Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Migāramātā’s Mansion in the Eastern Park. Then Visākhā Migāramātā approached the Blessed One…. The Blessed One then said to her: “Visākhā, possessing four qualities, a woman is heading for victory in the present world and her life in this world succeeds. What four? […]
Possessing Four Qualities
A Severe Illness
Beluvagamaka. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Come, bhikkhus, enter upon the rains wherever you have friends, acquaintances, and intimates in the vicinity of Vesali. I myself will enter upon the rains right here in Beluvagamaka.” “Yes, venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied, and they entered upon the rains wherever they had friends, acquaintances, and intimates in the vicinity […]
The Four Ways of Living Together
Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash On one occasion the Blessed One was traveling along the highway between Madhurā and Verañjā. A number of male and female householders were also traveling along the same highway. Then the Blessed One left the highway and sat down at the foot of a tree. The male and female householders saw the Blessed One […]
Some Fragrances Spread even against the Wind
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, there are these three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it. What three? The fragrance of roots, heartwood, and flowers. These are the three kinds of fragrance that spread only with the wind, not against it. Is there a kind […]
Shopkeeper
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash “Bhikkhus, possessing three factors, a shopkeeper soon attains vast and abundant wealth. What three? Here, a shopkeeper has keen eyes, is responsible, and has benefactors. (1) “And how, bhikkhus, does a shopkeeper have keen eyes? Here, a shopkeeper knows of an item: ‘If this item is bought at such a price and sold at […]
About Sarakāni
At Kapilavatthu. Now at that time Sarakāni the Sakyan had passed away. The Buddha declared that he was a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, bound for awakening. At that, several Sakyans came together complaining, grumbling, and objecting, “It’s incredible, it’s amazing! Who can’t become a stream-enterer these days? For the Buddha even declared Sarakāni to be a stream-enterer after he passed […]
The World Interstices Is Dark; But Not Seeing the Four Noble Truths Is even Worse.
“Bhikkhus, there are world interstices, vacant and abysmal regions of blinding darkness and gloom, where the light of the sun and moon, so powerful and mighty, does not reach.” When this was said, a certain bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: “That darkness, venerable sir, is indeed great; that darkness is indeed very great. But is there, venerable sir, any […]
The Buddha teaches the four factors of stream-entry to Nandaka, the minister of the Licchavis
At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then Nandaka the Licchavi minister went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “Nandaka, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, […]
A Certain Monk died after Having Been Bitten by a Snake
Photo by Miriam Fischer from Pexels On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. Now, at that time in Savatthi a certain monk had died after having been bitten by a snake. Then a large number of monks went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As […]
The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant’s Footprint
Photo by Ronald Langeveld on Unsplash THUS HAVE I HEARD. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. There the venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Friends, bhikkhus.”—“Friend,” they replied. The venerable Sāriputta said this: “Friends, just as the footprint of any living being that walks can be placed within an elephant’s footprint, and so the […]