{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_ud3.7/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_ud3.7","id":"suttacentral_ud3.7","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/ud3.7/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka 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 Mah\u0101kassapa was staying in the Pipphali cave. Having entered a certain state of immersion, he sat cross-legged for seven days without moving. When seven days had passed, Mah\u0101kassapa emerged from that state of immersion. It occurred to him, \u201cWhy not enter R\u0101jagaha for almsfood?\u201d Now at that time five hundred deities were ready and eager for the chance to offer alms to Mah\u0101kassapa. But Mah\u0101kasspa turned down those deities. In the morning, he robed up, took his bowl and robe, and entered R\u0101jagaha for alms. Now at that time Sakka, lord of gods, wished to give alms to Mah\u0101kassapa. Having manifested in the appearance of an embroiderer, he wove the thread. The titan maiden Suj\u0101 spun it onto the spindle. Then, as Mah\u0101kassapa wandered indiscriminately for almsfood in R\u0101jagaha, he approached Sakka\u2019s house. Seeing Mah\u0101kassapa coming off in the distance, Sakka came out of his house, greeted him, and took the bowl from his hand. He re-entered the house and filled the bowl with rice from the pot. That almsfood had many tasty soups and sauces. Then it occurred to Mah\u0101kassapa, \u201cNow, what being is this who has such psychic power?\u201d It occurred to him, \u201cThis is Sakka, lord of gods.\u201d Knowing this, he said to Sakka, \u201cThis is your doing, Kosiya; don\u2019t do such a thing again.\u201d \u201cBut Honorable Kassapa, we too need merit! We too ought to make merit.\u201d Then Sakka bowed and respectfully circled Mah\u0101kassapa, keeping him on his right. Then he rose into the air and, sitting cross-legged in midair, expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times: \u201cOh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa! Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa! Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa!\u201d With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, the Buddha heard Sakka express this heartfelt sentiment while sitting in the sky. Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: \u201cA mendicant who relies on alms, self-supported, providing for no other; the unaffected one is envied by even the gods, calm and ever mindful.\u201d","title":"Sakka\u2019s Heartfelt Saying","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":376}