Kutadanta Sutta
A Bloodless Sacrifice
For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
Once
the Lord was traveling through Magadha with a large company of some
five hundred monks, and he arrived at a Brahmin village called
Khanumata. And there he stayed at the Ambalatthika park. [1] Now at
that time the Brahmin Kutadanta was living at Khanumata, a populous
place, full of grass, timber, water and corn, which had been given to
him by King Seniya Bimbisara of Magadha as a royal gift and with royal
powers.
And
Kutadanta planned a great sacrifice : seven hundred bulls, seven
hundred bullocks, seven hundred heifers, seven hundred he-goats and
seven hundred rams were all tied up to the sacrificial posts. [2]
And
the Brahmins and householders of Khanumata heard say: “The ascetic
Gotama…is staying at Ambalatthika.” And concerning that Blessed Lord
Gotama a good report has been spread about: “This Blessed Lord is an
Arahant, a fully-enlightened Buddha, perfected in knowledge and conduct,
a Well-Farer, Knower of the worlds, unequalled Trainer of men to be
tamed, Teacher of Gods and humans, a Buddha, a Blessed Lord.” He
proclaims this world with its Gods, Maras and Brahmas, the world of
ascetics and Brahmins with its princes and people, having come to know
it by his own knowledge. He teaches a Dhamma that is lovely in its
beginning, lovely in its middle and lovely in its ending, in the spirit
and in the letter, and he displays the fully-perfected, thoroughly
purified holy life. And indeed it is good to such Arahants.” And at
that the Brahmins and householders, leaving Khanumata in great numbers,
went to Ambalatthika.
Just
then, Kutadanta had gone up to his verandah for his midday rest.
Seeing all the Brahmins and householders making for Ambalatthika, he
asked his steward the reason. The steward replied: “Sir, it is the
ascetic Gotama, concerning whom a good report has been spread about:
“This Blessed Lord is an Arahant…a Buddha, a Blessed Lord.” That is why
they are going to see him.
Then
Kutadanta thought: “I have heard that the ascetic Gotama understands
how to conduct successfully the triple sacrifice with its sixteen
requisites. Now I do not understand all this, but I want to make a big
sacrifice. Suppose, I were to go to the ascetic Gotama and ask him
about the matter.” So he sent his steward to the Brahmins and
householders of Khanumata to ask them to wait for him.
And
at that time several hundred Brahmins were staying at Khanumata
intending to take part in Kutadanta’s sacrifice. Hearing of his
intention to visit the ascetic Gotama, they went and asked him if this
were true. “So it is, gentlemen, I am going to visit the ascetic
Gotama.”
“Sir,
do not visit the ascetic Gotama …” (exactly the same arguments as at
Digha Nikáya 4 verse 5) … it is not fitting that you should do so! If
the Reverend Sonadanda goes to visit the ascetic Gotama, his reputation
will decrease, and that of the ascetic Gotama will increase. This
being so, it is not right that the Reverend Sonandanda should visit the
ascetic Gotama, but rather the ascetic Gotama should visit him.”
“The
Reverend Sonadanda is well-born on both the mother’s and the father’s
side, of pure descent to the seventh generation, unbroken, of
irreproachable birth, and therefore he should not call on the ascetic
Gotama, but rather the ascetic Gotama should call on him. The Reverend
Sonadanda is possessed of great wealth and resources…The Reverend
Sonadanda is a scholar, versed in the mantras, accomplished in the Three
Vedas, a skilled expounder of the rules and rituals, the lore of sounds
and meanings and, fifthly, oral tradition - an expounder, fully versed
in natural philosophy and the marks of a Great Man. The Reverend
Sonadanda is handsome, good-looking, pleasing, of the most beautiful
complexion, in form and countenance like Brahma, of no mean appearance.
He is virtuous, of increasing virtue, endowed with increasing virtue.
