Toh 333The Noble “Sūtra of Vasiṣṭha”

Summary

While residing in Nyagrodha Park in Kapilavastu, the
Buddha meets an emaciated, long-haired brahmin named
Vasiṣṭha. When the Buddha asks Vasiṣṭha why he looks this
way, Vasiṣṭha explains that it is because he is observing a
month-long fast. The Buddha then asks him if he maintains
the eightfold observance of the noble ones, prompting an
exchange between the two about what the eightfold observance
entails and how much merit is to be gained by maintaining
it. After outlining the eightfold observance, the Buddha
tells Vasiṣṭha that there is far more merit to be had in
maintaining it, even just once, than there is to be gained
by making offerings. At the end of the sūtra, Vasiṣṭha takes
refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha, and he
pledges to maintain the eightfold observance and practice
generosity in tandem.

Acknowledgements

Translated by Elizabeth Angowski. I thank Sophia Nasti
and Caley Smith for providing insights into ancient Indian
geography.

The translation was completed under the patronage and
supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the
Buddha.

Introduction

While residing in Nyagrodha Park in Kapilavastu,
the Buddha meets an emaciated, long-haired brahmin
named Vasiṣṭha. When the Buddha asks this brahmin
why he looks so thin, unkempt, and haggard, Vasiṣṭha
explains that it is because he is observing a
month-long fast. The Buddha then asks him whether he
maintains the so-called “eightfold observance of the
noble ones,” prompting an exchange between the two
about what this observance entails, and the extent
of the merit gained by maintaining it. After
outlining the observance, the Buddha declares to
Vasiṣṭha that maintaining the eightfold observance,
even just once, results in far more merit than
making vast offerings. At the end of the sūtra,
Vasiṣṭha takes refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and
the Saṅgha, and he pledges to maintain the eightfold
observance and practice generosity in tandem.

At its heart, The Sūtra of
Vasiṣṭha outlines the eightfold observance
that laypeople are encouraged to maintain on the
four sacred lunar days of the new moon, the full
moon, and the two days that fall halfway in between
these two lunar events. This practice is closely
related to the restorative rite, known in Sanskrit
as poṣadha, in which the monks and nuns
gather on the new moon and full moon days to confess
any faults and transgressions and to recite the
monastic rules, the prātimokṣa. In fact, at times the term
poṣadha can also refer specifically to
the eightfold observance that is adopted by some lay
people on the four sacred lunar days.

Regarding this latter meaning, the Buddha tells
Vasiṣṭha that on these days a layperson should
emulate the conduct of the worthy ones—the Buddha’s
awakened disciples—by refraining from eight things:
(1) killing, (2) stealing, (3) engaging in sexual
activity, (4) speaking falsely, (5) becoming
intoxicated, (6) singing, dancing, music, and
beautifying oneself with adornments or cosmetics,
(7) using high or large beds, and (8) eating at the
improper time.

If one refrains from all these things, even just
for one day, one is certain to gain vast amounts of
merit. Following this explanation, Vasiṣṭha asks the
Buddha how, in terms of merit accumulation,
gift-giving compares to maintaining the eightfold
observance. The Buddha’s response is definitive: the
merit produced by generosity does not even come
close to a fraction of the merit born of maintaining
the eightfold observance. Moreover, the Buddha adds,
by maintaining the eightfold observance, one stands
to be reborn into heavenly realms where the gods
enjoy happiness for far longer than the average
human lifetime, and that divine happiness makes
sovereignty in the mundane world pale in
comparison.

This English translation of The Sūtra of Vasiṣṭha, which to the best
of our knowledge is the first in any modern
language, is based on the Tibetan version in the
Degé Kangyur in consultation with the variant
readings recorded in the Comparative Edition (Tib.
dpe bsdur ma) and
the Stok Palace Kangyur. The Pali suttas referred to
above were also consulted. The colophon to the
Tibetan translation states that it was translated,
corrected, and finalized by the Indian scholar
Sarvajñādeva and the chief editor-translator Bandé
Paltsek. The text’s inclusion in the Denkarma and
Phangthangma imperial catalogs confirms its
provenance in the late eighth or early ninth
century.

