So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Then after the meal, on return from almsround, several monks sat together in the meeting hall and this discussion came up among them:
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! The Tathāgata has such psychic power and might! He is able to know the Buddhas of the past who have become completely enlightened, cut off proliferation, cut off the track, finished off the cycle, and eliminated suffering. He knows their birth, names, clans, behaviour, teaching, wisdom, meditation, and liberation.”
When they said this, Venerable Ānanda said, “The Tathāgatas are incredible, reverends, and they have incredible qualities. They’re amazing, and they have amazing qualities.” But this conversation among those monks was left unfinished.
Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat, went to the meeting hall, sat down on the seat that was ready, and said to the monks: “Monks, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”
So the monks told him what they had been talking about. The Buddha said, “Well then, Ānanda, say some more about the incredible and amazing qualities of the Tathāgata.”
“Sir, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Mindful and aware, the Bodhisatta was reborn in the Tusita Heaven.’ This I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Mindful and aware, the Bodhisatta remained in the Tusita Heaven.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘For the whole of that life, the Bodhisatta remained in the Tusita Heaven.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Mindful and aware, the Bodhisatta passed away from the Tusita Heaven and was conceived in his mother’s womb.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta passes away from the Tusita Heaven, he is conceived in his mother’s womb. And then—in this world with its gods, Māras and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—an immeasurable, magnificent light appears, surpassing the glory of the gods. Even in the boundless darkness of interstellar space—so utterly dark that even the light of the moon and the sun, so mighty and powerful, doesn’t shine—an immeasurable, magnificent light appears, surpassing the glory of the gods. And even the beings reborn there recognize each other by that light: “So, it seems other beings have been reborn here!” And this galaxy shakes and rocks and trembles. And an immeasurable, magnificent light appears in the world, surpassing the glory of the gods.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta is conceived in his mother’s belly, four gods approach to guard the four directions, so that no human or non-human or anyone at all shall harm the Bodhisatta or his mother.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta is conceived in his mother’s belly, she becomes naturally virtuous. She refrains from killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and alcoholic drinks that cause negligence.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta is conceived in his mother’s belly, she no longer feels sexual desire for men, and she cannot be violated by a man of lustful intent.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta is conceived in his mother’s belly, she obtains the five kinds of sensual pleasures and amuses herself, supplied and provided with them.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta is conceived in his mother’s belly, she never gets sick. She’s happy and free of bodily tiredness. And she sees the Bodhisatta in her womb, complete with all his various parts, not deficient in any faculty. Suppose there was a beryl gem that was naturally beautiful, eight-faceted, well-worked. And it was strung with a thread of blue, yellow, red, white, or golden brown. And someone with clear eyes were to take it in their hand and examine it: “This beryl gem is naturally beautiful, eight-faceted, well-worked. And it’s strung with a thread of blue, yellow, red, white, or golden brown.” In the same way, when the Bodhisatta is conceived in his mother’s belly, she never gets sick. She’s happy and free of bodily fatigue. And she sees the Bodhisatta in her womb, complete with all his various parts, not deficient in any faculty.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Seven days after the Bodhisatta is born, his mother passes away and is reborn in the Tusita Heaven.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Other women carry the infant in the womb for nine or ten months before giving birth. Not so the mother of the Bodhisatta. She gives birth after exactly ten months.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘Other women give birth while sitting or lying down. Not so the mother of the Bodhisatta. She only gives birth standing up.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta emerges from his mother’s womb, gods receive him first, then humans.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta comes out from his mother’s womb, before he reaches the ground, four gods receive him and place him before his mother, saying: “Rejoice, O Queen! A son of great power is born to you.”’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta comes out from his mother’s womb, he emerges already clean, unsoiled by waters, mucus, blood, or any other kind of impurity, pure and clean. Suppose a jewel-treasure was placed on a cloth from Kāsi. The jewel would not soil the cloth, nor would the cloth soil the jewel. Why is that? Because of the cleanliness of them both. In the same way, when the Bodhisatta comes out from his mother’s womb, he comes out already clean, unsoiled by waters, mucus, blood, or any other kind of impurity, pure and clean.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta comes out from his mother’s womb, two streams of water appear in the sky, one cool, one warm, for bathing the Bodhisatta and his mother.’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘As soon as he’s born, the Bodhisatta stands firm with his own feet on the ground. Facing north, he takes seven steps with a white parasol held above him, looks in all directions, and makes this dramatic proclamation: “I am the foremost in the world! I am the eldest in the world! I am the greatest in the world! This is my last rebirth. Now there are no more future lives.”’ This too I remember as an incredible quality of the Buddha.
I have learned this in the presence of the Buddha: ‘When the Bodhisatta emerges from his mother’s womb, then—in this world with its gods, Māras and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—an immeasurable, magnificent light appears, surpassing the glory of the gods. Even in the boundless darkness of interstellar space—so utterly dark that even the light of the moon and the sun, so mighty and powerful, doesn’t shine—an immeasurable, magnificent light appears, surpassing the glory of the gods. And the beings reborn there recognize each other by that light: “So, it seems other beings have been reborn here!” And this galaxy shakes and rocks and trembles. And an immeasurable, magnificent light appears in the world, surpassing the glory of the gods.’ This too I remember as an incredible and amazing quality of the Buddha.”
“Well then, Ānanda, you should also remember this as an incredible and amazing quality of the Tathāgata. It’s that the Tathāgata knows feelings as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. He knows perceptions as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. He knows thoughts as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. This too you should remember as an incredible and amazing quality of the Tathāgata.”
“Sir, the Buddha knows feelings as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. He knows perceptions as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. He knows thoughts as they arise, as they remain, and as they go away. This too I remember as an incredible and amazing quality of the Buddha.”
