#Linked Discourses 9

When a group of mendicants leave the forest in which they had been staying, the local deities lament their absence.At one time several mendicants were staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Then after completing the three months of the rainy season residence, those mendicants set out wandering. Not seeing those mendicants, the deity haunting that forest cried. And on that occasion they recited this verse: “Seeing so many vacated seats today, it seems to me that they must have become dissatisfied. [Read More]

A monk named Kassapagotta encounters a hunter in the forest and tries to dissuade him from his violent purpose. But a deity warns him not to waste his time.At one time Venerable Kassapagotta was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now at that time Venerable Kassapagotta, having withdrawn for his day’s meditation, tried to advise a tribal hunter. Then the deity haunting that forest approached Kassapagotta wanting to stir him up, and recited these verses: “A tribal hunter wandering the rugged hills is unintelligent, unthinking. [Read More]

When a mendicant falls asleep in the middle of the day, a deity tries to rouse them up. But not all is at it seems.At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now at that time that mendicant fell asleep during the day’s meditation. The deity haunting that forest had compassion for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. [Read More]

A monk in the forest lets his mind drift to thoughts of the lay life, but is warned by a local deity.So I have heard. At one time one of the mendicants was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now at that time that mendicant, during their day’s meditation, was thinking bad, unskillful thoughts to do with the lay life. The deity haunting that forest had compassion for that mendicant, and wanted what’s best for them. [Read More]