The Translation

The Noble

Sūtra of Vasiṣṭha

Homage to all
buddhas and bodhisattvas!

Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was
residing in Nyagrodha Park in Kapilavastu. Then, the
great sage Kapila, while walking and wandering about
for his daily exercise, deliberately proceeded to
the place where the Blessed One was residing. After
he made all manner of pleasing and polite conversation
with the Blessed One, he sat down to one side.

The Blessed One responded, “Those brahmins will
experience all they wish for among gods and humans.”

“Gautama, what is the so-called eightfold
observance of the noble ones?” asked Vasiṣṭha. “And
how, by adhering to the eightfold observance of the
noble ones, will one experience all one wishes for among gods and humans?”

“Vasiṣṭha, when faithful sons or daughters of
good families want to maintain the eightfold
observance of the noble ones, they get up in the
morning and go before a monk, or a brahmin, or
anyone else who is wise. They arrange their upper
robe over one shoulder, place their right knee on
the ground, join their palms, and utter this
statement: ‘I, named so-and-so, from now through
sundown tonight and until sunrise tomorrow, abandon taking life and abstain
from taking life. I relinquish the
stick and the sword, behaving with conscientiousness
and compassion as I abandon and abstain from taking
the life of any being, living creature, or
spirit—even the least among them, including tiny
creatures such as ants. Just as those noble ones,
the worthy ones, who, for as long as they live, have
abandoned taking life and have abstained from taking
life, relinquished the stick and the sword, and
abandoned and abstained from taking the life of any
being, living creature, or spirit—even the least
among them, including tiny creatures such as
ants—likewise I, so-and-so, from now through sundown
tonight and until sunrise tomorrow, also abandon
taking life and abstain from taking life. I
relinquish the stick and the sword, behaving with
conscientiousness and compassion as I abandon and
abstain from taking the life of any sentient being,
living creature, or spirit—even the least among
them, including tiny creatures such as ants. Through
this first factor, I emulate, act in accordance
with, and imitate the course of conduct of the noble
ones, the worthy ones.’

“Recite thus a second and a third time.
Vasiṣṭha, this is the eightfold observance of the
noble ones, and thus, by maintaining the eightfold
observance of the noble ones, one will experience all one wishes for among gods and humans. Vasiṣṭha, you should
maintain the eightfold observance of the noble ones,
practice diligently on special days, and experience all you wish for among gods and humans!

“Regarding the merit of those faithful sons or
daughters of good families who maintain the
eightfold observance of the noble ones, Vasiṣṭha,
one cannot fathom the extent of the merit, nor the
fruits of the merit, nor the ripening of the fruits
of the merit by saying, ‘It is this much.’ And yet,
it is described as ‘many heaps of merit.’

“Similarly, Vasiṣṭha, regarding the merit of
those sons or daughters of good families who
maintain the eightfold observance of the noble ones,
one cannot fathom the extent of the merit, nor the
fruits of the merit, nor the ripening of the fruits
of the merit by saying, ‘It is this much.’ And yet,
it is described as ‘a lot of merit.’

“Vasiṣṭha, what do you think? Can someone fathom
the waters of the great ocean, saying, ‘There is
this much water, or this many hundred jugs of water,
or this many thousand jugs of water, or this many
hundred thousand jugs of water’?”

The Blessed One said, “One should understand
this through the following illustration: it is
possible that someone, at some time, and by some
means could fathom the volume of water in the great
ocean, saying, ‘There is this much water, or this
many hundred jugs of water, or this many thousand
jugs of water, or this many hundred thousand jugs of
water,’ but one cannot fathom the extent of the
merit of maintaining the eightfold observance of the
noble ones a single time, or the fruits of the
merit, or the ripening of the fruits of the merit,
saying, ‘It is this much.’ And yet, it is described
as ‘a lot of merit’ and ‘a big heap of merit.’

The brahmin Vasiṣṭha then replied to the
Blessed One with these words: “O Gautama, now
consider two people: the first practices gift giving
for as long as they live, but the second, for as
long as they live, maintains the
eightfold observance of the noble ones. Of the two,
Blessed One, who is superior?”

