Housing alternatives, modern options (video)

Akimbo, 8/6/23; Editors, Affordable Housing Options Committee, Wisdom Quarterly

It's economical, good feng shui, lots of light, more barrel than box, what's not to like?

They laughed...until they looked inside

(Akimbo) "Home" is where the heart is or where homme arrives at night to be greeted by some warmth and nourishment, a place to reflect, meditate (cultivate), and rest to be able to greet the world the next day.

Keeping up with the Joneses is really more about appearances than substance. It's a thin house.

.

And by treehouse I meant tree house.

What with the prices of ordinary box houses, apartment flats, commune living space, trailer homes, four-wheel campers, vanity vans, and parking spaces at trailer parks, it's time to get creative.

I'm going to build a house made of semi-truck cubes or hob (clay mud mixed with fibrous material), or made of sandbags or bundles of straw/hay covered in cement, red bricks and mortar, a cave with a giant segment of corrugated pipe...

It may not be much, but it's mobile and quiet.

I'll think of something. Real estate will not ruin me. "Property is theft," TSOL quoted someone as saying. It might have been Marx. So I may have to go into the woods and find a tree hollow, a meditation hut, a good treehouse on bamboo stilts. Imagine the possibilities. What about a passenger plane with no engine, a space built into the well-insulated ground, or something that looks like a pile of potatoes?

Housing ideas for creative types

I just need a place to sit -- then sleep -- then sit some more. A good wilderness hut will do.

The view's great, but the steps! It's like my own personal monastery. I can make lots of noise, but the wind is louder: La Noguera, Catalonia, Spain (bbsferrari/iStock/Getty).

Houses are cheap. It's the price of land that makes it expensive. No real estate, no prob.

Now we're talking! Tiny houses built into a nice neighborhood with lots of trees.

Meditation apartments for private practice in a supportive sangha ("spiritual community").

Where will I go when I die?

Ven. Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Dictionary, palikanon.com) edited by Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

Death stands behind the wheel or cyclical-round of samsara.

The "abodes of beings" are called sattāvāsa or nava. In the sutras (e.g., DN 33, AN IX.24) nine abodes are mentioned:

"There are, O meditators, nine abodes of beings, namely:

1. "There are beings who are different in body and different in perception -- such as the human beings, some devas (heavenly space beings), and some beings living in the world of suffering (vinipātika).

2. "There are beings who are different in body but the same in perception, such as the first-born brahmas of the Brahma World (i.e., at the beginning of each new cyclical world-formation that then devolves through the ages until it reforms; see deva II).

3. "There are beings who are the same in body but different in perception, such as the radiant brahmas (ābhassara, see deva II).

4. "There are beings who are the same in body and the same in perception, such as the all-illuminating brahmas (subha-kinha; see deva II).

5. "There are beings without perception or feeling, such as the unconscious/insensate beings (asañña-satta).

6. "There are beings who, through the complete overcoming of perceptions of materiality (rūpa-sañña), the disappearance of perceptions of sense-reaction (patigha-sañña), and non-attention to perceptions of variety by thinking, 'Boundless is space' are reborn in the sphere of boundless space. (See deva III; jhāna 5).

7. "There are beings who, through the complete overcoming of the sphere of boundless space by thinking, 'Boundless is consciousness' are reborn in the sphere of boundless consciousness. (See jhāna 6).

There are uncountable worlds in 31 categories.

8. "There are beings who, through the complete overcoming of the sphere of boundless consciousness by thinking, 'Nothing is there' are reborn in the sphere of nothingness. (See jhāna 7).

• [NOTE: This seems to be a place not yet formed, akin to a construction zone or a desolate place or primordial location yet to be formed; it is not, however, nothing-nothing; it is not nothing at all. It is not nirvana, yet many cling to this wrong view given that sometimes nirvana is described in negative terms as not this and not that. We confirmed with a person able to enter this meditative absorption or jhana as to this place's nature, thinking that it must be just the awareness of anatta, but we were told that it is a real place, a scary and awesome place or void, which sounded to us like a black hole set apart from other things to be perceived. Things were not necessarily emerging from it. It was just there. Anyone is able to develop this and the other levels of absorption to see it for oneself in this very life. There's no need to take account of others' direct experience of it. In fact, all 31 Planes of Existence are verifiable and the countless worlds on each plane, like the many human worlds besides this one.]

9. "There are beings who, through the complete overcoming of the sphere of nothingness, are reborn in the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception (A.IX.24). (See jhāna 8).

