9.
The Discourse on the Assembly
69.
"Monks, there are these eight assemblies.
What are the eight?
The assembly of nobles, the assembly of brahmins, the assembly of householders, the assembly of ascetics, the assembly of the Four Great Kings, the assembly of the Tāvatiṃsa gods, the assembly of Māra, the assembly of Brahmā.
I directly know indeed, monks, that I have approached many hundreds of assemblies of nobles.
There too I have previously sat down, conversed, and engaged in discussion.
There, whatever their appearance was, such was my appearance; whatever their voice was, such was my voice.
And I instruct, encourage, inspire, and gladden them with a talk on the Teaching.
And while I am speaking, they do not know me -
"Who is this speaking, a god or a human being?"
Having instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened them with a talk on the Teaching, I disappear.
And when I have disappeared, they do not know me -
"Who is this that has disappeared, a god or a human being?"
I directly know indeed, monks, that I have approached many hundreds of assemblies of brahmins... etc. assemblies of householders... assemblies of ascetics... assemblies of the Four Great Kings... assemblies of the Tāvatiṃsa gods... assemblies of Māra... assemblies of Brahmā. There too I have previously sat down, conversed, and engaged in discussion. There, whatever their appearance was, such was my appearance; whatever their voice was, such was my voice. And I instruct, encourage, inspire, and gladden them with a talk on the Teaching. And while I am speaking, they do not know me - "Who is this speaking, a god or a human being?" Having instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened them with a talk on the Teaching, I disappear. And when I have disappeared, they do not know me - "Who is this that has disappeared, a god or a human being?" These, monks, are the eight assemblies." The ninth.