9.
The Discourse to Lohicca
132.
On one occasion the Venerable Mahākaccāna was dwelling among the Avantis at Makkarakaṭa in a forest hut.
Then several pupils of the brahmin Lohicca, young men who were firewood gatherers, approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna's forest hut;
having approached, they walked up and down around the hut, wandered about, making loud sounds and great sounds, performing various kinds of acrobatic games -
"These shavelings, these petty ascetics, these menials, these dark offspring of Brahmā's feet, are honoured, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by these householders."
Then the Venerable Mahākaccāna, having come out from his dwelling, said this to those young men -
"Do not make a sound, young men;
I will speak the Teaching to you."
When this was said, those young men became silent.
Then the Venerable Mahākaccāna addressed those young men in verses -
Those brahmins who remember the ancient ways;
Their doors were guarded, well-protected,
They were so, having overcome wrath.
Those brahmins who remember the ancient ways;
But these, having turned aside, say 'We recite,'
Intoxicated by clan, they practise unrighteously.
Becoming dispassionate towards those with and without craving;
For one with unguarded doors, they become vain,
Like wealth obtained by a man in a dream.
Bathing at dawn and the three Vedas.
Scheming, bent staffs, and ablutions:
But a mind well-concentrated, clear and unsullied;
Tender towards all beings, that is the path for attaining Brahmā."
Then those young men, angry and displeased, approached the brahmin Lohicca; having approached, they said this to the brahmin Lohicca - "May you know! The ascetic Mahākaccāna absolutely reproaches and protests against the sacred verses of the brahmins." When this was said, the brahmin Lohicca was angry and displeased. Then this occurred to the brahmin Lohicca - "It is not proper for me that I, having merely heard from the young men, should abuse and revile the ascetic Mahākaccāna. What if I were to approach and ask?"
Then the brahmin Lohicca together with those young men approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Mahākaccāna. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Lohicca said this to the Venerable Mahākaccāna - "Did several of our pupils, young men who were firewood gatherers, come here, dear Kaccāna?" "Those several pupils of yours, young men who were firewood gatherers, did come here, brahmin." "But did the Venerable Kaccāna have any friendly conversation with those young men?" "I did indeed have, brahmin, some friendly conversation with those young men." "But in what way did the Venerable Kaccāna have a friendly conversation with those young men?" "Thus, brahmin, I had a friendly conversation with those young men -
Those brahmins who remember the ancient ways; etc.
Without hostility towards all beings,
That is the path for attaining Brahmā.'
Thus, brahmin, I had a friendly conversation with those young men."
"The Venerable Kaccāna spoke of 'one with unguarded doors'. In what way, dear Kaccāna, is one with unguarded doors?" "Here, brahmin, a certain person, having seen a form with the eye, is resolved upon a pleasant form, is repelled by an unpleasant form, and dwells with bodily mindfulness not established, with a limited mind, and does not understand as it really is that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom where those arisen evil unwholesome mental states cease without remainder. Having heard a sound with the ear... Having smelled an odour with the nose. Having tasted a flavour with the tongue. having touched a tangible object with the body... Having cognised a mental object with the mind, he is resolved upon a pleasant mental object, is repelled by an unpleasant mental object, and dwells with bodily mindfulness not established, with a limited mind, and does not understand as it really is that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom where those arisen evil unwholesome mental states cease without remainder. Thus, brahmin, one is with unguarded doors." "It is wonderful, dear Kaccāna; it is marvellous, dear Kaccāna! How well one with unguarded doors has been declared as one with unguarded doors by the Venerable Kaccāna.
"The Venerable Kaccāna spoke of 'one with guarded doors'. In what way, dear Kaccāna, is one with guarded doors?" "Here, brahmin, a monk, having seen a form with the eye, is not resolved upon a pleasant form, is not repelled by an unpleasant form, and dwells with bodily mindfulness established, with a limitless mind, and understands as it really is that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom where those arisen evil unwholesome mental states cease without remainder. Having heard a sound with the ear... Having smelled an odour with the nose. Having tasted a flavour with the tongue. having touched a tangible object with the body... Having cognised a mental object with the mind, he is not resolved upon a pleasant mental object, is not repelled by an unpleasant mental object, and dwells with bodily mindfulness established, with a limitless mind, and understands as it really is that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom where those arisen evil unwholesome mental states cease without remainder. Thus, brahmin, one is with guarded doors."
"It is wonderful, dear Kaccāna; it is marvellous, dear Kaccāna! How well one with guarded sense doors has been declared by the Venerable Kaccāna to be one with guarded sense doors. Excellent, my dear Kaccāna; excellent, my dear Kaccāna! Just as, my dear Kaccāna, one might set upright what had been overturned, or reveal what had been concealed, or point out the path to one who was lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with good eyesight might see forms; so too, the Teaching has been made clear by the Venerable Kaccāna in many ways. Thus I, my dear Kaccāna, go for refuge to that Blessed One, to the Teaching, and to the Community of monks. May the Venerable Kaccāna remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life. And just as the Venerable Kaccāna approaches lay follower families in Makkarakaṭa; so may he approach the family of Lohicca. There, whatever young men or young women will pay respect to the Venerable Kaccāna, or will rise up for him, or will offer a seat or water, that will be for their welfare and happiness for a long time." The ninth.