#Linked Discourses 2

In a parable of a solar eclipse, the sun god Suriya is swallowed by the demon lord Rāhu. Suriya appeals to the Buddha, who tells Rāhu to let go. This sutta is recited as a protection verse.At Sāvatthī. Now at that time the Sun God had been seized by Rāhu, lord of demons. Then the Sun God, recollecting the Buddha, at that time recited this verse: “Homage to you, Buddha, hero! [Read More]

In a parable of a lunar eclipse, the moon god Candimā is swallowed by the demon lord Rāhu. Candimā appeals to the Buddha, who tells Rāhu to let go. This sutta is recited as a protection verse.At Sāvatthī. Now at that time the Moon God had been seized by Rāhu, lord of demons. Then the Moon God, recollecting the Buddha, at that time recited this verse: “Homage to you, Buddha, hero! [Read More]

Tāyana, a deity who was in a past life was a leader of a non-Buddhist sect, speaks a series of verses in praise of strenuous exertion and discipline. These famous verses are commonly recited by Theravadin monks.At Sāvatthī. Then, late at night, the glorious god Tāyana, formerly a religious founder, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence: “Strive and cut the stream! [Read More]

Pañcālacaṇḍa praises the Buddha for finding the opening amid the confinement of the world. But the Buddha affirms that anyone with mindfulness and stillness may find such an escape.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, the god Pañcālacaṇḍa recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “The opening amid confinement was discovered by the Buddha of vast intelligence, who woke up to absorption, the sage, the solitary bull.” “Even amid confinement they discover,” said the Buddha to Pañcālacaṇḍa, “the principle for attaining extinguishment. [Read More]

The deity Kāmada addresses the Buddha with a series of cryptic statements lamenting the difficulty of spiritual practice. The Buddha agrees, but points out that true practitioners do it even though it’s hard.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, the god Kāmada said to the Buddha, “It’s too hard, Blessed One! It’s just too hard!” “They do it even though it’s hard,” said the Buddha to Kāmada, “the stable trainees with ethics, and immersion. [Read More]

Dāmali the god suggests that a true brahmin must strive to abandon desire. The Buddha disagrees, saying that a true holy one has already completed their work.At Sāvatthī. Then, late at night, the glorious god Dāmali, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “This is what should be done by a brahmin: unrelenting striving. [Read More]

The deity Māgadha asks the Buddha how many sources of light there are in the world. The Buddha speaks of five lights, but the Buddha is the best of them.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, the god Māgadha addressed the Buddha in verse: “How many lamps are there, to shine their light on the world? We’ve come to ask the Buddha; how are we to understand this?” “There are four lamps in the world, a fifth is not found. [Read More]

The god Māgha asks the Buddha about what one should slay in order to sleep well and be without sorrow.At Sāvatthī. Then, late at night, the glorious god Māgha, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and addressed the Buddha in verse: “When what is incinerated do you sleep at ease? When what is incinerated is there no sorrow? What is the one thing whose killing you approve? [Read More]

The deity Kassapa speaks of how a mendicant should be a meditator, peaceful and free.At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, the god Kassapa recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “Suppose a mendicant is a meditator, freed in mind. If they want to reach the heart’s peace, having known the arising and passing of the world, healthy-minded, independent, that is their reward. [Read More]

A deity named Kassapa comes to the Buddha and speaks of the training of a mendicant in seclusion and right speech.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, the glorious god Kassapa, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “The Buddha has revealed the mendicant, but not his instructions to a mendicant. [Read More]