Samaya Sutta
Nala Vagga, Devata Samyutta
Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

7. Samaya Sutta
Dhamma Assembly Discourse

        37. Thus have I heard:

        At one time the Bhagava, was residing in the Mahavana Wood near Kapilavatthu, in the country of the Sakyans, together with many bhikkhus numbering five hundred, all of whom were arahats. Then most of the devas and brahmas¹ belonging to ten universes (lokadhatus), each comprising a thousand world-systems (cakkavalas), assembled in the Mahavana Wood to pay homage to the Bhagava and the community of bhikkhus. It then occurred to four brahmas of the Pure Brahma Worlds²: "The Bhagava is residing in the Mahavana Wood near Kapilavatthu, in the country of the Sakyans, together with many bhikkhus numbering five hundred all of whom were arahats. Most of the devas and brahmas belonging to ten universes (lokadhatus), each comprising a thousand world-systems (cakkavalas), have assembled in the Mahavana Wood to pay homage to the Bhagava and the community of bhikkhus. It would be well if we were to go there and if each of us were to recite a verse before the Bhagava."

        Then, the four brahmas vanished from amongst the Pure Brahmas and made their appearance before the Bhagava in the instant it might take a strong man to stretch out his flexed arm or bend his stretched arm. Then having paid homage to the Bhagava they stood at a suitable place from where one of them recited this verse before the Bhagava.

        "It is a great gathering in this large wood at which the host of devas and brahmas have come and assembled.

        We too have come to join this dhamma assembly, pay homage to the Samgha, who are unconquerable (by defilements)." Then another brahma recited this verse before the Bhagava:

        "Here at this assembly, the bhikkhus have composed their mind and made it upright. Like a charioteer holding the reins, do the wise (bhikkhus) keep their faculties under control."

        Then another brahma recited this verse before the Bhagava:

        "Having been well-instructed by the All-Seeing Bhagava, those youthful bhikkhus are devoid of Craving, pure and taint-free. They go their way freely, having removed the piercing spikes and cross-bars (of attachment, hatred and bewilderment), and have pulled out the gate-post (of attachment, hatred and bewilderment)."

        Then another bhrahma recited this verse before the Bhagava:

        "Those that take refuge in the Buddha will not fall to the miserable states. (Rather,) on leaving behind their mortal frames they're going to fill the deva realms."

End of the Samaya Sutta,

the seventh in this vagga.

        1. most of the devas and brahmas: The term devata in Pali text includes both devas and brahmas.

        With the exception of the brahmas of the realm of Non-conscious ness, brahmas of the Non-material realms and those brahmas who were abiding in their attainments of concentration, all devas and brahmas were present there. Thus it was a rare occasion, an all-out assembly of celestial beings.

        2. The Pure Brahma worlds: the five planes of the Pure Brahmas, so called because they are the abode of the pure ones who are either anagamis or arahats.

Home Page

Buddha

Dhamma

Sangha

The Way to Nibbana

New Pages

Dhamma Journal

Buddhism in Burma

Buddhism Discussion Forum

Q & A

Dhamma in Burmese

Becoming a Buddhist

Buddhist Sites

Glossary

References

Guestbook