{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn97/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn97","id":"suttacentral_mn97","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn97/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. Now at that time Venerable S\u0101riputta was wandering in the Southern Hills together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants. Then a certain mendicant who had completed the rainy season residence in R\u0101jagaha went to the Southern Hills, where he approached Venerable S\u0101riputta, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. S\u0101riputta said to him, \u201cReverend, I hope the Buddha is healthy and strong?\u201d \u201cHe is, reverend.\u201d \u201cAnd I hope that the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha is healthy and strong.\u201d \u201cIt is.\u201d \u201cReverend, at the rice checkpoint at the city gate there is a brahmin named Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni. I hope that he is healthy and strong?\u201d \u201cHe too is well.\u201d \u201cBut is he diligent?\u201d \u201cHow could he possibly be diligent? Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni robs the brahmins and householders in the name of the king, and he robs the king in the name of the brahmins and householders. His wife, a lady of faith who he married from a family of faith, has passed away. And he has taken a new wife who has no faith.\u201d \u201cOh, it\u2019s bad news to hear that Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni is negligent. Hopefully, some time or other I\u2019ll get to meet him, and we can have a discussion.\u201d When S\u0101riputta had stayed in the Southern Hills as long as he pleased, he set out for R\u0101jagaha. Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at R\u0101jagaha, where he stayed in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. Then he robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered R\u0101jagaha for alms. Now at that time Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni was having his cows milked in a cow-shed outside the city. Then S\u0101riputta wandered for alms in R\u0101jagaha. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he approached Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni. Seeing S\u0101riputta coming off in the distance, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni went to him and said, \u201cHere, worthy S\u0101riputta, drink some fresh milk before the meal time.\u201d \u201cEnough, brahmin, I\u2019ve finished eating for today. I shall be at the root of that tree there for the day\u2019s meditation. Come see me there.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d replied Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni. When Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni had finished breakfast he went to S\u0101riputta and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. S\u0101riputta said to him, \u201cI hope you\u2019re diligent, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni?\u201d \u201cHow can I possibly be diligent, worthy S\u0101riputta? I have to provide for my mother and father, my wives and children, and my bondservants and workers. And I have to make the proper offerings to friends and colleagues, relatives and kin, guests, ancestors, deities, and king. And then this body must also be fattened and built up.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni? Suppose someone was to behave in an unprincipled and immoral way for the sake of their parents. Because of this the wardens of hell would drag them to hell. Could they get out of being dragged to hell by pleading that they had acted for the sake of their parents? Or could their parents save them by pleading that the acts had been done for their sake?\u201d \u201cNo, worthy S\u0101riputta. Rather, even as they were wailing the wardens of hell would cast them down into hell.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni? Suppose someone was to behave in an unprincipled and immoral way for the sake of their wives and children \u2026 bondservants and workers \u2026 friends and colleagues \u2026 relatives and kin \u2026 guests \u2026 ancestors \u2026 deities \u2026 king \u2026 fattening and building up their body. Because of this the wardens of hell would drag them to hell. Could they get out of being dragged to hell by pleading that they had acted for the sake of fattening and building up their body? Or could anyone else save them by pleading that the acts had been done for that reason?\u201d \u201cNo, worthy S\u0101riputta. Rather, even as they were wailing the wardens of hell would cast them down into hell.\u201d \u201cWho do you think is better, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni? Someone who, for the sake of their parents, behaves in an unprincipled and immoral manner, or someone who behaves in a principled and moral manner?\u201d \u201cSomeone who behaves in a principled and moral manner for the sake of their parents. For principled and moral conduct is better than unprincipled and immoral conduct.\u201d \u201cDhana\u00f1j\u0101ni, others have livelihoods that are both profitable and legitimate. By means of these it\u2019s possible to provide for your parents, avoid bad deeds, and practice the path of goodness. Who do you think is better, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni? Someone who, for the sake of their wives and children \u2026 bondservants and workers \u2026 friends and colleagues \u2026 relatives and kin \u2026 guests \u2026 ancestors \u2026 deities \u2026 king \u2026 fattening and building up their body, behaves in an unprincipled and immoral manner, or someone who behaves in a principled and moral manner?\u201d \u201cSomeone who behaves in a principled and moral manner. For principled and moral conduct is better than unprincipled and immoral conduct.\u201d \u201cDhana\u00f1j\u0101ni, others have livelihoods that are both profitable and legitimate. By means of these it\u2019s possible to fatten and build up your body, avoid bad deeds, and practice the path of goodness.