9.
The Discourse on the Lion
99.
"Monks, a lion, the king of beasts, goes out from his dwelling place in the evening;
having gone out from his dwelling place, he stretches himself;
having stretched himself, he surveys all around the four directions;
having surveyed all around the four directions, he roars the lion's roar three times;
having roared the lion's roar three times, he departs for his food resort.
If he strikes an elephant, he strikes attentively only, not inattentively;
if he strikes a buffalo, he strikes attentively only, not inattentively;
if he strikes a cow, he strikes attentively only, not inattentively;
if he strikes a panther, he strikes attentively only, not inattentively;
if he strikes small creatures, even hares and cats, he strikes attentively only, not inattentively.
What is the reason for this?
'May my trained path not be lost.'
'Lion', monks, this is a designation for the Truth-finder, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One. Whatever, monks, the Truth-finder expounds the Teaching to an assembly, this is his lion's roar. If, monks, the Truth-finder expounds the Teaching to monks, the Truth-finder teaches attentively only, not inattentively; if, monks, the Truth-finder expounds the Teaching to nuns, the Truth-finder teaches attentively only, not inattentively; if, monks, the Truth-finder expounds the Teaching to lay followers, the Truth-finder teaches attentively only, not inattentively; if, monks, the Truth-finder expounds the Teaching to female lay followers, the Truth-finder teaches attentively only, not inattentively; if, monks, the Truth-finder expounds the Teaching to worldlings, even to beggars and hunters, the Truth-finder teaches attentively only, not inattentively. What is the reason for this? The Truth-finder, monks, respects the Teaching, has respect for the Teaching." The ninth.