Introduction
Of the 34 discourses (sutras) that make up the "Collection of Long Discourses" (DN: Digha Nikaya), the 16th is the longest. It preserves the principal feature of a traditional Buddhist discourse, insofar as it is a rehearsal of events as they have been witnessed.
Then the Venerable Ananda approached the Buddha, greeted him respectfully, sat down at one side, and said:
The Buddha explains each monastic and layperson by name, noting their specific attainment [in terms of the four degrees of enlightenment].
- Some became fully-enlightened... Ananda, so it is with:
- More than fifty laypeople in Nadika who became non-returners.
- More than ninety laypeople who have passed away in Nadika, Ananda, through the destruction of the three fetters, and the lessening of lust, hatred, and delusion, have become once-returners and are bound to make an end of suffering after having returned but once more to this world.
- More than five hundred laypeople who have passed away in Nadika, Ananda, through the complete destruction of the three fetters have become stream-enterers, and are safe from falling into the states of misery, assured, and bound for enlightenment.
Therefore, Ananda, I will give you the teaching called the Mirror of the Dharma, possessing which the noble disciple, should one so desire, can declare of oneself: 'There is no more rebirth for me in hell, nor as an animal or ghost, nor in any realm of woe. A stream-enterer am I, safe from falling into the states of misery, assured am I and bound for enlightenment.'"
"And what, Ananda, is that teaching called the Mirror of Dharma, possessing which the noble disciple may thus declare of oneself?
"In this case, Ananda, the noble disciple possesses unwavering faith in the Buddha thus: 'The Blessed One is an Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One, perfect in knowledge and conduct, the Happy One, the knower of the world, the paramount trainer of beings, the teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.'
"One possesses unwavering faith in the Dharma thus: 'Well propounded by the Blessed One is the Dharma, evident, timeless, inviting investigation, leading to emancipation, to be comprehended by the wise, each for oneself.'
"One possesses unwavering faith in the Blessed One's Order of Disciples thus: 'Well faring is the Blessed One's Order of Disciples, righteously, wisely, and dutifully: that is to say, the four pairs of persons, the eight classes of persons. The Blessed One's Order of Disciples is worthy of honor, of hospitality, of offerings, of veneration — the supreme field for meritorious deeds in the world.'
"And one possesses virtues that are dear to the Noble Ones, complete and perfect, spotless and pure, which are liberating, praised by the wise, uninfluenced (by worldly concerns), and favorable to concentration of mind.
"This, Ananda, is the teaching called the Mirror of the Dharma, whereby the noble [Ariyan] disciple may thus know of oneself: 'There is no more rebirth for me in hell, nor as an animal or ghost, nor in any realm of woe. A stream-enterer am I, safe from falling into the states of misery, assured am I and bound for enlightenment.'"
And also in Nadika, in the Brick House, the Blessed One often gave counsel to the monastics thus: "Such and such is virtue; such and such is concentration; and such and such is wisdom. Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of concentration when it is fully developed by virtuous conduct. Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of wisdom when it is fully developed by concentration. Utterly freed from the taints of lust, becoming, and ignorance is the mind that is fully developed in wisdom."
DN 16 [PTS: D ii 72 (Chapters 1-6)] "Last Days of the Buddha" (Maha Parinirvana Sutra). Sister Vajira and Francis Story © 1998–2009.