According to the Commentary to the Anguttara Nikaya or the "Numerical Discourses of the Buddha," the beings of the "Pure Abodes" (suddhāvāsa) are not mentioned here because they exist only in those world-periods in which buddhas appear. Cf. viññāna-tthiti.

• The "Pure Abodes" are worlds where those who have gained the initial stages of enlightenment/awakening may be reborn to study and practice in order to gain the final stage of full enlightenment. This is where "non-returners" are reborn before gaining arhatship. These worlds are only accessible to the noble ones (ariya).

Rebirth: What are the "Abodes of Beings"?

Ven. Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Dictionary; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

In the sutra texts (e.g., D.33, A.IX.24) nine abodes of beings or satta vasa are mentioned. According to the Buddha: "There are, O meditators, nine abodes of beings, namely:

1. "There are beings who are different in body and different in perception (mind), such as human beings, some celestial beings [akasha devas], and some beings living in the world of suffering (vinipātika).

• [The "human world" is a plane of existence (loka) not limited to earth. It extends in 10,000 directions to many other places in the universe, wherever there are humanoids.]

2. "There are beings who are different in body but equal in perception, such as the first-born brahmas (a kind of deva) of the Brahma-world (i.e., at the beginning of each new world-formation or great aeon, maha kalpa; see Deva II).

3. "There are beings who are equal in body but different in perception, such as the radiant devas (ābhassara, see Deva II).

4. "There are beings who are equal in body and equal in perception, such as the all-illuminating devas (subha-kinha; see Deva II).

5. "There are beings without perception and feeling, such as the unconscious beings (asañña-satta).

6. "There are beings who -- through the complete overcoming of perceptions of matter (rūpa-sañña), the disappearance of perceptions of sense-reaction (patigha-sañña), and non-attention to perceptions of variety -- by thinking 'Boundless is space' are reborn in the Sphere of Boundless Space (see Deva III; Jhāna 5).

7. "There are beings who -- through the complete overcoming of the Sphere of Boundless Space -- by thinking 'Boundless is consciousness' are reborn in the Sphere of Boundless Consciousness (see  Jhāna 6).

8. "There are beings who -- through the complete overcoming of the Sphere of Boundless Consciousness -- by thinking 'Nothing is there' are reborn in the Sphere of Nothingness (see Jhāna 7).

9. "There are beings who -- through the complete overcoming of the Sphere of Nothingness -- are reborn in the Sphere of Neither-Perception-Nor-Non-Perception (see Jhāna 8) (A.IX.24).

 

Commentary

According to the Commentary to this division of the sutra texts, the partially enlightened beings of the "Pure Abodes" (suddhāvāsa) are not mentioned here because they exist only in those world-periods (aeons, kalpas) in which fully enlightened teaching buddhas appear. Compare with viññāna-tthiti. Source

• Write like an Egyptian (Penn.Museum)
• Write like a Babylonian (Penn.Museum)

The Sakya Trichen in Los Angeles (July 28)

SakyaCenterLA.org (L.A.); Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly

 
His Holiness the Sakya Trichen

第41任 薩迦法王

"His Holiness" the Sakya Trichen served as the 41st head of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism until March 2017. In addition to his leadership of the Sakya Order for over 50 years, he is renowned throughout the world for the brilliance and clarity of his teachings and his fluency and precise command of English. More

薩迦法王於1945年出身於西藏高貴的昆式家族，由大成就者拿旺羅卓仁欽仁波切為法王啟蒙導師。薩迦法王所學所修，功德證量無不圓滿，證悟無上密續之般若智慧，以善巧方便開啟人們的智慧、提高判斷力與洞察力，讓我們對於世俗的一切做出無誤的抉擇，就如佛作出的智慧決定一般。對莘莘學子考試、進修攻讀學位也有無上助益。

His Holiness Sakya Trichen Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche 第41任  薩迦法王 Teachings and Initiation in Southern California 南加州福慧之旅

White Umbrella Initiation 

大白傘蓋佛母灌頂

7/28th, 2018  9:30 am-12:00 pm

White Umbrella is known as an emanation of both Avalokiteshvara and of Tara, reflect the combined powers of all the Tathagata Buddhas. Her Empowerment and practice give protection from negative emotions, harms, afflictions, diseases, and obstacles.
 
