an.8.21 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Ugga (1)

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the hall with the peaked roof in the Great Wood. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus!”

“Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

“Bhikkhus, you should remember the householder Ugga of Vesālī as one who possesses eight astounding and amazing qualities.” This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Then, in the morning, a certain bhikkhu dressed, took his bowl and robe, and went to the residence of the householder Ugga of Vesālī. When he arrived, he sat down on the seat that was prepared for him. Then the householder Ugga of Vesālī approached that bhikkhu, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. The bhikkhu then said to him:

“Householder, the Blessed One declared that you possess eight astounding and amazing qualities. What are they?”

“I don’t know, Bhante, what eight astounding and amazing qualities the Blessed One declared that I possess. However, there are found in me eight astounding and amazing qualities. Listen and attend closely. I will speak.”

“Yes, householder,” the bhikkhu replied. The householder Ugga of Vesālī said this:

(1) “When, Bhante, I first saw the Blessed One in the distance, as soon as I saw him my mind acquired confidence in him. This is the first astounding and amazing quality found in me.

(2) “With a confident mind, I attended on the Blessed One. The Blessed One then gave me a progressive discourse, that is, a talk on giving, virtuous behavior, and heaven; he revealed the danger, degradation, and defilement of sensual pleasures and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that my mind was pliant, softened, rid of hindrances, uplifted, and confident, he revealed that Dhamma teaching special to the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Then, just as a clean cloth rid of dark spots would readily absorb dye, so too, while I sat in that same seat, the dust-free, stainless Dhamma-eye arose in me: ‘Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation.’ I saw the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, fathomed the Dhamma, crossed over doubt, got rid of bewilderment, attained self-confidence, and became independent of others in the teaching of the Teacher. Right there I went for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and undertook the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. This is the second astounding and amazing quality found in me.

(3) “I had four young wives. I then went to them and said: ‘Sisters, I have undertaken the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. If you want, you can enjoy wealth right here and do merits, or go back to your own family circle, or inform me if you want me to give you over to another man.’ My eldest wife then said to me: ‘Young sir, give me to such and such a man.’ I sent for that man, and with my left hand I took my wife, with my right hand I took the ceremonial vase, and I gave her to that man. But even while giving away my young wife, I don’t recall that any alteration took place in my mind. This is the third astounding and amazing quality found in me.

(4) “My family is wealthy but the wealth is shared unreservedly with virtuous people of good character. This is the fourth astounding and amazing quality found in me.

(5) “Whenever I attend on a bhikkhu, I attend on him respectfully, not without respect. This is the fifth astounding and amazing quality found in me.

(6) “If that venerable one teaches me the Dhamma, I listen to it respectfully, not without respect. If he doesn’t teach me the Dhamma, then I teach him the Dhamma. This is the sixth astounding and amazing quality found in me.

(7) “It isn’t unusual for deities to come and report to me: ‘Householder, the Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One.’ I then say to those deities: ‘Whether you say so or not, the Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One.’ Still, I do not recall any mental exultation arising because deities come to me or because I converse with deities. This is the seventh astounding and amazing quality found in me.

(8) “Of the five lower fetters taught by the Blessed One, I don’t see any that I haven’t abandoned. This is the eighth astounding and amazing quality found in me.

“These, Bhante, are eight astounding and amazing qualities found in me. But I don’t know what eight astounding and amazing qualities the Blessed One declared that I possess.”

Then that bhikkhu, having received almsfood at the residence of the householder Ugga of Vesālī, rose from his seat and departed. After his meal, on returning from his alms round, he approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and reported to him the entire conversation he had had with the householder Ugga of Vesālī.

The Blessed One said: “Good, good, bhikkhu! I had declared that the householder Ugga of Vesālī possesses the same eight astounding and amazing qualities that he rightly explained to you. You should remember the householder Ugga of Vesālī as one who possesses these eight astounding and amazing qualities.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

With Ugga of Vesālī

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
“Mendicants, you should remember the householder Ugga of Vesālī as someone who has eight amazing and incredible qualities.”
That is what the Buddha said.
When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.
Then a certain mendicant robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the householder Ugga of Vesālī, where he sat on the seat spread out.
Then Ugga of Vesālī went up to that mendicant, bowed, and sat down to one side. The mendicant said to him:
“Householder, the Buddha declared that you have eight amazing and incredible qualities.
What are the eight qualities that he spoke of?”
“Sir, I don’t know
what eight amazing and incredible qualities the Buddha was referring to.
But these eight amazing and incredible qualities are found in me.
Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”
“Yes, householder,” replied the mendicant.
Ugga of Vesālī said this:
“Sir, when I first saw the Buddha off in the distance,
my heart was inspired as soon as I saw him.
This is the first incredible and amazing quality found in me.
With confident heart I paid homage to the Buddha.
The Buddha taught me step by step,
with a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He explained the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation.
And when he knew that my mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he explained the special teaching of the Buddhas:
suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye,
in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in me:
‘Everything that has a beginning has an end.’
I saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. I went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions.
Right there I went for refuge to the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha. And I undertook the five training rules with celibacy as the fifth.
This is the second incredible and amazing quality found in me.
I had four teenage wives.
And I went to them and said:
‘Sisters, I’ve undertaken the five training rules with celibacy as fifth.
If you wish, you may stay here, enjoy my wealth, and do good deeds. Or you can return to your own families.
Or would you prefer if I gave you to another man?’
When I said this, my eldest wife said to me:
‘Master, please give me to such-and-such a man.’
Then I summoned that man. Taking my wife with my left hand and a ceremonial vase with my right, I presented her to that man with the pouring of water.
But I can’t recall getting upset while giving away my teenage wife.
This is the third incredible and amazing quality found in me.
And though my family has wealth,
it’s shared without reserve with ethical people of good character.
This is the fourth incredible and amazing quality found in me.
When I pay homage to a mendicant,
I do so carefully, not carelessly.
This is the fifth incredible and amazing quality found in me.
If that venerable teaches me the Dhamma,
I listen carefully, not carelessly.
But if they don’t teach me the Dhamma, I teach them.
This is the sixth incredible and amazing quality found in me.
It’s not unusual for deities to come to me and announce:
‘Householder, the Buddha’s teaching is well explained!’
When they say this I say to them:
‘The Buddha’s teaching is well explained, regardless of whether or not you deities say so!’
But I don’t recall getting too excited by the fact that
the deities come to me, and I have a conversation with them.
This is the seventh incredible and amazing quality found in me.
Of the five lower fetters taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I haven’t given up.
This is the eighth incredible and amazing quality found in me.
These eight amazing and incredible qualities are found in me.
But I don’t know
what eight amazing and incredible qualities the Buddha was referring to.”
Then that mendicant, after taking almsfood in Ugga of Vesālī’s home, got up from his seat and left.
Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.
He informed the Buddha of all he had discussed with the householder Ugga of Vesālī. The Buddha said:
“Good, good, mendicant!
When I declared that the householder Ugga of Vesālī was someone who has eight amazing and incredible qualities, I was referring to the same eight qualities that he rightly explained to you.
You should remember the householder Ugga of Vesālī as someone who has these eight amazing and incredible qualities.”