78. （七八）梵天请佛经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, there was a Brahmā god dwelling in the Brahma Heaven, who gave rise to such a wrong view: "This place is permanent, this place is constant, this place is eternal, this place is necessary, this place is not subject to cessation, this place is the way out, there is no way out that surpasses this way out, there is superiority, there is excellence, there is the most excellent one."

Then, the World-Honored One, with his knowledge of others' minds, knew what that Brahmā god was thinking. He immediately entered the samādhi of suchness, and with the samādhi of suchness, in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, he suddenly disappeared from the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma in Śrāvastī and went to the Brahma Heaven.

At that time, that Brahmā god saw the World-Honored One coming and invited him, saying: "Welcome, great sage! This place is permanent, this place is constant, this place is eternal, this place is necessary, this place is not subject to cessation, this place is the way out, there is no way out that surpasses this way out, there is superiority, there is excellence, there is the most excellent one."

Then, the World-Honored One said: "Brahmā god! You call the impermanent permanent, the inconstant constant, the non-abiding abiding, the unnecessary necessary, the subject to cessation not subject to cessation, the non-way out the way out, and this way out has no way out that surpasses it, there is superiority, there is excellence, there is the most excellent one. Brahmā god! You have this ignorance. Brahmā god! You have this ignorance."

At that time, Māra Pāpīyas was in the assembly. Then, Māra Pāpīyas said to the World-Honored One: "Monk! Do not go against what this Brahmā god says, do not go against what this Brahmā god says. Monk! If you go against what this Brahmā god says, go against what this Brahmā god says, it is like someone who rejects good fortune when it comes. Monk! What you say is also like this. Therefore, monk! I tell you not to go against what this Brahmā god says, not to go against what this Brahmā god says. Monk! If you go against what this Brahmā god says, go against what this Brahmā god says, it is like someone falling from a mountain, though they may reach out with their hands and feet to grasp at the empty air, they will find nothing. Monk! What you say is also like this. Therefore, monk! I tell you not to go against what this Brahmā god says, not to go against what this Brahmā god says. Monk! If you go against what this Brahmā god says, go against what this Brahmā god says, it is like someone falling from a tree, though they may reach out with their hands and feet to grasp at the branches and leaves, they will find nothing. Monk! What you say is also like this. Therefore, monk! I tell you not to go against what this Brahmā god says, not to go against what this Brahmā god says. Why is that? This Brahmā god is the creator, the most honored, the creator, the maker, the father, from whom all beings have come and will come. He knows all that is to be known, sees all that is to be seen.

"Great seer! If there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who hate and revile the earth, when their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely be reborn among the inferior gandharvas. Similarly, those who hate and revile the water, fire, wind, gods, heaven, and Brahmā will also be reborn among the inferior gandharvas. Great seer! If there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who love and praise the earth, when their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely be reborn in the most honored Brahmā heaven. Similarly, those who love and praise the water, fire, wind, gods, heaven, and Brahmā will also be reborn in the most honored Brahmā heaven. Great seer! Do you not see this great retinue of Brahmā sitting like us?"

Māra Pāpīyas is not a Brahmā god, nor is he a member of the Brahmā god's retinue, yet he claims to be a Brahmā god. At that time, the World-Honored One had this thought: "This Māra Pāpīyas is not a Brahmā god, nor is he a member of the Brahmā god's retinue, yet he claims to be a Brahmā god; if one speaks of the existence of Māra Pāpīyas, this is Māra Pāpīyas himself."

The World-Honored One, knowing this, said, "Māra Pāpīyas! You are not a Brahmā god, nor are you a member of the Brahmā god's retinue, yet you claim to be a Brahmā god; if one speaks of the existence of Māra Pāpīyas, you are Māra Pāpīyas himself." Then Māra Pāpīyas thought, "The World-Honored One knows me, the Well-Gone One sees me." Knowing this, he became anxious and suddenly disappeared from that place.

