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Anguttara Nikaya

# AN 8.22 Dutiya Ugga Sutta (Ugga of Hatthigāma: The Second Ugga) AN 8.22

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- The Numerical Discourses: Book VIII: 21-30: "The Section on the Householders." (Duration: 1:35:38)

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    [page 1]
    Anguttara Nikāya
    The Numerical Discourses

    Atthakanipāta
    (Book of the Eights)

    AN 8.22

    Gahapati Vagga
    (The Section on Householders)

    Dutiya Ugga Sutta
    “Ugga of Hatthigāma: The Second Ugga”

    Translated by Bhikkhu Candana

    Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2023

    At one time, while The Blessed One was living among the Vajjis at Hatthigāma, He
    addressed the Bhikkhus thus:
    “Bhikkhus, you must ponder and bring to mind how the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma is
    endowed with eight wonderful and amazing qualities.” Having said this, The Tathāgata arose
    from His seat and went into His kuti.
    Then, when it was morning, a certain Bhikkhu, having put on his robes while taking his bowl and
    outer robe, paid a visit to the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma and sat on the prepared seat. By
    approaching that Bhikkhu, the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma paid homage to him with
    clasped hands and sat to one side. Then, that Bhikkhu addressed Ugga, the householder of
    Hatthigāma thus:
    “Householder, The Blessed One has declared that you are endowed with eight wonderful and
    amazing qualities. Householder, what are those eight wonderful and amazing qualities which you
    possess, as told by The Blessed One?”
    “Bhante, I do not know of the wonderful and amazing qualities that The Blessed One has
    declared. Yet, there are eight wonderful and amazing qualities that are undeniably present in me.
    Listen and attend carefully, Bhante, I will list them for you.”
     “Yes, householder,” said the Bhikkhu by consenting, and the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma
    continued:

    [page 2]
    “Bhante, the first day that I saw The Blessed One approaching in the distance, I was in the
    elephants’ grove. The moment I saw Him, suddenly, my mind became established in Faith by
    acquiring confidence in The Tathāgata. This is the first wonderful and amazing quality that is
    undeniably present in me.
    “Bhante, with a delighted mind supported by that confidence, I attended on The Blessed One,
    and The Blessed One gave me a gradual discourse, while teaching me the benefits of making
    offerings; of living a virtuous life; and on heavenly bliss. In addition, He showed me the dangers
    of sensuality, their defiling nature, leading one to vile and low states of being, as well as the
    blessings of renunciation. Then, when The Blessed One knew that my mind was ready, tender,
    free from obstructions, exalted and tranquilized, He gave me The Teaching that is specifically
    taught by The Buddhas, which is: the Truth of suffering; the Truth of the cause and origin of
    suffering; the Truth of the cessation of suffering; and the Path leading to the cessation of
    suffering.
    “Then, while I sat there motionless, just as a clean cloth, free of any stains or impurities, would
    easily and evenly take on the dye, in the same manner, suddenly, the stainless and purified Eye
    of Dhamma arose in me, as I saw and understood clearly:
    ‘Whatever arises from a cause, is also destined to cease.’
    “At that exact instant, I saw the Truth that is The Dhamma, I understood The Dhamma, I
    penetrated The Dhamma, and suddenly bewilderments disappeared, and I crossed, once and for
    all, the sea of doubts, by attaining the self-confidence that The Dhamma provides, as I became
    solidly established in the Dispensation of the Great teacher, no longer needing to look for any
    other teacher, henceforth. It was right there that I took Refuge in The Blessed One, in The
    Dhamma, and in The Sangha of Bhikkhus, and I observed the five precepts of the Holy life,
    including the precept to remain celibate. This, Bhante, is the second wonderful and amazing
    quality that is undeniably present in me.
    “Bhante, I had four young wives. I approached all of them and told them: ‘Sisters, I now observe
    the five precepts of the holy life, including the precept to remain celibate. If you so desire, you
    may stay and partake of the wealth I possess while engaging in actions that produce merits. Or
    you may go back to your parents and relatives. Or if you desire to be married to another man,
    then do let me know, and I will give you to him to marry.’
    “When this was said, the most senior among them replied: ‘Young Lord, please give me to such
    and such a man.’ So, I sent for that man, and with my left hand I took the hand of my young wife
    and with my right hand I took the ceremonial water jar, as I sprinkled water and gave her away to
    that man, in marriage. While I was giving up my young wife, I did not detect any changes taking
    place in my heart. This is the third wonderful and amazing quality that is undeniably present in
    me.
    “Bhante, I come from a very wealthy family, where generosity reigns, and the wealth is freely
    distributed with those individuals who possess good character and are virtuous in behavior. This
    is the fourth wonderful and amazing quality that is undeniably present in me.

    [page 3]
    “Bhante, if I associate with and attend on Bhikkhus, I do so with the fullness of my attention and
    with respect. If the Bhikkhus teach me The Dhamma, I listen with the fullness of my attention
    and with respect. And if it so happens that they do not teach me, then I teach them The Dhamma.
    This is the fifth wonderful and amazing quality that is undeniably present in me.
    “Bhante, when the Sangha has been invited for a meal at my home, it is quite common for the
    Devas and divine beings to approach and tell me: ‘Householder, this Bhikkhu is liberated by both
    methods; that other Bhikkhu is liberated through wisdom; the other one is a body witness; that
    other Bhikkhu has attained to Right View; the other one is liberated through Faith; that one is a
    Dhamma follower; the other Bhikkhu follows through faith; that one over there is virtuous and of
    good behavior; the other Bhikkhu there is without any virtue, an immoral man, and of bad
    character!’ But despite knowing these facts about them, as I am serving the Sangha, I do not
    recall ever pondering to myself: ‘Well, let me give more food to this Bhikkhu, and much less to
    that one!’ Instead, I look upon them non-preferentially, by offering them food with an
    equanimous mind. This is the sixth wonderful and amazing quality that is undeniably present in
    me.
    “Bhante, it is quite common for the Devas and divine beings to approach and tell me:
    ‘Householder, The Dhamma of The Blessed One is well-taught, indeed!’ Then, I tell them:
    ‘Well, whether you say so or not, I know that The Dhamma of The Blessed One is well-taught!’
    But, on account of this and the fact that Devas and divine beings approach and converse with me,
    this does not make me feel any elation, as I do not detect the presence of conceit in my heart.
    This is the seventh wonderful and amazing quality that is undeniably present in me.
     “And Bhante, if I were to die before The Blessed One, I live with confidence that The Blessed
    One would declare about me: ‘Ugga of Hatthigāma is no more bound by those fetters that would
    lead him to be reborn in this human world again.’ This is the eighth wonderful and amazing
    quality that is undeniably present in me.”
    Having listened carefully to what Ugga of Hatthigāma stated, and after accepting the food
    offered at the home of the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma, that Bhikkhu went away. Once the
    meal was over, the Bhikkhu approached The Blessed One, and after paying homage to The
    Teacher, he sat to one side and related all that took place earlier that day, the conversation
    between himself and the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma. In response, The Blessed One said
    this:
    “Good, good, Bhikkhu! The householder Ugga of Hatthigāma has correctly declared it. For,
    those are the very same eight wonderful and amazing qualities that are undeniably present in
    him, which I declared the householder Ugga of Hatthigāma does possess. Therefore, you must
    ponder and bring to mind what you witnessed, by becoming inspired yourself, on how Ugga of
    Hatthigāma, being a householder, is fully endowed with these eight wonderful and amazing
    qualities.”

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

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