Dīgha Nikāya
The Longs Basket
Sutta 1
Brahmā-Jāla Suttantaṃ
BrahmāNet Spell
Partly translated from the Pāḷi
by Michael M. Olds,
partly 'adapted/edited' from
the Rhys Davids' translation
On Higher Dhamma III
[74][pts][bodh] "There are shaman and Brahmāns, Beggars, who speculate about the future, whose speculations are about the future, and who on forty-four grounds put forward various assertions regarding it.
What forty-four grounds?
Believers in Conscious Existence after Death
[75][pts][bodh] There are, Beggars, some shaman and Brahmāns who are believers in a conscious existence after death, and who, on sixteen grounds, state that the self is conscious after death.
What sixteen grounds?
They say:
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has material shape.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has no material shape.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and both has and has not got material shape.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and neither has nor has not got material shape.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has an end.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has no end.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and both has an end and has no end.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and neither has an end nor has no end.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has one mode of perception.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has diverse modes of perception.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has limited perception.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and has unbounded perception.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and is primarily happy.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and is primarily in pain.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and is both happy and in pain.'
'The self has perception after death, is whole and is neither happy nor in pain.'
[76][pts][bodh] These, beggars, are the shaman and Brahmāns who are believers in a conscious existence after death, and who, on sixteen grounds state that the self is conscious after death. Whatever shaman or Brahmān, Beggars, are believers in a conscious existence after death, are such in one of these sixteen ways and no other.
[77][pts][bodh] But of these, Beggars, the Tathāgata knows that arriving at such views, holding such views, believing such views, trusting such views will have such and such a consequence in terms of rebirth in the hereafter. This and much more the Tathāgata is able to see, for he knows as it really is the coming to be and the passing away of sense experience, the satisfaction of sense experience and the way of escape from sense experience. And because he does not cling to what he sees he is objectively detached and he experiences for himself the peace of utter freedom.
These are advanced things, Beggars, matters that are deep, difficult to see, difficult to grasp, subtle, leading one who follows to tranquility and the sublime; things not to be arrived at by mere logic and reasoning, comprehensible only by the wise. These, Beggars are the things the Tathāgata teaches, having seen them for himself. These are the things which should be spoken of by one when he speaks in praise of the Tathāgata.
Believers in an Unconscious Existence after Death
[78][pts][bodh] [3.1] There are, Beggars, some shaman and Brahmāns who are believers in an unconscious existence after death, and who, on eight grounds, state that the Self is not conscious after death.
What eight grounds?
The self has no perception after death, is whole and has material shape.
The self has no perception after death, is whole and has no material shape.
The self has no perception after death, is whole and both has and has not got material shape.
The self, has no perception after death, is whole and neither has nor has not got material shape.
The self has no perception after death, is whole and has an end.
The self has no perception after death, is whole and has no end.
The self has no perception after death, is whole and both has an end and has no end.
The self has no perception after Death, is whole and neither has an end nor has no end.
[80][pts][bodh] These, beggars, are the shaman and Brahmāns who are believers in an unconscious existence after death, and who, on eight grounds state that the Self is unconscious after death. Whatever shaman or Brahmān, Beggars, are believers in an unconscious existence after death, are such in one of these eight ways and no other.
[81][pts][bodh] But of these, Beggars, the Tathāgata knows that arriving at such views, holding such views, believing such views, trusting such views will have such and such a consequence in terms of rebirth in the hereafter. This and much more the Tathāgata is able to see, for he knows as it really is the coming to be and the passing away of sense experience, the satisfaction of sense experience and the way of escape from sense experience. And because he does not cling to what he sees he is objectively detached and he experiences for himself the peace of utter freedom.
These are advanced things, Beggars, matters that are deep, difficult to see, difficult to grasp, subtle, leading one who follows to tranquility and the sublime; things not to be arrived at by mere logic and reasoning, comprehensible only by the wise. These, Beggars are the things the Tathāgata teaches, having seen them for himself. These are the things which should be spoken of by one when he speaks in praise of the Tathāgata.
Believers in an Existence after Death that is Neither Conscious nor Unconscious
[82][pts][bodh] There are, Beggars, some shaman and Brahmāns who are believers in an existence after death that is neither conscious nor unconscious and who, on eight grounds, state that the self is neither conscious nor unconscious after death.
What eight grounds?
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and has material shape.'
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and has no material shape.'
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and both has and has not got material shape.'
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and neither has nor has not got material shape.'
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and has an end.'
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and has no end.'
