佛說婆羅門避死經

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Bhagavān was dwelling in the Jeta Grove, the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the city of Śrāvastī. At that time the World-Honored One addressed the bhikṣus.

In times past there were four Brahmin sages who diligently cultivated wholesome Dharma and the five kinds of supernatural power, yet they constantly dreaded death. The four Brahmin sages diligently cultivated the five supernatural powers and the wholesome Dharma. They reflected thus: "Where should we dwell so that we may live forever in the world?" At that time there was one Brahmin who diligently cultivated wholesome Dharma.

He possessed the five great supernatural powers. "If I ascend into empty space and dwell therein, surely I shall not die." But when that person entered into empty space, he lost his life. The second Brahmin diligently cultivated the five supernatural powers, and out of fear of death he plunged into the great ocean, thinking, "If I dwell within the ocean, surely I shall not die." Yet that person lost his life within the ocean.

The third Brahmin diligently cultivated wholesome Dharma and possessed the five supernatural powers and majestic might. Out of fear of death he entered into a mountain, and right there within it his life came to an end. As for that fourth Brahmin, he diligently cultivated wholesome Dharma and the five supernatural powers.

He possessed great majestic might. Out of fear of death he entered into the earth, thinking, "If I dwell within it, I shall escape death." Yet he died within the earth.

At that time the World-Honored One, using his divine eye, which was pure and unobstructed, beheld and contemplated the four Brahmins who, dreading death, had diligently cultivated wholesome Dharma and possessed the five kinds of supernatural power: one dwelt in empty space and died there; one entered into the ocean and died there; one entered into a mountain and died there; one entered into the earth and died there.

At that time the World-Honored One, having seen the four Brahmins who diligently cultivated wholesome Dharma and had attained the five kinds of majestic supernatural power, spoke this verse:

Neither in empty space nor in the ocean, nor by entering into mountains and rocks—

there is no place at all where one may escape and not die.

At that time the bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced and reverently put it into practice.

The Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha on the Brahmins Who Fled from Death