At that time, the Brahmā god repeatedly invited the World-Honored One, saying, "Welcome, great sage! Here is the eternal, here is the constant, here is the enduring, here is the necessary, here is the imperishable, here is the way out, and there is no way out that surpasses it. There is the supreme, the wonderful, and the most excellent."

The World-Honored One also said this repeatedly, "Brahmā god! You call the impermanent permanent, the inconstant constant, the non-enduring enduring, the unnecessary necessary, the perishable imperishable, the non-way-out way-out, and there is no way-out that surpasses it. There is the supreme, the wonderful, and the most excellent. Brahmā god! You have this ignorance. Brahmā god! You have this ignorance."

Then, the Brahmā god said to the World-Honored One, "Great sage! In the past, there were śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas with extremely long lifespans, who lived for a very long time. Great sage! Your lifespan is very short, not even a single sitting session of those śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas. Why is that? Because they know everything that is to be known, and see everything that is to be seen. If there is a true way out, there is no other way out that surpasses it, which is supreme, wonderful, and most excellent. If there is no true way out, there is no other way out that surpasses it, which is supreme, wonderful, and most excellent. Great sage! You do not think about the way out, but think about the way out. In this way, you will not attain the way out, and will become greatly deluded. Why is that? Because there is no object of knowledge. Great sage! If there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who delight in the earth and praise the earth, they are under my control, they do as I wish, and they do as I command. Likewise, those who delight in water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, and Brahmā, and praise Brahmā, are under my control, they do as I wish, and they do as I command. Great sage! If you delight in the earth and praise the earth, you are also under my control, you do as I wish, and you do as I command. Likewise, those who delight in water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, and Brahmā, and praise Brahmā, you are also under my control, you do as I wish, and you do as I command."

Then, the World-Honored One said, "Brahmā god! It is true what you say, Brahmā god, that if there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who delight in the earth and praise the earth, they are under your control, they do as you wish, and they do as you command. Likewise, those who delight in water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, and Brahmā, and praise Brahmā, are under your control, they do as you wish, and they do as you command. Brahmā god! If I delight in the earth and praise the earth, I am also under your control, I do as you wish, and I do as you command. Likewise, those who delight in water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, and Brahmā, and praise Brahmā, I am also under your control, I do as you wish, and I do as you command.

"Brahmā god! If these eight things are what I delight in and praise, then they are also like that. Brahmā god! I know where you have come from, where you will go, where you dwell, where you will end, and where you will be reborn. If there is a Brahmā god with great supernatural power, great virtue, great merit, and great spiritual power."

Then, Brahmā god said to the World-Honored One, "Great Sage! How do you know what I know and see what I see? How do you recognize me? Just as the sun is self-luminous and illuminates all directions, this is the thousand worlds. Do you have mastery over the thousand worlds? Do you know that in those places there is no day or night? Great Sage, have you ever been there and experienced it many times?"

The World-Honored One said, "Brahmā god! The sun is self-luminous and illuminates all directions, this is the thousand worlds. In the thousand worlds, I have mastery. I also know that in those places there is no day or night. Brahmā god! I have been there and experienced it many times. Brahmā god! There are three kinds of gods, the Light Gods, the Pure Light Gods, and the All-Pervading Pure Light Gods. Brahmā god! If those three kinds of gods have knowledge and vision, I also have that knowledge and vision. Brahmā god! If those three kinds of gods have no knowledge and vision, I also have knowledge and vision myself. Brahmā god! If those three kinds of gods and their retinues have knowledge and vision, I also have that knowledge and vision. Brahmā god! If those three kinds of gods and their retinues have no knowledge and vision, I also have knowledge and vision myself. Brahmā god! If you have knowledge and vision, I also have this knowledge and vision. Brahmā god! If you have no knowledge and vision, I also have knowledge and vision myself. Brahmā god! If you and your retinues have knowledge and vision, I also have this knowledge and vision. Brahmā god! If you and your retinues have no knowledge and vision, I also have knowledge and vision myself. Brahmā god! You are not equal to me in everything, not equal to me in all respects. But I am the most supreme and highest among you.