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and both has an end and has no end.'
'The self neither has nor has not got perception after death, is whole and neither has an end nor has no end.'
[84][pts][bodh] These, beggars, are the shaman and Brahmāns who are believers in an existence after death that is neither conscious nor unconscious, and who, on eight grounds state that the self is neither conscious nor unconscious after death. Whatever shaman or Brahmān, Beggars, are Believers in an existence after death which is neither conscious nor unconscious, are such in one of these eight ways and no other.
[85][pts][bodh] But of these, Beggars, the Tathāgata knows that arriving at such views, holding such views, believing such views, trusting such views will have such and such a consequence in terms of rebirth in the hereafter. This and much more the Tathāgata is able to see, for he knows as it really is the coming to be and the passing away of sense experience, the satisfaction of sense experience and the way of escape from sense experience. And because he does not cling to what he sees he is objectively detached and he experiences for himself the peace of utter freedom.
These are advanced things, Beggars, matters that are deep, difficult to see, difficult to grasp, subtle, leading one who follows to tranquility and the sublime; things not to be arrived at by mere logic and reasoning, comprehensible only by the wise. These, Beggars are the things the Tathāgata teaches, having seen them for himself. These are the things which should be spoken of by one when he speaks in praise of the Tathāgata.
[86][pts][bodh] There are, Beggars, shaman and Brahmāns who are Annihilationists, who in seven ways maintain the annihilation, the destruction, the cessation of a living being.
What seven?
[87][pts][bodh] In the case of the first case, Beggars, some shaman or Brahmān holds the view:
'This self is material of the four great elements and comes from a mother and father; at the break up and destruction of the body at death it is completely annihilated.'
This is the first way.
[89][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self is such as this, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, completely annihilated. There is another self, of godlike material, living in pleasure, feeding on material food3. Although this self you neither know nor see, I know it and see it. This self at the break up and destruction of the body at death comes to be completely annihilated.'
This is the second way.
[89][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self is such as this, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, completely annihilated. There is another self, of godlike material, mind-made, complete in every detail and faculty. Although this self you neither know nor see, I know it and see it. This self, at the break up and destruction of the body at death comes to be completely annihilated.'
This is the third way.
[90][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self is such as this, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, completely annihilated. There is another self, which having passed past all perception of materiality, by the ending of perception of limit,[4] by the settling down of perception of diversity, thinking 'Space is endless!", arises in the Sphere of Space. This self, at the break up and destruction of the body at death comes to be completely annihilated.'
This is the fourth way.
[91][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self is such as this, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, completely annihilated. There is another self, which having passed past the Sphere of Space, thinking 'Consciousness is endless!', arises in the Sphere of Consciousness. This self, at the break up and destruction of the body at death comes to be completely annihilated.'
This is the fifth way.
[92][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self is such as this, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, completely annihilated. There is another self, which having passed past the Sphere of Consciousness, thinking 'There is No Thing There!' arises in the Sphere of No Thing to be Had There. This self, at the break up and destruction of the body at death comes to be completely annihilated.'
This is the sixth way.
[93][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self is such as this, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, completely annihilated. There is another self, which having passed past the Sphere of No Thing to be Had There, thinking 'This is for real, this is very high' arises in the Sphere of Neither-Perceiving-Nor-Non-Perception. This self, at the break up and destruction of the body at death comes to be completely annihilated.'
This is the seventh way.
[94][pts][bodh] These are the shaman and Brahmāns, Beggars, who are Annihilationists, who in seven ways maintain the annihilation, the destruction, the cessation of a living being. Whatever shaman or Brahmān, Beggars, are believers in the annihilation of the self after death, are such in one of these seven ways and no other.
[95][pts][bodh] But of these, Beggars, the Tathāgata knows that arriving at such views, holding such views, believing such views, trusting such views will have such and such a consequence in terms of rebirth in the hereafter. This and much more the Tathāgata is able to see, for he knows as it really is the coming to be and the passing away of sense experience, the satisfaction of sense experience and the way of escape from sense experience. And because he does not cling to what he sees he is objectively detached and he experiences for himself the peace of utter freedom.
These are advanced things, Beggars, matters that are deep, difficult to see, difficult to grasp, subtle, leading one who follows to tranquility and the sublime; things not to be arrived at by mere logic and reasoning, comprehensible only by the wise. These, Beggars are the things the Tathāgata teaches, having seen them for himself. These are the things which should be spoken of by one when he speaks in praise of the Tathāgata.
