Tagged: Ajapāla
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2. Ajapālakathā (The Account of the Goatherd's Banyan Tree)
1After emerging from seven days of concentration, the Bhagavā relocated from the Bodhi tree to the goatherd's banyan Tree, where he sat for another seven days experiencing the bliss of liberation. Here, a disapproving `brāhmaṇa` approached and asked what defines a true brāhmaṇa and their qualities. The Bhagavā responded with an inspired utterance, stating that a true brāhmaṇa is one who has discarded evil qualities, is free from arrogance and defilements, is self-controlled, perfected in knowledge, has lived the holy life, and has no worldly attachments, thus rightly able to claim the title 'brāhmaṇa'.
5. Brahmayācanakathā (The Account of Brahmā's Request)
2After emerging from deep concentration, the Bhagavā reflected that the profound `dhamma` (phenomenal nature of experience) he had attained would be too difficult for a generation delighting in attachment to understand, and thus inclined not to teach. However, Brahmā Sahampati (the Supreme Creator of Vedic tradition), perceiving the Bhagavā's reluctance and concerned for the world, appeared and repeatedly implored him to teach, arguing that some beings with "little dust" in their eyes would indeed comprehend the doctrine. Moved by compassion and Brahmā's persistent requests, the Bhagavā surveyed the world with his `buddhacakkhu` (eye of understanding), saw beings of varying mental capacities, much like lotuses in a pond at different stages of growth, and finally agreed to teach the `dhamma`, opening the "doors to the deathless."