Then, Brahmā god said to the World-Honored One, "Great Sage! How do you have the knowledge and vision of those three kinds of gods? If those three kinds of gods have no knowledge and vision, you also have knowledge and vision yourself. If those three kinds of gods and their retinues have knowledge and vision, you also have that knowledge and vision. If those three kinds of gods and their retinues have no knowledge and vision, you also have knowledge and vision yourself. If I have knowledge and vision, you also have this knowledge and vision. If I have no knowledge and vision, you also have knowledge and vision yourself. If I and my retinues have knowledge and vision, you also have this knowledge and vision. If I and my retinues have no knowledge and vision, you also have knowledge and vision yourself. Great Sage! Is this not just empty talk? Asking without knowing only increases ignorance. Why is that? Because the realm of knowledge is immeasurable, with immeasurable knowledge, immeasurable vision, and immeasurable distinctions. I know each distinction separately. The earth knows the earth, water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, and the lord of birth. Brahmā god knows Brahmā god."

Then, the World-Honored One said, "Brahmā god! If there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who have the notion of earth regarding earth, they think, 'Earth is mine, earth belongs to me, I am possessed by earth.' Having regarded earth as 'mine,' they do not know earth. Thus, regarding water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, the lord of birth, Brahmā god, the trouble-free, the heatless, and purity, they have the notion of purity, they think, 'Purity is mine, purity belongs to me, I am possessed by purity.' Having regarded purity as 'mine,' they do not know purity. Brahmā god! If there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who know earth as earth, earth is not mine, earth does not belong to me, I am not possessed by earth; having not regarded earth as 'mine,' they know earth. Thus, regarding water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, the lord of birth, Brahmā god, the trouble-free, the heatless, and purity, they know purity as purity, purity is not mine, purity does not belong to me, I am not possessed by purity; having not regarded purity as 'mine,' they know purity. Brahmā god! I know earth as earth, earth is not mine, earth does not belong to me, I am not possessed by earth; having not regarded earth as 'mine,' I know earth. Thus, regarding water, fire, wind, spirits, gods, the lord of birth, Brahmā god, the trouble-free, the heatless, and purity, I know purity as purity, purity is not mine, purity does not belong to me, I am not possessed by purity; having not regarded purity as 'mine,' I know purity."

Then, Brahmā god said to the World-Honored One, "Great Sage! These beings love existence, delight in existence, and are accustomed to existence. You have already uprooted the root of existence. Why is that? Because of the Tathāgata, the Unattached, the Perfectly Enlightened One." He then spoke a verse, saying:

Those who see existence as terrifying do not fear non-existence. Therefore
do not delight in existence. What is there that cannot be eliminated?

"Great Sage! I now wish to make myself invisible."

The World-Honored One said, "Brahma Heaven! If you wish to make yourself invisible, then do as you please."

Then Brahma Heaven immediately made himself invisible wherever he was. The World-Honored One immediately knew, "Brahma Heaven! You are there, you are here, you are in between."

Then Brahma Heaven fully displayed his supernatural powers, wishing to make himself invisible but unable to do so. He returned to the Brahma Heaven. Then the World-Honored One said, "Brahma Heaven! I now also wish to make myself invisible."

Brahma Heaven said to the World-Honored One, "Great Sage! If you wish to make yourself invisible, then do as you wish."

Then the World-Honored One thought, "I should now manifest the supernatural power of the image as it is, emit extremely wonderful light, illuminate all Brahma Heavens, and hide myself, so that the Brahma Heavens and their retinues only hear my voice but do not see my form." Then the World-Honored One manifested the supernatural power of the image as it is, emitted extremely wonderful light, illuminated all Brahma Heavens, and hid himself, so that the Brahma Heavens and their retinues only heard his voice but did not see his form. Then the Brahma Heavens and their retinues each thought, "The Śramaṇa Gautama is truly extraordinary! He has great supernatural power, great majesty, great merit, and great spiritual power. Why is that? It is because he emits extremely wonderful light, illuminates all Brahma Heavens, and hides himself, so that we and our retinues only hear his voice but do not see his form."

