{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn11.3/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn11.3","id":"suttacentral_sn11.3","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn11.3/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, \u201cMendicants!\u201d \u201cVenerable sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cOnce upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans. Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three: \u2018Good fellows, when the gods are fighting, if you get scared or terrified, just look up at my banner\u2019s crest. Then your fear and terror will go away. If you can\u2019t see my banner\u2019s crest, then look up at the banner\u2019s crest of the Progenitor, king of gods. Then your fear and terror will go away. If you can\u2019t see his banner\u2019s crest, then look up at the banner\u2019s crest of Varu\u1e47a, king of gods. Then your fear and terror will go away. If you can\u2019t see his banner\u2019s crest, then look up at the banner\u2019s crest of \u012as\u0101na, king of gods. Then your fear and terror will go away.\u2019 However, when they look up at those banner\u2019s crests their fear and terror might go away or it might not. Why is that? Because Sakka is not free of greed, hate, and delusion. He is fearful, scared, nervous, quick to flee. But, mendicants, I say this: If you\u2019ve gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut and you get scared or terrified, just recollect me: \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 Then your fear and terror will go away. If you can\u2019t recollect me, then recollect the teaching: \u2018The 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.\u2019 Then your fear and terror will go away. If you can\u2019t recollect the teaching, then recollect the Sa\u1e45gha: \u2018The Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s disciples is practicing the way that\u2019s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.\u2019 Then your fear and terror will go away. Why is that? Because the Realized One is free of greed, hate, and delusion. He is fearless, brave, bold, and stands his ground.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cIn the wilderness, at a tree\u2019s root, or an empty hut, O mendicants, recollect the Buddha, and no fear will come to you. If you can\u2019t recollect the Buddha\u2014 the eldest in the world, the captain of men\u2014 then recollect the teaching, emancipating, well taught. If you can\u2019t recollect the teaching\u2014 emancipating, well taught\u2014 then recollect the Sa\u1e45gha, the supreme field of merit. Thus recollecting the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha, mendicants, fear and terror and goosebumps will be no more.\u201d","title":"The Banner\u2019s Crest","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":516}