大白傘蓋佛母是觀世音菩薩及度母的化身。她代表一切諸佛的力量總集。接受灌頂、修持大白傘蓋佛母可消除貪嗔癡、一切傷害、煩惱、疾病、以及障礙。More

Understanding Death & Amitabha Sleeping Yoga

解讀死亡 & 阿彌陀佛部睡眠瑜伽

July 28th, 2018  2:30 pm

Life is impermanent. When there is birth, there will be death. The importance of mindfulness of death is emphasized in many Tibetan Buddhist texts and teachings.

Amitabha Sleeping Yoga helps us overcome destructive emotions and purify negative karma during sleep. It also cultivates lucid dream for us to see the clear light—the nature of the mind, and to see the Buddha of boundless light, Amitabha, at the time of death, so to be reborn in the Pure Land of Sukhavati.
 
生命變化無常。有生則會有死。所以在藏傳佛教諸多教法中，死亡都是一個重要的課題。
 
阿彌陀佛睡眠瑜伽可幫助我們克服煩惱，並在睡眠中淨化惡業。 它還可培養我們在睡眠中依然保持清醒，讓我們看到淨光明，並在死亡時看到無量光佛–阿彌陀佛，並在阿彌陀佛的淨土中重生。

Registration 法會報名 

7/28th  9:30 am-12:00 pm

White Umbrella Initiation
大白傘蓋佛母灌頂 

Register 報名 ($40)

7/28th  2:30pm-5pm

• Understanding Death
  解讀死亡
• Amitabha Sleeping Yoga
  阿彌陀佛部睡眠瑜伽

Register 報名 ($40)

Guide to Enlightenment (Part 1)

Dhr. Seven, Ananda M., Amber Larson (eds.) based Into the Stream: A Study Guide on the First Stage of Awakening by Ven. Thanissaro (Mr. Geoffrey DeGraff), accesstoinsight.org

The marriage of wisdom and compassion

"Sole dominion over the earth, rebirth in heaven, ruling over all worlds, the fruit of stream-entry [the first stage of enlightenment or] excels them all. — (Dhp 178)
 

I: The Way to Stream Entry

The Pali (the world's only exclusively Buddhist language) canon recognizes four basic levels of enlightenment (more divisions are presented in the Path to Freedom, a early version of the Path of Purification by Ven. Buddhaghosa).

The first of these is called stream entry. This gains its name from the fact that a person who has attained this level of realization has entered the "stream" flowing inevitably to nirvana.

How can I be compassionate and wise?

One is guaranteed to achieve full enlightenment within at most seven lifetimes (which may still amount to millions of years given that rebirth in superhuman worlds and the Pure Abodes last much longer than the longest stretch of a human life, which in some "golden" ages can reach 80,000 years).

It is a miraculous attainment because in the interim one will never be reborn in any realm lower than the human plane.

This guide on stream entry (sotapanna-ship) is divided into two parts. The first deals with the practices leading to stream entry and the second with the experience of stream entry and its results.

 

The practices leading to stream entry are encapsulated in four factors:

1. Association with noble people is a factor leading to stream-entry.
2. Listening to the true Dharma is a factor leading to stream-entry.
3. Wise attention is a factor leading to stream-entry
4. Practice in accordance with the Dharma is a factor leading to stream-entry. — (SN 55.5)

These four constituents form the framework for the first part of this guide.

 

The Pali canon's treatment of these four factors touches on questions of interest to all meditators, whether one's practice aims all the way to full enlightenment, a better future life (replete with six wished for things), or simply a better life here and now.

• How can one recognize a trustworthy teacher who knows about the path of practice to enlightenment? How can one tell the true Dharma from counterfeit dharmas?
• What rewards come from listening to the Dharma?
• Which questions should one ask oneself in the course of practice?
• What kind of practice qualifies as being "in accordance with the Dharma"?
• What kind of qualities does one need to develop to benefit most from practice? More

Extraterrestrials: The Great Assembly (sutra)

Ven. Piyadassi Thera (trans.) Mahasamaya Sutra (DN 20), The Book of Protection; edited by Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, CC Liu, Crystal Quintero, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly

Most devas live in space, in the sky (akasha), some on Earth as "fairies" (David Sereda).

The great diversity of "devas" (fairies) as envisioned and represented by fairies by Sir Joseph Noel Paton "The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania" (wiki/Google Art Project)

A Cantina where a cross section of odd space aliens assemble as they fly about (Star Wars).

 
The Great Assembly

Devas love big gatherings!

