27. To Dhānañjāni （二七）梵志陀然经

I have heard thus:

Once, the Buddha was staying in the Bamboo Grove at the Kalandaka Park in Rājagṛha, together with a great assembly of bhikṣus, spending the summer retreat. At that time, Venerable Śāriputra was also spending the summer retreat in Śrāvastī.

At that time, a bhikṣu had completed the summer retreat in Rājagṛha, and after three months, having repaired his robes, he put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and went from Rājagṛha to Śrāvastī, staying in the Jeta Grove at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park. That bhikṣu went to Venerable Śāriputra, bowed his head at his feet, and sat to one side.

Venerable Śāriputra asked, "Virtuous one! Where have you come from, and where did you spend the summer retreat?"

That bhikṣu replied, "Venerable Śāriputra! I have come from Rājagṛha, and I spent the summer retreat in Rājagṛha."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! The World-Honored One spent the summer retreat in Rājagṛha. Is his body healthy, comfortable, without illness, and is his daily life light and his strength as usual?"

He replied, "Yes, Venerable Śāriputra! The World-Honored One spent the summer retreat in Rājagṛha. His body is healthy, comfortable, without illness, and his daily life is light and his strength is as usual."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! The bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs spent the summer retreat in Rājagṛha. Are their bodies healthy, comfortable, without illness, and is their daily life light and their strength as usual? Do they wish to see the Buddha often and enjoy hearing the Dharma?"

He replied, "Yes, Venerable Śāriputra! The bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs spent the summer retreat in Rājagṛha. Their bodies are healthy, comfortable, without illness, and their daily life is light and their strength is as usual. They wish to see the Buddha often and all enjoy hearing the Dharma."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! The upāsaka and upāsikā communities reside in Rājagṛha. Are their bodies healthy, comfortable, without illness, and is their daily life light and their strength as usual? Do they wish to see the Buddha often and enjoy hearing the Dharma?"

He replied, "Yes, Venerable Śāriputra! The upāsaka and upāsikā communities reside in Rājagṛha. Their bodies are healthy, comfortable, without illness, and their daily life is light and their strength is as usual. They wish to see the Buddha often and all enjoy hearing the Dharma."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! The various non-Buddhist śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who are staying in Rājagṛha for the summer retreat, are their bodies healthy, comfortable, without illness, and is their daily life light and their strength as usual? Do they wish to see the Buddha often and enjoy hearing the Dharma?"

He replied, "Yes, Venerable Śāriputra! The various non-Buddhist śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who are staying in Rājagṛha for the summer retreat, their bodies are healthy, comfortable, without illness, and their daily life is light and their strength is as usual. They wish to see the Buddha often and all enjoy hearing the Dharma."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! In Rājagṛha there is a brāhmaṇa named Dhāraṇa, who was a friend of mine before I left home. Do you know him?"

He replied, "I know him."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! Does the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa, residing in Rājagṛha, have a healthy body, is he at ease and free from illness, does he move about lightly and with ease, and does he have the same strength as before? Does he wish to see the Buddha often and enjoy hearing the Dharma?"

He replied, "Venerable Śāriputra! The brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa, residing in Rājagṛha, has a healthy body, is at ease and free from illness, moves about lightly and with ease, and has the same strength as before. He does not wish to see the Buddha, nor does he enjoy hearing the Dharma. Why is that? Venerable Śāriputra! The brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa is not diligent and violates the precepts. He relies on the king to deceive the brāhmaṇas and householders, and relies on the brāhmaṇas and householders to deceive the king."

Having heard this, the Venerable Śāriputra, after completing the summer retreat in Śrāvastī and three months had passed, mended his robes, put on his robe and took his alms bowl, went to Rājagṛha from Śrāvastī, and stayed in the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove.

Then, the Venerable Śāriputra, after the night had passed and it was early morning, put on his robe, took his alms bowl, entered Rājagṛha, and went for alms in order. Having finished his alms round, he went to the house of the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa. At that time, the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa had come out of his house and was suffering from the people at the well. The brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa saw from afar the Venerable Śāriputra coming, rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms towards the Venerable Śāriputra, and praised him, saying, "Welcome, Śāriputra! It has been a long time since you came here." Then, the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa respectfully embraced the Venerable Śāriputra and took him into his house. He prepared a good seat and invited him to sit. The Venerable Śāriputra then sat on the seat. Seeing that the Venerable Śāriputra had sat down, the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa took a golden vessel and invited the Venerable Śāriputra to eat.

