The Royal Monastery · SN 55.11–55.20

SN 55.11 · A Saṅgha of a Thousand Nuns

SN 55.11 · Sahassabhikkhunisaṅghasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Royal Monastery. Then a Saṅgha of a thousand nuns went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. The Buddha said to them:

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati rājakārāme. Atha kho sahassabhikkhunisaṅgho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhagavā etadavoca:

“Nuns, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

“Catūhi kho, bhikkhuniyo, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhuniyo, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti, akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, bhikkhuniyo, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo”ti.

SN 55.12 · The Brahmins

SN 55.12 · Brāhmaṇasutta

At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, the brahmins advocate a practice called ‘get up and go’. They encourage their disciple: ‘Please, my man, rising early you should face east and walk. Do not avoid a pit, a cliff, a stump, thorny ground, a swamp, or a sewer. You should await death in the place that you fall. And when your body breaks up, after death, you’ll be reborn in a good place, a heaven realm.’

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. “Brāhmaṇā, bhikkhave, udayagāminiṁ nāma paṭipadaṁ paññapenti. Te sāvakaṁ evaṁ samādapenti: ‘ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, kālasseva uṭṭhāya pācīnamukho yāhi. So tvaṁ mā sobbhaṁ parivajjehi, mā papātaṁ, mā khāṇuṁ, mā kaṇḍakaṭhānaṁ, mā candaniyaṁ, mā oḷigallaṁ. Yattha papateyyāsi tattheva maraṇaṁ āgameyyāsi. Evaṁ tvaṁ, ambho purisa, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissasī’ti.

But this practice of the brahmins is a foolish procedure, a stupid procedure. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, or extinguishment. But in the training of the Noble One I advocate a ‘get up and go’ practice which does lead solely to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

Taṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇānaṁ bālagamanametaṁ mūḷhagamanametaṁ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. Ahañca kho, bhikkhave, ariyassa vinaye udayagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ paññāpemi; yā ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.

And what is that ‘get up and go’ practice? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. This is that ‘get up and go’ practice which does lead solely to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.”

Katamā ca sā, bhikkhave, udayagāminī paṭipadā; yā ekantanibbidāya …pe… nibbānāya saṁvattati? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti; dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ayaṁ kho sā, bhikkhave, udayagāminī paṭipadā ekantanibbidāya …pe… nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

SN 55.13 · With the Senior Monk Ānanda

SN 55.13 · Ānandattherasutta

At one time the venerables Ānanda and Sāriputta were staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Sāriputta came out of retreat, went to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to him:

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca ānando āyasmā ca sāriputto sāvatthiyaṁ viharanti jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

“Reverend, how many things do people have to give up and how many do they have to possess in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening?”

“katinaṁ kho, āvuso ānanda, dhammānaṁ pahānā, katinaṁ dhammānaṁ samannāgamanahetu, evamayaṁ pajā bhagavatā byākatā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā”ti?

“Reverend, people have to give up four things and possess four things in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.

“Catunnaṁ kho, āvuso, dhammānaṁ pahānā, catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ samannāgamanahetu, evamayaṁ pajā bhagavatā byākatā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇāti.

What four? They don’t have the distrust in the Buddha that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. And they do have the experiential confidence in the Buddha that causes a learned noble disciple to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a good place, a heavenly realm. ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Yathārūpena kho, āvuso, buddhe appasādena samannāgato assutavā puthujjano kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati tathārūpassa buddhe appasādo na hoti. Yathārūpena ca kho, āvuso, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato sutavā ariyasāvako kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati tathārūpassa buddhe aveccappasādo hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

They don’t have the distrust in the teaching that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. And they do have the experiential confidence in the teaching that causes a learned noble disciple to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a good place, a heavenly realm. ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

Yathārūpena ca kho, āvuso, dhamme appasādena samannāgato assutavā puthujjano kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati tathārūpassa dhamme appasādo na hoti. Yathārūpena ca kho, āvuso, dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato sutavā ariyasāvako kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati tathārūpassa dhamme aveccappasādo hoti— svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo …pe… viññūhīti.

They don’t have the distrust in the Saṅgha that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. And they do have the experiential confidence in the Saṅgha that causes a learned noble disciple to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a good place, a heavenly realm. ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, and worthy of veneration with cupped palms.’