Thus have I heard: On one occasion the [Buddha] was living in the Great Wood (Maha-Vana) near the city of Kapilavastu [Bamiyan, Afghanistan] in the province of [the Buddha's family] the Sakyans [Scythians] together with a great retinue of monastics, all of them fully enlightened beings (arhats), a great multitude.

• SUMMARY: The Great Assembly Discourse that takes place in the Great Wood a virgin forest near reached from the edge of Kapilavastu (in what is now Afghanistan, where the Buddha grew up) to the Himālaya (a portion of the range called the Hindu Kush) on one side and to the sea on the other (MA.i.298, 449). In this wood was preached the Great Assembly Sutra and the Madhupindika Sutta.

Devas (fairies, godlings, angelic spirits) from 10,000 world-systems frequently assembled for the purpose of seeing the Blessed One and the monastic community (ordained Sangha).
 
Then to four devas from the Pure Abodes (Suddhavasa) of the Brahma World, this thought occurred: "The Blessed One is living in the Great Wood near the city of Kapilavastu [the Buddha's hometown] in the province of the Sakyans with a great retinue of monastics, all of them fully enlightened beings, a great multitude.

• This is an extraordinary back story because it is said that the Pure Abodes are worlds for "nonreturners," reborn in five unique worlds in space or another dimension of some kind. Technically "returning" means rebirth, which is to say one no longer takes rebirth in any lower world. But it is generally believed that while no one but nonreturners and arhats reside in those rarefied worlds, no one leaves. But here these fortunate devas beings elect to leave to visit a buddha and an assembly of fully enlightened disciples (arhats).

Deva goddess (devi), nymph, dryad (Emilie Johnson)

Devas are frequently assembling there for the purpose of seeing the Blessed One and the ordained community. It is well if we were also to repair to the place where the Blessed One is and each of us recite a stanza in his presence."

Then those devas, as quickly as a strong person might stretch out an arm or bend an outstretched arm, vanished from the Pure Abodes and appeared before the Blessed One. They saluted him and stood respectfully to one side. Standing in his presence one of the devas recited this stanza:

1. "There is a great assembly in the forest.

A host of devas [army of angels] has assembled.

We have come to this Dharma-assembly

To see the invincible Sangha [Note 1] ."

 
Then another deva recited this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One:
 

2. "The monastics in this (assembly [2])

Have collected their thoughts

and made their minds upright.

The wise guard their senses

just as a charioteer holds the reins."

More deva than human: Amber Heard

Then another deva recited this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One:

3. "Having cut off the stake,

Having dug up the cross-bar (of lust, hate, and delusion),

Freed of craving, they go their way,

Pure, stainless, with vision clear;

And well tamed, these young arhats

Move about like elephants" [3].

Then another deva recited this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One:
 

4. "They who go for guidance to the Buddha

Shall not go to harmful states of existence

But will drop the human body

And swell the ranks of the devas."

 
The Buddha names the "others"

The Buddha addresses the assembled arhat nuns and monks.

The Blessed One then addressed the assembled monastics:

"Often, disciples, devas from the ten world-systems foregather to see the Tathagata (the Wayfarer, the Buddha) and the monastic community. Devas have assembled before the consummate (arhat), supreme buddhas of the past. Devas will appear before the consummate, supreme buddhas of the future as they assemble now before me.

"I will tell you, disciples, the names of the host of devas; I will reveal the names of the host of devas. Listen, pay attention, and I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," replied the assembled disciples by way of assent. Then the Blessed One said [4]:
 

The Buddha and arhat disicples assembled.

5-6. "In measured speech [5] I will give utterance. The terrestrial (earth-dwelling) devas remain in their realm. And those bent on meditation frequently visit rocky clefts. Well composed they (the arhats) live like solitary lions overcoming the fear that causes hair to stand on end, with immaculate minds, pure, serene, and freed of defilements [of which there are various lists]."

7. Knowing that there were in the forest, near the city of Kapilavastu (Pali Kapilavatthu), a great multitude of disciples, delighted in the word of the Buddha, the Master thereupon addressed them:
 
8. "Disciples, hosts of devas have assembled. Do know them well." And they (the disciples) hearing the word (the dispensation or sasanam) of the Buddha, strove ardently (to know-and-see them).
 
9. There arose in them knowledge of [psychically] perceiving the non-humans. Some saw 100, some 1,000 non-humans (devas and brahmas), and others 70,000 non-humans.
 
