In the beginning...some meditated (sutra)

Maurice O'C. Walshe (trans.), Agganna Sutra (DN 27) from The Long Discourses of the Buddha, Wisdom Pubs; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly PART 3/3

"A BUDDHIST GENESIS" continued

In the beginning...

"...They made leaf huts in forest places and meditated in them. With the smoking fire gone out, with pestle cast aside, gathering alms for their evening and morning meals, they went away to a village, town, or royal city to seek their food, and then they returned to their leaf huts to meditate.

"People saw this and noted how they meditated. 'They Meditate' is the meaning of Jhayaka, which is the second regular title to be introduced.

Compile sacred books, venerable sir.

23. "However, some of those beings, not being able to meditate in leaf huts, settled around towns and villages and compiled books.

"People saw them doing this and not meditating. 'Now These Do Not Meditate' is the meaning of Ajjhayaka, which is the third regular title to be introduced.

"At that time it was regarded as a low designation, but now it is the higher. This, then, Vasettha, is the origin of the class of Brahmins in accordance with the ancient titles that were introduced for them [95].
 

"Their origin was from among these very same beings, like themselves, no different, and in accordance with Dharma, not otherwise. 

Dharma is the best thing for people

In this life and the next as well.

 

Farming and labor are good livelihood (Bugphai)

24. "And then, Vasettha, some of those beings, having paired off, adopted various trades, and this 'Various' is the meaning of Vessa, which came to be the regular title for such people.

"This, then, is the origin of the class of Vessas, in accordance with the ancient titles that were introduced for them. Their origin was from among these very same beings. ...

 

25. "And then, Vasettha, those beings that remained went in for hunting. 'They Are Base Who Live By The Chase,' and that is the meaning of Sudda, which came to be the regular title for such people.

If you must hunt, hunt Snarks.

"This, then, is the origin of the class of Suddas [outcasts, low-casts, menials, deplorables, untouchables] in accordance with the ancient titles that were introduced for them. Their origin was from among these very same beings. ...

 

US Theravada Buddhist nuns today, California

26. "And then, Vasettha, it came about that some Khattiya, dissatisfied with their own dharma [as distinct from Dharma means set of social obligations, duties, position in society], went forth from the household life into the left-home life [by ordaining as monastics], thinking: 'I will become a wandering ascetic.'
 

"And a Brahmin did likewise, a Vessa did [96] likewise, and so did a Sudda.

 

"And from these four classes [traditional caste distinctions] the class of wandering ascetics came into existence. Their origin was from among these very same beings, like themselves, no different, and in accordance with Dharma, not otherwise.

Dharma is the best thing for people

In this life and the next as well.

  

[Rebirth]

31 Planes of Existence (Egerton C. Baptist)

27. "And, Vasettha, a Khattiya who has led an unskillful life in body, speech, and thought, and who has wrong view will, in consequence of such wrong views and deeds, at the breaking up of the body after death, be reborn in a state of loss, an ill fate [unfortunate], the downfall, or hellish-state(s). So, too, will a Brahmin, a Vessa, or a Sudda.

 

28. "Likewise, a Khattiya who has led a skillful life in body, speech, and thought, and who has right view will, in consequence of such right view and deeds, at the breaking up of the body after death, be reborn in a fortunate destiny, in a heavenly-state(s). So, too, will a Brahmin, a Vessa, or a Sudda.

 

29. "And a Khattiya who has performed deeds of both kinds [profitable and unprofitable, wholesome and unwholesome, skillful and unskillful, good and bad] in body, speech, and thought, and whose view is mixed will, in consequence of such mixed views and deeds, at the breaking up of the body after death, experience both pleasure and pain. So, too, will a Brahmin, [97] a Vessa, or a Sudda.

 

30. "And a Khattiya who is restrained in body, speech, and thought, and who has developed the seven requisites of enlightenment, will attain to full nirvana (parinibbana) in this very life. So, too, will a Brahmin, a Vessa, or a Sudda.

 

Samsara with Yama (Judge) and Mara (Death)

31. "And, Vasettha, whoever of these four castes, as a monastic [wandering ascetic], becomes a fully enlightened being (arhat, arahant) who has destroyed the corruptions, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, attained to the highest goal, completely destroyed the fetter of becoming [continued wandering on through samsara, the Wheel of Life and Death, incessant rebirth], and  become liberated by the highest insight, such a person is declared to be chief among them in accordance with Dharma, and not otherwise.

Dharma is the best thing for people

In this life and the next as well.

 

32. "Vasettha, it was Brahma Sanankamara who spoke this verse:

'The Khattiya's best among those who value clan;

One with knowledge and [corresponding] conduct is best of devas and humans.'

"This verse was rightly sung, not wrongly, rightly spoken, not wrongly, connected with profit, not unconnected. I too say, Vasettha: [98]

'The Khattiya's best among those who value clan;

One with knowledge and [corresponding] conduct is best of devas and humans."'

 

Thus the Buddha spoke, and Vasettha and Bharadvaja were delighted and rejoiced at his words. [So ends the Agganna Sutra.]