Thanking moderator Aik TC in the lovable share, because ever
since reading the debate between Vimalakirti and Manjusri it has
been a while since a discourse is so relevant to mundane fools like
me. If I were to summarise this whole discourse in one sentence, if
the wife is a prostitute and mamasan, the husband is the gigolo and
pimp, so who is worthier?
"Assalayana Sutta: With Assalayana" (MN 93), translated from the
Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition), 30
November
2013,http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.093.than.html
.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying
near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monstery. And on
that occasion five hundred brahmans from various provinces were
staying at Savatthi on some business or other. The thought occurred
to them, "This Gotama the contemplative prescribes purity for the
four castes. Now who is capable of disputing with him on this
statement?" And on that occasion the brahman student Assalayana was
staying at Savatthi. Young, shaven-headed, sixteen years old, he
was a master of the Three Vedas with their vocabularies, liturgy,
phonology, etymology, & histories as a fifth; skilled in
philology & grammar, he was fully versed in cosmology and in
the marks of a Great Man. The thought occurred to the brahmans,
"This brahman student Assalayana is staying in Savatthi... He is
capable of disputing with Gotama the contemplative on this
statement."
So the brahmans went to the brahman student Assalayana and said
to him, "Master Assalayana, this Gotama the contemplative
prescribes purity for the four castes. Come and dispute with him on
this statement."
When this was said, the brahman student Assalayana said to the
brahmans, "Sirs, Gotama the contemplative is one who speaks Dhamma.
And those who speak Dhamma are hard to dispute with. I can't
dispute with him on this statement."
A second time... A third time, the brahmans said to the brahman
student Assalayana, "Master Assalayana, this Gotama the
contemplative prescribes purity for the four castes. Come and
dispute with him on this statement, for you have lived the life of
a wanderer. Don't be defeated without being defeated in
battle."
When this was said, the brahman student Assalayana said to the
brahmans, "Apparently, sirs, I don't get leave from you (to avoid
the matter by saying), 'Gotama the contemplative is one who speaks
Dhamma. And those who speak Dhamma are hard to dispute with. I
can't dispute with him on this statement.' But at your bidding I
will go."
Then the brahman student Assalayana went with a large group of
brahmans to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous
greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings &
courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to
the Blessed One: "Master Gotama, the brahmans say, 'Brahmans are
the superior caste; any other caste is inferior. Only brahmans are
the fair caste; any other caste is dark. Only brahmans are pure,
not non-brahmans. Only brahmans are the sons & offspring of
Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs
of Brahma.' What does Master Gotama have to say with regard to
that?"
"But, Assalayana, the brahmans' brahman-women are plainly seen
having their periods, becoming pregnant, giving birth, and nursing
[their children]. And yet the brahmans, being born through the
birth canal, say, 'Brahmans are the superior caste; any other caste
is inferior. Only brahmans are the fair caste; any other caste is
dark. Only brahmans are pure, not non-brahmans. Only brahmans are
the sons & offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of
Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs of Brahma.'"
"Even though Master Gotama says that, still the brahmans think,
'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons & offspring of
Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs
of Brahma.'"
"What do you think, Assalayana? Have you heard that in Yana
& Kamboja and other outlying countries there are only two
castes — masters & slaves — and that having been a master one
(can) become a slave, and that having been a slave one (can) become
a master?"
"Yes, Master Gotama..."
"So what strength is there, Assalayana, what assurance, when the
brahmans say, 'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons &
offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by
Brahma, heirs of Brahma'?"
"Even though Master Gotama says that, still the brahmans think,
'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons & offspring of
Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs
of Brahma.'"
"What do you think, Assalayana? Is it only a noble warrior who —
taking life, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, telling lies,
speaking divisively, speaking harshly, engaging in idle chatter,
greedy, bearing thoughts of ill will, and holding wrong views — on
the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in the plane of
deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell, and
not a brahman? Is it only a merchant...? Is it only a worker who —
taking life, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, telling lies,
speaking divisively, speaking harshly, engaging in idle chatter,
greedy, bearing thoughts of ill will, and holding wrong views — on
the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in the plane of
deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell, and
not a brahman?"