The Venerable Śāriputra said, "Stop, stop, Dhāraṇa! Just be content with your mind."

The brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa again invited him to eat three times, and the Venerable Śāriputra also said three times, "Stop, stop, Dhāraṇa! Just be content with your mind."

At that time, the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa asked, "Śāriputra! Why did you enter such a house but not eat?"

He replied, "Dhāraṇa! You are not diligent, you violate the precepts, you rely on the king to deceive the brāhmaṇas and householders, and you rely on the brāhmaṇas and householders to deceive the king."

The brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa replied, "Śāriputra! You should know that I am now a householder, and my affairs are related to my family business. I should provide for myself, support my parents, care for my wife and children, provide for my servants, pay taxes to the king, make offerings to the gods, make sacrifices to my ancestors, and make offerings to śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, in order to be reborn in heaven and attain long life, and to attain the fruit of happiness. Śāriputra! All these matters are beyond doubt, and I follow the Dharma exclusively."

Then Venerable Śāriputra said, "Dhāraṇa! I ask you, answer as you see fit. Dhāraṇa, what do you think? If someone commits evil deeds for the sake of their parents, and because of committing evil deeds, upon the destruction of the body and the end of life, they go to a bad place and are born in hell. Once born in hell, when the jailers seize and severely punish them, they say to the jailers, 'Jailers! You should know, do not punish me severely. Why? I committed evil deeds for the sake of my parents.' What do you think, Dhāraṇa? Can that person be released from the suffering of hell by the jailers?"

He replied, "No."

He further asked, "Dhāraṇa! What do you think? If someone commits evil deeds for the sake of their wife and children, and because of committing evil deeds, upon the destruction of the body and the end of life, they go to a bad place and are born in hell. Once born in hell, when the jailers seize and severely punish them, they say to the jailers, 'Jailers! You should know, do not punish me severely. Why? I committed evil deeds for the sake of my wife and children.' What do you think, Dhāraṇa? Can that person be released from the suffering of hell by the jailers?"

He replied, "No."

He further asked, "Dhāraṇa! What do you think? If someone commits evil deeds for the sake of slaves and servants, and because of committing evil deeds, upon the destruction of the body and the end of life, they go to a bad place and are born in hell. Once born in hell, when the jailers seize and severely punish them, they say to the jailers, 'Jailers! You should know, do not punish me severely. Why? I committed evil deeds for the sake of slaves and servants.' What do you think, Dhāraṇa? Can that person be released from the suffering of hell by the jailers?"

He replied, "No."

He further asked, "Dhāraṇa! What do you think? If someone commits evil deeds for the sake of the king, the gods, ancestors, śramaṇas, and brāhmaṇas, and because of committing evil deeds, upon the destruction of the body and the end of life, they go to a bad place and are born in hell. Once born in hell, when the jailers seize and severely punish them, they say to the jailers, 'Jailers! You should know, do not punish me severely. Why? I committed evil deeds for the sake of the king, the gods, ancestors, śramaṇas, and brāhmaṇas.' What do you think, Dhāraṇa? Can that person be released from the suffering of hell by the jailers?"

He replied, "No."

Dhāraṇa! A clansman can obtain wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits. He should respect, honor, and support his parents, practice meritorious deeds, and not do evil deeds. Dhāraṇa! If a clansman obtains wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits, respects, honors, and supports his parents, practices meritorious deeds, and does not do evil deeds, then he will be loved and cherished by his parents, who will say, 'May you be strong and healthy, with a long life span. Why? Because of you, we are at ease and happy.' Dhāraṇa! If someone is greatly loved and cherished by his parents, his virtues will increase day by day, and he will never decline.

Dhāraṇa! A clansman can obtain wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits. He should love and cherish his wife and children, provide for and care for them, practice meritorious deeds, and not do evil deeds. Dhāraṇa! If a clansman obtains wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits, loves and cherishes his wife and children, provides for and cares for them, practices meritorious deeds, and does not do evil deeds, then he will be respected by his wife and children, who will say, 'May you be strong and healthy, with a long life span. Why? Because of you, we are at ease and happy.' Dhāraṇa! If someone is greatly respected by his wife and children, his virtues will increase day by day, and he will never decline.

