5.
The Discourse on Vassakāra
35.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One:
"We, Master Gotama, declare a great man of great wisdom to be endowed with four qualities. With which four? Here, Master Gotama, one is very learned, and he knows the meaning of whatever has been learned, of whatever has been said - 'This is the meaning of this statement; this is the meaning of that one.' He is mindful, remembering and recollecting what was done long ago and what was said long ago; and regarding whatever household duties there are to be done, therein he is skilled, not lazy, endowed with investigation into the means for that, able to do and able to arrange. We, Master Gotama, declare a great man of great wisdom to be endowed with these four qualities. If, Master Gotama, my [statement] is to be approved, let Master Gotama approve it. But if, Master Gotama, my [statement] is to be rejected, let Master Gotama reject it.”
“I neither approve of your [statement], brahmin, nor do I reject it. I, brahmin, declare a great man of great wisdom to be endowed with four qualities. With which four? Here, brahmin, one is practising for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people; many people have been established by him in the noble true method, that is to say, in the nature of good qualities, in the nature of wholesome qualities. He thinks whatever thought he wants to think, and he does not think whatever thought he does not want to think; he intends whatever he wants to intend and does not intend what he does not want to intend. Thus he has attained mastery of mind over the ways of thought. He is one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life. Through the elimination of the mental corruptions, he realises by his own direct knowledge, in this very life, the liberation of mind and the liberation by wisdom that are free from mental corruptions and, having entered upon them, dwells in them. I neither approve of your [statement], brahmin, nor do I reject it. I, brahmin, declare a great man of great wisdom to be endowed with these four qualities."
"It is wonderful, Master Gotama, it is marvellous, Master Gotama! How well spoken is this by Master Gotama. And we, Master Gotama, remember Master Gotama as endowed with these four qualities; for Master Gotama is practising for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people; many people have been established by you in the noble true method, that is to say, in the nature of good qualities, in the nature of wholesome qualities. For Master Gotama thinks whatever thought he wants to think, and he does not think whatever thought he does not want to think; he intends whatever he wants to intend and does not intend what he does not want to intend. For Master Gotama has attained mastery of mind over the ways of thought. For Master Gotama is one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life. For Master Gotama, through the elimination of the mental corruptions, realised by his own direct knowledge, in this very life, the liberation of mind and the liberation by wisdom that are free from mental corruptions and, having entered upon them, dwells in them."
"Certainly indeed, brahmin, this speech has been spoken by you having approached and accused. But I will explain to you - 'For I, brahmin, have practised for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people; many people have been established by me in the noble true method, that is to say, in good character, in wholesome character. For I, brahmin, whatever applied thought I wish to think, that applied thought I think; whatever applied thought I do not wish to think, that applied thought I do not think; whatever thought I wish to think, that thought I think; whatever thought I do not wish to think, that thought I do not think. For I, brahmin, have attained mastery of mind over the ways of thought. For I, brahmin, am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble, the four meditative absorptions pertaining to the higher mind, which are pleasant abidings in the present life. For I, brahmin, through the elimination of the mental corruptions, realised by my own direct knowledge, in this very life, the liberation of mind and the liberation by wisdom that are free from mental corruptions and, having entered upon them, dwell in them.'"
He proclaimed the Teaching, the true method, for the welfare of gods and humans;
Whom indeed, having seen and heard, many people have faith.
The Buddha, in his final body, is called 'a great man.'" The fifth.