{"collection":"Digha Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_dn4/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_dn4","id":"suttacentral_dn4","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/dn4/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Digha Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"1. The Brahmins and Householders of Camp\u0101 So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the A\u1e45gas together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of five hundred mendicants when he arrived at Camp\u0101, where he stayed by the banks of the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond. Now at that time the brahmin So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da was living in Camp\u0101. It was a crown property given by King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha, teeming with living creatures, full of hay, wood, water, and grain, a royal park endowed to a brahmin. The brahmins and householders of Camp\u0101 heard: \u201cIt seems the ascetic Gotama\u2014a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family\u2014has arrived at Camp\u0101 and is staying on the banks of the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond. 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, exiting Camp\u0101, they formed into companies and headed to the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond. Now at that time the brahmin So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da had retired to the upper floor of his stilt longhouse for his midday nap. He saw the brahmins and householders heading for the lotus pond, and addressed his butler, \u201cMy butler, why are the brahmins and householders headed for the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond?\u201d \u201cThe ascetic Gotama has arrived at Camp\u0101 and is staying on the banks of the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond. 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 They\u2019re going to see that worthy Gotama.\u201d \u201cWell then, go to the brahmins and householders and say to them: \u2018Sirs, the brahmin So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da asks you to wait, as he will also go to see the ascetic Gotama.\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d replied the butler, and did as he was asked. 2. The Qualities of So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da Now at that time around five hundred brahmins from abroad were residing in Camp\u0101 on some business. They heard that the brahmin So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da was going to see the ascetic Gotama. They approached So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da and said to him, \u201cIs it really true that you are going to see the ascetic Gotama?\u201d \u201cYes, gentlemen, it is true.\u201d \u201cPlease don\u2019t, worthy So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da! It\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama. For if you do so, your reputation will diminish and his will increase. For this reason it\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama; it\u2019s appropriate that he comes to see you. You are well born on both your mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a pure vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. For this reason it\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama; it\u2019s appropriate that he comes to see you. You\u2019re rich, affluent, and wealthy. \u2026 You recite and remember the hymns, and have mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. You know them word-by-word, and their grammar. You are well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. \u2026 You are attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. You have divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. \u2026 You are ethical, mature in ethical conduct. \u2026 You\u2019re a good speaker who enunciates well, with a polished, clear, and articulate voice that expresses the meaning. \u2026 You\u2019re the tutor of tutors for many, and teach three hundred young students to recite the hymns. Many students come from various districts and countries for the sake of the hymns, wishing to learn the hymns. \u2026 You\u2019re old, elderly and senior, advanced in years, and have reached the final stage of life. The ascetic Gotama is young, and has newly gone forth. \u2026 You\u2019re honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by King Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha \u2026 and the brahmin Pokkharas\u0101ti. \u2026 You live in Camp\u0101, a crown property given by King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha, teeming with living creatures, full of hay, wood, water, and grain, a royal park endowed to a brahmin. For this reason, too, it\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama; it\u2019s appropriate that he comes to see you.\u201d 3. The Qualities of the Buddha When they had spoken, So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da said to those brahmins: \u201cWell then, gentlemen, listen to why it\u2019s appropriate for me to go to see the ascetic Gotama, and it\u2019s not appropriate for him to come to see me. He is well born on both his mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. For this reason it\u2019s not appropriate for the ascetic Gotama to come to see me; rather, it\u2019s appropriate for me to go to see him. When he went forth he abandoned a large family circle. \u2026 When he went forth he abandoned abundant gold, both coined and uncoined, stored above and below ground. \u2026 He went forth from the lay life to homelessness while still a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life. \u2026 Though his mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces, he shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness. \u2026 He is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. \u2026 He is ethical, possessing ethical conduct that is noble and skillful. \u2026 He\u2019s a good speaker who enunciates well, with a polished, clear, and articulate voice that expresses the meaning. \u2026 He\u2019s a tutor of tutors. \u2026 He has ended sensual desire, and is rid of caprice. \u2026 He teaches the efficacy of deeds and action. He doesn\u2019t wish any harm upon the community of brahmins. \u2026 He went forth from an eminent family of unbroken aristocratic lineage. \u2026 He went forth from a rich, affluent, and wealthy family. \u2026 People come from distant lands and distant countries to question him. \u2026 Many thousands of deities have gone for refuge for life to him. \u2026 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 \u2026 He has the thirty-two marks of a great man. \u2026 He is welcoming, congenial, polite, smiling, open, the first to speak. \u2026 He\u2019s honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by the four assemblies. \u2026 Many gods and humans are devoted to him. \u2026 While he is residing in a village or town, non-human entities do not harass them. \u2026 He leads an