“There are, Ānanda, these eighteen elements. The eye element, sight element, and eye consciousness element. The ear element, sound element, and ear consciousness element. The nose element, smell element, and nose consciousness element. The tongue element, taste element, and tongue consciousness element. The body element, touch element, and body consciousness element. The mind element, ideas element, and mind consciousness element. When a mendicant knows and sees these eighteen elements, “But sir

They give up these five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. Then, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, they enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This, brahmin, is that which is called ‘a footprint of the Realized One’ and also ‘a trace of the Realized One’ and also ‘a mark of the Realized One’. But a noble disciple does not yet come t

They understand, Furthermore, a noble disciple reflects, ‘Do I have the same strength as an individual accomplished in view?’ And what, mendicants, is the strength of an individual accomplished in view? The strength of an individual accomplished in view is that, when the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One are being taught, they pay attention, apply the mind, concentrate wholeheartedly, and actively listen to the teaching. They understand, ‘I have the same strength as an individ

That’s what I think, but I’ve also heard it from the perfected ones.” “Good, good, great king! It’s good that you think so, and it’s good that you’ve heard it from the perfected ones. What do you think, great king? Take a brahmin … What do you think, great king? Or how do you see this?” “Such a brahmin, peasant, or menial would be reborn in a good place. That’s what I think, but I’ve also heard it from the perfected ones.” “Good, good, great king!

and said to him, “So, worthy Vacchāyana, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?” “Just now, good fellow, I’ve come from the presence of the ascetic Gotama.” “What do you think of the ascetic Gotama’s lucidity of wisdom? Do you think he’s astute?” “Mister, who am I to judge the ascetic Gotama’s lucidity of wisdom? You’d really have to be on the same level to judge his lucidity of wisdom.” “Mister Vacchāyana praises the ascetic Gotama with high praise indeed.” Furthermore, as the plac

“I would have him executed, fined, or banished, or dealt with as befits the crime. Why is that? Because he’s lost his former status as a brahmin, peasant, or menial, and is just reckoned as a bandit.” “What do you think, great king? If this is so, are the four classes equal or not? Or how do you see this?” Take an aristocrat who breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, commits highway robbery, and commits adultery. Suppose your men arrest him and present him to you, s

“But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ānanda. There are these six elements: the elements of sensuality and renunciation, malice and good will, and cruelty and harmlessness. When a mendicant knows and sees these six elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.” “But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ān

‘Your Majesty, this man is a bandit, a criminal. Punish him as you will.’ What would you do to him?” “I would have him executed, fined, or banished, or dealt with as befits the crime. Why is that? Because he’s lost his former status as an aristocrat, and is just reckoned as a bandit.” “What do you think, great king? What do you think, great king? “I would bow to them, rise in their presence, or offer them a seat. I’d invite them to accept robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for

When a mendicant knows and sees these three elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.” “But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ānanda. There are these two elements: the conditioned element and the unconditioned element. When a mendicant knows and sees these two elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.”

Driven by a horse trainer, a horse in training proceeds in just one direction: east, west, north, or south. Driven by an ox trainer, an ox in training proceeds in just one direction: east, west, north, or south. But driven by the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, a person in training proceeds in eight directions: Having physical form, they see forms. This is the fifth direction. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing a

Because they’ve lost their former status as a brahmin, peasant, or menial, and are just reckoned as an ascetic.” “What do you think, great king? If this is so, are the four classes equal or not? Or how do you see this?” “Certainly, worthy Kaccāna, in this case these four classes are equal. I can’t see any difference between them.” “This is another way to understand that this is just hearsay in the world: ‘Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior. Take an aristocrat who shaves

In this way the astute regard deeds by restraint and by self-control: that’s how to become a brahmin, this is the supreme brahmin. Accomplished in the three knowledges, peaceful, with rebirth ended, know them, Vāseṭṭha, as the Divinity and Sakka to the wise.” in accord with truth. Seeing dependent origination,

Do you see that Mount Isigili?” “Yes, sir.” “Yes, sir.” “It used to have a different label and description. Do you see that Mount Paṇḍava?” “Yes, sir.” “It too used to have a different label and description. Do you see that Mount Vepulla?” “Yes, sir.” “It too used to have a different label and description.

This is the seventh direction. Going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling. This is the eighth direction. Driven by the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, a person in training proceeds in these eight directions. This is the first direction. Not perceiving physical form internally, they see forms externally. This is the second direction. They’re focused only on beauty. This i

‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ And it is at this point that the simile of the elephant’s footprint has been completed in detail.” When he had spoken, the brahmin Jānussoṇi said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gota

“Yes, sir,” replied those mendicants. They got up from their seats, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right. They set their lodgings in order and left, taking their bowls and robes. Now at that time the Sakyans of Cātumā were sitting together at the town hall on some business. Seeing those mendicants coming off in the distance, they went up to them and said, “Hello venerables, where are you going?” “Good sirs, the mendicant Saṅgha has been dismissed by the Buddha.”

Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are divinity’s true-born sons, born from his mouth, born of divinity, created by divinity, heirs of divinity.’” How would you treat them?” “I would bow to them, rise in their presence, or offer them a seat. I’d invite them to accept robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And I’d organize their lawful guarding and protection. Why is that? Because they’ve lost their former status as an aristocrat, and are just recko

“It used to have exactly the same label and description. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: Once upon a time, five hundred Independent Buddhas dwelt for a long time on this Isigili. They were seen entering the mountain, but after entering were seen no more. When people noticed this they said: ‘That mountain swallows these seers!’ That’s how it came to be known as Isigili, the “seer-swallower”. I shall declare the names of the Independe

‘This must be a big bull elephant.’ In the same way, because I saw four footprints of the ascetic Gotama I came to the conclusion, ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ What four? he has come down they approach him. The ascetic Gotama educates, encourages, fires up, and inspires them with a Dhamma talk. They don’t even get around to asking their question to the ascetic Gotama, so how could they refute his answer? Invariably,

May the Buddha be happy with the mendicant Saṅgha! May the Buddha welcome the mendicant Saṅgha! May the Buddha support the mendicant Saṅgha now as he did in the past!” “May the Buddha be happy with the mendicant Saṅgha! May the Buddha welcome the mendicant Saṅgha! May the Buddha support the mendicant Saṅgha now as he did in the past! There are mendicants here who are junior, recently gone forth, newly come to this teaching and training. If they don’t get to see the Buddha they may change and fal