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- Samyutta Nikaya XI.3
- Dhajagga Sutta
- The Top of the Standard
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi
in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. There he addressed the
monks: "Monks!"
"Yes, lord!" the monks responded.
The Blessed One said: "Once, monks, the devas & asuras were arrayed for
battle. Then Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed the devas of the
Thirty-three: 'If, dear sirs, when the devas are engaged in battle, there should arise
fear, terror, or horripilation, then on that occasion you should look up at the top of my
standard. For when you look up at the top of my standard, any fear, terror, or
horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"'If you don't look up at the top of my standard, then you should look up at the
top of the standard of Pajapati the deva-king. For when you look up
at the top of the standard of Pajapati the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation
you may have will be abandoned.
"'If you don't look up at the top of the standard of Pajapati the deva-king, then
you should look up at the top of the standard of Varuna the
deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Varuna the deva-king, any
fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"'If you don't look up at the top of the standard of Varuna the deva-king, then
you should look up at the top of the standard of Isana the deva-king. For when you look up
at the top of the standard of Isana the deva-king, any fear, terror,
or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"Monks, in those who look up at the top of the standard of Sakka, lord of the
devas; in those who look up at the top of the standard of Pajapati the deva-king; in those
who look up at the top of the standard of Varuna, the deva-king; or in those who look up
at the top of the standard of Isana, the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation
they may have might be abandoned, or it might not. Why is that? Because Sakka, lord of the
devas, is not free of passion, free of aversion, or free of delusion. He can be
frightened, terrorized, cowardly, quick to flee.
"But, monks, I tell you this: If, when you have gone to the
wilderness, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, there should arise fear,
terror, or horripilation, then on that occasion you should recollect me thus: 'Indeed, the
Blessed One is worthy & rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge & conduct,
well-gone, knower of the cosmos, unexcelled trainer of those who can be tamed, teacher of
devas and human beings, awakened, blessed.' For when you recollect me, monks, any fear,
terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"If you don't recollect me, then you should recollect the
Dhamma thus: 'The Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One, to be seen here & now,
timeless, inviting one to come & see, pertinent, to be seen by the wise for
themselves.' For when you recollect the Dhamma, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation
you may have will be abandoned.
"If you cannot recollect the Dhamma, then you should
recollect the Sangha thus: 'The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples who have practiced
well, practiced straightforwardly, practice methodically, practiced masterfully, i. e.,
the four pairs, the eight-types [of Noble Ones]: that is the Sangha of the Blessed One's
disciples -- worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of
respect, the unexcelled field of merit for the world.' For when you recollect the Sangha,
monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
"Why is that? Because the Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, is free
of passion, free of aversion, free of delusion. He is fearless, cannot be terrorized,
bold, not quick to flee."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the One Well-gone, the Teacher,
further said this:
In wilderness, monks,
at the foot of a tree,
or in an empty dwelling,
recollect the Buddha:
You will have no fear.
If you don't recall the Buddha --
best in the world,
the bull of men --
then recollect the Dhamma,
leading outward,
well expounded.
If you don't recall the Dhamma --
leading outward,
well expounded --
then recollect the Sangha,
the field of merit
unexcelled.
For those who have thus recalled
the Buddha,
Dhamma,
& Sangha, monks,
there will be
no terror,
horripilation,
or fear.