#1. The Perfected Ones

A brahmin is searching for his lost oxen when he sees the Buddha meditating peacefully in the forest. He laments the many sorrows of his life, celebrating the Buddha’s happiness and freedom from such sorrows.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove. Now at that time one of the brahmins of the Bhāradvāja clan had lost fourteen oxen. While looking for them he went to that forest, where he saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged, with his body straight, and mindfulness established right there. [Read More]

A brahmin conducting a fire sacrifice wishes to offer the sacrificial cake. He sees the Buddha meditating and wants to give it to him, but hesitates when he realizes he is a shaven-headed ascetic. He asks the Buddha’s caste, but the Buddha argues that conduct is the important thing, not caste. The Buddha gives a metaphorical reinterpretation of the elements of brahmanical ritual.At one time the Buddha was staying in the Kosalan lands on the bank of the Sundarika river. [Read More]

A brahmin conducting a fire sacrifice invites the Buddha to accept the blessed milk-rice, claiming that the Buddha is a true brahmin.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time ghee and milk-rice had been set out for the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper, who thought, “I will serve the sacred flame! I will perform the fire sacrifice!” Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. [Read More]

The brahmin Suddhika makes the strikingly Buddhist assertion that mere austerities don’t lead to purity; only knowledge and conduct do. At Sāvatthī. Then the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Pure went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and recited this verse in his presence: “No brahmin in the world is ever purified even though he’s ethical and mortifies himself. [Read More]

A brahmin with matted hair asks the Buddha how we can become disentangled. This short set of verses became one of the most important in all of Theravāda Buddhism when it was used as the cornerstone of the commentarial treatise Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification).At Sāvatthī. Then the brahmin Bhāradvāja of the Matted Hair went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and addressed the Buddha in verse: “Matted hair within, matted hair without: these people are tangled up in matted hair. [Read More]

A brahmin called “Harmless” visits the Buddha, who teaches him the true meaning of harmlessness.At Sāvatthī. Then the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Harmless went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said, “I am Harmless, Master Gotama, I am Harmless!” “If you were really like your name, then you’d be Harmless. But a truly harmless person does no harm by way of body, speech, or mind; they don’t harm anyone else. [Read More]

Hearing that a brahmin had gone forth under the Buddha, another brahmin was upset. But once again the Buddha calms him down, pointing out that anger only harms oneself.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. The brahmin Bharadvāja the Bitter heard a rumor that a brahmin of the Bharadvāja clan had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the ascetic Gotama. [Read More]

A brahmin visits the Buddha and abuses him, but the Buddha responds only with patience.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. The brahmin Bharadvāja the Fiend heard a rumor effect that a brahmin of the Bharadvāja clan had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the ascetic Gotama. Angry and displeased he went to the Buddha and abused and insulted him with rude, harsh words. [Read More]

A brahmin visits the Buddha and unleashes a tirade of abuse, but the Buddha refuses to accept it, showing that he remains free of anger.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. The brahmin Bharadvāja the Rude heard a rumor that a brahmin of the Bharadvāja clan had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the ascetic Gotama. [Read More]

When a brahmin lady expresses her confidence in the Triple Gem, her husband is annoyed. She encourages him to visit the Buddha, who soothes his anger.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time a certain brahmin lady of the Bhāradvāja clan named Dhanañjānī was devoted to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. Once, while she was bringing her husband his meal she tripped and was inspired to exclaim three times: “Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! [Read More]