“Vasiṣṭha,” answered the Blessed One, “in this
case, maintaining the eightfold observance of the
noble ones and generosity are not equal. As an
analogy, Vasiṣṭha, say that a son or daughter of a
good family, for as long as they live, makes
offerings to whosoever is a worthy one on this Jambu
continent—their contaminants ceased, their work
done, their task complete, their burden laid down,
their own purpose attained, their connection to
existence entirely extinguished, and satisfied
thanks to the complete liberation of their minds
through right knowledge. They make offerings of the
precious things contained in the sixteen great
kingdoms —Aṅga, Magadha, Kośala, Kāśī, Vṛji, Malla,
Puṇḍra, Srekpa, Kāmā, Avanti,
Kuru, Pañcāla, Vatsa, Śūrasena, Yavana, and Kamboja. That
is to say, they make offerings of diamonds,
emeralds, rubies, sapphires, magnificent sapphires,
crystals, pearls, beryl,
shell stones, coral, silver, alluvial gold, aśmagarbha emeralds,
cat’s eyes, red pearls, and right-coiling
conches—all begotten through strenuous effort,
earned thanks to the sweat of one’s brow and by the
strength of one’s arms, and justly and lawfully
obtained. They make offerings of those things along
with provisions, garments, food, bedding, and
medicines that cure illness. When compared to a
second person maintaining the eightfold observance
of the noble ones a single time, the heap of merit
that arises from the aforementioned acts of
generosity does not even come close to a hundredth
part of the heap of merit that arises from
maintaining the eightfold observance of the noble
ones. It does not even come close to a thousandth,
or a hundred
thousandth, or any number, fraction, sum total,
analogy, or comparison. Vasiṣṭha, such is the great
fruit of maintaining the eightfold observance of the
noble ones; such is the great benefit; such is the
great power; such is the abundance. Vasiṣṭha,
maintain the eightfold observance of the noble ones,
practice diligently on special days, and experience all that gods and humans wish!

“Furthermore, Vasiṣṭha, in comparison to the
happiness of the god realms, sovereignty in the human realm is
of paltry worth. That which among humans is fifty years is
but one day for the gods of the Heaven of the Four
Great Kings. Fifteen of those spans of one day equal
half a month, and thirty such days equal a month,
and twelve such months equal a year. By that way of
calculating, whatever constitutes five hundred years
for the gods, that is the lifespan for the gods of
the Heaven of the Four Great Kings. If calculated by
human standards, it is nine million years. Vasiṣṭha, upon
separation from the body, the fate of a faithful son
or daughter of a good family, one who has maintained
the eightfold observance of the noble ones a single
time, will be a rebirth equal in status to the gods
of the Heaven of the Four Great Kings. Vasiṣṭha,
this is what I had in mind when I proclaimed,
‘In comparison to the happiness of the god realms, sovereignty
in the human realm is of paltry worth.’

“That which among humans is one hundred years
is but one day for the gods of the Heaven of the
Thirty-Three. Fifteen of those spans of one day
equal half a month, and thirty such days equal a
month, and twelve such months equal a year. By that
way of calculating, whatever constitutes one
thousand years for the gods, that is the lifespan
for the gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. If
calculated by human standards, it is thirty-six
million years. Upon separation from the body, the
fate of a faithful son or daughter of a good family,
one who maintains the eightfold observance of the
noble ones a single time, will
be a rebirth equal in status to the gods of the
Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Vasiṣṭha, this is what I
had in mind when I proclaimed, ‘In comparison to the happiness of the god realms, sovereignty
in the human realm is of paltry worth.’

“Vasiṣṭha, that which among humans is two
hundred years is but one day for the gods of the
Heaven Free from Strife. Fifteen of those spans of
one day equal half a month, and thirty such days
equal a month, and twelve such months equal a year.
By that way of calculating, whatever constitutes two
thousand years, that is the lifespan for the gods of
the Heaven Free from Strife. If calculated by human
standards, it is one hundred and forty-four million
years. Upon separation
from the body, the fate of a faithful son or
daughter of a good family, one who maintains the
eightfold observance of the noble ones a single
time, will be a rebirth equal in status to the gods
of the Heaven Free from Strife. Vasiṣṭha, this is
what I had in mind when I proclaimed, ‘In comparison to the happiness of the god realms, sovereignty
in the human realm is of paltry worth.’