order and a community, and tutors a community, and is said to be the best of the various religious founders. He didn\u2019t come by his fame in the same ways as those other ascetics and brahmins. Rather, he came by his fame due to his supreme knowledge and conduct. \u2026 King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha and his wives and children have gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. \u2026 King Pasenadi of Kosala and his wives and children have gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. \u2026 The brahmin Pokkharas\u0101ti and his wives and children have gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. \u2026 He\u2019s honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by King Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha \u2026 King Pasenadi of Kosala \u2026 and the brahmin Pokkharas\u0101ti. The ascetic Gotama has arrived at Camp\u0101 and is staying at the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond. Any ascetic or brahmin who comes to stay in our village district is our guest, and should be honored and respected as such. For this reason, too, it\u2019s not appropriate for the worthy Gotama to come to see me; rather, it\u2019s appropriate for me to go to see him. This is the extent of the worthy Gotama\u2019s praise that I have memorized. But his praises are not confined to this, for the praise of the worthy Gotama is limitless.\u201d When he had spoken, those brahmins said to him, \u201cAccording to So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da\u2019s praises, if the worthy Gotama were staying within a hundred leagues, it\u2019d be worthwhile for a faithful gentleman to go to see him, even if he had to carry his own provisions in a knapsack.\u201d \u201cWell then, gentlemen, let\u2019s all go to see the ascetic Gotama.\u201d 4. So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da Has Second Thoughts Then So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da together with a large group of brahmins approached the Gaggar\u0101 Lotus Pond. But as he reached the far side of the forest, this thought came to mind, \u201cSuppose I was to ask the ascetic Gotama a question. He might say to me: \u2018Brahmin, you shouldn\u2019t ask your question like that. This is how you should ask it.\u2019 And the assembly might disparage me for that: \u2018So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da is foolish and incompetent. He\u2019s not able to ask the ascetic Gotama a rational question.\u2019 And when you\u2019re disparaged by the assembly, your reputation diminishes. When your reputation diminishes, your wealth also diminishes. But my wealth relies on my reputation. Or if the ascetic Gotama asks me a question, I might not satisfy him with my answer. He might say to me: \u2018Brahmin, you shouldn\u2019t answer the question like that. This is how you should answer it.\u2019 And the assembly might disparage me for that: \u2018So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da is foolish and incompetent. He\u2019s not able to satisfy the ascetic Gotama\u2019s mind with his answer.\u2019 And when you\u2019re disparaged by the assembly, your reputation diminishes. When your reputation diminishes, your wealth also diminishes. But my wealth relies on my reputation. On the other hand, if I were to turn back after having come so far without having seen the ascetic Gotama, the assembly might disparage me for that: \u2018So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da is foolish and incompetent. He\u2019s stuck-up and scared. He doesn\u2019t dare to go and see the ascetic Gotama. For how on earth can he turn back after having come so far without having seen the ascetic Gotama!\u2019 And when you\u2019re disparaged by the assembly, your reputation diminishes. When your reputation diminishes, your wealth also diminishes. But my wealth relies on my reputation.\u201d Then So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. Before sitting down to one side, some of the brahmins and householders of Camp\u0101 bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. But while sitting there, So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da continued to be plagued by many second thoughts. He thought, \u201cIf only the ascetic Gotama would ask me about my own tutor\u2019s scriptural heritage of the three Vedas! Then I could definitely satisfy his mind with my answer.\u201d 5. What Makes a Brahmin Then, knowing So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da\u2019s train of thought, it occurred to the Buddha, \u201cThis brahmin So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da is troubled by his own thoughts. Why don\u2019t I ask him about his own tutor\u2019s scriptural heritage of the three Vedas?\u201d So he said to So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da, \u201cBrahmin, how many factors must a brahmin possess for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin; and so that when he says \u2018I am a brahmin\u2019 he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood?\u201d Then So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da thought, \u201cThe ascetic Gotama has asked me about exactly what I wanted, what I wished for, what I desired, what I yearned for; that is, my own scriptural heritage. I can definitely satisfy his mind with my answer.\u201d Then So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da straightened his back, looked around the assembly, and said to the Buddha, \u201cWorthy Gotama, a brahmin must possess five factors for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin; and so that when he says \u2018I am a brahmin\u2019 he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood. What five? It\u2019s when a brahmin is well born on both his mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. He recites and remembers the hymns, and has mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knows them word-by-word, and their grammar. He is well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. He is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. He is ethical, mature in ethical conduct. He\u2019s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle. These are the five factors which a brahmin must possess for the brahmins to describe him as a brahmin; and so that when he says \u2018I am a brahmin\u2019 he speaks rightly, without falling into falsehood.\u201d \u201cBut brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these five factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?\u201d \u201cIt is possible, worthy Gotama. We could leave appearance out of the five factors. For what does appearance matter? A brahmin must possess the remaining four factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.\u201d \u201cBut brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these four factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?\u201d \u201cIt is possible, worthy Gotama. We could leave the hymns out of the four factors. For what do the hymns matter? A brahmin must possess the remaining three factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.