The Brahmin (UD1.5)

Heartfelt Sayings 1.5

The Brahmin

So I have heard.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Now at that time a number of senior monks approached the Buddha—the venerables Sāriputta, Mahāmoggallāna, Mahākassapa, Mahākaccāna, Mahākoṭṭhita, Mahākappina, Mahācunda, Anuruddha, Revata, and Nanda.¹

The Buddha saw them coming off in the distance,

and addressed the mendicants:

“These, mendicants, are brahmins coming!

These are brahmins coming!”

When he said this, a certain mendicant who was brahmin by birth asked the Buddha,

“Sir, how do you define a brahmin? And what are the things that make one a brahmin?”

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Having banished bad qualities,

those who live always mindful,

with fetters ended, awakened,

they are the world’s true brahmins.”