[96][pts][bodh] There are, Beggars, shaman and Brahmāns who hold that Nibbāna is to be had here amidst visible things, who in five ways maintain that Nibbāna is to be had by living beings here amidst visible things.
What five?
[97][pts][bodh] Here some shaman or Brahmān holds the view:
'The self is in the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things when it is fully indulging the five senses with which it is endowed.'
This is the first.
[98][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self enjoys Nibbāna here amidst visible things, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, enjoying the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.
How come?
Because sense pleasures are impermanent, subject to change and the upshot of that is pain, grief and lamentation, misery and upset. But when this self apart from pleasure-seeking and unskillful things, in full enjoyment of the sense of ease resulting from solitude, with thinking and reflection, arrives at and stays in the first burning, then the self is in the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.'
This is the second.
[99][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self enjoys Nibbāna here amidst visible things, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, enjoying the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.
How come?
Because the thinking and reflection associated with this state is considered excessive. But when this self has got rid of the thinking and reflection associated with this state, in full enjoyment of the sense of ease and enthusiasm resulting from getting high apart from thinking and reflection, with the mind subjectively tranquilized and concentrated, arrives at and stays in the Second Burning, then The self is in the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.'
This is the third.
[100][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the Self enjoys Nibbāna here amidst visible things, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, enjoying the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.
How come?
Because the mind is excited by enthusiasm associated with this state and this is considered excessive. But when this self has got rid of the excitement of enthusiasm, lives objectively detached, alert, and experiencing for himself that pleasant ease described by the Aristocrats as 'detached in mind, he lives at ease", arrives at and stays in the third burning, then the self is in the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.'
This is the fourth.
[101][pts][bodh] Another replies to this:
'This far, the self enjoys Nibbāna here amidst visible things, this I do not deny; however the self is not yet, at this point, enjoying the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.
How come?
Because the mind's obsession with ease is considered excessive. But when this self has let go of both pain and pleasure; has let mental ease and mental pain subside, and while alert and experiencing the state of utterly purified detachment enters on and stays in the fourth burning, then the self is in the highest Nibbāna here amidst visible things.'
This is the fifth.
[102][pts][bodh] These are the shaman and Brahmāns, Beggars, who hold that Nibbāna is to be had here amidst visible things, who in five ways maintain that Nibbāna is to be had by living beings here amidst visible things. Whatever shaman or Brahmān, Beggars, hold that Nibbāna is to be had the here amidst visible things, are such in one of these five ways and no other.
[103][pts][bodh] But of these, Beggars, the Tathāgata knows that arriving at such views, holding such views, believing such views, trusting such views will have such and such a consequence in terms of rebirth in the hereafter. This and much more the Tathāgata is able to see, for he knows as it really is the coming to be and the passing away of sense experience, the satisfaction of sense experience and the way of escape from sense experience. And because he does not cling to what he sees he is objectively detached and he experiences for himself the peace of utter freedom.
These are advanced things, Beggars, matters that are deep, difficult to see, difficult to grasp, subtle, leading one who follows to tranquility and the sublime; things not to be arrived at by mere logic and reasoning, comprehensible only by the wise. These, Beggars are the things the Tathāgata teaches, having seen them for himself. These are the things which should be spoken of by one when he speaks in praise of the Tathāgata.
[104][pts][bodh] These are the shaman and Brahmāns, Beggars, who speculate about the future, whose speculations are about the future, and who on forty-four grounds put forward various assertions regarding it. Whatever shaman or Brahmān, Beggars, speculate about the future, whose speculations are about the future, are such in one of these forty-four grounds and no other.
[105][pts][bodh] But of these, Beggars, the Tathāgata knows that arriving at such views, holding such views, believing such views, trusting such views will have such and such a consequence in terms of rebirth in the hereafter. This and much more the Tathāgata is able to see, for he knows as it really is the coming to be and the passing away of sense experience, the satisfaction of sense experience and the way of escape from sense experience. And because he does not cling to what he sees he is objectively detached and he experiences for himself the peace of utter freedom."
[ Next: Conclusion ]
[Notes] [Nidana] [Basic Ethics I] [Basic Ethics II] [On Earning a Living] [On Higher Dhamma] [About the Past] [Eternalists] [Partial Eternalists] [End'n'o-Enders] [Eel-Wrigglers] [Caused-by-Chancers] [About the Future] [Conscious after Death] [Unconscious after Death] [Neither Conscious nor Unconscious] [Annihilationist] [Nibbāna-Now] [Conclusion]
