At one time, the Blessed One was staying at the city of Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Garden, at the Squirrel Park. In the city of Pāvā, there lived about thirty monks. All of them were forest dwellers, almsfood eaters, rag-robe wearers, and triple-robe users. Yet, they were all still with fetters of defilements.
One day, they all approached the Blessed One, worshipped him and sat down to one side. Then it occurred to the Blessed One, “These thirty monks live in the city of Pāvā. All of them are forest dwellers, almsfood eaters, rag-robe wearers and triple-robe users. Yet, they are all still with fetters of defilements. Let me teach them the Dhamma in such a way that their minds will be liberated from taints through non-clinging while they are sitting in these very seats.”
Then, the Blessed One addressed those monks, “O monks!”
“Bhante!” those monks replied.
The Blessed One asked, “Monks, this cycle of rebirth is endless. The beginning of this extremely long journey cannot be discovered. These beings, hindered by lack of knowledge of the true nature of life and bound by craving, roam and wander on in this endless journey. What do you think, monks, which is more: the stream of blood you have shed when you were beheaded as you roamed and wandered on in this journey—this or the water in the four great oceans?”
“As we understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, Bhante, the stream of blood that we have shed when we were beheaded as we roamed and wandered on in this journey—this alone is more than the water in the four great oceans.”
“Good, good, monks! It is good that you understand the Dhamma taught by me in such a way. The stream of blood that you have shed when you were beheaded as you roamed and wandered on in this journey—this alone is more than the water in the four great oceans. For a long time, monks, you have been cows and when beheaded as cows, the stream of blood that you shed is greater than the water in the four great oceans.
“For a long time, monks, you have been buffalo… sheep… goats… deer… chickens… and pigs; and when beheaded as pigs, the stream of blood that you shed is greater than the water in the four great oceans.
“For a long time, monks, you have been arrested as burglars… as highwaymen… and as men who engaged in sexual misconduct; and when you were beheaded, the stream of blood that you shed is greater than the water in the four great oceans.
“What is the reason for that? It is because, monks, this cycle of rebirth is endless. The beginning of this extremely long journey cannot be discovered. These beings, hindered by lack of knowledge of the true nature of life and bound by craving, roam and wander on in this endless journey.
“For such a long time, monks, you have experienced various types of suffering, tragedies, and disasters. You have filled the cemetery with your dead bodies. Therefore, monks, the time has come for you to understand the meaningless nature of all conditioned things. The time has come for you to become detached from them. And the time has come for you to be liberated from them.”
The Blessed One taught this discourse. Those monks rejoiced and delighted in the Blessed One’s discourse. While this Dhamma was being taught, the minds of the thirty monks from the city of Pāvā were liberated from the taints through non-clinging.