10. Some saw one 100,000 non-humans; others saw countless numbers, every quarter being filled with them.

Does the Galactic Federation have Nazi-like "Stormtroopers" to fight good rebels?

  
11. Thereupon the [All] Seeing One (the Buddha) knowing all things through super-knowledge [superhuman faculty developed to the highest degree], addressed the disciples [as they] delighted in the word of the Buddha:
 
12. "Disciples, host of devas have assembled. I will announce them to you in words and in due order. Know them.
 
13. "Seven-thousand terrestrial yakkhas [6] of Kapilavastu possessed of  supernormal powers (iddhi), radiant, comely, and followed by a retinue of attendants [7], have come rejoicing to the forest to see [8] the assembly of (arhat) disciples.

A celestial yakha (yaksha, "ogre" or "demon"), Alavaka, is tamed by the Buddha.

   
14. "Six-thousand yakkhas from the Himalayan mountains, diverse in hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and followed by a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to this forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
15. "Three thousand yakkhas from Sata's Mountain (Satagira), diverse in hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and followed by a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
16. "Thus 16,000 yakkhas, diverse in hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and followed by a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
17. "Five-hundred yakkhas from Vessamitta's Mountain, diverse in hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and followed by a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
18. "Kumbhira of Rajagala town, having his dwelling on Vepulla's Mountain, with more than a 100,000 yakkhas in his train, has come to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
The "angels" all around

Earth has a diversity of beings in form and thinking unlike most conformist worlds (Stories).

 

Angelic deva (Sophie Anderson)

19-20. "Dhatarattha, King of the East, overseer of the Eastern Quarter [of Space is a regent answering to Sakka, King of the Gods/Devas, with each of these Four Great Kings overseeing a class of celestial beings], and Chief of the Gandhabbas [attendant-angels, heavenly musicians, lowly celestials, beautiful spirits], followed by a retinue of attendants, and with his many mighty offspring-of-gods (devaputtas, lit. "sons of gods," i.e., living beings now reborn among devas), Inda their names, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue, has come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.

• The Four Great Kings: Dhatarattha, Virulha, Virupakkha, Kuvera

"Ballsy" pot-bellied beings

21-22. "Virulha, King of the South, overseer of the Southern Quarter [of Space], and Chief of the Kumbhandas [duendes, leprechauns, pot-bellied munchkin beings, gnomes, trolls, dwarfs], followed by a retinue of attendants, and with his many mighty offspring [those reborn as devas in his realm of devas], Inda their names, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, has come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.

Real life literal kumbanda, "goblin," or duende caught red handed in Africa after stirring up trouble for locals (thewatchtowers.com via sott.net).

 
23-24. "Virupakkha, King of the West, overseer of the Western Quarter, and Chief of the Nagas [great creatures, in some cases reptilians, dragons, serpents], followed by a retinue of attendants, and with his many mighty offspring, Inda their names, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, has come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
25-26. "Kuvera, King of the North, overseer of the Northern Quarter, and Chief of the Yakkhas [space ogres, Chewbacca-style, Almas, Big Foot, Sasquatch, demons, rakshasas, a broad class of nature spirits], followed by a retinue of attendants, and with his many mighty offspring, Inda their names, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, has come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.

Southeast Asia bas relief: Sakka King of the Devas stirs the milky galaxy, vies with titans

   
27-28. "Dhatarattha over the East, to the South Virulhaka, Westward Virupakkha, Kuvera over the North -- these Four Great Kings stood illuminating the four quarters of the forest in the vicinity of Kapilavastu.
 
29. "With them came their crafty, deceitful, cunning slaves (servants): enticing Kutendu, Vetendu, Vitucca, and Vituda.
 

The deva hosts, aliens and UFOs represented in Catholicism as a "Legion of Mary"

 

30. "And (also the slaves/servants) Candana, Kamasettha, Kinnughandu, and Nighandu. There also came Panada and Opamanna and Matali, the Charioteer of the Devas [or at least of Sakka, King of the Devas].
 
31. "Citta and Sena, the gandhabbas, Nala (Kara), Janesabha (Janavasabha) and Pañcasikha, the devas, Timbaru, the gandhabba, and Suriyavaccasa (the daughter of Timbaru) also came.
 
32. "Along with these (gandhabba) kings, other gandhabba kings too, have come rejoicing with each other to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
33. "Then came the (divine) nagas of the (Lake Nabhasa), those of the naga realm Visali together with the nagas named Tacchaka. There also came nagas of Kambala and Assatara and Payaga accompanied by their relatives.
 