"No, Master Gotama. Even a noble warrior... Even a brahman...
Even a merchant... Even a worker... (Members of) all four castes —
if they take life, steal, engage in sexual misconduct, tell lies,
speak divisively, speak harshly, engage in idle chatter, are
greedy, bear thoughts of ill will, & hold wrong views — on the
break-up of the body, after death, reappear in the plane of
deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell."
"So what strength is there, Assalayana, what assurance, when the
brahmans say, 'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons &
offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by
Brahma, heirs of Brahma'?"
"Even though Master Gotama says that, still the brahmans think,
'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons & offspring of
Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs
of Brahma.'"
"What do you think, Assalayana? Is it only a brahman who —
refraining from taking life, from stealing, from sexual misconduct,
from telling lies, from speaking divisive speech, from harsh
speech, & from idle chatter, not greedy, bearing no thoughts of
ill-will, & holding to right view — on the break-up of the
body, after death, reappears in the good destination, the heavenly
world, and not a noble warrior, not a merchant, not a worker?"
"No, Master Gotama. Even a noble warrior... Even a brahman...
Even a merchant... Even a worker... (Members of) all four castes —
if they refrain from taking life, from stealing, from sexual
misconduct, from telling lies, from speaking divisive speech, from
harsh speech, & from idle chatter, are not greedy, bear no
thoughts of ill-will, & hold to right view — on the break-up of
the body, after death, reappear in the good destination, the
heavenly world."
"So what strength is there, Assalayana, what assurance, when the
brahmans say, 'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons &
offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by
Brahma, heirs of Brahma'?"
"Even though Master Gotama says that, still the brahmans think,
'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons & offspring of
Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs
of Brahma.'"
"What do you think, Assalayana? Is it only a brahman who is
capable of developing in any direction a heart of good will — free
from animosity, free from ill will — and not a noble warrior, not a
merchant, not a worker?"
"No, Master Gotama. Even a noble warrior... Even a brahman...
Even a merchant... Even a worker... (Members of) all four castes
are capable of developing in any direction a heart of good will —
free from animosity, free from ill will."
"So what strength is there, Assalayana, what assurance, when the
brahmans say, 'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons &
offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by
Brahma, heirs of Brahma'?"
"Even though Master Gotama says that, still the brahmans think,
'Brahmans are the superior caste... the sons & offspring of
Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs
of Brahma.'"
"What do you think, Assalayana? Is it only a brahman who is
capable of taking a loofah & bath powder, going to a river, and
scrubbing off dust & dirt, and not a noble warrior, not a
merchant, not a worker?"
"No, Master Gotama. Even a noble warrior... Even a brahman...
Even a merchant... Even a worker... (Members of) all four castes
are capable of taking a loofah & bath powder, going to a river,
and scrubbing off dust & dirt."
"So what strength is there, Assalayana, what assurance, when the
brahmans say, 'Brahmans are the superior caste... Only brahmans are
pure, not non-brahmans. Only brahmans are the sons & offspring
of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma,
heirs of Brahma'?"
"Even though Master Gotama says that, still the brahmans think,
'Brahmans are the superior caste... Only brahmans are pure, not
non-brahmans. Only brahmans are the sons & offspring of Brahma:
born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs of
Brahma.'"
"What do you think, Assalayana? There is the case where a
consecrated noble warrior king might call together one hundred men
of different births (and say to them), 'Come, masters. Those of you
there born from a noble warrior clan, from a brahman clan, or from
a royal clan: taking an upper fire-stick of saala wood, salala
wood, sandalwood, or padumaka wood, produce fire & make heat
appear. And come, masters. Those of you there born from an outcast
clan, a trapper clan, a wicker workers' clan, a cartwrights' clan,
or a scavengers' clan: taking an upper fire-stick from a dog's
drinking trough, from a pig's trough, from a dustbin, or of
castor-oil wood, produce fire & make heat appear.' What do you
think, Assalayana? Would the fire made by those born from a noble
warrior clan, a brahman clan, or a royal clan — who had produced
fire & made heat appear by taking an upper fire-stick of saala
wood, salala wood, sandalwood, or padumaka wood — be the only one
with flame, color, & radiance, able to do whatever a fire might
be needed to do? And would the fire made by those born those born
from an outcast clan, a trapper clan, a wicker workers' clan, a
cartwrights' clan, or a scavengers' clan — who had produced fire
& made heat appear by taking an upper fire-stick from a dog's
drinking trough, from a pig's trough, from a dustbin, or of
castor-oil wood — be without flame, color, & radiance, unable
to do what a fire might be needed to do?"
