, the third term applied to them. And that, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is how the ancient primordial terms for the circle of aristocrats were created; for those very beings, not others; for those like them, not unlike; by virtue of principle, not against principle. For principle, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. 11. The Circle of Brahmins Then some of those same beings thought, \u2018Oh, how wicked things have appeared among beings, in that stealing is found, and blaming and lying and the taking up of rods and banishment! Why don\u2019t we set aside bad, unskillful things?\u2019 So that\u2019s what they did. \u2018They set aside bad, unskillful things\u2019 is the meaning of \u2018brahmin\u2019, the first term applied to them. They built leaf huts in a wilderness region where they meditated pure and bright, without lighting cooking fires or digging the soil. They came down at daybreak for breakfast and at dusk for supper to the village, town, or royal capital seeking a meal. When they had obtained food they continued to meditate in the leaf huts. When people noticed this they said, \u2018These beings build leaf huts in a wilderness region where they meditate pure and bright, without lighting cooking fires or digging the soil. They come down at daybreak for breakfast and at dusk for supper to the village, town, or royal capital seeking a meal. When they have obtained food they continue to meditate in the leaf huts.\u2019 \u2018They meditate\u2019 is the meaning of \u2018meditator\u2019, the second term applied to them. But some of those beings were unable to keep up with their meditation in the leaf huts in the wilderness. They came down to the neighborhood of a village or town where they dwelt compiling texts. When people noticed this they said, \u2018These beings were unable to keep up with their meditation in the leaf huts in the wilderness. They came down to the neighborhood of a village or town where they dwelt compiling texts. Now they don\u2019t meditate.\u2019 \u2018Now they don\u2019t meditate\u2019 is the meaning of \u2018reciter\u2019, the third term applied to them. What was deemed as worse at that time, these days is deemed as best. And that, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is how the ancient primordial terms for the circle of brahmins were created; for those very beings, not others; for those like them, not unlike; by virtue of principle, not against principle. For principle, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. 12. The Circle of Peasants Some of those same beings, taking up an active sex life, applied themselves to various jobs. \u2018Having taken up an active sex life, they apply themselves to various jobs\u2019 is the meaning of \u2018peasant\u2019, the term applied to them. And that, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is how the ancient primordial term for the circle of peasants was created; for those very beings, not others; for those like them, not unlike; by virtue of principle, not against principle. For principle, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. 13. The Circle of Menials The remaining beings lived by venal hunting and minor tasks. \u2018They live by venal hunting and minor tasks\u2019 is the meaning of \u2018menial\u2019, the term applied to them. And that, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is how the ancient primordial term for the circle of menials was created; for those very beings, not others; for those like them, not unlike; by virtue of principle, not against principle. For principle, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. There came a time when an aristocrat, brahmin, peasant, or menial, deprecating their own vocation, went forth from the lay life to homelessness, thinking, \u2018I will be an ascetic.\u2019 From these four circles, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, the circle of ascetics was created; for those very beings, not others; for those like them, not unlike; by virtue of principle, not against principle. For principle, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. 14. On Bad Conduct An aristocrat, brahmin, peasant, menial, or ascetic may do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They have wrong view, and they act out of that wrong view. And because of that, when their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. An aristocrat, brahmin, peasant, menial, or ascetic may do good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They have right view, and they act out of that right view. And because of that, when their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. An aristocrat, brahmin, peasant, menial, or ascetic may do mixed things by way of body, speech, and mind. They have mixed view, and they act out of that mixed view. And because of that, when their body breaks up, after death, they experience both pleasure and pain. 15. The Qualities on the Side of Awakening An aristocrat, brahmin, peasant, menial, or ascetic who is restrained in body, speech, and mind, and develops the seven qualities on the side of awakening, becomes extinguished in this very life. Any mendicant from these four classes who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014is said to be the foremost by virtue of principle, not against principle. For principle, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha, is the best thing for people in both this life and the next. The divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra also spoke this verse: \u2018The aristocrat is best among people who take clan as the standard. But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct is first among gods and humans.\u2019 That verse was well sung by the Divinity Sana\u1e45kum\u0101ra, not poorly sung; well spoken, not poorly spoken; beneficial, not harmful, and I agree with it. I also say: The aristocrat is best among people who take clan as the standard. But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct is first among gods and humans.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, V\u0101se\u1e6d\u1e6dha and Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja approved what the Buddha said.","title":"What Came First","tradition":"Digha Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":3653}