61. Then the brahmin Saõgàrava approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said: Good Gotama, this occurs to me: We brahmins should make sacrifices and make others do sacrifices. In this manner those who do the sacrifices and those who participate in the sacrifices fall to the method of doing numerous merits in their numerous bodies. As for those who go forth from this or other clan and become homeless, they tame, appease and extinguish one self. Thus in their going forth, they seek wisdom for a single body.
Then brahmin, I will question you on this and you may reply as it pleases you. Here, brahmin, the Thus Gone One is born in the world, worthy, rightfully enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, well gone, knower of the worlds, the incomparable tamer of those to be tamed, teacher of gods and men, enlightened and blessed. He says: Come! This is the path. This is the method. I coming to this path and method came to the noble end of the holy life and abide, myself realizing the knowledge. Come! You too, to this path and method and reach the noble end of the holy life and abide by yourself realizing it. In this manner, the teacher teaches and others come to that path and method. When this is so, isn't it for hundreds, for thousands, isn't it for hundreds of thousands? When this is so, is the going forth for a single body or for innumerable bodies?
Good Gotama, when this is so the going forth is for the good of innumerable bodies.
When this was said venerable ânanda said thus to the brahmin Saõgàrava: Brahmin, of these two methods, which is less prominent, less troublesome, more fruitful and more effective?
The brahmin Saõgàrava replied venerable ânanda thus: As I revere and applaud good Gotama, so also I revere and applaud venerable ânanda.
For the second time venerable ânanda said: Brahmin, I do not ask you which one is revered and which one is applauded, I ask you, Brahmin, of these two methods, which is less prominent, less troublesome, more fruitful and more effective?
For the second time the brahmin Saõgàrava said to venerable ânanda: As I revere and applaud good Gotama, so also I revere and applaud venerable ânanda.
For the third time venerable ânanda said: Brahmin, I do not ask you which one is revered and which one is applauded, I ask you, Brahmin, of these two methods, which is less prominent, less troublesome, more fruitful and more effective?
For the third time the brahmin Saõgàrava said to venerable ânanda: As I revere and applaud good Gotama, so also I revere and applaud venerable ânanda.
Then it occured to the Blessed One: The brahmin Saõgàrava evades this rightful question put to him by ânanda, what if I release the situation
The Blessed One asked the brahmin Saõgàrava: Brahmin, today, when sitting in the presence of the royality what was the prevalent current topic. In the past there were few bhikkhus and they showed psychic powers above human and today there are many bhikkhus and only a few show psychic powers above human. This was the current topic when sitting in the presence of the royality.
Brahmin, these three are the extraordinaries. What three? The extraordinary of psychic powers, the extraordinary of guessing or reading others' minds and the extraordinary of giving advice.
Brahmin, what is the extraordinary of psychic powers? Here, brahmin a certain one partakes various forms of psychic powers. One becomes many and many becomes one. Appears and disappears without obstructions, across walls, embankments and rocks, as though passing through space. Comes out of earth and dives into it as though in water. Goes unbroken on water as though on hard earth. Sits cross legged in space like birds small or large. Touches the moon and sun with the hand, thus wields power as far as the world of Brahma Brahmin, this is the extraordinary of psychic powers
Brahmin, what is the extraordinary of guessing or reading others' minds? Brahmin, a certain one guesses with a sign: Your mind is such and such and it is so, and not different. A certain one does not guess with a sign, but hearing the noise of a human, non human or a god, he guesses, your mind is such and such and it is so, and not different
Brahmin, a certain one neither guesses from a sign, nor from the noise of a human, non human or a god, but hearing the sound pervading from a thought: Your mind is such and such and it is so, and not different.
Brahmin, a certain one does not guess from a sign, or from the noise of a human, non human or a god, or hearing the sound pervading from a thought, yet he penetrates with the concentrated mind which does not think discurcively or even think and knows how this good person's mental determinations are directed to this mental state and how he sequentailly thinks these thoughts and guesses: Your mind is such and such and it is so, and not different. Brahmin, this is the extraordinary of guessing or reading others' minds.
Brahmin, what is the extraordinary of giving advice?
Brahmin, a certain one advises: Think in this manner, do not think in this manner. Attend to these and do not attend to these. Dispel these and develop these and abide. Brahmin, this is the extraordinary of giving advice.
Brahmin, of these three extraordinaries which extraordinary pleases you most?
Good Gotama, the extraordinaryÞHere a certain one partakes various psychic powers ... re ... wields power as far as the world of Brahma. Good Gotama, I rightfully reject that extraordinary. It is for him who experiences it. Good Gotama, as for the extraordinary a certain one guesses with a sign ... re ... hearing the sound of a god, ... re ... hearing the sound pervading from a thought, ... re ... he penetrates with the concentrated mind which does not think discurcively or even think and knows how this good person's mental determinations are directed to this mental state and how he sequentailly thinks these thoughts and guesses: Your mind is such and such and it is so, and not different. Good Gotama, I rightfully reject that extraordinary. It is for him who experiences it. Good Gotama, as for the extraordinary, here a certain one advises ... re ... and develop these and abide. Good Gotama, this extraordinary pleases me most.
It is wonderful good Gotama, these are excellent words. I know good Gotama is endowed with these three extraordinaries.
Good Gotama partakes various psychic powers ... re ... wields power as far as the world of Brahma. Good Gotama, guesses with a sign ... re ... hearing the sound of a god, ... re ... hearing the sound pervading from a thought, ... re ... he penetrates with the concentrated mind which does not think discurcively or even think and knows how this good person's mental determinations are directed to this mental state and how he sequentailly thinks these thoughts and Good Gotama advises ... re ... and develop these and abide
Indeed, brahmin, you have spoken words close upon praise, yet I will tell you, I partake various psychic powers ... re ... wield power as far as the world of Brahma ... re ... I penetrate with the concentrated mind which does not think discurcively or even think and know how this good person's mental determinations are directed to this mental state and how he sequentailly thinks these thoughts and I advise ... re ... and develop these and abide
Good Gotama, is there even one other bhikkhu who is endowed with these three extraordinaries other than good Gotama?
Brahmin, it is not one hundred, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, five hundred, very many are endowed with these extraordinaries.
Good Gotama, where do these bhikkhus abide now?
Brahmin, in this same Community of bhikkhus.
Good Gotama, I understand. It is like something overturned is reinstated. Some thing covered is made manifest. It is as though the path is told to someone who has lost his way and it is as though an oil lamp is lighted for the darkness so that those have their sight could see forms. Thus Good Gotama has explained the Teaching in various ways. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikikhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge until life lasts.