He is well-spoken, of pleasing address, polite, of pure and clear
enunciation, speaking to the point. He is the teacher’s teacher of
many, teaching the mantras to three hundred youths, and many young men
come from different districts and regions seeking to learn the mantras
in his presence, desirous to learn them from him. He is aged, grown
old, venerable, advanced in years, long past his youth, whereas the
ascetic Gotama is youthful and newly gone forth as a wanderer. The
Reverend Sonadanda is esteemed, made much of, honored, revered,
worshipped by King Seniya Bimbisara and by the Brahmin Pokkharasati. He
lives at Campa, a populous place, full of grass, timber, water and
corn, which has been given to him by King Seniya Bimbisara of Magadha as
a royal gift, and with royal powers.
This
being so, it is not proper that the Reverend Kutadanta should visit the
ascetic Gotama, but rather the ascetic Gotama should visit him.”
Then
Kutadanta said to the Brahmins : “Now listen, gentlemen, as to why it
is fitting for us to visit the Reverend Gotama, and why it is not
fitting for him to visit us…” (exactly the same as Digha Nikáya 4 verse
6)…The ascetic Gotama is well-born on both sides of pure descent to the
seventh generation, unbroken, of irreproachable birth …(as Digha
Nikáya 4 verse 5). Therefore it is fitting for us to visit him. He
went forth, leaving a great body of kinsmen. In fact he gave up much
gold and wealth to go forth, both hidden away and openly displayed. The
ascetic Gotama, while youthful, a black-haired youth, in the prime of
his young days, in the first stage of life went forth from the household
life into homelessness. Leaving his grieving parents weeping with
tear-stained faces, having cut off his hair and beard and put on yellow
robes, he went forth into homelessness. He is handsome …
virtuous…well-spoken…the teacher’s teacher of many. He has abandoned
sensuality and dispelled vanity. He teaches action and the results of
action, honoring the blameless Brahmin way of life. He is a wanderer of
high birth, of a leading Khattiya family. He is a wanderer from a
wealthy family, of great wealth and possessions. People come to consult
him from foreign kingdoms and foreign lands. Many thousands of Devas
have taken refuge with him.
This
good report has been spread about him : “This Blessed Lord is an
Arahant, a fully-enlightened Buddha, perfected in knowledge and
conduct…”He bears the thirty-two marks of a Great Man. He is welcoming,
kindly of speech, courteous, genial, clear and ready of speech. He is
attended by four assemblies, revered, honored, esteemed and worshipped
by them. Many Devas and humans are devoted to him. Whenever he stays
in any town or village, that place is not troubled by non-human beings.
He has a crowd, a multitude of followers, is a teacher of many, he is
consulted by the chief of the various leaders of sects. It is not the
way with the ascetic Gotama’s reputation, as it is with that of some
ascetics and Brahmins, about whom this or that is reported - the ascetic
Gotama’s fame is based on his achievement of unsurpassed wisdom and
conduct. Indeed King Seniya Bimbisara of Magadha has gone for refuge to
him together with his son, his wife, his followers and his ministers.
So have King Pasenadi of Kosala and the Brahmin Pokkharasati. He is
revered, honored, esteemed and worshipped by them.
The
ascetic Gotama has arrived in Campa and is staying by Gaggara’s
lotus-pond. And whatever ascetics and Brahmins come to our territory
are our guests. And we should revere, honor, esteem and worship guests.
Having come to Gaggara’s lotus-pond, the ascetic Gotama is such a
guest, and should be treated as such. Therefore it is not proper that
he should come to us, but rather we should go to him. However much I
might praise the ascetic Gotama, that praise is insufficient, he is
beyond all praise.”
The
ascetic Gotama has arrived in Khanumata and is staying at Ambalatthika.
And whatever ascetics or Brahmins come to our territory are our guests
…He is beyond all praise.”
On
hearing this, the Brahmins said: “Sir, since you praise the ascetic
Gotama so much, then even if he were to live a hundred yojanas from
here, it would be fitting for a believing clansman to go with a
shoulder-bag to visit him. And, sir, we shall all go to visit the
ascetic Gotama.” And so Kutadanta went with a large company of Brahmins
to Ambalatthika. He approached the Lord, exchanged courtesies with
him, and sat down to one side. Some of the Brahmins and householders of
Khanumata made obeisance to the Lord, some exchanged courtesies with
him, some saluted him with joined palms, some announced their names and
clan, and some sat down to one side in silence.