I'm modeled after the 14th Dalai Lama. - And we're modeled after Nazi Stormtroopers and all-white US police departments who train to deal with civilians in the US Imperial Military.

  
34. "Nagas from Yamuna, and those of the race of Dhatarattha came with their retinue of attendants, and Eravana, the great naga too, came to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 

Ancient avians hunt for serpents by the sea.

35. "Those avians (garudas, suparnas, harpies, hybrid human-birds) who carry away nagas (serpents) by force, endowed with divine power, and twice born [9], with clear eyes (keen of sight), have flown into the middle of the forest from the sky -- Citra and Supanna are their names.
 
36. "At that time the naga king (with other nagas) were free from fear. The Buddha vouchsafed his protection to the dragons (nagas) from the harpies (suppana). Entreating one another with gentle words, the nagas and suppanas sought guidance from the Buddha.
 

This world is so amazing with so many kinds of beings and visitors that no one believes our history, labeling it "mythology" and dismissing it as nonsense (Evs in Nz/flickr.com).

.

Asuras or titans once lived in Sakka's world.

37. "The asuras (titans, fallen devas cast out of space onto Earth) dwelling in the ocean were defeated by Vajirahattha (Sakka, King of the Devas). They are relatives [in laws] of Vasavassa (Sakka) [10] possessed of supernormal power and are followed by a retinue of attendants.
 
38. "The terrible Kalakanjas, the Danaveghasas, Vepacitti, Sucitti, and Paharada -- all asuras have also come with Namuci (the Vasavatti Mara, the 'Evil One,' a kind of Cupid).

The titans (asuras) still live where this sutra took place, shown here as the founder of Zoroastrianism and Central Asian giants with a tiny ~6 foot Westerner for comparison (Zartosht/wiki; see more real life examples from Steve Quayle).

 
39. "Hundreds of the offspring of Bali, all of them named after Veroca (their uncle Rahu), with an armed host of warriors, approached Rahu (Asurendra, a lord of asuras), and said: 'Lord, it is time to go to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.'
 
40. "The devas Apo and Pathavi, Tejo, and Vayo [11] have also come to the forest and the devas Varuna, Varuna, and Soma with Yasa.
 
41-42. "There also came the devas Metta-kayika and Karunakayika [12] followed by their attendants. These ten groups of devas of diverse hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
43. "The devas Venhu, Sahali, Asama, the two Yama(ka), and those who attend on the Moon god (deva) came preceded by him.
 

Catholic Sakka: St. Michael, Archangel

44. "Those devas attending on the Sun god (deva) too, came preceded by him. Those devas attending the planets came preceded by them. The devas of the rain clouds [who can control the weather] also came.
 
45. "Also came Sakka, the Chief of Devas, who is also called Vasava and Purindada. Also those ten groups of devas of diverse hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
47. "Then too, came the deva Sahabhu, shining like a brilliant flame, the devas Aritthaka, Roja, and Ummapupphanibha.
 
48-49. "There came also the devas Varuna Sahadhamma, Accuta and Anojaka, Suleyya, Rucira, and Vasavanesi. All those ten groups of devas of diverse hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 

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50. "The devas Samana, Mahasamana, Manusa, Manusuttama, Khiddapadusika, and Manopadusika all have come.
 
51. "Then came the devas Hari, those of Lohita, Paraga, and Maha-Paraga with their retinue of attendants.
 
52. "All those ten groups of devas of diverse hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
53. "There also came the devas Sukha, Karumha, Aruna with Veghanasa. The deva Odatagayha, Pamokkha, and Vicakkhana also came.
 

Yakkhas are titans, giants (flickr)

54. "Sadamatta, Haragaja, mighty Missaka and Pajjuna, who causes rain to pour in every direction, came thundering.
 
55. "All these ten groups of devas of diverse hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.
 
56. "The devas Khemiya, Tusita, Yama, the mighty Katthaka, Lambhitaka, Lamasettha, Joti, and Asava also came.
 
57-58. "There also came the devas Nimmanarati, and Paranimmita (Vasavatthi). All these ten groups of devas of diverse hue, possessed of supernormal power, radiant, comely, and with a retinue of attendants, have come rejoicing to the forest to see the assembly of disciples.