Dhāraṇa! A clansman can obtain wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits. He should have compassion for his servants and maids, provide for and care for them, practice meritorious deeds, and not do evil deeds. Dhāraṇa! If a clansman obtains wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits, has compassion for his servants and maids, provides for and cares for them, practices meritorious deeds, and does not do evil deeds, then he will be respected by his servants and maids, who will say, 'May the master be strong and healthy, with a long life span. Why? Because of the master, we are at ease.' Dhāraṇa! If someone is greatly respected by his servants and maids, his virtues will increase day by day, and he will never decline.

Dhāraṇa! A clansman can obtain wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits. He should respect and make offerings to śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, practice meritorious deeds, and not do evil deeds. Dhāraṇa! If a clansman obtains wealth according to the Dharma, according to his deeds, and according to his merits, respects and makes offerings to śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, practices meritorious deeds, and does not do evil deeds, then he will be greatly loved by śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, who will say, 'May the donor be strong and healthy, with a long life span. Why? Because of the donor, we are at ease and happy.' Dhāraṇa! If someone is greatly loved by śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, his virtues will increase day by day, and he will never decline.

Then the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, put his palms together toward Venerable Sāriputta, and said, "Sāriputta! I have a beloved wife named Sundarī. Because of my infatuation with her, I have been negligent and committed great evil deeds. Sāriputta! From today onward, I renounce my wife Sundarī and take refuge in Venerable Sāriputta."

Venerable Sāriputta replied, "Dhāraṇa! Do not take refuge in me. You should take refuge in the Buddha, whom I take refuge in."

The brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa said, "Venerable Sāriputta! From today onward, I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha of monks. I only wish that Venerable Sāriputta would accept me as a lay follower of the Buddha, taking refuge for life until the end of my days."

Then Venerable Sāriputta taught the Dharma to the brāhmaṇa Dhāraṇa, inspiring and gladdening him. Having taught the Dharma in countless ways, inspiring and gladdening him, he rose from his seat and departed. He traveled to Rājagṛha and stayed there for several days. Then he put on his robe, took his bowl, left Rājagṛha, and went to the southern mountains, staying in the Śiṃśapā Forest north of the village on the southern mountains.

At that time, a certain monk was wandering in Rājagṛha and stayed there for several days. He put on his robe, took his bowl, left Rājagṛha, and also went to the southern mountains, staying in the Śiṃśapā Forest north of the village on the southern mountains.

Then that monk went to Venerable Sāriputta, bowed his head at his feet, and sat to one side.

Venerable Sāriputta asked, "Virtuous one! Where have you come from? Where have you been wandering?"

The monk replied, "Venerable Sāriputta! I have come from Rājagaha, wandering in Rājagaha."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! Do you know that there is a brahmin named Dīrghanakha in Rājagaha, who was my friend before I left home?"

He replied, "I know."

He further asked, "Virtuous one! Does the brahmin Dīrghanakha, residing in Rājagaha, have a healthy body, is he at ease and free from illness, does he move about lightly and with ease, and does he have the usual strength, and does he wish to see the Buddha often and enjoy hearing the Dharma?"

He replied, "Venerable Śāriputra! The brahmin Dīrghanakha wishes to see the Buddha often and to hear the Dharma often, but he is not at ease and his strength is declining. Why is that? Venerable Śāriputra! The brahmin Dīrghanakha is now sick, extremely ill and gravely ill, and may die from it."

Having heard these words, Venerable Śāriputra immediately put on his robe, took his alms bowl, left Nan-shan, and arrived at Rājagṛha, staying at the Bamboo Grove Kalanda-nivāpa. Then, Venerable Śāriputra, after the night had passed, put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and went to the house of the brahmin Dīrghanakha. The brahmin Dīrghanakha saw Venerable Śāriputra coming from afar, and upon seeing him, he wanted to get up from his bed. Venerable Śāriputra saw the brahmin Dīrghanakha wanting to get up from his bed, and he stopped him, saying, "Brahmin Dīrghanakha! Lie down, do not get up. There are other beds. I will sit separately."