Sitting
to one side, Kutadanta addressed the Lord: “Reverend Gotama, I have
heard that you understand how to conduct successfully the triple
sacrifice with its sixteen requisites. Now I do not understand all
this, but I want to make a big sacrifice. It would be well if the
ascetic Gotama were to explain this to me.” “Then listen, Brahmin, pay
proper attention, and I will explain. “Yes, Sir,” said Kutadanta, and
the Lord said:
“Brahmin,
once upon a time there was a king called Mahavijita. [3] He was rich,
of great wealth and resources, with an abundance of gold and silver, of
possessions and requisites, of money and money’s worth, with a full
treasury and granary. And when King Mahavijita was musing in private,
the thought came to him : “I have acquired extensive wealth in human
terms, I occupy a wide extent of land which I have conquered. Suppose
now I were to make a great sacrifice which would be to my benefit and
happiness for a long time?” And calling his minister-chaplain, [4] he
told him his thought: “I want to make a big sacrifice. Instruct me,
Reverend Sir, how this may be to my lasting benefit and happiness.”
The
chaplain replied: “Your Majesty’s country is beset by thieves, it is
ravaged, villages and towns are being destroyed, the countryside is
infested with brigands. If your Majesty were to tax this region, that
would be the wrong thing to do. Suppose Your Majesty were to think: “I
will get rid of this plague of robbers by executions and imprisonment,
or by confiscation, threats and banishment, the plague would not be
properly ended. Those who survived would later harm Your Majesty’s
realm. However, with this plan you can completely eliminate the plague.
To those in the kingdom who are engaged in cultivating crops and
raising cattle, let Your Majesty distribute grain and fodder; to those
in trade, give capital; to those in government service assign proper
living wages. Then those people, being intent on their occupations,
will not harm the kingdom. Your Majesty’s revenues will be great, the
land will be tranquil and not beset by thieves, and the people, with joy
in their hearts, will play with their children, and will dwell in open
houses.”
And
saying: “So be it!” the king accepted the chaplain’s advice: he gave
grain and fodder, capital to those in trade…proper living wages…and the
people with joy in their hearts…dwelt in open houses.
Then
King Mahavijita sent for the chaplain and said: “I have got rid of the
plague of robbers; following your plan my revenue has grown, the land
is tranquil and not beset by thieves, and the people with joy in their
hearts play with their children, and dwell in open houses. Now I wish
to make a great sacrifice. Instruct me as to how this may be done to my
lasting benefit and happiness.” “For this, Sir, you should send for
your Khattiyas from town and country, your advisers and counselors, the
most influential Brahmins and the wealthy householders of your realm,
and say to them: “I wish to make a great sacrifice. Assist me in this,
gentlemen, that it may be to my lasting benefit and happiness.”
The
King agreed, and did so. “Sir, let the sacrifice begin, now is the
time, Your Majesty. These four assenting groups [5] will be the
accessories for the sacrifice.
“King
Mahavijita is endowed with eight things. He is well-born on both
sides…(as Digha Nikáya 4 verse 5) of irreproachable birth. He is
handsome…of no mean appearance. He is rich … with a full treasury and
granary. He is powerful, having a four-branched army 6 that is loyal,
dependable, making bright his reputation among his enemies. He is a
faithful giver and host, not shutting his door against ascetics,
Brahmins and wayfarers, beggars and the needy - a fountain of goodness.
He is very learned in what should be learnt. He knows the meaning of
whatever is said, saying : “This is what that means.” He is a scholar,
accomplished, wise, competent to perceive advantage in the past, the
future or the present. 7 King Mahavijita is endowed with these eight
things. These constitute the accessories for the sacrifice.
“The
Brahmin chaplain is endowed with four things. He is well born … He is
a scholar, versed in the mantras … He is virtuous, of increasing
virtue, endowed with increasing virtue. He is learned, accomplished and
wise, and is the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle. He has
these four qualities. These constitute the accessories to the
sacrifice.”