Yathārūpena ca kho, āvuso, saṅghe appasādena samannāgato assutavā puthujjano kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati tathārūpassa saṅghe appasādo na hoti. Yathārūpena ca kho, āvuso, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato sutavā ariyasāvako kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati tathārūpassa saṅghe aveccappasādo hoti— suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.

They don’t have the unethical conduct that causes an unlearned ordinary person to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. And they do have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones that causes a learned noble disciple to be reborn—when their body breaks up, after death—in a good place, a heavenly realm. Their ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion. People have to give up these four things and possess these four things in order for the Buddha to declare that they’re a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

Yathārūpena ca kho, āvuso, dussīlyena samannāgato assutavā puthujjano kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati tathārūpassa dussīlyaṁ na hoti. Yathārūpehi ca kho, āvuso, ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato sutavā ariyasāvako kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati tathārūpāni ariyakantāni sīlāni honti akhaṇḍāni …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikāni. Imesaṁ kho, āvuso, catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānā imesaṁ catunnaṁ dhammānaṁ samannāgamanahetu evamayaṁ pajā bhagavatā byākatā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā”ti.

SN 55.14 · Fear of the Bad Place

SN 55.14 · Duggatibhayasutta

“Mendicants, a noble disciple who has four things has gone beyond all fear of being reborn in a bad place. What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things has gone beyond all fear of being reborn in a bad place.”

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sabbaduggatibhayaṁ samatikkanto hoti. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sabbaduggatibhayaṁ samatikkanto hotī”ti.

SN 55.15 · Fear of the Bad Place, the Underworld

SN 55.15 · Duggativinipātabhayasutta

“Mendicants, a noble disciple who has four things has gone beyond all fear of being reborn in a bad place, the underworld. What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. A noble disciple who has these four things has gone beyond all fear of being reborn in a bad place, the underworld.”

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sabbaduggativinipātabhayaṁ samatikkanto hoti. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sabbaduggativinipātabhayaṁ samatikkanto hotī”ti.

SN 55.16 · Friends and Colleagues (1st)

SN 55.16 · Paṭhamamittāmaccasutta

“Mendicants, those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in the four factors of stream-entry. What four? Experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. Those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in these four factors of stream-entry.”

“Ye te, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ—mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā—te, bhikkhave, catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā. Katamesu catūsu? Buddhe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantesu sīlesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā akhaṇḍesu …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikesu. Ye te, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ—mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā—te, bhikkhave, imesu catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā”ti.

SN 55.17 · Friends and Colleagues (2nd)

SN 55.17 · Dutiyamittāmaccasutta

“Mendicants, those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in the four factors of stream-entry. What four? Experiential confidence in the Buddha …

“Ye te, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ—mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā—te, bhikkhave, catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā. Katamesu catūsu? Buddhe aveccappasāde samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.

There might be change in the four principal states—the elements of earth, water, fire, and air—but a noble disciple with experiential confidence in the Buddha would never change. In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible.

Siyā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ—pathavīdhātuyā, āpodhātuyā, tejodhātuyā, vāyodhātuyā—na tveva buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ. Tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ—‘so vata buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ vā tiracchānayoniṁ vā pettivisayaṁ vā upapajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

Experiential confidence in the teaching …

“Dhamme …pe…

Experiential confidence in the Saṅgha …

saṅghe …pe…

The ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. There might be change in the four principal states—the elements of earth, water, fire, and air—but a noble disciple with the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones would never change. In this context, ‘change’ means that such a noble disciple will be reborn in hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm: this is quite impossible.

ariyakantesu sīlesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā akhaṇḍesu …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikesu. Siyā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ aññathattaṁ—pathavīdhātuyā, āpodhātuyā, tejodhātuyā, vāyodhātuyā—na tveva ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatassa ariyasāvakassa siyā aññathattaṁ. Tatridaṁ aññathattaṁ—‘so vata ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato ariyasāvako nirayaṁ vā tiracchānayoniṁ vā pettivisayaṁ vā upapajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

Those who you have sympathy for, and those worth listening to—friends and colleagues, relatives and family—should be encouraged, supported, and established by you in these four factors of stream-entry.”