\u201d \u201cBut brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these three factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?\u201d \u201cIt is possible, worthy Gotama. We could leave birth out of the three factors. For what does birth matter? It\u2019s when a brahmin is ethical, mature in ethical conduct; and he\u2019s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle. A brahmin must possess these two factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.\u201d When he had spoken, those brahmins said to him, \u201cPlease don\u2019t say that, worthy So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da, please don\u2019t say that! You\u2019re just condemning appearance, the hymns, and birth! You\u2019re totally going over to the ascetic Gotama\u2019s doctrine!\u201d So the Buddha said to them, \u201cWell, brahmins, if you think that So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da is unlearned, a poor speaker, witless, and not capable of debating with me about this, then leave him aside and you can debate with me. But if you think that he\u2019s learned, a good speaker who enunciates well, astute, and capable of debating with me about this, then you should stand aside and let him debate with me.\u201d When he said this, So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da said to the Buddha, \u201cLet it be, worthy Gotama, be silent. I myself will respond to them in a legitimate manner.\u201d Then he said to those brahmins, \u201cDon\u2019t say this, good fellows, don\u2019t say this: \u2018You\u2019re just condemning appearance, the hymns, and birth! You\u2019re totally going over to the ascetic Gotama\u2019s doctrine!\u2019 I\u2019m not condemning appearance, hymns, or birth.\u201d Now at that time So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da\u2019s nephew, the young student A\u1e45gaka was sitting in that assembly. Then So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da said to those brahmins, \u201cGentlemen, do you see my nephew, the young student A\u1e45gaka?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cA\u1e45gaka is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. There\u2019s no one in this assembly so good-looking, apart from the ascetic Gotama. A\u1e45gaka recites and remembers the hymns, and has mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knows them word-by-word, and their grammar. He is well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. And I am the one who teaches him the hymns. A\u1e45gaka is well born on both his mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. And I know his mother and father. But if A\u1e45gaka were to kill living creatures, steal, commit adultery, lie, and drink liquor, then what\u2019s the use of his appearance, his hymns, or his birth? It\u2019s when a brahmin is ethical, mature in ethical conduct; and he\u2019s astute and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle. A brahmin must possess these two factors for the brahmins to rightly describe him as a brahmin.\u201d 6. The Discussion of Ethics and Wisdom \u201cBut brahmin, is it possible to set aside one of these two factors and still rightly describe someone as a brahmin?\u201d \u201cNo, worthy Gotama. For wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom. Ethics and wisdom always go together. An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical. And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world. It\u2019s just like when you clean one hand with the other, or clean one foot with the other. In the same way, wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom. Ethics and wisdom always go together. An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical. And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s so true, brahmin, that\u2019s so true! For wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom. Ethics and wisdom always go together. An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical. And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world. It\u2019s just like when you clean one hand with the other, or clean one foot with the other. In the same way, wisdom is cleansed by ethics, and ethics are cleansed by wisdom. Ethics and wisdom always go together. An ethical person is wise, and a wise person ethical. And ethics and wisdom are said to be the best things in the world. But what, brahmin, is that ethical conduct? And what is that wisdom?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s all I know about this matter, worthy Gotama. May the worthy Gotama himself please clarify the meaning of this.\u201d \u201cWell then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da replied. The Buddha said this: \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. This, brahmin, is that ethical conduct. \u2026 They enter and remain in the first absorption \u2026 second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption \u2026 They project and extend the mind toward knowledge and vision \u2026 This pertains to their wisdom. \u2026 They understand: \u2018\u2026 there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 This pertains to their wisdom. This, brahmin, is that wisdom.\u201d 7. So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da Declares Himself a Lay Follower When he had spoken, So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, 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. Would you and the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha please accept tomorrow\u2019s meal from me?\u201d The Buddha consented with silence. Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. And when the night had passed So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.\u201d Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da together with the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da served and satisfied the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da took a low seat and sat to one side. Seated to one side he said to the Buddha: \u201cWorthy Gotama, if, when I have gone to an assembly, I rise from my seat and bow to the worthy Gotama, that assembly might disparage me for that. And when you\u2019re disparaged by the assembly, your reputation diminishes. When your reputation diminishes, your wealth also diminishes. But my wealth relies on my reputation. If, when I have gone to an assembly, I raise my cupped palms, please take it that I have risen from my seat. And if I undo my turban, please take it that I have bowed. And the worthy Gotama, if, when I am in a carriage, I get down from my carriage and bow to the worthy Gotama, that assembly might disparage me for that. If, when I am in a carriage, I hold up my goad, please take it that I have got down from my carriage. And if I lower my parasol, please take it that I have bowed.\u201d Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired the brahmin So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left.","title":"With So\u1e47ada\u1e47\u1e0da","tradition":"Digha Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":3650}