6.
The Discourse on the Lion
78.
At Sāvatthī.
"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.
Whatever animals, monks, hear the sound of the lion, the king of beasts, roaring;
for the most part they experience fear, anxiety, and terror;
those dwelling in holes enter their holes;
those dwelling in water enter the water;
those dwelling in the forest enter the forest;
birds resort to the sky.
Even those royal elephants, monks, in villages, market towns, and royal cities, bound with firm thongs, they too, having cut through and burst apart those bonds, frightened, releasing urine and faeces, flee here and there.
Thus powerful, monks, is the lion, the king of beasts, among animals, thus influential, thus majestic."
"So too, monks, when a Truth-finder arises in the world, a Worthy One, a 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. He expounds the Teaching - 'Such is matter, such is the origin of matter, such is the passing away of matter; such is feeling... such is perception... such are activities... such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the passing away of consciousness.' Even those gods, monks, who are long-lived, beautiful, abounding in happiness, long-lasting in lofty mansions, they too, having heard the Truth-finder's proclamation of the Teaching, for the most part experience fear, anxiety, and terror - 'It seems, friend, that being impermanent, we imagined we were permanent. It seems, friend, that being unstable, we imagined we were stable. It seems, friend, that being non-eternal, we imagined we were eternal. It seems, friend, that we too are impermanent, unstable, non-eternal, included in identity.' Thus powerful, monks, is the Truth-finder for the world with its gods, thus influential, thus majestic." This the Blessed One said, etc. the Teacher further said this -
The Teacher without equal for the world with its gods.
And the noble eightfold path, leading to the peace of suffering.
Became frightened and terrified, like other animals before a lion.
Having heard the word of the Worthy One, the one who is free, such a one.'" The sixth.