"No, Master Gotama. The fire made by those born from a noble
warrior clan, a brahman clan, or a royal clan... would have flame,
color, & radiance, able to do whatever a fire might be needed
to do. And the fire made by those born from an outcast clan, a
trapper clan, a wicker workers' clan, a cartwrights' clan, or a
scavengers' clan... would have flame, color, & radiance, able
to do whatever a fire might be needed to do. For all fire has
flame, color, & radiance, and is able to do whatever a fire
might be needed to do."
"So what strength is there, Assalayana, what assurance, when the
brahmans say, 'Brahmans are the superior caste... Only brahmans are
pure, not non-brahmans. Only brahmans are the sons & offspring
of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma,
heirs of Brahma'?"
"Even though Master Gotama says that, still the brahmans think,
'Brahmans are the superior caste... Only brahmans are pure, not
non-brahmans. Only brahmans are the sons & offspring of Brahma:
born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs of
Brahma.'"
"What do you think, Assalayana? There is the case where a noble
warrior youth might cohabit with a brahman maiden, and from their
cohabitation a son would be born. Would the son born from the noble
warrior youth and brahman maiden be like the father and like the
mother? Should it be called a noble warrior & a brahman?"
"Yes, Master Gotama..."
"What do you think, Assalayana? There is the case where a
brahman youth might cohabit with a noble warrior maiden, and from
their cohabitation a son would be born. Would the son born from the
brahman youth and noble warrior maiden be like the father and like
the mother? Should it be called a noble warrior & a
brahman?"
"Yes, Master Gotama..."
"What do you think, Assalayana? There is the case where a mare
might mate with a donkey, and from their mating a foal would be
born. Would the foal born from the mare & the donkey be like
the father and like the mother? Should it be called a horse & a
donkey?"
"Master Gotama, from the mixed breeding it would be a mule. Here
I see that it [the mixed breeding] makes a difference, but there
[in the other two cases] I don't see that it makes a
difference."
"What do you think, Assalayana? There is the case where there
might be two brahman-student brothers, born of the same mother: one
learned & initiated, the other not learned & uninitiated.
Which of the two would the brahmans serve first at a funeral feast,
a milk-rice offering, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?"
"The brahman student who was learned & initiated, Master
Gotama... For what great fruit would there be for what is given to
one who is not learned & uninitiated?"
"What do you think, Assalayana? There is the case where there
might be two brahman-student brothers, born of the same mother: one
learned & initiated (but) unvirtuous & of evil character,
the other not learned & uninitiated, (but) virtuous & of
fine character. Which of the two would the brahmans serve first at
a funeral feast, a milk-rice offering, a sacrifice, or a feast for
guests?"
"The brahman student who was not learned & uninitiated,
(but) virtuous & of fine character, Master Gotama... For what
great fruit would there be for what is given to one who is
unvirtuous & of evil character?"
"First, Assalayana, you went by birth. Then, having gone by
birth, you went by mantras. Then, having gone by mantras, putting
them both aside, you have come around to the purity of the four
castes that I prescribe."
When this was said, the brahman student Assalayana sat silent,
abashed, his shoulders drooping, his head down, brooding, at a loss
for words.