Ye te, bhikkhave, anukampeyyātha, ye ca sotabbaṁ maññeyyuṁ—mittā vā amaccā vā ñātī vā sālohitā vā—te, bhikkhave, imesu catūsu sotāpattiyaṅgesu samādapetabbā, nivesetabbā, patiṭṭhāpetabbā”ti.

SN 55.18 · A Visit to the Gods (1st)

SN 55.18 · Paṭhamadevacārikasutta

At Sāvatthī. And then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared among the gods of the thirty-three. Then several deities of the company of the thirty-three went up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, bowed, and stood to one side. Moggallāna said to them:

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—jetavane antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi. Atha kho sambahulā tāvatiṁsakāyikā devatāyo yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā devatāyo āyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca:

“Reverends, it’s good to have experiential confidence in the Buddha. … It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It’s good to have experiential confidence in the teaching. … the Saṅgha … and to have the ethical conduct that’s loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

“Sādhu kho, āvuso, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanaṁ hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanahetu kho, āvuso, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Sādhu kho, āvuso, dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… sādhu kho, āvuso, ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanaṁ hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanahetu kho, āvuso, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

“My good fellow Moggallāna, it’s good to have experiential confidence in the Buddha … It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It’s good to have experiential confidence in the teaching. … the Saṅgha … and to have the ethical conduct that’s loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

“Sādhu kho, mārisa moggallāna, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanaṁ hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanahetu kho, mārisa moggallāna, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjanti. Sādhu kho, mārisa moggallāna, dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanaṁ hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanahetu kho, mārisa moggallāna, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjantī”ti.

SN 55.19 · A Visit to the Gods (2nd)

SN 55.19 · Dutiyadevacārikasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

And then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared among the gods of the thirty-three. Then several deities of the company of the thirty-three went up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, bowed, and stood to one side. Moggallāna said to them:

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—jetavane antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi. Atha kho sambahulā tāvatiṁsakāyikā devatāyo yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā devatāyo āyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca:

“Reverends, it’s good to have experiential confidence in the Buddha. … It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, have been reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It’s good to have experiential confidence in the teaching. … the Saṅgha … and to have the ethical conduct that’s loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, have been reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

“Sādhu kho, āvuso, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanaṁ hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanahetu kho, āvuso, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā. Sādhu kho, āvuso, dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanaṁ hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanahetu kho, āvuso, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā”ti.

“My good Moggallāna, it’s good to have experiential confidence in the Buddha … It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, have been reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. It’s good to have experiential confidence in the teaching. … the Saṅgha … and to have the ethical conduct that’s loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. It’s the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, have been reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.”

“Sādhu kho, mārisa moggallāna, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanaṁ hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanahetu kho, mārisa moggallāna, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā. Sādhu kho, mārisa moggallāna, dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanaṁ hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanahetu kho, mārisa moggallāna, evam’idhekacce sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā”ti.

SN 55.20 · A Visit to the Gods (3rd)

SN 55.20 · Tatiyadevacārikasutta

Then the Buddha, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared among the gods of the thirty-three. Then several deities of the company of the thirty-three went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. The Buddha said to them:

Atha kho bhagavā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—jetavane antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi. Atha kho sambahulā tāvatiṁsakāyikā devatāyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā devatāyo bhagavā etadavoca:

“Reverends, it’s good to have experiential confidence in the Buddha. … It’s the reason why some sentient beings are stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. It’s good to have experiential confidence in the teaching. … the Saṅgha … and to have the ethical conduct that’s loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. It’s the reason why some sentient beings are stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

“Sādhu kho, āvuso, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanaṁ hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanahetu kho, āvuso, evam’idhekacce sattā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā. Sādhu kho, āvuso, dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanaṁ hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanahetu kho, āvuso, evam’idhekacce sattā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā”ti.

“Good fellow, it’s good to have experiential confidence in the Buddha … It’s the reason why some sentient beings are stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. It’s good to have experiential confidence in the teaching. … the Saṅgha … and to have the ethical conduct that’s loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion. It’s the reason why some sentient beings are stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

“Sādhu kho, mārisa, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanaṁ hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgamanahetu kho, mārisa, evamayaṁ pajā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā. Sādhu kho, mārisa, dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanaṁ hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgamanahetu kho, mārisa, evamayaṁ pajā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā”ti.