The Great MeetingMahṅ Samaya Sutta (DN 20) · 莲华归心开放中文佛学资料库

- suttas - - evening talks - short morning talks - lectures - guided meditations - talk collections - other themes - chants - - - - à¹à¸à¸¢ - Franā§ais - Espaā±ol - - Portuguāªs - Ð ÑÑÑÐºÐ¸Ð¹ - - - Ð£ÐºÑÐ°ÑÐ½ÑÑÐºÐ° Submit Search - Home - Suttas - DN - DN 20 The Great Meeting ## Browse Suttas Go to Dīgha Nikṅya index DN index Show outline show outline ## Outline - (Top) - Introduction const prefersTocHidden = window.sessionStorage.getItem('user-prefers-toc-hidden') ?? window.localStorage.getItem('user-prefers-toc-hidden') ?? false; if (prefersTocHidden) { const tocToggleButton = document.getElementById("tocToggle"); const bookToc = document.getElementById("bookToc"); bookToc.classList.remove("show"); tocToggleButton.setAttribute("aria-expanded", false); tocToggleButton.querySelectorAll("[data-show-text]").forEach(el => { el.setAttribute("data-hide-text", el.innerText); el.innerText = el.getAttribute("data-show-text"); }); } ## The Great Meeting Mahṅ Samaya SuttaÂ Â (DNÂ 20) ## Introduction This discourse is an interesting example of the folklore of the Pali Canon. It shows that the tendency of Asian popular Buddhism to regard the Buddha as a protective figure, and not just as a teacher, has its roots in the earliest part of the tradition. Metrical analysis indicates that the long "tribute" section of this discourse is very old, while the verses in the introductory section—which is also found in the Saṃyutta Nikṅya—are later. This fits with a more subjective judgment: that the tribute was an earlier composition, to which the introduction was added at a later date. This judgment is based on the fact that the two sections do not quite fit each other. The introduction to the tribute indicates that the reciter of the tribute is the Buddha himself, whereas the narration in the tribute indicates otherwise. The style of the tribute—with its repeated stanzas and tropes—also falls into the ancient genre of verses celebrating a kingâs victory over his enemies At any rate, this discourse is the closest thing in the Pali Canon to a "whoâs who" of the deva worlds, and should provide useful material for anyone interested in the cosmology of early Buddhism. The Commentary reports the belief that devas still enjoy hearing this discourse chanted in Pali. Until recently it was part of many monksâ standard memorized repertoire, to be chanted at weddings and the dedication of new buildings. Even today, as many of the traditions of memorization in Asia seem to be falling by the wayside, there are a few monks and laypeople who chant this discourse regularly. *Â *Â * I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Great Forest, together with a large Saṃgha of approximately five hundred monks, all of them arahants. And most of the devatṅs from ten world-systems had gathered in order to see the Blessed One & the Saṃgha of monks. Then the thought occurred to four devatṅs of the ranks from the Pure Abodes: "The Blessed One is dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Great Forest, together with a large Saṃgha of about five hundred monks, all of them arahants. And most of the devatṅs from ten world-systems have gathered in order to see the Blessed One & the Saṃgha of monks. Let us also approach the Blessed One and, on arrival, let us each speak a verse in his presence." Then, just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm, those devatṅs disappeared from among the Devas of the Pure Abodes and reappeared before the Blessed One. Having paid homage to him, they stood to one side. As they were standing there, one devatṅ recited this verse in the Blessed Oneâs presence: "A great meeting in the woods: The deva hosts have assembled. We have come to this Dhamma meeting to see the unvanquished Saṃgha." Then another devatṅ recited this verse in the Blessed Oneâs presence: "There the monks are concentrated, have straightened their own minds. Like a charioteer holding the reins, the wise ones guard their faculties." Then another devatṅ recited this verse in the Blessed Oneâs presence: "Having cut through barrenness, cut the cross-bar, having uprooted Indraâs pillar, unstirred, they wander about pure, unstained, young nṅgas1 well tamed by the One with Eyes." Then another devatṅ recited this verse in the Blessed Oneâs presence: "Those who have gone to the Buddha for refuge will not go to the plane of woe. On discarding the human body, they will fill the hosts of the devas." Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Monks, most of the devatṅs from ten world-systems have gathered in order to see the Tathṅgata & the Saṃgha of monks. Those who, in the past, were Worthy Ones, Rightly Self- awakened, at most had their devatṅ-gathering like mine at the present. Those who, in the future, will be Worthy Ones, Rightly Self-awakened, will at most have their devatṅ-gathering like mine at the present. "I will tell you the names of the deva hosts. I will describe to you the