[XII. Faith in Various Districts]



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33-47 = Mhv 29-43

The Elder Mahādeva went to the district of Mahisamaṇḍala and preached the Discourse on the Divine Messengers MN 130. Another simile, this time about the signs of sickness, old age and death, which one heedless ignores. in the midst of the people. Forty thousand people purified the Dhamma-Eye, I.e. they attained path and fruit. and forty thousand people went forth in his presence.

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The Elder Rakkhita went to Vanavāsī and while standing in the sky he preached the Thematic Discourses on the Unknown Beginning SN 15. Similes about the extreme length of Saṁsāra. in the midst of the people. For sixty-thousand people there was a penetration of the Dhamma, around thirty-seven thousand went forth in his presence.

Five hundred monastic dwelling places were established in this district, and the Elder established the Dispensation of the Victor Another epithet for the Buddha. in that place.

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The Ionian Elder Dhammarakkhita went to Aparantikā and preached the Discourse on the Simile of the Mass of Fire AN Bk. 7 sutta 68, on the preference of embracing fire over embracing a woman. in the midst of the people. Thirty-seven thousand breathing beings who had assembled together there tasted Lit. drank. the Deathless Dhamma of the one skilled in what was Dhamma and not Dhamma.

A thousand men and even more women than that from the Noble families renounced the world and went forth.

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The Seer Mahādhammarakkhita went to Mahāraṭṭha and preached the Birth Story called Mahānāradakassapa Jā 544. On Heaven and Hell. in that place. Eighty-four thousand people attained Path and Fruit, and thirteen thousand people went forth in his presence.

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The Seer Mahārakkhita went to the locality of the Ionians This was probably not Ionia itself, but where the Greeks were still stationed on the edge of India, possibly around what is now Pakistan, following the campaigns of Alexandria the Great. and preached the Kālakārāma Discourse AN Bk. 4 Sut. 24. On the lack of conceit in the Buddha in regard to sense objects. in the midst of the people. One hundred and seventy thousand breathing beings attained Path and Fruit, and ten thousand went forth.

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The Seer Majjhima, together with four Elders, According to the Dīpavaṁsa the companions were named Kassapagotta, Durāsada (= Dundhubhissara in MhvṬ), Sahadeva and Mūlakadeva, though these names are given in different forms elsewhere. went into the Himālaya district and Set Rolling the Dhamma Wheel. A play on words, the Dhammacakkappavattana, which was the First Discourse of the Buddha, is found at SN 56.11. Eight-hundred million breathing beings attained Path and Fruit. Separately these five Elders brought faith to five countries, and a hundred thousand men in the presence of each of the Elders went forth, That means, I believe, a hundred thousand went forth in the presence of each of the Elders. having faith in the Dispensation of the Perfectly Awakened One.