Paṭhamaugga Sutta

 

Once,

The beloved Teacher was living in Vesāli

in the large forest,

at the hall residence with the steep roof. [1]

 

Then the Teacher addressed the monks saying:
 

“Monks, you should keep in mind the eight unusual and astounding qualities of the lay follower Ugga of Vesāli.[2]

 

This is what the Teacher said.

Having said this,

the Happy One stood up and left for his residence.

 

 

Then, having dressed in the morning,

A certain monk took his bowl and robes

and went to see the lay follower Ugga in Vesāli.

Once there, they sat down on a prepared seat.

 

Seeing the venerable monk coming,

Ugga went to greet them,

Paid loving respects

and sat down in front of them.

 

Then the monk asked:

 

“Ugga, the Teacher says that you are graced with

eight unusual and striking qualities.”

 

“What are those Ugga?”

 

“Bhante, I do not know exactly

which eight things were meant by the Teacher.

 

But I am aware of eight unusual and perhaps astounding things

which a person could say about me.

 

Listen and apply your mind carefully to what I will say.

 

“Very well Ugga.” The monks replied.

Ugga said this:

 

[1. Seeing the Buddha]

 

“Bhante,

the moment I first laid eyes upon the Awakened One

from a distance,

Understanding [immediately] came to me

and my mind became clear and confident in him. [3]

 

This is the first unusual and striking thing

which one could say about me. [4]”

 

[2. Dhamma Vision]

 

“Then Bhante, with a confident mind,

I offered him all of my attention, [5]

and he delivered a gradual discourse, that is: [6]

 

A talk on generosity,

a talk on performing harmless actions,

a talk on the blissful spheres of existence,

 

He made clear

the wretchedness,

depravity

and defilement

of [seeking happiness in] sensory indulgence,

and the advantage of giving it up. [7]

 

When he saw that my mind was

ready,

malleable,

unobstructed,

joyful,

and bright;

 

He delivered the exalted teaching of the Buddhas that is: [8]

Trouble,

how it arises,

how it ceases

and the path. [9]

 

As a clean as cloth rid of dirt would accept dye perfectly, [10]

in the same way,

sitting there,

the stainless,

spotless vision of the Dhamma came to me:

 

[I realized:]

‘That which is of a nature to begin,

all of it is also of a nature to end.’ [11]

 

Then Bhante,

having seen the Dhamma,

attained the Dhamma,

experienced the Dhamma

thoroughly plunged and entered the Dhamma,

crushed uncertainty,

having gotten rid of skepticism,  

reached perfect confidence in the teacher’s teaching; [12]

 

Right then,

I went to the Buddha,

the Dhamma

and the Saṅgha as a refuge. [13]

And I undertook the five trainings in virtue [14]

            of the righteous life’s [15]

 

This is the second unusual and perhaps striking thing

which one could say about me. [16]

 

[3. Marrying his Wives to Others]

 

“Bhante, we then went to our four young wives. [17]

We approached them and said:

‘Sisters, [18] we have undertaken the five training virtues

of the spiritual celibate life. [19]

If you wish, you can enjoy wealth here,

use it to make merit

or go back to you own families and relatives. [20]

Or perhaps is there another man whom you desire

and wish to marry?’

 

Having said this Bhante, the eldest answered:

‘Here is the name of the one I desire, young saint,

will you arrange [the wedding]?

 

Having summoned that man,

I took my wife’s hand in my left hand

and her groom’s hand in my right hand

and poured ritual water over their hands and united them.

 

Similarly, while bestowing my younger wives to others,

my mind was free from jealousy and undisturbed.[21]

 

This is the third unusual and perhaps striking thing

which one could say about me.

 

[4. Sharing Wealth with the Virtuous]

 

“There is great wealth in my family Bhante.

And it is shared unreservedly

with the virtuous sages of beautiful conduct. [22]”

 

This is the fourth unusual and perhaps striking thing

which one could say about me.

 

[5. Respect towards Monks]

 

When I attend on a monk Bhante,

I attend to him respectfully,

not disrespectfully. [23]

 

This is the fifth unusual and perhaps striking thing

which one could say about me.

 

[6. Teaching Dhamma]

 

If that venerable one teaches Dhamma,

I listen respectfully,

not disrespectfully.

And if the venerable one does not teach me Dhamma,

I myself teach it.[24]

 

This is the sixth unusual and perhaps striking thing

which one could say about me.

 

[7. Conversing with Devas]

 

Regularly, Bhante,

Devas come to me and announce:

‘The teaching of the Awakened One is well-explained.’ [25]

 

Then I tell those Devas:

‘Whether you come and say this to me or not,

I know for a fact that the teaching of the Awakened One

is well-proclaimed.’

 

Nevertheless,

I cannot recall my mind becoming elated by the fact that [26]

Devas come and converse with me. [27]

 

This is the seventh unusual and perhaps striking thing

which one could say about me.

 

[8. Five Worldly Fetters]

 

“Bhante, the Awakened One has taught five worldly fetters.

Of those five, I do not see any of them in me. [28]

 

This is the second unusual and perhaps striking thing

which one could say about me.

 

These are the eight unusual and perhaps striking things

which one could say about me.

 

This being said Bhante,

I do not know what eight unusual

and perhaps astounding qualities

the Awakened One declares about me.

 

Then the monk received alms

at the residence of the householder Ugga in vesāli. [29]

 

 

Then after his alms round,

he went to see the Teacher,

Paid loving respects,

sat beside and informed him of his conversation

with the householder Ugga in Vesāli.

 

“Very good monk. [30]

 

“Ugga has explained what should be explained.

These are the same eight unusual and astounding qualities

that I declare about him.

 

 

You should bear in mind

these eight unusual and astounding qualities.