Andhakavinda Sutta

Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna

At one time the Blessed One was at Andhakavinda in the country of Magadha.

The Blessed One was sitting in open space, it was a dark night and drops of rain were also falling.

When the night was waning, illuminating Andhakavinda completely Brahma Sahampathy approached the Blessed One, worshipped and stood on a side.

Standing, Brahma Sahampathy said these stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Make use of remote jungle dwellings, behave to dispel bonds,
 * If passions cannot be overcome there,
 * Mindfully protect yourself living with the community of bhikkhus
 * While going from house to house for morsel food,
 * Appropriately and mindfully protect the mental faculties.
 * Make use of remote jungle dwellings
 * Those set free from fear are released, without fear.
 * There is fear from creeping things
 * And lightening, thunder and rain come together
 * In the thickly dark night, the bhikkhu sits,
 * A single hair does not stand on end.
 * It is in your dispensation, that I attained right view.
 * I will not stir from that. A single one leading the holy life,
 * Diminishes the domains of death by thousands
 * More than five hundred in the training
 * And ten hundred thousands of beings
 * Have entered the stream of the Teaching
 * They will not go to animal wombs
 * And the remaining people, I think are on the side of merit.
 * I cannot calculate the numbers who are afraid to tell lies."