The Four Groups of Disciples

Bhadrapāla asked the Buddha

“If there are those who, after abandoning loves and desires to become bhikṣus, have heard of this samādhi, how should they learn, uphold, and practice it?”

The Buddha replied, “Those who, having abandoned loves and desires and become bhikṣus, aspire to learn this samādhi should observe their precepts with purity, without any flaw even as slight as a hair. To remain pure, they should dread the suffering of hell and refrain from sycophancy.”

“What is a flaw in observing the precepts?”

The Buddha replied, “Seeking form.”

“What is meant by seeking form?”

The Buddha replied, “If a person’s motive of observing the precepts for self-restraint is to be reborn in the next life as a god or a Wheel-Turning King, such a wish for pleasures, loves, and desires is called a flaw in observing the precepts.”

The Buddha told Bhadrapāla, “Those who protect their purity, fully observe their precepts, and do not adulate others, are always praised by the wise. They should give alms and progress energetically in accordance with the sūtras. Their resolve should be strong, and they should have great faith and sympathetic joy. Those who serve their teachers as they do Buddhas will attain this samādhi quickly. Those who are disrespectful and readily deceitful to their teachers will quickly lose this samādhi, though they have been training for a long time.”

The Buddha told Bhadrapāla, “Bodhisattvas who have heard this samādhi from bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, or upāsikās should regard them as Buddhas and respect them without intending sycophancy. Bodhisattvas should never be sycophantic but always be earnest. They should always delight in living alone.

Though not begrudging even their lives, they should not hope for others to make requests of them. They should always beg for food, not accepting meal invitations. They should guard their moral integrity and be content with what they have.

They should do walking meditation, not lying down to relax. Those who are learning this samādhi should abide by the teachings in the sūtras.”

Bhadrapāla said to the Buddha, “Unrivaled God of Gods, it cannot be helped that, in future times, there will be negligent and indolent Bodhisattvas who, after hearing this samādhi, will not learn it diligently. However, there will be Bodhisattvas who aspire to learn this samādhi and progress energetically, and we will teach them to follow the Dharma in this sūtra.”

The Buddha said, “Very good, Bhadrapāla, as I express my sympathetic joy,[2] so too Buddhas of the past, future, and present all express their sympathetic joy.”

Then the Buddha spoke in verse:

Accept and uphold all that I say. Always live alone and accumulate merit. Guarding your moral integrity, do not join crowds. Always beg for food, not accepting meal invitations. Respect Dharma masters and regard them as Buddhas. Avoid sleep and strengthen willpower. Always progress energetically, without negligence or indolence. Those who train in this way will attain this samādhi. Bhadrapāla asked the Buddha, “If bhikṣuṇīs who seek the Bodhisattva Way aspire to learn this samādhi, what should they do?”

The Buddha replied, “Bhikṣuṇīs who seek this samādhi should not elevate themselves. They should be humble, neither self-dignifying nor self-aggrandizing. They should harbor neither jealousy nor anger, nor greed for wealth, benefits, or sense objects.

They should protect their purity, even at the cost of their lives. They should always delight in the Dharma in the sūtras and learn as much as possible. They should discard greed, anger, and delusion, and they should not be greedy for fine clothing or adornments, such as necklaces of gems. Then they will be praised by the wise. They should respect beneficent teachers and regard them as Buddhas, without intending sycophancy.”

Then the Buddha spoke in verse:

If bhikṣuṇīs seek this samādhi,

They should progress energetically, never negligent or indolent.

Do not follow the mind of greed. Remove anger and self-glorification. Do not be arrogant, deceitful, or playful. Always act in earnest, standing firm in the one faith. Respect beneficent teachers and regard them as Buddhas. Those who train in this way will attain this samādhi.

Bhadrapāla asked the Buddha, “If upāsakas who are training for bodhi have heard of this samādhi and aspire to learn it, what should they do?”

The Buddha replied, “Upāsakas who aspire to learn this samādhi should faithfully observe the five precepts. They should neither drink alcohol nor have others drink alcohol. They should not be intimate with women or advise others to be intimate with women. They should not be attached to their wives, nor to men or other women. They should not have greed for wealth.

They should constantly think of renouncing family life to become śramaṇas. They should regularly observe the eight precepts in a Buddhist temple. They should always remember to give alms. Because alms are given to benefit others, after giving alms, they should not think: ‘I have gained merit.’ They should have great lovingkindness and respect for their beneficent teachers. When they see bhikṣus who observe their precepts, they should not readily talk about their faults. Having carried out these actions, they should learn to abide in this samādhi.”

Then the Buddha spoke in verse:

Upāsakas who aspire to learn this samādhi Should observe the five precepts without breach or flaw. They should always think of becoming śramaṇas, Not greedy for wives, riches, or sense objects.

They should regularly observe the eight precepts in a Buddhist temple. Neither conceited nor contemptuous of others, Their minds do not expect glory, nor think of wants. They should carry out the Dharma in the sūtras, without a sycophantic mind. Abandoning stinginess and greed, they should give generous alms. They should always respect bhikṣus and make offerings to them. They should resolve to take the one training without being negligent or indolent. Those who are learning this samādhi should act in this way.

Bhadrapāla asked the Buddha, “If upāsikās who have heard of this samādhi aspire to learn it, what should they do?”

The Buddha replied, “If upāsikās aspire to learn this samādhi, they should observe the five precepts and willingly take refuge in the Three Jewels. What are these three? They should take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha, never to follow other paths. They should not make obeisance to gods, nor worship spirits. They should not select auspicious dates.

hey should not be playful or indulgent, or think of sensory pleasures. Subjugating the mind of greed, they should remember to give alms. Delighting in hearing the sūtras, they should remember to study hard and respect beneficent teachers.

Their minds should be vigilant, never negligent or indolent. They should offer a sitting-down meal to bhikṣus or bhikṣuṇīs who pass by.”

Then the Buddha spoke in verse:

Upāsikās who aspire to learn this samādhi Should observe the five precepts without breach or flaw. They should serve beneficent teachers and regard them as Buddhas. They should not worship gods, nor idolize spirits. They should stop killing, stealing, and feeling jealous. They should never say divisive words to incite conflict among people. They should be neither stingy nor greedy, but always remember to give alms. They should not publicize the evil, but always praise the good. They should refrain from sycophancy and sexual misconduct. They should be humble, not self-aggrandizing. They should respectfully serve bhikṣus and bhikṣuṇīs. Those who train in this way will attain this samādhi.