Great Chapter Home Page  Next Section

[I: The First Teachings]

[6: Deciding Who to Teach] ⁰¹

Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ⁰² ßTo whom should I teach the first Dhamma-teaching? Who will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly?û

Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßThis âëàra Kàlàma ⁰³ is wise, learned, intelligent, for a long time he has been one with little dust on his eyes. Now what if I teach the first Dhamma-teaching to âëàra Kàlàma? He will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly.û ⁰⁴

Then an invisible god ⁰⁵ informed the Gracious One: ßâëàra Kàlàma died ⁰⁶ seven days ago, venerable Sir,û and this knowledge arose in the Gracious One: ßâëàra Kàlàma died seven days ago.û ⁰⁷ Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßâëàra Kàlàma had great understanding, if he had heard this Dhamma he would have understood it quickly.û

Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßTo whom should I teach the first Dhamma-teaching? Who will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly?û Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßThis Uddaka Ràmaputta is wise, learned, intelligent, for a long time he has been one with little dust on his eyes. Now, what if I teach the first Dhamma-teaching to Uddaka Ràmaputta? He will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly.û

Then an invisible god informed the Gracious One: ßUddaka Ràmaputta died yesterday evening, ⁰⁸ venerable Sir,û and this knowledge arose in the Gracious One: ßUddaka Ràmaputta died yesterday evening.û Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßUddaka Ràmaputta had great understanding, if he had heard this Dhamma he would have understood it quickly.û

Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßTo whom should I teach the first Dhamma-teaching? Who will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly?û Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßThe group-of-five monks ⁰⁹ were very helpful to me, they attended on me when I was striving resolutely.

Now, what if I teach the first Dhamma-teaching to the group-of-five monks?û Then this occurred to the Gracious One: ßWhere are the group-of-five monks dwelling now?û The Gracious One saw with the divine eye which is purified and surpasses than of (normal) men that the group-of-five monks were dwelling near Bàràõasã, in the Deer Park at Isipatana. ¹⁰