A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t1.15

v2.c19.s3.t1.15

The second Sutta, too, the Sāmañña-phala-Sutta, "the discourse on the reward of asceticism," is a valuable piece of evidence for ancient Indian life and thought at the time of Buddha; for it acquaints us with the views of a whole series of prominent non-Buddhist teachers and founders of sects. A most vivid description of the visit of King Ajātasattu to Buddha forms the introduction to this dialogue.¹ For the history of the Indian caste system and the attitude of Buddha towards the problem of caste, the Ambaṭṭha-Sutta (No. 3) is of the utmost importance. Owing to its references to the history of the Sakya race and to the Ṛṣi Kṛṣṇa (Kaṇha), a mythological, and perhaps even historical interest, is attached to this Sutta. Suttas No. 5, the Kūṭadanta-Sutta, "the discourse on (the Brahman) Sharp-tooth,"² and No. 13, the Tevijja-Sutta, "the discourse on the knowers of the three Vedas," in which with refined, but absolutely inoffensive irony, Buddha ridicules the Brahmanical cult with its bloody sacrifices and the striving of the Veda-knower for union with the Brahman, and contrasts with them Buddhist "sacrifices" and ideals of life, are eminently instructive regarding the relation between the old and the new faith, Brahmanism and Buddhism. The fundamental doctrine of Buddhist philosophy of the interconnection of causes, is treated in No. 15, the Mahānidāna-Sutta, "the great discourse on causes." One of the most important duties of the Buddhist monk is "mindfulness." The four kinds of mindfulness are treated in No. 22, the Mahā-Satipaṭṭhāna-Sutta, "the great discourse on the kinds of mindfulness." It also deals with the fundamental doctrines of Buddhism, and closes with a detailed presentation of the "four noble truths."¹ For Buddhist ethics from a popular point of view, one of the most important texts in the Pāli Canon is No. 29, the Sigālovāda-Sutta, "the sermon : the exhortation of Sigāla," in which the entire domestic and social duties of the Buddhist layman are presented in detail.[^2)