Then,
prior to the sacrifice, the Brahmin chaplain taught the King the three
modes. “It might be that Your Majesty might have some regrets about the
intended sacrifice: “I am going to lose a lot of wealth,” or during
the sacrifice: “I am losing a lot of wealth,” or after the sacrifice:
“I have lost a lot of wealth.” In such cases, Your Majesty should not
entertain such regrets.”
Then,
prior to the sacrifice, the chaplain dispelled the King’s qualms with
ten conditions for the recipient: “Sir, there will come to the
sacrifice those who take life and those who abstain from taking life.
To those who take life, so will it be to them; but those who abstain
from taking life will have a successful sacrifice and will rejoice in
it, and their hearts may be calmed within. There will come those who
take what is not given and those who refrain…those who indulge in sexual
misconduct and those who refrain…those who tell lies…indulge in
calumny, harsh and frivolous speech…those who are covetous and those who
are not, those who harbor ill-will and those who do not, those who have
wrong views and those who have right views. To those who have wrong
views it will turn out accordingly, but those who have right views will
have a successful sacrifice and will rejoice in it, and their hearts may
be calmed within.” So the chaplain dispelled the King’s doubts with
ten conditions.
So
the chaplain instructed the King who was making the great sacrifice
with sixteen reasons, urged him, inspired him and gladdened his heart.
Someone might say: “King Mahavijita is making a great sacrifice, but he
has not invited his Khattiyas…his advisers and counselors, the most
influential Brahmins and wealthy householders …” But such words would
not be in accordance with the truth, since the King has invited them.
Thus the King may know that he will have a successful sacrifice and
rejoice in it, and his heart will be calmed within. Or someone might
say: “King Mahavijita is making a great sacrifice, but he is not
well-born on both sides…” But such words would not be in accordance
with the truth…Or someone might say: “His chaplain is not well-born…”
But such words would not be in accordance with the truth. Thus the
chaplain instructed the King with sixteen reasons…
“In
this sacrifice, Brahmin, no bulls were slain, no goats or sheep, no
cocks and pigs, nor were various living beings subjected to slaughter,
nor were trees cut down for sacrificial posts, nor were grasses mown for
the sacrificial grass, and those who are called slaves or servants or
workmen did not perform their tasks for fear of blows or threats,
weeping and in tears. But those who wanted to do something did it,
those who did not wish to did not : they did what they wanted to do, and
not what they did not want to do. The sacrifice was carried out with
ghee, oil, butter, curds, honey and molasses.”
“Then,
Brahmin, the Khattiyas…the ministers and counselors, the influential
Brahmins, the wealthy householders of town and country, having received a
sufficient income, came to King Mahavijita and said: “We have brought
sufficient wealth, Your Majesty, please accept it.” “But gentlemen, I
have collected together sufficient wealth. Whatever is left over, you
take away.”
At
the King’s refusal, they went away to one side and consulted together.
“It is not right for us to take this wealth back to our own homes.
The King is making a great sacrifice. Let us follow his example.”
Then
the Khattiyas put their gifts to the east of the sacrificial pit, the
advisers and counselors set out theirs to the south, the Brahmins to the
west and the wealthy householders to the north. And in this sacrifice
no bulls were slain… nor were living beings subjected to slaughter…Those
who wanted to do something did it, those who did not wish to did
not…The sacrifice was carried out with ghee, oil, butter, curds, honey
and molasses. Thus there were the four assenting groups, and King
Mahavijita was endowed with eight things, and the chaplain with four
things in three modes. This, Brahmin, is called the sixteen-fold
successful sacrifice in three modes.
At
this the Brahmins shouted loudly and noisily : “What a splendid
sacrifice! What a splendid way to perform a sacrifice!” But Kutadanta
sat in silence. And the Brahmins asked him why he did not applaud the
ascetic Gotama’s fine words. He replied: “It is not that I do not
applaud them. My head would split open if I did not.[8] But it
strikes me that the ascetic Gotama does not say : “I have heard this,”
or “It must have been like this,” but he says: “It was like this or
like that at the time.” And so, gentlemen, it seems to me that the
ascetic Gotama must have been at that time either King Mahavijita, the
lord of the sacrifice, or else the Brahmin chaplain who conducted the
sacrifice for him. Does the Reverend Gotama acknowledge that he
performed, or caused to be performed, such a sacrifice, and that in
consequence at death, after the breaking-up of the body, he was reborn
in a good sphere, a heavenly state?” “I do, Brahmin. I was the
Brahmin chaplain who conducted that sacrifice.”
