The Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya XI.3
Dhajagga Sutta
The Top of the Standard
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was
staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's
monastery. There he addressed the monks: "Monks!"
"Yes, lord!" the monks responded.
The Blessed One said: "Once, monks, the devas
& asuras were arrayed for battle. Then Sakka, lord
of the devas, addressed the devas of the Thirty-three: 'If, dear sirs,
when the devas are engaged in battle, there should arise fear, terror, or
horripilation, then on that occasion you should look up at the top of my
standard. For when you look up at the top of my standard, any fear,
terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"'If you don't look up at the top of my standard,
then you should look up at the top of the standard of Pajapati
the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Pajapati
the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be
abandoned.
"'If you don't look up at the top of the standard
of Pajapati the deva-king, then you should look up at the top of the
standard of Varuna the deva-king. For when you look
up at the top of the standard of Varuna the deva-king, any fear, terror,
or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"'If you don't look up at the top of the standard
of Varuna the deva-king, then you should look up at the top of the
standard of Isana the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the
standard of Isana the deva-king, any fear, terror, or
horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"Monks, in those who look up at the top of the
standard of Sakka, lord of the devas; in those who look up at the top of
the standard of Pajapati the deva-king; in those who look up at the top of
the standard of Varuna, the deva-king; or in those who look up at the top
of the standard of Isana, the deva-king, any fear, terror, or
horripilation they may have might be abandoned, or it might not. Why is
that? Because Sakka, lord of the devas, is not free of passion, free of
aversion, or free of delusion. He can be frightened, terrorized, cowardly,
quick to flee.
"But, monks, I tell you
this: If, when you have gone to the wilderness, to the foot of a tree, or
to an empty dwelling, there should arise fear, terror, or horripilation,
then on that occasion you should recollect me thus: 'Indeed, the Blessed
One is worthy & rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge &
conduct, well-gone, knower of the cosmos, unexcelled trainer of those who
can be tamed, teacher of devas and human beings, awakened, blessed.' For
when you recollect me, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may
have will be abandoned.
"If you don't recollect me,
then you should recollect the Dhamma thus: 'The Dhamma is well expounded
by the Blessed One, to be seen here & now, timeless, inviting one to
come & see, pertinent, to be seen by the wise for themselves.' For
when you recollect the Dhamma, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation
you may have will be abandoned.
"If you cannot recollect the
Dhamma, then you should recollect the Sangha thus: 'The Sangha of the
Blessed One's disciples who have practiced well, practiced
straightforwardly, practice methodically, practiced masterfully, i. e.,
the four pairs, the eight-types [of Noble Ones]: that is the Sangha of the
Blessed One's disciples -- worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy
of offerings, worthy of respect, the unexcelled field of merit for the
world.' For when you recollect the Sangha, monks, any fear, terror, or
horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"Why is that? Because the Tathagata, worthy &
rightly self-awakened, is free of passion, free of aversion, free of
delusion. He is fearless, cannot be terrorized, bold, not quick to
flee."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this,
the One Well-gone, the Teacher, further said this:
In wilderness, monks,
at the foot of a tree,
or in an empty dwelling,
recollect the Buddha:
You will have no fear.
If you don't recall the Buddha --
best in the world,
the bull of men --
then recollect the Dhamma,
leading outward,
well expounded.
If you don't recall the Dhamma --
leading outward,
well expounded --
then recollect the Sangha,
the field of merit
unexcelled.
For those who have thus recalled
the Buddha,
Dhamma,
& Sangha, monks,
there will be
no terror,
horripilation,
or fear.
---o0o---
[
Back
to
Samyutta Nikaya
contents]
[Next]
---o0o---
| The Sutta Pitaka |
The Vinaya Pitaka
|
the Abhidhamma Pitaka
|
---o0o---
Computer layout:
Nhi Tuong
Update : 01-05-2002
