3.
The Thirty Discourse
136.
He was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove.
Then about thirty monks from Pāvā, all forest-dwellers, all almsfood eaters, all wearers of rag-robes, all three-robe wearers, all still with mental fetters, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Then this occurred to the Blessed One:
"These about thirty monks from Pāvā are all forest-dwellers, all almsfood eaters, all wearers of rag-robes, all three-robe wearers, all still with mental fetters.
What if I were to expound to them the Teaching in such a way that their minds might be liberated from the mental corruptions by non-clinging while sitting in this very seat."
Then the Blessed One addressed the monks:
"Monks."
"Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"This wandering in the round of rebirths, monks, is without discernible beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings hindered by ignorance, fettered by craving, transmigrating and wandering in the round of rebirths. What do you think, monks, which is more, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while you were transmigrating and wandering in the round of rebirths during this long period of time, having had your heads cut off, or the water in the four great oceans?" "As we understand the Teaching expounded by the Blessed One, venerable sir, this indeed is more, venerable sir, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while we were transmigrating and wandering in the round of rebirths during this long period of time, having had our heads cut off, not the water in the four great oceans."
"Good, good, monks, good indeed that you, monks, understand the Teaching expounded by me thus. This indeed, monks, is more, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while you were transmigrating and wandering in the round of rebirths during this long period of time, having had your heads cut off, not the water in the four great oceans. For a long time, monks, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while you were a hundred cattle, having become cattle, having had your heads cut off, not the water in the four great oceans. For a long time, monks, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while you were a hundred buffaloes, having become buffaloes, having had your heads cut off, etc. For a long time, monks, while you were a hundred rams, having become rams, etc. while you were a hundred goats, having become goats... while you were a hundred deer, having become deer... while you were a hundred chickens, having become chickens... while you were a hundred pigs, having become pigs... For a long time, monks, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while you were seized as thieves, as village plunderers, having had your heads cut off. For a long time, monks, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while you were seized as thieves, as highway robbers, having had your heads cut off. For a long time, monks, the blood that has flowed and trickled down while you were seized as thieves, as adulterers, having had your heads cut off, not the water in the four great oceans. What is the reason for this? This wandering in the round of rebirths, monks, is without discernible beginning, etc. enough to become liberated."
This is what the Blessed One said. Those monks, delighted, rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said. And while this explanation was being spoken, the minds of thirty monks from Pāvā were liberated from the mental corruptions by non-clinging. The third.