\u201d Then Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni the brahmin, having approved and agreed with what Venerable S\u0101riputta said, rose from his seat and left. Some time later Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni became sick, suffering, gravely ill. Then he addressed a man, \u201cPlease, my man, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him: \u2018Sir, the brahmin Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.\u2019 Then go to Venerable S\u0101riputta, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him: \u2018Sir, the brahmin Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.\u2019 And then say: \u2018Sir, please visit Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni at his home out of sympathy.\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d that man replied. He did as Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni asked. S\u0101riputta consented with silence. He robed up, and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni\u2019s home, where he sat down on the seat spread out and said to Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni, \u201cI hope you\u2019re keeping well, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni, I hope you\u2019re all right. I hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not keeping well, Mister S\u0101riputta, I\u2019m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading. The winds piercing my head are so severe, it feels like a strong man drilling into my head with a sharp point. I\u2019m not keeping well. The pain in my head is so severe, it feels like a strong man tightening a strong leather strap around my head. I\u2019m not keeping well. The winds slicing my belly are so severe, like a deft butcher or their apprentice were slicing open a cow\u2019s belly with a sharp meat cleaver. I\u2019m not keeping well. The burning in my body is so severe, it feels like two strong men grabbing a weaker man by the arms to burn and scorch him on a pit of glowing coals. I\u2019m not keeping well, Mister S\u0101riputta, I\u2019m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.\u201d \u201cDhana\u00f1j\u0101ni, which do you think is better: hell or the animal realm?\u201d \u201cThe animal realm is better.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the animal realm or the ghost realm?\u201d \u201cThe ghost realm is better.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the ghost realm or human life?\u201d \u201cHuman life is better.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: human life or as one of the gods of the four great kings?\u201d \u201cThe gods of the four great kings.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the gods of the four great kings or the gods of the thirty-three?\u201d \u201cThe gods of the thirty-three.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the gods of the thirty-three or the gods of Yama?\u201d \u201cThe gods of Yama.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the gods of Yama or the joyful gods?\u201d \u201cThe joyful gods.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the joyful gods or the gods who love to create?\u201d \u201cThe gods who love to create.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the gods who love to create or the gods who control what is created by others?\u201d \u201cThe gods who control what is created by others.\u201d \u201cWhich do you think is better: the gods who control what is created by others or the realm of divinity?\u201d \u201cWorthy S\u0101riputta speaks of the realm of divinity! Worthy S\u0101riputta speaks of the realm of divinity!\u201d Then S\u0101riputta thought: \u201cThese brahmins are devoted to the realm of divinity. Why don\u2019t I teach him a path to the company of Divinity?\u201d \u201cDhana\u00f1j\u0101ni, I shall teach you a path to the company of Divinity. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d replied Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni. Venerable S\u0101riputta said this: \u201cAnd what is a path to company with Divinity? Firstly, a mendicant meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. This is a path to company with Divinity. Furthermore, a mendicant meditates spreading a heart full of compassion \u2026 They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing \u2026 They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. This is a path to company with Divinity.\u201d \u201cWell then, Mister S\u0101riputta, in my name bow with your head to the Buddha\u2019s feet. Say to him: \u2018Sir, the brahmin Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.\u2019\u201d Then S\u0101riputta, after establishing Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni in the inferior realm of divinity, rose from his seat and left while there was still more left to do. Not long after S\u0101riputta had left, Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni passed away and was reborn in the realm of divinity. Then the Buddha said to the mendicants, \u201cMendicants, S\u0101riputta, after establishing Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni in the inferior realm of divinity, rose from his seat and left while there was still more left to do.\u201d Then S\u0101riputta went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said, \u201cSir, the brahmin Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.\u201d \u201cBut S\u0101riputta, after establishing Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni in the inferior realm of divinity, why did you get up from your seat and leave while there was still more left to do?\u201d \u201cSir, I thought: \u2018These brahmins are devoted to the realm of divinity. Why don\u2019t I teach him a path to the company of Divinity?\u2019\u201d \u201cAnd S\u0101riputta, the brahmin Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni has passed away and been reborn in the realm of divinity.\u201d","title":"With Dhana\u00f1j\u0101ni","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1873}