Brahmajalasutta 1.14

Brahmajala Sutta (Dialogues of the Buddha) 1.14

Language: English

1.14

‘Or. he might say: “Whereas some recluses and Brahmans, while living on food provided by the faithful, continue addicted to games and recreations; that is to say,
Games on boards with eight, or with ten, rows of squares.
The same games played by imagining such boards in the air.
Keeping going over diagrams drawn on the ground so that one steps only where one ought to go.
Either removing the pieces or men from a heap with one’s nail, or putting them into a heap, in each case without shaking it. He who shakes the heap, loses
Throwing dice
Hitting a short stick with a long one.
Dipping the hand with the fingers stretched out in lac, or red dye, or flower-water, and striking the wet hand on the ground or on a wall, ‘calling out ‘What shell it be?’ and showing the form required -elephants, horses, &c.
Games with balls
Blowing through toy pipes made of leaves
Ploughing with. toy ploughs
Turning summersaults
Playing with toy windmills made of palm-leaves.
(13) Playing with toy measures made of palm-leaves.
Playing with toy carts or toy bows
Guessing at letters traced in the air, or on a. playfellow’s back
Guessing the play fellow’s thoughts.,
Mimicry of deformities.”
Gotama the recluse holds aloof from such games and recreations.”

1.14.n1

All these terms recur at Vinaya III, 180 (repeated at II, 10).

Linked texts (1)

Brahmajālasutta — Pāli