1.
The First Discourse on Ugga
21.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Monks, remember Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, as one possessed of eight wonderful and marvellous qualities."
This is what the Blessed One said.
Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered the dwelling.
Then a certain monk, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of Ugga, the householder of Vesālī; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, approached that monk; having approached, he paid respect to that monk and sat down to one side. To Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, seated to one side, that monk said this:
"You, householder, have been declared by the Blessed One as one possessed of eight wonderful and marvellous qualities. What are those eight wonderful and marvellous qualities, householder, with which you are endowed, declared by the Blessed One?" "I do not know, venerable sir, with which eight wonderful and marvellous qualities I have been declared by the Blessed One as endowed. But, venerable sir, whatever eight wonderful and marvellous qualities are found in me, listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, householder," that monk assented to Ugga, the householder of Vesālī. Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, said this: "When I, venerable sir, first saw the Blessed One from afar; with the very seeing of the Blessed One, venerable sir, my mind became confident. This, venerable sir, is the first wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"So I, venerable sir, with a confident mind, attended on the Blessed One. The Blessed One gave me a progressive discourse, as follows: a talk on giving, a talk on morality, a talk on heaven; he made known the danger, degradation, and defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that I was of pliant mind, of tender mind, of mind free from hindrances, of elated mind, of confident mind, then he made known that proclamation of the Teaching which the Buddhas have themselves discovered: suffering, origin, cessation, path. Just as a pure cloth, free from stains, would properly receive dye; even so, in me, in that very seat, the stainless, spotless eye of the Teaching arose: "Whatever has the nature of arising, all that has the nature of cessation." So I, venerable sir, having seen the Teaching, having attained the Teaching, having understood the Teaching, having penetrated the Teaching, having crossed over doubt, having gone beyond uncertainty, having attained self-confidence, not relying on others in the Teacher's instruction, right there went for refuge to the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Community, and undertook the five training rules with celibacy as the fifth. This, venerable sir, is the second wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"I had, venerable sir, four young wives. Then I, venerable sir, approached those wives; having approached, I said this to those wives - 'By me, sisters, the training rules with the holy life as the fifth have been undertaken. Whichever of you wishes, let her enjoy the wealth right here and make merit, or let her go to her own family of relatives. Or if there is a desire for a man, to whom shall I give you?' When this was said, venerable sir, the eldest wife said this to me - 'Give me, master's son, to such and such a man.' Then I, venerable sir, having summoned that man, having taken my wife with my left hand, having taken a water pitcher with my right hand, I presented her to that man. But while giving up my young wife, venerable sir, I do not know of any alteration of my mind. This, venerable sir, is my third wonderful and marvellous quality that exists.
"There is indeed wealth in my family, venerable sir. And that is undivided with those who are moral and of good character. This, venerable sir, is my fourth wonderful and marvellous quality that exists.
"Whatever monk I attend upon, venerable sir; I attend upon attentively only, not inattentively. This, venerable sir, is my fifth wonderful and marvellous quality that exists.
"If, venerable sir, that venerable one expounds to me the Teaching; I listen attentively only, not inattentively. If that venerable one does not expound to me the Teaching, I teach him the Teaching. This, venerable sir, is my sixth wonderful and marvellous quality that exists.
"It is not wonderful, venerable sir, that deities having approached me announce - 'Well proclaimed, householder, is the Teaching by the Blessed One.' When this was said, I, venerable sir, say this to those deities - 'Whether you deities would say thus or would not say thus, yet the Teaching is well proclaimed by the Blessed One.' But I do not know, venerable sir, of any elation of mind on that account - 'Deities approach me, or I converse with deities.' This, venerable sir, is my seventh wonderful and marvellous quality that exists.
"These five lower mental fetters, venerable sir, that have been taught by the Blessed One, I do not regard any of them as not abandoned in myself. This, venerable sir, is my eighth wonderful and marvellous quality that exists. These, venerable sir, are my eight wonderful and marvellous qualities that exist. But I do not know - with which eight wonderful and marvellous qualities I am possessed that I have been declared by the Blessed One."
Then that monk, having received almsfood at the dwelling of Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, rose from his seat and departed. Then that monk, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that monk reported to the Blessed One all the friendly conversation he had with Ugga, the householder of Vesālī.
"Good, good, monk! As Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, answering rightly would answer, monk, Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, was declared by me as possessed of these very eight wonderful and marvellous qualities. And further, monk, remember Ugga, the householder of Vesālī, as possessed of these eight wonderful and marvellous qualities." The first.