DN 20 Maha-samaya Sutta: The Great Meeting

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The Commentary reports the belief that the devas enjoy hearing this discourse chanted in Pali. Until recently it was part of many monks' standard memorized repertoire, to be chanted at weddings and the dedication of new buildings. Even today, as many of the traditions of memorization in Asia seem to be falling by the wayside, there are a few monks and laypeople who chant this discourse regularly.

And some modern monks and lay people chanting may be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OEIcS9DGNk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH2JjEK6WOg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuZMWDgkPog" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss3x5ya53yk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And an MP3 and a Pali-English version to follow along with are on this page:
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Chants/Chants.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Chan ... 0Sutta.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Chan ... samaya.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mikenz66]

Here's a mural depicting the Sutta from Wat Palelai, Singapore.
http://sites.google.com/site/watpalelai ... /main-hall" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A mural hangs in the main hall, above the entrance. Painted on silk is a depiction of the Maha-samaya Sutta: or the Great Meeting of approximately 500 arahants, and most of the devatas (heavenly beings) from ten world-systems have gathered in order to see the Buddha and the Bhikkhu Sangha (commuity of monks). The mural is symbolic of how devotees would gather in the palelai and the main hall to practice, meditate or listen to teachings.

More detailed pictures:
http://www.fccheonghome.com/side/mural.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.fccheonghome.com/side/murdoc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mikenz66]

From Maurice Walshe's (MW) translation and notes.
Pictures from: http://www.fccheonghome.com/side/murdoc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


King Khatarattha, ruler of the East,
The gandhabbas' Lord, a mightly king,
Has come with retinue. Many sons
Are his, who all bear Indra's name,
All well endowed with mighty skills...

MW: The name is the same as that of the ironically-named King Dhrtarastra 'whose empire is firm' in the Mahabharata (a major Sanskrit Epic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata).

The Dhararattha in the following is a different being.


From Habhasa, Vesali, Tacchaka
Came Nagas, Kambalas, Assatras,
Payagas with their kin. From yamuna
Dhararattha came with splendid host,
Eravana too, the mighty naga chief
To the forest meeting place has come.


MW: Erawana is Indra's three-headed elephant. The nagas were both snakes and elephants.


And the twice-born, winged and clear of sight,
Fierce garuda birds (the nagas foes) have come.

MW: Birds, like Brahmins, are 'twice-born' - first laid as eggs, then hatched!


Asuras too, whom Indra's hand once struck,
Ocean-dwellers now, in magic skilled, ...

MW: Indra, the champion of the gods, had defeated them.
The asuras suffered a decline in India, compared, with the Pesian ahura. They are at war with the devas and hence are sometimes termed by western scholars 'titans'.


Venhu too with his Sahalis came...

MW: This is the Pali form of Visnu, and the Sanscrit text has indeed visnu here, though that great god came into his own only after the Buddha's time.


Sakka the Vasus' lord, ancient giver...

MW: Purindada: 'the generous giver in former births' (Rhys Davids), deliberately altered froem Purandara (which the Sanskrit version has!) 'destroyer of cities'. RD thinks the change was made to distinguish Sakka from the Vedic god, but perhaps it is rather a change to make him more Buddhistically 'respectable'.


The 'Pleasure-corrupted' and 'Mind-corrupted' gods ...

MW: See DN 1.2.7 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .bodh.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (BB uses the term "corrupted by play")
[Wrong view 6] 'And what is the second way? There are, monks, certain devas called Corrupted by Pleasure. They spend an excessive time addicted to merriment, ...
... Corrupted in Mind. They spend an excessive amount of time regarding each other with envy....


The Kehmiyas, the Tusitas and Yamas,
The Katthakas with train, Lambitakas,
The Lama chiefs, and the gods of flame
(The Asavas), thos who delight in shapes
They've made, and those who seize on other's work, ...

MW: The Nimmanarati and Paranimmita devas.
See levels 10 and 11 of the Thirty-one Planes:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... /loka.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mikenz66]

http://www.fccheonghome.com/side/murdoc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And when all these had come in vast array,
With Indra and the hosts of Brahma too,
Then too came Maras's hosts, and now observe
That Black One's Folly [1]. Fro he said:
'Cone on, seize and bind them all! With lust
We'll catch them all! Surround them all about,
Let none escape, whoever he may be!'
Thus the war-lord urged his murky troops.
With his palm he struck the ground, and made
A horrid din, as when a storm-cloud bursts
With thunder, lightning and with heavy rain ---
And then --- shrank back, enraged but powerless!

And He-Who-Knows-by-Insight saw all this
And grasped its meaning. To his monks he said:
'The hosts of Mara come, monks --- pay good heed!'
They heard the Buddha's words, and stayed alert.

And Mara's hosts drew back from those on whom
Neither lust nor fear could gain a hold.

'Vicorious, transcending fear, they've won:
His followers rejoice with all the world!' [2]

Notes from Marice Welsh:

[1] Kanha: 'black' but not connected with the Kanha mentioned in DN 3.1.23.
[That Kanha was a mighty sage.]

[2] Rhys Davids says: 'We have followed the traditional interpretation in ascribing these last four lines to Mara. They may quite as well, or better, be a statement by the author himself.'
I have had the courage of his convictions, and made it so.