“Vasiṣṭha, that which among humans is four
hundred years is but one day for the gods of the
Heaven of Joy. Fifteen of those spans of one day
equal half a month, and thirty such days equal a
month, and twelve such months equal a year. Just so,
by that way of calculating years, whatever
constitutes four thousand years for the gods, that
is the lifespan for the gods of the Heaven of Joy.
If calculated by human standards, it is five hundred
and seventy-six million years. Vasiṣṭha, upon
separation from the body, the fate of a faithful son
or daughter of a good family, one who maintains the
eightfold observance of the noble ones a single
time, will be a rebirth equal in status to the gods
of the Heaven of Joy. Vasiṣṭha, this is what I had
in mind when I proclaimed, ‘In comparison to the happiness of the god realms, sovereignty
in the human realm is of paltry worth.’

“Vasiṣṭha, that which among humans is eight
hundred years is but one day for
the gods of the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations.
Fifteen of those spans of one day equal half a
month, and thirty such days equal a month, and
twelve such months equal a year. By that way of
calculating years, whatever constitutes eight
thousand years for the gods, that is the lifespan
for the gods of the Heaven of Delighting in
Emanations. If calculated by human standards, it is
two billion three hundred four million years.
Upon separation from the body, the fate of a
faithful son or daughter of a good family, one who
maintains the eightfold observance of the noble ones
a single time, will be a rebirth equal in status to
the gods of the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations.
Vasiṣṭha, this is what I had in mind when I
proclaimed, ‘In comparison to the happiness of the god realms, sovereignty
in the human realm is of paltry worth.’

“Vasiṣṭha, that which among humans is sixteen
hundred years is but one day for the gods of the
Heaven of Making Use of Others’ Emanations. Fifteen
of those spans of one day equal half a month, and
thirty such days equal a month, and twelve such
months equal a year. By that way of calculating
years, whatever constitutes sixteen thousand years,
that is the lifespan for the gods of the Heaven of
Making Use of Others’ Emanations. If calculated by
human standards, it is nine billion two hundred
sixteen million years. Upon separation from the body, the
fate of a faithful son or daughter of a good family,
one who maintains the eightfold observance of the
noble ones a single time, will be a rebirth equal in
status to the gods of the Heaven of Making Use of
Others’ Emanations. Vasiṣṭha, this is what I had in
mind when I proclaimed, ‘In comparison to the happiness of the god realms, sovereignty
in the human realm is of paltry worth.’

“Vasiṣṭha, maintain the eightfold observance of
the noble ones, practice diligently on special days,
and experience all you wish for among gods and humans!”

The brahmin Vasiṣṭha then said these words to
the Blessed One: “O Gautama, for a
long time, for every lunar special day, I have
wearily performed severe austerities, yet I have
gained nothing at all. Today and henceforth, I take
refuge in the Buddha; I take refuge in the Dharma
and in the Saṅgha. With all the power and strength
that I possess, I will maintain the eightfold
observance of the noble ones, and I will practice
generosity.”

The Blessed One proclaimed, “Vasiṣṭha, this is
excellent! That is your task!” After the Blessed One
proclaimed those words, the brahmin Vasiṣṭha, along
with the world with its gods, humans, asuras, and
gandharvas, rejoiced and extolled what the Blessed
One had taught.

This concludes the Noble Sūtra of Vasiṣṭha.

Colophon

Notes

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Secondary Literature

lunar special day

dgung zla
དགུང་ཟླ།

eightfold observance
eightfold observance of the noble ones

Kāmā

kA mA
ཀཱ་མཱ།

One With Houses

khyim ldan
ཁྱིམ་ལྡན།

One With the Lake

mtsho ldan
མཚོ་ལྡན།

Saté

sa ste
ས་སྟེ།

Srekpa

Bandé Paltsek

ban de dpal brtsegs
བན་དེ་དཔལ་བརྩེགས།