Dhammanusari

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Venerable Mahakaccana was dwelling at Varana on the bank of the Mud Lake. Then the Brahmin Aramadanda approached the Venerable Mahakaccana and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and asked the Venerable Mahakaccana:

“What is the cause and reason, Master Kaccana, why nobles dispute with nobles, Brahmins with Brahmins, and householders with householders?”

“It is, Brahmin, because of lust for sensual pleasure, because of adherence, bondage, greed, obsession and cleaving to sensual pleasures, that nobles dispute with nobles, Brahmins with Brahmins, and householders with householders”

“But what is the cause and reason, Master Kaccana, why ascetics dispute with ascetics?”

“It is, Brahmin, because of lust for views, because of adherence, bondage, greed, obsession and cleaving to view, that ascetics dispute with ascetics.”

“But is there anyone in the world, Master Kaccana, who has overcome this lust and cleaving to sensual pleasures as well as this lust and cleaving to views?”

“There is, brahmin.”

“And who is that, Master Kaccana?”

“Among the eastern countries there is a city named Savatthi, where there no dwells the Blessed One, the Arahant, and the fully enlightened One. It is he, Brahmin, who has overcome this lust and cleaving to sensual pleasures as well as this lust and cleaving to views.”

When he had spoken, the Brahmin Aramadanda rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, knelt down with his right knee on the ground, and extending his hands in reverential salutation towards the Blessed One, he recited three this inspired utterance:

“Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the fully enlightened One!
Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the fully enlightened One!
Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the fully enlightened One, who has overcome this lust and cleaving to sensual pleasures as well as this lust and cleaving to views.

“Excellent, Master Kaccana! Excellent, Master Kaccana! It is just as if one were to set upright what was overturned, or to reveal what was hidden, or to point out the way to one gone astray, or to hold a lamp in the darkness so that those who have eyes might see forms. Even so has the Dhamma been set forth in various ways by Master Kaccana. I now go for refuge to that Master Gotama, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of monks. Let Master Kaccana accept me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from today until life’s end.”

Numerical Discourses of the Buddha
An anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikāya
Selected and translated from the Pāli by Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi

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