“And,
Reverend Gotama, is there any other sacrifice that is simpler, less
difficult, more fruitful and profitable than this three-fold sacrifice
with its sixteen attributes?” “There is, Brahmin.”
“What
is it, Reverend Gotama?” “Whenever regular family gifts are given to
virtuous ascetics, these constitute a sacrifice more fruitful and
profitable than that.”
“Why, Reverend Gotama, and for what reason is this better?”
“Brahmin,
no Arahants or those who have attained the Arahant path will attend
such a sacrifice. Why? Because there they see beatings and
throttlings, so they do not attend. But they will attend the sacrifice
at which regular family gifts are given to virtuous ascetics, because
there are no beatings or throttlings. That is why this kind of
sacrifice is more fruitful and profitable.”
“But, Reverend Gotama, is there any other sacrifice that is more profitable than either of these?” “There is, Brahmin.”
“What
is it, Reverend Gotama?” “Brahmin, if anyone provides shelter for the
Sangha coming from the four quarters, that constitutes a more
profitable sacrifice.”
“But, Reverend Gotama, is there any sacrifice that is more profitable than these three?”
“There is, Brahmin.”
“What
is it, Reverend Gotama?” “Brahmin, if anyone with a pure heart goes
for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, that constitutes a
sacrifice more profitable than any of these three.”
“But, Reverend Gotama, is there any sacrifice that is more profitable than these four?”
“There is, Brahmin.”
“What
is it, Reverend Gotama?” “Brahmin, if anyone with a pure heart
undertakes the precepts - to refrain from taking life, from taking what
is not given, from sexual immorality, from lying speech and from taking
strong drink and sloth-producing drugs - that constitutes a sacrifice
more profitable than any of these four.”
“But, Reverend Gotama, is there any sacrifice that is more profitable than these five?”
“There is, Brahmin.”
“What
is it, Reverend Gotama?” “Brahmin, a Tathágata arises in this world,
an Arahant, a fully-enlightened Buddha, endowed with wisdom and conduct,
Well-Farer, Knower of the worlds, incomparable Trainer of men to be
tamed, Teacher of Gods and humans, enlightened and blessed. He, having
realized it by his own super-knowledge, proclaims this world with its
Devas, Maras and Brahmas, its princes and people. He preaches the
Dhamma which is lovely in its beginning, lovely in its middle, lovely in
its ending, in the spirit and in the letter, and displays the
fully-perfected and purified holy life. A disciple goes forth and
practices the moralities, etc (Digha Nikáya 2 verses 41-74). Thus a
monk is perfected in morality. He attains the four jhanas (Digha
Nikáya 2 verses 75-82). That, Brahmin, is a sacrifice… more profitable.
He attains various insights (Digha Nikáya verses 83-95), and the
cessation of the corruptions (Digha Nikáya 2 verse 97). He knows:
“There is nothing further in this world. That Brahmin, is a sacrifice
that is simpler, less difficult, more fruitful and more profitable than
all the others. And beyond this there is no sacrifice that is greater
and more perfect.”
“Excellent,
Reverend Gotama, excellent! It is as if someone were to set up what
had been knocked down, or to point out the way to one who had got lost,
or to bring an oil-lamp into a dark place, so that those with eyes could
see what was there. Just so the Reverend Gotama has expounded the
Dhamma in various ways, may the Reverend Gotama accept me as a
lay-follower from this day forth as long as life shall last! And,
Reverend Gotama, I set free the seven hundred bulls, seven hundred
bullocks, seven hundred heifers, seven hundred he-goats and seven
hundred rams. I grant them life, let them be fed with green grass and
given cool water to drink, and let cool breezes play upon them.”
