4.
The Discourse at Gayāsīsa
64.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Gayā, at Gayāsīsa.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks, etc.
"Before, monks, prior to the enlightenment, while still unenlightened, being just a Bodhisatta, I perceived only light, but I did not see forms."
"This occurred to me, monks - 'If I were to perceive light and also see forms, thus this knowledge and vision of mine would be more pure.'"
"So I, monks, at a later time, dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, perceive light and also see forms; but I do not stand together with those deities, converse with them, or engage in discussion with them.
"This occurred to me, monks - 'If I were to perceive light, and also see forms, and stand together with those deities, converse with them, and engage in discussion with them, thus this knowledge and vision of mine would be more pure.'"
"So I, monks, at a later time, dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, perceive light and also see forms, and I stand together with those deities, converse with them, and engage in discussion with them; but I do not know those deities - 'These deities are from such and such an order of gods.'
"This occurred to me, monks - 'If I were to perceive light, and also see forms, and stand together with those deities, converse with them, and engage in discussion with them, and also know those deities - "These deities are from such and such an order of gods," thus this knowledge and vision of mine would be more pure.'"
"So I, monks, at a later time, dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, perceive light and also see forms, and I stand together with those deities, converse with them, and engage in discussion with them, and I also know those deities - 'These deities are from such and such an order of gods'; but I do not know those deities - 'These deities, by the result of this action, having passed away from here, were reborn there,' etc. and I know those deities - 'These deities, by the result of this action, having passed away from here, were reborn there'; but I do not know those deities - 'These deities, by the result of this action, have such nutriment and experience pleasure and pain in such a way,' etc. and I know those deities - 'These deities, by the result of this action, have such nutriment and experience pleasure and pain in such a way'; but I do not know those deities - 'These deities are thus long-lived, thus lasting long,' etc. and I know those deities - 'These deities are thus long-lived, thus lasting long'; but I do not know those deities - whether I have previously dwelt together with these deities or whether I have not previously dwelt together with them.
"This occurred to me, monks - 'If I were to perceive light, and also see forms, and stand together with those deities, converse with them, and engage in discussion with them, and also know those deities - "These deities are from such and such an order of gods," and know those deities - "These deities, having passed away from here by the result of this action, have been reborn there," and know those deities - "These deities have such nutriment, experience pleasure and pain in such a way," and know those deities - "These deities are thus long-lived, thus lasting long," and know those deities whether or not I have previously dwelt together with these deities; thus this knowledge and vision of mine would be more pure.'"
"So I, monks, at a later time, dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, perceive light and also see forms, and I stand together with those deities, converse with them, and engage in discussion with them, and I also know those deities - "These deities are from such and such an order of gods," and know those deities - "These deities, having passed away from here by the result of this action, have been reborn there," and know those deities - "These deities have such nutriment, experience pleasure and pain in such a way," and know those deities - "These deities are thus long-lived, thus lasting long," and know those deities whether or not I have previously dwelt together with those deities.
"As long as, monks, this knowledge and vision concerning the gods with eight aspects was not well purified for me, I did not acknowledge, monks, in the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, among the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, that I had fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. But when, monks, this knowledge and vision concerning the gods with eight aspects was well purified for me, then I acknowledged, monks, in the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, among the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, that I had fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment; and knowledge and vision arose in me: 'Unshakable is my liberation of mind; this is the last birth, there is now no more rebirth.'" The fourth.