{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn42.9/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn42.9","id":"suttacentral_sn42.9","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn42.9/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants when he arrived at N\u0101\u1e37and\u0101. There he stayed near N\u0101\u1e37and\u0101 in P\u0101v\u0101rika\u2019s Mango Grove. Now at that time N\u0101\u1e37and\u0101 was undergoing famine and scarcity, with crops blighted and turned to straw. At that time the Jain ascetic of the \u00d1\u0101tika clan was residing at N\u0101\u1e37and\u0101 together with a large assembly of Jain ascetics. Then Asibandhaka\u2019s son the chief, who was a disciple of the Jains, went up to the Jain \u00d1\u0101tika, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Jain \u00d1\u0101tika said to him: \u201cCome, chief, refute the ascetic Gotama\u2019s doctrine. Then you will get a good reputation: \u2018Asibandhaka\u2019s son the chief refuted the doctrine of the ascetic Gotama, so mighty and powerful!\u2019\u201d \u201cBut sir, how am I to do this?\u201d \u201cHere, brahmin, go to the ascetic Gotama and say to him: \u2018Sir, don\u2019t you in many ways praise kindness, protection, and sympathy for families?\u2019 When he\u2019s asked this, if he answers: \u2018Indeed I do, chief,\u2019 say this to him: \u2018So what then are you doing, wandering together with this large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants during a time of famine and scarcity, with crops blighted and turned to straw? The Buddha is practicing to annihilate, collapse, and ruin families!\u2019 When you put this dilemma to him, the Buddha won\u2019t be able to either spit it out or swallow it down.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied Asibandhaka\u2019s son. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Jain \u00d1\u0101tika, keeping him on his right. Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cSir, don\u2019t you in many ways praise kindness, protection, and sympathy for families?\u201d \u201cIndeed I do, chief.\u201d \u201cSo what then are you doing, wandering together with this large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants during a time of famine and scarcity, with crops blighted and turned to straw? The Buddha is practicing to annihilate, collapse, and ruin families!\u201d \u201cWell, chief, I recollect ninety-one eons back but I\u2019m not aware of any family that\u2019s been ruined merely by offering some cooked almsfood. Rather, rich, affluent, and wealthy families\u2014with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain\u2014all acquired their wealth because of giving, truth, and restraint. Chief, there are eight causes and reasons for the ruin of families. Their ruin stems from rulers, bandits, fire, or flood. Or they lose their savings. Or their business fails due to not applying themselves to work. Or a wastrel is born into the family who squanders and fritters away their wealth. And impermanence is the eighth. These are the eight causes and reasons for the ruin of families. Given that these eight reasons are found, suppose someone says this: \u2018The Buddha is practicing to annihilate, collapse, and ruin families!\u2019 Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there.\u201d When he said this, Asibandhaka\u2019s son the chief said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, sir! Excellent! \u2026 From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"Families","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":537}