VassakÄra Sutta
1. VassakÄra Sutta.- VassakÄra visits the Buddha at Veḷuvana and tells him that, among brahmins, a man is considered great and wise if
- he understands a thing as soon as uttered,
- has a good memory,
- is skilled and diligent in business,
- and resourceful and capable in investigation.
The Buddha mentions four other qualities of greatness:
- to be given up to the welfare of many,
- to be master of the mind in the domain of thought (cetovasippatta),
- to be able to enter into the four jhÄnas at will,
- to have comprehended nibbÄna by the destruction of the corruptions (Äsava).
The Buddha acknowledges, in answer to VassakÄra’s question, that he himself possesses these four qualities. A.ii.35f.
2. VassakÄra Sutta.- VassakÄra visits the Buddha at Veḷuvana and asks him a series of questions. The Buddha, in answer, says that a bad man cannot, as a good man can, recognise either a good man or a bad man as such. VassakÄra then relates how, once, the followers of the brahmin Todeyya spoke ill of Eleyya and his retinue for showing homage to RÄmaputta; he now understands why they honour RÄmaputta; it is because he is wiser than they. A.ii.179f.
3. VassakÄra Sutta.- VassakÄra visits the Buddha at GijjhakÅ«á¹a, at the request of AjÄtasattu, and tells him of the latter’s desire to destroy the Vajjians. The Buddha tells him that as long as the Vajjians practise the seven conditions of welfare, taught by him at SÄrandada, cetiya they will not decline, but rather prosper. AjÄtasattu can achieve victory, not by battle, but by causing disunity. A.iv.17ff.; cf. D.ii.72f.
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