Then
the Lord delivered a graduated discourse to Kutadanta, on generosity,
on morality and on heaven, showing the danger, degradation and
corruption of sense-desires, and the profit of renunciation. And when
the Lord knew that Kutadanta’s mind was ready, pliable, free from the
hindrances, joyful and calm, then he preached a sermon on Dhamma in
brief : on suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. And just
as a clean cloth from which all stains have been removed receives the
dye perfectly, so in the Brahmin Kutadanta, as he sat there, there arose
the pure and spotless Dhamma-eye and he knew: “Whatever things have an
origin must come to cessation.”
Then
Kutadanta, having seen, attained, experienced and penetrated the
Dhamma, having passed beyond doubt, transcended uncertainty, having
gained perfect confidence in the Teacher’s doctrine without relying on
others, said: “May the Reverend Gotama and his order of monks accept a
meal from me tomorrow!”
The
Lord assented by silence. Then Kutadanta, seeing his consent, rose,
saluted the Lord, passed by to his right and departed. As day was
breaking, he caused hard and soft food to be prepared at his place of
sacrifice, and when it was ready he announced: “Reverend Gotama, it is
time; the meal is ready.”
And
the Lord, having risen early, went with robe and bowl and attended by
his monks to Kutadanta’ place of sacrifice and sat down on the prepared
seat. And Kutadanta served the Buddha and his monks with the finest
foods with his own hands until they were satisfied. And when the Lord
had eaten and taken his hand away from the bowl, Kutadanta took a low
stool and sat down to one side.
Then
the Lord, having instructed Kutadanta with a talk on Dhamma, inspired
him, fired him with enthusiasm and delighted him, rose from his seat and
departed. [9]
[1] Not the same place as that mentioned in Digha Nikáya 1 but one similar to it [DA].
[2]
His name means “Sharp-tooth,” and RD is almost certainly right in
considering this an invented story. Apart from anything else, no
Brahmin would have consulted the Buddha, of all people, about how to
perform a sacrifice which was supposed to be their specialty. But at SN
3.1.9 we have the presumably historical story of how King Pasenadi of
Kosala planned a great sacrifice [though of only 500, not 700 bulls,
etc], with the Buddha’s versified comments. From the commentary, though
not the text, we hear that the King finally desisted from his
intention. Perhaps the Buddha told the King this story on that occasion
and the incident was later tactfully transferred from the King of
Kosala to an imaginary Brahmin “with royal powers” living in the
neighboring kingdom of Magadha.
[4] Purohitam. The king’s head-priest [Brahmanic], or domestic chaplain, acting at the same time as a sort of Prime Minister.
[5] The Khattiyas, counselors, Brahmins and householders.
[6] Elephants, cavalry, chariots and infantry.
[7]
By knowing the workings of kamma : good fortune now is due to past
kamma, and good deeds performed now will have similar results in the
future.
[8] A curious threat that never comes to anything, and is of course pre-Buddhist.
[9]
In his important book Five Stages of Greek Religion [London, Watts and
Co., 1935, p. 38] Gilbert Murray has a fine passage in praise of the
Greek spirit. He writes : When really frightened the oracle generally
fell back on some remedy full of pain and blood. The medieval plan of
burning heretics alive had not yet been invented. But the history of
uncivilized man, if it were written, would provide a vast list of
victims, all of them innocent, who died or suffered to expiate some
portent or monstrum…with which they had nothing whatever to do…The sins
of the modern world in dealing with heretics and witches have perhaps
been more gigantic than those of primitive men, but one can hardly rise
from the record of these ancient observances without being haunted by
the judgment of the Roman poet : “Tantum religio potuit saudere
malorum” [”To so many evils was religion able to persuade men”], and
feeling with him that the lightening of this cloud, the taming of this
blind dragon, must rank among the very greatest services that Hellenism
wrought for mankind.
Murray
seems only to think of human victims, and to be totally oblivious to
the fact that Buddhism had, a century before Socrates, been much more
radical in its abolition of cruelty to humans and animals, and with more
lasting results, at least as far as India and neighboring countries
were concerned.
The Long Discourses: Sutta 5 - Kutadanta Sutta: Kutadanta & The Bloodless Sacrifice
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In
these series of Sutta recitations in English, this time, presenting the
vastly rich Long Discourses/Sayings (DN - Digha Nikāya) of the Buddha, I
used several sources in my attempt to present a more complete version
of each of the suttas. Therefore, I worked to include sections of suttas
that were omitted from several of the available editions of the DN, due
to their repetitive and “drill-like” formulation that although may seem
tiresome at times, nevertheless they do present as a crucial method of
teaching, which the Buddha applied in his dissemination of the Dhamma.