Then the World-Honored One again thought, "I have already converted this Brahma Heaven and its retinue. I should now withdraw the supernatural power." The World-Honored One then withdrew the supernatural power and returned to the Brahma Heaven.

Then the Demon King also went there twice or thrice in the assembly. At that time, the Demon King said to the World-Honored One, "Great Sage, you see well, know well, and understand well. But do not instruct and admonish your disciples, do not teach the Dharma for your disciples, do not be attached to your disciples; do not be attached to your disciples, and when your body perishes and your life ends, you will be reborn in other inferior and lowly celestial realms of music. Practice the formless, and attain peace and happiness in this present life. Why is that? Great Sage, this is just self-affliction. Great Sage, in the past, there were śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who instructed and admonished their disciples, taught the Dharma for their disciples, and were attached to their disciples. Because of being attached to their disciples, when their bodies perished and their lives ended, they were reborn in other inferior and lowly celestial realms of music. Great Sage, therefore I tell you, do not instruct and admonish your disciples, do not teach the Dharma for your disciples, do not be attached to your disciples; do not be attached to your disciples, and when your body perishes and your life ends, you will be reborn in other inferior and lowly celestial realms of music. Practice the formless, and attain peace and happiness in this present life. Why is that? Great Sage, you are just afflicting yourself in vain."

Then the World-Honored One said, "Demon King Pāpīyas, you speak to me not for the sake of truth, not for the sake of benefit, not for the sake of happiness, not for the sake of peace: 'Do not instruct and admonish your disciples, do not teach the Dharma for your disciples, do not be attached to your disciples, do not be attached to your disciples, and when your body perishes and your life ends, you will be reborn in other inferior and lowly celestial realms of music. Practice the formless, and attain peace and happiness in this present life. Why is that? Great Sage, you are just afflicting yourself in vain.' Demon King Pāpīyas, you think: 'This Śramaṇa Gautama teaches the Dharma for his disciples, and when his disciples hear the Dharma, they will leave my realm.' Demon King Pāpīyas, therefore you now speak to me: 'Do not instruct and admonish your disciples, do not teach the Dharma for your disciples, do not be attached to your disciples; do not be attached to your disciples, and when your body perishes and your life ends, you will be reborn in other inferior and lowly celestial realms of music. Practice the formless, and attain peace and happiness in this present life. Why is that? Great Sage, you are just afflicting yourself in vain.'

"Demon King Pāpīyas, if there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who instruct and admonish their disciples, teach the Dharma for their disciples, and are attached to their disciples; because of being attached to their disciples, when their bodies perish and their lives end, they will be reborn in other inferior and lowly celestial realms of music. Those śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas are not true śramaṇas, they claim to be śramaṇas, not true brāhmaṇas, they claim to be brāhmaṇas, not true arhats, they claim to be arhats, not true perfect buddhas, they claim to be perfect buddhas. Demon King Pāpīyas, I am truly a śramaṇa, I claim to be a śramaṇa, truly a brāhmaṇa, I claim to be a brāhmaṇa, truly an arhat, I claim to be an arhat, truly a perfect buddha, I claim to be a perfect buddha. Demon King Pāpīyas, whether I teach the Dharma for my disciples or not, you may go now. I myself know when it is appropriate to teach the Dharma for my disciples and when it is not appropriate to teach the Dharma for my disciples."

This is the request of Brahmā Heaven, and the Demon King Pāpīyas goes against the World-Honored One and speaks in accordance with it. Therefore, this sūtra is named "Requested by Brahmā Heaven."

The Buddha spoke thus. Brahmā Heaven and the retinue of Brahmā Heaven, upon hearing the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.