[180] On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on tour among the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then, while travelling along the highway, the Blessed One saw at a certain spot a large sāla grove; having seen it, he stepped down from the road, approached that sāla grove, and having plunged into that sāla grove, at a certain spot he displayed a smile. Then it occurred to the Venerable Ānanda: "What now is the cause, what is the reason, for the Blessed One's displaying a smile? Tathāgatas do not display a smile without a reason." Then the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, what is the cause, what is the reason, for the Blessed One's displaying a smile? Tathāgatas do not display a smile without a reason."
"In the past, Ānanda, at this spot there was a city, rich and prosperous, populous, teeming with people. And the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, dwelt depending upon that city. Now the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, had a lay follower named Bhavesī, one who did not fulfil virtue. And by the lay follower Bhavesī some five hundred lay followers had been instructed and exhorted, and they too did not fulfil virtue.
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to the lay follower Bhavesī: 'I am of much service to these five hundred lay followers—their forerunner, the one who exhorts them—yet I do not fulfil virtue, and these five hundred lay followers also do not fulfil virtue. Thus we are exactly equal; there is nothing whatever surpassing. Come now, let me go further!' Then, Ānanda, the lay follower Bhavesī approached those five hundred lay followers and said to them: 'From this day forth, venerable sirs, remember me as one who fulfils virtue.'
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to those five hundred lay followers: 'Master Bhavesī is of much service to us—our forerunner, the one who exhorts us. If indeed Master Bhavesī will fulfil virtue, why should not we?' Then, Ānanda, those five hundred lay followers approached the lay follower Bhavesī and said to him: 'From this day forth, let Master Bhavesī remember these five hundred lay followers also as those who fulfil virtue.'
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to the lay follower Bhavesī: 'I am of much service to these five hundred lay followers—their forerunner, the one who exhorts them. Now I fulfil virtue, and these five hundred lay followers also fulfil virtue. Thus we are exactly equal; there is nothing whatever surpassing. Come now, let me go further!' Then, Ānanda, the lay follower Bhavesī approached those five hundred lay followers and said to them: 'From this day forth, venerable sirs, remember me as one who lives the holy life (brahmacariya), living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common practice of villagers.'
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to those five hundred lay followers: 'Master Bhavesī is of much service to us—our forerunner, the one who exhorts us. If indeed Master Bhavesī will live the holy life, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common practice of villagers, why should not we?' Then, Ānanda, those five hundred lay followers approached the lay follower Bhavesī and said to him: 'From this day forth, let Master Bhavesī remember these five hundred lay followers also as those who live the holy life, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common practice of villagers.'
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to the lay follower Bhavesī: 'I am of much service to these five hundred lay followers—their forerunner, the one who exhorts them. Now I fulfil virtue, and these five hundred lay followers also fulfil virtue; I live the holy life, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common practice of villagers, and these five hundred lay followers also live the holy life, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common practice of villagers. Thus we are exactly equal; there is nothing whatever surpassing. Come now, let me go further!' Then, Ānanda, the lay follower Bhavesī approached those five hundred lay followers and said to them: 'From this day forth, venerable sirs, remember me as one who eats only one meal a day, refraining from eating at night, abstaining from food at improper times.'
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to those five hundred lay followers: 'Master Bhavesī is of much service to us—our forerunner, the one who exhorts us. If indeed Master Bhavesī will eat only one meal a day, refraining from eating at night, abstaining from food at improper times, why should not we?' Then, Ānanda, those five hundred lay followers approached the lay follower Bhavesī and said to him: 'From this day forth, let Master Bhavesī remember these five hundred lay followers also as those who eat only one meal a day, refraining from eating at night, abstaining from food at improper times.'
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to the lay follower Bhavesī: 'I am of much service to these five hundred lay followers—their forerunner, the one who exhorts them. Now I fulfil virtue, and these five hundred lay followers also fulfil virtue; I live the holy life, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common practice of villagers, and these five hundred lay followers also live the holy life, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common practice of villagers; I eat only one meal a day, refraining from eating at night, abstaining from food at improper times, and these five hundred lay followers also eat only one meal a day, refraining from eating at night, abstaining from food at improper times. Thus we are exactly equal; there is nothing whatever surpassing. Come now, let me go further!' Then, Ānanda, the lay follower Bhavesī approached the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, and having approached, said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One: 'Venerable sir, may I receive the going forth in the Blessed One's presence, may I receive the full ordination.' And the lay follower Bhavesī received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One; he received the full ordination.
"Not long after his full ordination, Ānanda, the bhikkhu Bhavesī, dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, before long realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the home life into homelessness, and having entered upon it, he dwelt therein. He knew directly: 'Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of being.' And, Ānanda, the bhikkhu Bhavesī became one of the arahants.
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to those five hundred lay followers: 'Master Bhavesī is of much service to us—our forerunner, the one who exhorts us. If indeed Master Bhavesī, having shaved off hair and beard and put on the ochre robes, will go forth from the home life into homelessness, why should not we?' Then, Ānanda, those five hundred lay followers approached the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One, and having approached, said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One: 'Venerable sir, may we receive the going forth in the Blessed One's presence, may we receive the full ordination.' And those five hundred lay followers received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Worthy One, the Fully Self-Enlightened One; they received the full ordination.
"Then, Ānanda, it occurred to the bhikkhu Bhavesī: 'I am one who gains at will, without trouble, without difficulty, this unsurpassed bliss of liberation. Oh, may these five hundred bhikkhus also become gainers at will, without trouble, without difficulty, of this unsurpassed bliss of liberation!' Then, Ānanda, those five hundred bhikkhus, each dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, before long realized for themselves with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the home life into homelessness, and having entered upon it, they dwelt therein. They knew directly: 'Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of being.'
"Thus, Ānanda, those five hundred bhikkhus headed by Bhavesī, striving for what is ever higher and higher, ever more and more excellent, realized the unsurpassed liberation. Therefore, Ānanda, you should train yourselves thus: 'Striving for what is ever higher and higher, ever more and more excellent, we shall realize the unsurpassed liberation.' Thus, Ānanda, should you train yourselves."
The Upāsaka Vagga, the third.
Its summary:
Timidity, the confident one, hell, thus (enmity), with the outcaste as fifth;
rapture, trades, kings, the householder, and Bhavesī.
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The Arañña Vagga, the fourth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.