2.
The Discourse on Nālandā
378.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nālandā in Pāvārika's mango grove.
Then the Venerable Sāriputta approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Blessed One -
"Thus confident am I, venerable sir, in the Blessed One!
There has not been, nor will there be, nor is there at present found another ascetic or brahmin more directly knowledgeable than the Blessed One, that is to say -
regarding highest enlightenment."
"This lofty, imposing speech has been spoken by you, Sāriputta, a definite conclusion has been taken, a lion's roar has been roared -
'Thus confident am I, venerable sir, in the Blessed One!
There has not been, nor will there be, nor is there at present found another ascetic or brahmin more directly knowledgeable than the Blessed One, that is to say -
regarding highest enlightenment.'
Have you, Sāriputta, encompassed with your mind the minds of all those Blessed Ones who were Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones in the past period of time, and known - 'Those Blessed Ones were of such morality,' or 'those Blessed Ones were of such teachings,' or 'those Blessed Ones were of such wisdom,' or 'those Blessed Ones were of such dwelling,' or 'those Blessed Ones were of such liberation'?" "No indeed, venerable sir!"
"But have you, Sāriputta, encompassed with your mind the minds of all those Blessed Ones who will be Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones in the future period of time, and known - 'Those Blessed Ones will be of such morality,' or 'those Blessed Ones will be of such teachings,' or 'those Blessed Ones will be of such wisdom,' or 'those Blessed Ones will be of such dwelling,' or 'those Blessed Ones will be of such liberation'?" "No, Venerable Sir."
"But have you, Sāriputta, encompassed with your mind my mind, I who am at present a Worthy One, a Perfectly Enlightened One, and known - 'The Blessed One is of such morality,' or 'the Blessed One is of such teachings,' or 'the Blessed One is of such wisdom,' or 'the Blessed One is of such dwelling,' or 'the Blessed One is of such liberation'?" "No, Venerable Sir."
"Here indeed, Sāriputta, you do not have knowledge of others' mental states regarding the Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past, future, and present. Then why now has this lofty, imposing speech been spoken by you, Sāriputta, a definite conclusion taken, a lion's roar roared - 'Thus confident am I, venerable sir, in the Blessed One! There has not been, nor will there be, nor is there at present found another ascetic or brahmin more directly knowledgeable than the Blessed One, that is to say - regarding highest enlightenment'?"
"I do not indeed, venerable sir, have knowledge of others' mental states regarding the Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past, future, and present, but the inference from the teaching is known to me. Just as, venerable sir, there might be a king's border city with strong foundations, strong walls and gateways, with a single door. There might be a doorkeeper who is wise, experienced, and intelligent, one who keeps out strangers and admits those who are known. He, following the path going all around that city, would not see any gap in the wall or opening in the wall, even one large enough for a cat to slip through. He might think thus: 'Whatever gross living beings enter or leave this city, all of them enter or leave by this very door.' So too, venerable sir, the inference from the teaching is known to me - 'Those too, venerable sir, who were Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones in the past period of time, all those Blessed Ones, having abandoned the five mental hindrances, impurities of the mind that weaken wisdom, with minds well established in the four establishments of mindfulness, having developed the seven factors of enlightenment as they really are, fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. Those too, venerable sir, who will be Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones in the future period of time, all those Blessed Ones, having abandoned the five mental hindrances, impurities of the mind that weaken wisdom, with minds well established in the four establishments of mindfulness, having developed the seven factors of enlightenment as they really are, will fully awaken to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. The Blessed One too, venerable sir, at present a Worthy One, a Perfectly Enlightened One, having abandoned the five mental hindrances, impurities of the mind that weaken wisdom, with mind well established in the four establishments of mindfulness, having developed the seven factors of enlightenment as they really are, has fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.'"
"Good, good, Sāriputta! Therefore, Sāriputta, you should constantly speak this exposition of the Teaching to monks, nuns, male lay followers, and female lay followers. For, Sāriputta, even those foolish men who will have uncertainty or doubt about the Truth-finder, having heard this exposition of the Teaching, their uncertainty or doubt about the Truth-finder will be abandoned." The second.