8.
The Discourse to the People of Nagaravinda
434.
Thus have I heard.
On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on a journey among the Kosalans together with a large Community of monks, and arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Nagaravinda.
The brahmin householders of Nagaravinda heard -
"Indeed, my dear, the ascetic Gotama, a Sakyan son who has gone forth from the Sakyan clan, wandering on a journey among the Kosalans together with a large Community of monks, has arrived at Nagaravinda.
And concerning that Master Gotama, such a good reputation has arisen -
'Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.'
Having realised by his own direct knowledge this world with its gods, Māra and Brahmā, this human population with its ascetics, brahmins and rulers, he makes it known to others.
He expounds the Teaching, good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with phrasing; he reveals the holy life that is complete in its entirety and pure.
Good indeed is the seeing of such Worthy Ones."
Then the brahmin householders of Nagaravinda approached the Blessed One; having approached, some, having paid respect to the Blessed One, sat down to one side. Some exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One; having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, they sat down to one side. Some, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, sat down to one side. Some, having announced their name and clan in the Blessed One’s presence, sat down to one side. Some, remaining silent, sat down to one side. To the brahmin householders of Nagaravinda seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
435.
"If, householders, heterodox wandering ascetics were to ask you thus -
'Of what sort, householders, are ascetics and brahmins who should not be honoured, should not be respected, should not be revered, should not be venerated?'
Thus questioned, you, householders, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus -
'Those ascetics and brahmins who regarding visible forms cognisable by the eye are not free from lust, not free from hate, not free from delusion, with minds internally not calmed, who behave evenly and unevenly by body, speech, and mind - such ascetics and brahmins should not be honoured, should not be respected, should not be revered, should not be venerated.
What is the reason for this?
For we too regarding visible forms cognisable by the eye are not free from lust, not free from hate, not free from delusion, with minds internally not calmed, we behave evenly and unevenly by body, speech, and mind; not seeing anything further in them even as regards righteous conduct.
Therefore those venerable ascetics and brahmins should not be honoured, should not be respected, should not be revered, should not be venerated.
Those ascetics and brahmins regarding sounds cognisable by the ear...
regarding odours cognisable by the nose...
regarding flavours cognisable by the tongue...
regarding tangibles cognisable by the body...
regarding mental phenomena cognisable by the mind are not free from lust, not free from hate, not free from delusion, with minds internally not calmed, who behave evenly and unevenly by body, speech, and mind - such ascetics and brahmins should not be honoured, should not be respected, should not be revered, should not be venerated.
What is the reason for this?
For we too regarding mental phenomena cognisable by the mind are not free from lust, not free from hate, not free from delusion, with minds internally not calmed, we behave evenly and unevenly by body, speech, and mind; not seeing anything further in them even as regards righteous conduct.
Therefore those venerable ascetics and brahmins should not be honoured, should not be respected, should not be revered, should not be venerated.'
Thus questioned, you, householders, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus.
436.
"But if, householders, heterodox wandering ascetics were to ask you thus -
'Of what sort, householders, are ascetics and brahmins who should be honoured, should be respected, should be revered, should be venerated?'
Thus questioned, you, householders, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus -
'Those ascetics and brahmins who regarding visible forms cognisable by the eye are free from lust, free from hate, free from delusion, with minds internally calmed, who practise righteous conduct by body, speech, and mind - such ascetics and brahmins should be honoured, should be respected, should be revered, should be venerated.
What is the reason for this?
For we too regarding visible forms cognisable by the eye are not free from lust, not free from hate, not free from delusion, with minds internally not calmed, we behave evenly and unevenly by body, speech, and mind; seeing something further in them even as regards righteous conduct.
Therefore those venerable ascetics and brahmins should be honoured, should be respected, should be revered, should be venerated.
Those ascetics and brahmins regarding sounds cognisable by the ear...
regarding odours cognisable by the nose...
regarding flavours cognisable by the tongue...
regarding tangibles cognisable by the body...
regarding mental phenomena cognisable by the mind are free from lust, free from hate, free from delusion, with minds internally calmed, who practise righteous conduct by body, speech, and mind - such ascetics and brahmins should be honoured, should be respected, should be revered, should be venerated.
What is the reason for this?
For we too regarding mental phenomena cognisable by the mind are not free from lust, not free from hate, not free from delusion, with minds internally not calmed, we behave evenly and unevenly by body, speech, and mind; seeing something further in them even as regards righteous conduct.
Therefore those venerable ascetics and brahmins should be honoured, should be respected, should be revered, should be venerated.'
Thus questioned, you, householders, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus.
437.
"But if, householders, heterodox wandering ascetics were to ask you thus -
'What are the venerable ones' reasons, what are the inferences, by which you venerable ones speak thus:
Certainly those venerable ones are without lust or are practising for the removal of lust, are without hate or are practising for the removal of hate, are without delusion or are practising for the removal of delusion?'
Thus questioned, you, householders, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus -
'For thus those venerable ones resort to remote forest and woodland lodgings, secluded lodgings.
There are not there such visible forms cognisable by the eye that having seen them again and again one might delight in, there are not there such sounds cognisable by the ear that having heard them again and again one might delight in, there are not there such odours cognisable by the nose that having smelled them again and again one might delight in, there are not there such flavours cognisable by the tongue that having tasted them again and again one might delight in, there are not there such tangibles cognisable by the body that having touched them again and again one might delight in.
These indeed, friends, are our reasons, these are the inferences, by which we speak thus -
certainly those venerable ones are without lust or are practising for the removal of lust, are without hate or are practising for the removal of hate, are without delusion or are practising for the removal of delusion.'
Thus questioned, you, householders, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus."
When this was said, the brahmin householders of Nagaravinda said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, Master Gotama, excellent, Master Gotama! Just as, Master Gotama, 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 visible forms'; so too, the Teaching has been made clear by Master Gotama in many ways. We go for refuge to Master Gotama, to the Teaching, and to the Community of monks. May Master Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge from this day forth for life."
The Discourse to the People of Nagaravinda is concluded as eighth.