Then, Venerable Śāriputra sat on the bed and asked, "Dīrghanakha! How is your illness now? How much do you eat and drink? Does the illness decrease or increase?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "My illness is very severe. I cannot eat or drink. The illness only increases and does not decrease. Venerable Śāriputra! It is like a strong man stabbing his head with a sharp knife, only causing extreme pain. My headache now is also like this. Venerable Śāriputra! It is like a strong man binding his head with a tight rope, only causing extreme pain. My headache now is also like this. Venerable Śāriputra! It is like a butcher cutting open a cow's belly with a sharp knife, only causing extreme pain. My stomach pain now is also like this. Venerable Śāriputra! It is like two strong men holding a weak man over a fire to roast him, only causing extreme pain. My body pain now, with pain all over the body, only increases and does not decrease, is also like this."

Venerable Śāriputra said, "Dīrghanakha! I now ask you, answer as you see fit. Dīrghanakha, what do you think? Between hell and the animal realm, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The animal realm is better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the animal realm and the ghost realm, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The ghost realm is better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the ghost realm and the human realm, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The human realm is better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between humans and the Four Heavenly Kings, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The Four Heavenly Kings are better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the Four Heavenly Kings and the Thirty-three Heavens, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The Thirty-three Heavens are better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the Thirty-three Heavens and the Yāma Heaven, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The Yāma Heaven is better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the Yāma Heaven and the Tuṣita Heaven, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The Tuṣita Heaven is better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the Tuṣita Heaven and the Nirmāṇarati Heaven, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The Nirmāṇarati Heaven is better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the Nirmāṇarati Heaven and the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven is better."

He further asked, "Dīrghanakha! Between the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven and the Brahmā Heaven, which is better?"

Dīrghanakha replied, "The Brahmā Heaven is the best, the Brahmā Heaven is the best."

Venerable Sāriputta said, "Dīrghanakha! The World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, speaks of four Brahma-dwellings, which, when cultivated and practiced by noble sons and daughters, can lead to the cessation of desire, the relinquishment of desire, and, upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, rebirth in the Brahma-heaven. What are the four? Dīrghanakha! The noble disciple with much learning dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise the second, the third, and the fourth direction, the four intermediate directions, above, and below, all around, everywhere. With a mind imbued with loving-kindness, free from enmity and ill-will, without rivalry or dispute, as vast and boundless as the sky, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness, likewise with compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. These, Dīrghanakha! are the four Brahma-dwellings spoken of by the World-Honored One, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, which, when cultivated and practiced by noble sons and daughters, can lead to the cessation of desire, the relinquishment of desire, and, upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, rebirth in the Brahma-heaven."

Then Venerable Sāriputta, having instructed Dīrghanakha in the Brahma-dwelling teachings, rose from his seat and departed. Before Venerable Sāriputta reached the Bamboo Grove Kalandakanivāpa, the brahmin Dīrghanakha practiced the four Brahma-dwellings, cut off desire, relinquished desire, and, upon the dissolution of the body and the end of life, was reborn in the Brahma-heaven.

At that time, the World-Honored One was teaching the Dharma to a great assembly of immeasurable people. The World-Honored One saw Venerable Sāriputta coming from afar and told the monks, "The monk Sāriputta is wise, quick-witted, sharp-witted, intelligent, broad-minded, deep-minded, able to escape, clear-minded, eloquent, and has accomplished true wisdom. This monk Sāriputta has instructed the brahmin Dīrghanakha in the Brahma-dwelling teachings. If he further instructs him, he will quickly know the Dharma as it is."

Then Venerable Sāriputta went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. The World-Honored One said, "Sāriputta! Why didn't you instruct the brahmin Dīrghanakha beyond the Brahma-dwelling teachings? If he further instructed him, he would quickly know the Dharma as it is."

Venerable Sāriputta said, "World-Honored One! Those brahmins have long loved, delighted in, and attained the Brahma-heaven. They consider the Brahma-heaven to be supreme, and they say, 'The Brahma-heaven truly exists, and it is for me.' Therefore, World-Honored One, I should do so."

The Buddha spoke thus. Venerable Sāriputta and countless hundreds of thousands of people, having heard the Buddha's teachings, rejoiced and practiced them.