2.
The Chapter on the Royal Park
1.
The Discourse on the Community of a Thousand Nuns
1007. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the King's Park. Then a community of a thousand nuns approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side. To those nuns standing to one side, the Blessed One said this -
"Nuns, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. Which four? Here, nuns, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Nuns, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The first.
2.
The Discourse on the Brahmin
1008. At Sāvatthī. "Brahmins, monks, declare a practice called 'leading to rise'. They exhort their disciple thus - 'Come, my good man, having risen early in the morning, go facing east. Do not avoid a pit, do not avoid a precipice, do not avoid a stump, do not avoid a thorny place, do not avoid a cesspool, do not avoid a sewer. Wherever you might fall, right there you should await death. Thus you, my good man, upon the body's collapse at death, will be reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world.'
"But this, monks, is the brahmins' foolish going, this is their deluded going; it does not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. But I, monks, declare a practice leading to rise in the Noble One's discipline; which leads exclusively to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
"And what, monks, is that practice leading to rise; which leads exclusively to disenchantment... etc. to Nibbāna? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself... etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One'; Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. This, monks, is that practice leading to rise, leading exclusively to disenchantment... etc. to Nibbāna." The second.
3.
The Discourse on the Elder Ānanda
1009. On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda and the Venerable Sāriputta were dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then the Venerable Sāriputta, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Ānanda. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Ānanda - "Because of the abandoning of how many qualities, friend Ānanda, and because of being endowed with how many qualities, has this generation been declared by the Blessed One to be stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment?" "Because of the abandoning of four qualities, friend, and because of being endowed with four qualities, has this generation been declared by the Blessed One to be stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment."
"Which four? Whatever distrust in the Buddha, friend, possessed of which an ignorant worldling, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell - such distrust in the Buddha is not present in him. And whatever unwavering confidence in the Buddha, friend, possessed of which a learned noble disciple, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world - such unwavering confidence in the Buddha is present in him: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.'
And whatever distrust in the Teaching, friend, possessed of which an ignorant worldling, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell - such distrust in the Teaching is not present in him. And whatever unwavering confidence in the Teaching, friend, possessed of which a learned noble disciple, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world - such unwavering confidence in the Teaching is present in him: 'Well proclaimed by the Blessed One is the Teaching, etc. to be individually experienced by the wise.'
And whatever distrust in the Community, friend, possessed of which an ignorant worldling, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell - such distrust in the Community is not present in him. And whatever unwavering confidence in the Community, friend, possessed of which a learned noble disciple, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world - such unwavering confidence in the Community is present in him: 'The Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practising well, etc. an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.'
And whatever immorality, friend, possessed of which an ignorant worldling, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell - such immorality is not present in him. And whatever morality pleasing to the noble ones, friend, possessed of which a learned noble disciple, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world - such morality pleasing to the noble ones is present in him, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Because of the abandoning of these four qualities, friend, and because of being endowed with these four qualities, has this generation been declared by the Blessed One to be stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The third.
4.
The Discourse on the Fear of an Unfortunate Realm
1010. "Monks, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities has transcended all fear of unfortunate realms. Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Monks, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities has transcended all fear of unfortunate realms." The fourth.
5.
The Discourse on Fear of Unfortunate Realms and the Nether World
1011. "Monks, a noble disciple possessed of four qualities has transcended all fear of unfortunate realms and the nether world. Which four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. He is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken... etc. conducive to concentration. Monks, a noble disciple possessed of these four qualities has transcended all fear of unfortunate realms and the nether world." The fifth.
6.
The First Discourse on Friends and Colleagues
1012. "Those, monks, for whom you would have compassion, and who would think it worth hearing - whether friends or colleagues or relatives or blood-relations - they, monks, should be encouraged, settled, and established in the four factors of stream-entry. In which four? They should be encouraged, settled, and established in unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. They should be encouraged, settled, and established in morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Those, monks, for whom you would have compassion, and who would think it worth hearing - whether friends or colleagues or relatives or blood-relations - they, monks, should be encouraged, settled, and established in these four factors of stream-entry." The sixth.
7.
The Second Discourse on Friends and Colleagues
1013. "Those, monks, for whom you would have compassion, and who would think it worth hearing - whether friends or colleagues or relatives or blood-relations - they, monks, should be encouraged, settled, and established in the four factors of stream-entry. In which four? They should be encouraged, settled, and established in unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.'
"There might be, monks, alteration of the four primary elements - the solid element, the liquid element, the heat element, the air element - but there would not be alteration for a noble disciple endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha. Herein this is the alteration - that indeed a noble disciple endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha would be reborn in hell or the animal realm or the sphere of ghosts - this is impossible. Towards the Teaching... etc. towards the Community, etc. They should be encouraged, settled, and established in morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. There might be, monks, alteration of the four primary elements - the solid element, the liquid element, the heat element, the air element - but there would not be alteration for a noble disciple endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones. Herein this is the alteration - that indeed a noble disciple endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones would be reborn in hell or the animal realm or the sphere of ghosts - this is impossible. Those, monks, for whom you would have compassion, and who would think it worth hearing - whether friends or colleagues or relatives or blood-relations - they, monks, should be encouraged, settled, and established in these four factors of stream-entry." The seventh.
8.
The First Discourse on a Journey in Heaven
1014. At Sāvatthī. Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from Jeta's Grove, appeared among the gods of the Thirty-three. Then several deities belonging to the Thirty-three approached the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna; having approached, they paid respect to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and stood to one side. To those deities standing to one side, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this -
"Good indeed, friends, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Because of being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha, friends, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, are reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. Good indeed, friends, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc. Good indeed, friends, is being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Because of being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, friends, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, are reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world."
"Good indeed, dear Moggallāna, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Because of being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha, dear Moggallāna, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, are reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. Good indeed, dear Moggallāna, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc. is being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Because of being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, dear Moggallāna, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, are reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world." The eighth.
9.
The Second Discourse on a Journey in Heaven
1015. At Sāvatthī. Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from Jeta's Grove, appeared among the gods of the Thirty-three. Then several deities belonging to the Thirty-three approached the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna; having approached, they paid respect to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and stood to one side. To those deities standing to one side, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this -
"Good indeed, friends, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Because of being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha, friends, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, have arisen in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. Good indeed, friends, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc. is being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Because of being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, friends, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, have arisen in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world."
"Good indeed, dear Moggallāna, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Because of being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha, dear Moggallāna, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, have arisen in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. Good indeed, dear Moggallāna, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc. is being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Because of being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, dear Moggallāna, some beings here, upon the body's collapse at death, have arisen in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world." The ninth.
10.
The Third Discourse on a Journey in Heaven
1016. Then the Blessed One - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from Jeta's Grove, appeared among the gods of the Thirty-three. Then several deities belonging to the Thirty-three approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side. To those deities standing to one side, the Blessed One said this -
"Good indeed, friends, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Because of being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha, friends, some beings here are stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. Good indeed, friends, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc. is being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Because of being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, friends, some beings here are stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment."
"Good indeed, Sir, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Because of being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha, Sir, this generation are stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment. Good indeed, Sir, is being endowed with unwavering confidence in the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc. is being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. Because of being endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, Sir, this generation are stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The tenth.
The Chapter on the King's Monastery is the second.
Its summary:
Friends and Colleagues, two spoken, and three on the Journey to the Gods.