3.
The Discourse on Tissa the Brahmā
56.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain.
Then two deities, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Vulture's Peak, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side.
Standing to one side, one deity said this to the Blessed One -
"These nuns, venerable sir, are liberated."
Another deity said this to the Blessed One -
"These nuns, venerable sir, are well liberated without residue of clinging."
This is what those deities said.
The Teacher approved.
Then those deities, thinking "The Teacher approves," having paid respect to the Blessed One and circumambulated him keeping him on his right, disappeared right there.
Then the Blessed One, after that night had passed, addressed the monks - "This night, monks, two deities, when the night was far advanced, with surpassing beauty, having illuminated almost the entire Vulture's Peak, approached me; having approached, they paid respect to me and stood to one side. Standing to one side, monks, one deity said this to me - 'These nuns, venerable sir, are liberated.' Another deity said this to me - 'These nuns, venerable sir, are well liberated without residue of clinging.' This, monks, is what those deities said. Having said this, having paid respect to me, having circumambulated me keeping me on their right, they disappeared right there."
Now at that time the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was seated not far from the Blessed One. Then this occurred to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Which gods have such knowledge - 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging'?" Now at that time a monk named Tissa, having recently died, was reborn in a certain Brahma world. There too they know him thus - "Tissa the Brahmā is of great supernormal power, of great might."
Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from the Vulture's Peak mountain, appeared in that Brahma world. Tissa the Brahmā saw the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna coming from afar. Having seen, he said this to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna - "Come, dear Moggallāna; welcome, dear Moggallāna! It has been a long time, dear Moggallāna, since you made this occasion, that is to say, for coming here. Sit down, dear Moggallāna, this seat is laid down." The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna sat down on the prepared seat. Tissa the Brahmā too, having paid respect to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sat down to one side. To Tissa the Brahmā seated to one side, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this: "Which gods, Tissa, have such knowledge - 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging'?" "The gods of Brahmā's company, dear Moggallāna, have such knowledge - 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'"
"Do all the gods of Brahmā's company, Tissa, have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging'?" "Not all the gods of Brahmā's company, dear Moggallāna, have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'"
Those gods of Brahmā's company, dear Moggallāna, who are content with Brahmā's life span, content with Brahmā's beauty, content with Brahmā's happiness, content with Brahmā's fame, content with Brahmā's authority, they do not understand as it really is the further escape. They do not have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is one with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is one without residue of clinging.' But those gods of Brahmā's company, dear Moggallāna, who are not content with Brahmā's life span, not content with Brahmā's beauty, not content with Brahmā's happiness, not content with Brahmā's fame, not content with Brahmā's authority, they understand as it really is the further escape. They have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'"
Here, dear Moggallāna, a monk is liberated in both ways. Those gods know him thus: 'This venerable one is liberated in both ways. As long as his body remains, deities and humans will see him. After the collapse of the body, deities and humans will not see him.' In this way too, dear Moggallāna, those gods have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'"
Here again, dear Moggallāna, a monk is liberated by wisdom. Those gods know him thus: 'This venerable one is liberated by wisdom. As long as his body remains, deities and humans will see him. After the collapse of the body, deities and humans will not see him.' In this way too, dear Moggallāna, those gods have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'"
Here again, dear Moggallāna, a monk is a body-witness. Those gods know him thus: 'This venerable one is a body-witness. Perhaps this venerable one, resorting to suitable lodgings, associating with good friends, and balancing the faculties might realise for himself, with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness; and, having entered upon it, might dwell in it.' In this way too, dear Moggallāna, those gods have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'"
"Here again, dear Moggallāna, a monk is one attained to right view, etc. is liberated by faith, etc. is a follower of the Teaching. Those gods know him thus: 'This venerable one is a follower of the Teaching. Perhaps this venerable one, resorting to suitable lodgings, associating with good friends, and balancing the faculties might realise for himself, with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness; and, having entered upon it, might dwell in it.' In this way too, dear Moggallāna, those gods have such knowledge: 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'"
Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having delighted in and given thanks for what Tissa the Brahmā had said - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from the Brahma world, appeared on the Vulture's Peak mountain. Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna 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 Mahāmoggallāna reported to the Blessed One all the friendly conversation he had with Tissa the Brahmā.
"But Tissa the Brahmā, Moggallāna, did not teach you the seventh person, the one who dwells in the signless." "This is the time, Blessed One; this is the time, Fortunate One! That the Blessed One would teach the seventh person, the one who dwells in the signless. Having heard from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it." "Well then, Moggallāna, listen, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Here, Moggallāna, a monk, through inattention to all signs, enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind. Those gods know him thus: 'This venerable one, through inattention to all signs, enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind. Perhaps this venerable one, resorting to suitable lodgings, associating with good friends, and balancing the faculties might realise for himself, with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness; and, having entered upon it, might dwell in it.' Thus, Moggallāna, those gods have the knowledge - 'One with residue of clinging is with residue of clinging, or one without residue of clinging is without residue of clinging.'" The third.