Then the Blessed One — seeing that the brahman student
Assalayana was sitting silent, abashed, his shoulders drooping, his
head down, brooding, at a loss for words — said to him, "Once,
Assalayana, this evil viewpoint arose in the seven brahman seers as
they were consulting together in leaf huts in the wilderness:
'Brahmans are the superior caste; any other caste is inferior. Only
brahmans are the fair caste; any other caste is dark. Only brahmans
are pure, not non-brahmans. Only brahmans are the sons &
offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by
Brahma, heirs of Brahma.' Then the seer Devala the Dark heard,
'This evil viewpoint has arisen in the seven brahman seers as they
are consulting together in leaf huts in the wilderness: 'Brahmans
are the superior caste; any other caste is inferior... Only
brahmans are the sons & offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth,
born of Brahma, created by Brahma, heirs of Brahma.' So, arranging
his hair & beard, putting on crimson garments, wearing
multi-layered sandals, and carrying a staff made of gold, he
appeared in the courtyard of the seven brahman seers. Then he
walked back & forth in the courtyard of the seven brahman seers
saying, "Well, now, where have these masters, the brahman seers,
gone? Well, now, where have these masters, the brahman seers,
gone?"
"Then the seven brahman seers said to the seer Devala the Dark,
'Now who is this, walking back & forth in the courtyard of the
seven brahman seers like a village lout, saying, "Well, now, where
have these masters, the brahman seers, gone? Well, now, where have
these masters, the brahman seers, gone?" Let's curse him!' So the
seven brahman seers cursed the seer Devala the Dark: "Be ashes,
dribble-spit![1] Be ashes, dribble-spit! Be ashes, dribble-spit!"'
But the more they cursed him, the more beautiful, good-looking,
& inspiring he became. Then the thought occurred to the seven
brahman seers, 'Our asceticism is in vain! Our holy-life is
fruitless! For before, whenever we cursed anyone, "Be ashes,
dribble-spit!" he would always become ashes. But the more we curse
this one, the more beautiful, good-looking, & inspiring he
becomes!'
"'Masters, your asceticism is not in vain, and your holy-life
not fruitless. Please, masters, abandon your hatred toward me.'
"'We abandon our hatred toward you, master. Who are you?'
"'Have you heard of the seer Devala the Dark?'
"'Yes, master.'
"'I am he.'
"Then the seven brahman seers approached him to bow down to him,
and he said to them, 'I have heard that this evil viewpoint has
arisen in the seven brahman seers as they are consulting together
in leaf huts in the wilderness: "Brahmans are the superior caste;
any other caste is inferior... Only brahmans are the sons &
offspring of Brahma: born of his mouth, born of Brahma, created by
Brahma, heirs of Brahma."'
"That is so, master.'
"'But do you know, masters, if the mother who bore you went only
with a brahman, and not with a non-brahman?'
"'No, master.'
"'And do you know if the mothers of the mother who bore you —
back seven generations of mothers — went only with brahmans, and
not with non-brahmans?'
"'No, master.'
"'And do you know if the father who sired you went only with a
brahman woman, and not with a non-brahman woman?'
"'No, master.'
"'And do you know if the fathers of the father who bore you —
back seven generations of fathers — went only with brahman women,
and not with non-brahman women?'
"'No, master.'
"'Do you know how there is the descent of an embryo?'
"'Yes, master, we know how there is the descent of an embryo.
There is the case where the mother & father have come together,
the mother is fertile, and a gandhabba [the being about to be
reborn] is standing present. The coming together of these three is
the descent of the embryo.'
"'But do you know for sure whether the gandhabba is a noble
warrior, a brahman, a merchant, or a worker?'
"'No, master.'
"'That being the case, do you know who you are?'
"'That being the case, master, we don't know who we are.'
"Now, Assalayana, when those seven brahman seers couldn't defend
their own birth-statement when interrogated, pressed, & rebuked
by the seer Devala the Dark, how can you now defend your own
birth-statement when interrogated, pressed, & rebuked by me —
you, their lineage holder, but not (the equal of) Punna, their
ladle holder?"
When this was said, the brahman student Assalayana said to the
Blessed One: "Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if
he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was
hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp
into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same
way has Master Gotama — through many lines of reasoning — made the
Dhamma clear. I go to Master Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma, and
to the Sangha of monks. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay
follower who has gone to him for refuge, from this day forward, for
life."
Note1.Reading capalii with the Thai edition of the Canon. The
PTS edition has vasalii ("one having a vile person (as a
mother?)"); the Sri Lankan edition, vasala, "vile person."