By including this key element back into the body of many of the
pertinent suttas has been my goal, as I tried my best to adhere to the
earliest versions of the Digha Nikāya. This almost algorithmic style of
repeating statements found in many of these and other suttas within the
Pāli Nikāyas, help the meditator to penetrate into the deeper layers of
understanding of the world, as one becomes able to ‘see things as they
truly come to be’ (yathā bhutaṃ pajānāti), which is a necessary step in
the experiencing of Nibbāna, as explained by Lord Buddha. This in itself
has been a crucial part of the decision to make these suttas available
to both the novice and the advanced student of Buddhist meditative
practice, as these help remove the mental contaminants and defilements
from the mind, according to the earliest known Teachings available of
the Buddha.
Please
Note: It is my wish that after the countless hours of preparing and
making these recordings freely available, you the listener will become
encouraged to obtain the actual hardcopy editions of this and the other
Nikāyas, as made available by the following authors, from their
respective publishers. It is to my teachers and these translators of the
Buddha’s Words, whose works I have consulted throughout this massive
project that I am utterly indebted, given their enormous efforts in
making the Words of The Elders available in the first place.
These are:
Rhys Davids, T.W. & C.A.F. (1899; 1903; 1966), Dialogues of The Buddha. London: Pāli Text Society
Bodhi,
B. (1978). The Discourse on the All-Embracing Net of Views: The
Brahmajāla Sutta and its Commentaries, Kandy: Buddhist Publication
Society
Bodhi, B.
(1984). The Great Discourse On Causation: The Mahānidāna Sutta and Its
Commentaries. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society
Bodhi, B. (1989). The Fruits of Recluseship: The Sāmaññaphala Sutta and its Commentaries, Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society
Ñāṇananda, K. B. (2010). Nibbāna: the mind stilled. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Theravada Tipitaka Press
Walshe, M. (1995). The long discourses of the Buddha: A translation of the Digha Nikāya. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications.
Over
the past 30+ years, in my quest for understanding the Dhamma, i.e. the
Teachings of Lord Buddha, I have dedicated countless hours studying the
suttas found in the Pāli Canon of the Theravada Tradition (Words of the
Elders) as I sat at the feet of many a great teacher, trying to learn
and grasp the meaning behind the words.
In
these difficult times, however, where time itself has become truly
constricted in its abundance, the curious and struggling minds of
individuals do not necessarily have the same luxuries of sitting down
and reading the Nikāyas, let alone exploring their meaning, something
that was enjoyed only a generation or two earlier.
Instead,
one becomes hesitant to even pick up one of the Nikāyas given their
massive volume, therefore, the danger of their inaccessibility (by
shying away from reading the Pāli Nikāyas) looms in the horizon; this,
while considering that many newcomers to the Dhamma are often petrified
to tackle the wonderful exploration that would otherwise be awaiting
them in those voluminous pages.
Thus,
as one of my own students expressed of her apprehension despite her
love for the Dhamma, to pick up one these precious texts, I saw it
necessary for posterity to go ahead and transfer these words onto audio.
I realize the amount of work, time and energy this would take, but the
necessity for making the Dhamma available in an age of scarcity of time
where most of our time is spent driving, sitting long hours in commute,
etc., becomes all the more relevant, if not imperative.
Being
a Dhamma Teacher means nothing if there is no Dhamma available, which
means that is available whether through being read, studied, and in this
case, heard and listened to.
To
this end, I am dedicating my time and energy to do my small part and
record the precious words of Lord Buddha onto these audio files for
posterity, hoping that listeners would become able to taste them and
realize their fruits (through daily practice), by listening to and
understanding the wonderful gems within the words of Lord Buddha that
have survived the test of time during the last 2600 years.
Mettacittena,
“Candana” (Garbis J. Bartanian, Doctor of Buddhist Ministry (DBMin), LMFT).