Apara Ditthi Sutta

Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anàthapiõóika in Jeta's grove in Sàvatthi.

At that time to a certain Brahma this evil view had arisen: `There is no recluse or Brahmin who could come here."

The Blessed One knew this thought and thought process in that Brahma's mind and as quickly as a strong man would stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm, disappeared from Jeta's grove and appeared in the world of Brahma.

Then the Blessed One sat in mid air, above that Brahma, legs crossed and entered the element of fire.

Then it occurred to venerable MahàMoggallàna: "Where is the Blessed One abiding at the moment?"

Venerable MahàMoggallàna with the purified heavenly eye, beyond human, saw the Blessed One sitting in mid air above that Brahma, legs crossed, entered into the element of fire. Then as quickly as a strong man would stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm, he disappeared from Jeta's grove and appeared in that world of Brahma.

Venerable MahàMoggallàna sat in mid air, above that Brahma towards the east, legs crossed, entering the element of fire, less than the Blessed One.

Then it occurred to venerable Mahà-Kassapa: "Where is the Blessed One, abiding at the moment?"

Venerable Mahà-Kassapa with the purified heavenly eye, beyond human, saw the Blessed One sitting in mid air, above that Brahma, legs crossed, entered into the element of fire. Then as quickly as a strong man would stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm, he disappeared from Jeta's grove and appeared in that world of Brahma.

Venerable Mahà-Kassapa sat in mid air, above that Brahma towards the south, legs crossed, entering the element of fire, less than the Blessed One.

Then it occurred to venerable Mahà-Kappina: "Where is the Blessed One, abiding at the moment?"

Venerable Mahà-Kappina with the purified heavenly eye, beyond human saw the Blessed One sitting in mid air, above that Brahma, legs crossed, entered into the element of fire. Then as quickly as a strong man would stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm, he disappeared from Jeta's grove and appeared in that world of Brahma.

Venerable Mahà-Kappina sat in mid air, above that Brahma towards the west, legs crossed, entering the element of fire, less than the Blessed One

Then it occurred to venerable Anuruddha: "Where is the Blessed One abiding at the moment?"

Venerable Anuruddha with the purified heavenly eye, beyond human saw the Blessed One sitting in mid air, above that Brahma, legs crossed, entered into the element of fire. Then as quickly as a strong man would stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm, he disappeared from Jeta's grove and appeared in that world of Brahma.

Venerable Anuruddha sat in mid air, above that Brahma towards the north, legs crossed, entering the element of fire, less than the Blessed One

Then venerable MahàMoggallàna said a stanza to that Brahma:


 * "Friend, are you with that same view you earlier held,
 * Do you see the splendor of the world of Brahma superceded?"

(Brahma:)


 * "Sir, am not with that view I earlier held
 * Today I see the splendor of the world of Brahma superceded.
 * It is a mistake, to think I am always the same; perpetual."

The Blessed One arousing remorse in that brahma as quickly as a strong man would stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm, disappeared from the world of Brahma and appeared in Jeta's grove.

Then Brahma addressed a certain member of his council and said to him, "Sir, approach venerable MahàMoggallàna and ask him, whether there are other disciples of the Blessed One with such great psychic powers as good Moggallàna, Kassapa Kappina and Anuruddha."

Then that member of the council of brahmas, agreed to do so.

And he approached and asked: "Sir, are there other disciples of the Blessed One with such great psychic powers as good Moggallàna, Kassapa Kappina and Anuruddha?"

Then venerable MahàMoggallàna replied that member of the council of brahmas with this sstanza:


 * "Among the disciples of the Enlightened One,
 * Those who have destroyed desires and become worthy,
 * Attained knowledge and psychic powers,
 * And have become clever in the habits of the mind are many."

Then that member of the council of brahmas, delighting in the words of venerable MahàMoggallàna approached Mahà Brahma and said, Sir, venerable MahàMoggallàna said thus:


 * "Among the disciples of the Enlightened One,
 * Those who have destroyed desires and become worthy,
 * Attained knowledge and psychic powers,
 * And have become clever in the habits of the mind are many."

And Mahà Brahma rejoiced in the words of the member of the council of brahmas.