Mary as "Queen of Heaven" like Avalokitesvara, Kwan Yin, and European Pagan idols before

 
59. "These 60 (six of ten groups, indicated in the order of Apo deva, etc.) devas of diverse hue, according to their name and class, have come with others (similar in name and class).
 
60. (These devas came saying:) "'Let us see (the Sangha, the fully enlightened disciples), who have outlived birth, who have removed the stakes (of lust, hate, and delusion), who have crossed the four currents or streams (of sense-pleasures, becoming, wrong views, and ignorance) [13], free from taints (asavas). (Let us also see the Buddha) who has crossed the streams, who is called naga (in the sense of one who does not harm) [14], and shines like the unclouded moon.'
 
61. "The brahmas Subrahma and Paramatta, came (with other brahmas) who are possessed of supernormal power, and offspring (disciples of the Buddha). The brahmas Sanankumara and Tissa also came to the forest (to see the assembly of disciples).
 

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62-63. "There is born a Great Brahma (a Maha Brahma for every brahma world) excelling other brahmas, mighty in power, with a formidable stature, and of great glory. Among them, ten chief brahmas, lords over their retinues have come, and in the midst of them with all his attendants came brahma Harita.
 
64. "When all of the devas headed by Inda (Sakka) and all of the brahmas headed by Haritta had come, there came the army of Mara. Lo! The folly of Mara, the Murky One (Kanha) [15].
 

Mara is more Cupid than Satan, greedy not angry

65. "'Come on, seize them, bind them, let them all be bound by lust, surrounded on every side, suffer not anybody to escape' (thus did Vasavatti Mara give order).
 
66-67. "Mara, striking the Earth with his palm and thereby producing a dreadful sound as when a storm cloud thunders and causes lightning during rainy season, sent his black army into the midst of the devas. Nevertheless, unable to bring the devas under his sway, he filled with anger. He recoiled.
 
68. "Then the All Seeing One (the Buddha), knowing perfectly well what had transpired, addressed his disciples who take delight in the word of the Buddha.
 
69. "Disciples, the army of Mara have come (and gone). Know them (beware of them).' And they (non-enlightened) hearing the word of the Buddha, strove (to gain enlightenment and liberation) from their defilements. (From the passion-free arhats) the army of Mara has departed; even so much as a hair in them (arhats) was not affected.
 
70. "All of those disciples are victors in the war of passions; they are freed from fear, glorious, and renowned among humankind. They live rejoicing with noble (arya) disciples." (Praising thus Mara departed).

NOTES 

• 1. Aparajita, because they are arahants, the Consummate Ones, who have overcome all defilements. 
• 2. Tatra in the text means "there," but the preceding stanza has imam "this (assembly)," and the devas are already in the presence of the Blessed One; so the rendering "in this." 
• 3. The word naga admits of dual meaning. It can mean a very large creature, such as an elephant or python, or it can mean an arhat (a fully enlightened being). An elephant is physically steadfast, whereas an arhat can be referred to as one who is mentally steadfast. Faultless: does no intentional harm. Na hi agum karoti so vide Theragatha, No. 692, cf. Sutta-Nipata, Stanza 522. 
• 4. In most of the protective chant (paritta) books the numbering of stanzas is not consecutive. But I have adopted a consecutive method. 
• 5. Akkhara pada niyamitam vacanam (Commentary) 
• 6. Yakkha here used in the sense of devas. 
• 7. Parivara sampanna (Commentary). 
• 8. Bhikkhu das anatthaya agata, (Commentary). This meaning is clear from the words dakkhitaya ("to see") Stanza No.1, dakkhema ("shall see") No. 60. 
• 9. Twice-born is a reference to birds since they first come out as an egg, which when hatched is born again as a complete bird. 
• 10. Vajirahattha and Vasavassa are other names for Sakka, the Chief of Devas. 
• 11. The devas born in brahma-world by practicing the kasina, disk devices used for concentration, namely: the water (apo) disk (kasina), the earth (pathavi) disk, the fire (tejo) disk, and the air (vayo) disk. 
• 12. The devas who have developed mental absorption (jhana) by practicing loving-kindness and compassion (metta and karuna, two of the Four Sublime States (Brahma-viharas). 
• 13. Four floods or inundations: kama-ogha, bhava-ogha, ditthi-ogha, avijja-ogha (flood of sensuality, flood of becoming, flood of views, flood of ignorance).
• 14. See Note 3. 
• 15. Kanha is another a name for Mara.

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