Thus have I heard:
One time, the Budha was staying at Anaathapindidas Ashrama in Jetavana of Shraavastii.
At that time, Shakra, the lord of the devas, went to Budha. Upon arriving, he bowed his head at Budha’s feet, stood to one side, and said,
“How does a bhikshu cut off desire, liberate the mind, and reach the ultimate state of peace, free from all afflictions, revered by both devas and humans?”
Budha said to Shakra, “Kaushika, if a bhikshu hears this teaching on Sunya and understands that all things are devoid of inherent existence, he will fully comprehend all phenomena and know them as they truly are. Whether experiencing pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral sensations, he contemplates the impermanence of this body and sees that all things are Sunya.
Having observed the changes in these neutral sensations, he does not give rise to thoughts. Without thoughts, there is no fear. Without fear, he attains Nirvana: birth and death are exhausted, the noble life is fulfilled, what needed to be done is done, and there is no further existence. He knows this as it truly is. This, Shakra, is how a bhikshu cuts off desire, liberates the mind, and reaches the ultimate state of peace, free from all afflictions, revered by both devas and humans.”
At that time, Shakra bowed at Budha’s feet, circumambulated him three times, and then withdrew.
At that time, Venerable Maha-maudgal-yaayana was seated not far from Budha, cross-legged, with an upright body and mind focused in meditation.
He thought, “Did Shakra, the lord of the devas, ask about the path after having attained it, or did he ask without having attained it? I shall test him.”
Then, venerable Maha-maudgal-yaayana used his supernatural power and, in the time it takes to bend and stretch an arm, arrived in the Trayas–trimsha Heaven (Heaven of the Thirty-Three).
At that time, Shakra, seeing Maha-maudgal-yaayana approaching from afar, rose to greet him and said,
“Welcome, venerable Maha-maudgal-yaayana! It has been a long time since you last came here. I wish to discuss the Dharma with you. Please, take a seat here.”
Maha–maudgal-yaayana asked Shakra, “Budha spoke to you about the method of cutting off desire. I wish to hear it. Now is the time; please explain it to me.”
Shakra replied, “I am currently occupied with many deva affairs, both my own and those of other devas. What I heard, I have already forgotten.
In the past, Maudgal-yaayana, when the devas fought with the asuras, on the day of the battle, the devas were victorious, and the asuras retreated.
At that time, I personally led the devas back to the heavenly palace and sat in the Hall of Supreme Victory. Because of the victory in battle, it is called the Hall of Supreme Victory. Its steps and paths are perfectly aligned, and at each step, there are seven hundred pavilions. In each pavilion, there are seven celestial maidens, and each maiden has seven attendants. Venerable Maudgal-yaayana, I invite you to look around.”
At that time, Shakra and Vaishravana, the lord of the north, followed Venerable Maha-maudgal-yaayana to the Hall of Supreme Victory. Shakra and Vaishravana said to Maha-maudgal-yaayana, “This is the Hall of Supreme Victory. Please, look around.”
Maha–maudgal-yaayana said, “Heavenly King, this place is extremely marvellous. It is the result of merits accumulated in past lives, which have brought about this naturally adorned hall. Just as in the human world, there are small places of joy where people celebrate, this heavenly palace is no different. It is all the result of merits from past lives.”
At that time, the celestial maidens surrounding Shakra scattered in all directions, not knowing where to go, just as humans might feel ashamed and avoid certain situations. When they saw Maha-maudgal-yaayana approaching from afar, they scattered in confusion.
At that time, Maha-maudgal-yaayana thought, “Shakra is very indulgent. I should now make him feel fear.” Then, Venerable Maha-maudgal-yaayana pressed the ground with his right foot, causing the palace to shake six times.
Shakra and Vaishravaṇa were filled with terror, their hair standing on end, and they thought, “This Maha-maudgal-yaayana possesses great supernatural power, able to make this palace shake six times. How extraordinary! How remarkable! This has never happened before!”
At that time, Maha-maudgal-yaayana thought, “Now that Shakra is filled with fear, I should ask him about the profound meaning.”
He said, “Kaushika, Budha spoke to you about the method of cutting off desire. Now is the time; please explain it to us.”
Shakra replied, “Maudgal-yaayana, I previously went to Budha, bowed at his feet, and stood to one side.
I then asked him, ‘How does a bhikshu cut off desire, liberate the mind, and reach the ultimate state of peace, free from all afflictions, revered by both devas and humans?’ Budha said to me, ‘Kaushika, when bhikshus hear the Dharma, they become free from attachment and do not cling to forms. They fully comprehend all phenomena and understand that they are devoid of inherent existence.
Having understood all phenomena, whether pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral, they contemplate their impermanence and see that they are extinguished without remainder, without destruction. Having observed this, they become free from attachment, do not give rise to worldly thoughts, and are without fear. Without fear, they attain Nirvana: birth and death are exhausted, the noble life is fulfilled, what needed to be done is done, and there is no further existence. They know this as it truly is.
This, Shakra, is how a bhikshu cuts off desire, liberates the mind, and reaches the ultimate state of peace, free from all afflictions, revered by both devas and humans.’ After hearing this, I bowed at Budha’s feet, circumambulated him three times, and then withdrew, returning to the heavens.”
At that time, venerable Maha-maudgal-yaayana explained the profound Dharma to Shakra and Vaishravana in detail. After explaining the Dharma, Maha-maudgal-yaayana, in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, disappeared from the Trayas-trimsha Heaven and returned to Jetavana in Shraavastii. He went to Budha, bowed at his feet, and sat to one side.
At that time, Maha-maudgal-yaayana said to Budha, “The Tathaagata previously spoke to Shakra about the method of cutting off desire. I beseech Budha to explain it to me as well.”
Budha said to Maha-maudgal-yaayana, “You should know that Shakra came to me, bowed at my feet, and stood to one side. He asked me, ‘How does a bhikshu cut off desire and liberate the mind?’
I told Shakra, ‘Kaushika, if a bhikshu understands that all phenomena are Sunya and devoid of inherent existence, and is free from attachment, fully comprehending that all phenomena are impermanent, extinguished without remainder, and without destruction, he will become free from attachment, not give rise to worldly thoughts, and be without fear. Without fear, he will attain Nirvana: birth and death are exhausted, the noble life is fulfilled, what needed to be done is done, and there is no further existence. He knows this as it truly is. This, Shakra, is how a bhikshu cuts off desire and liberates the mind.’
At that time, Shakra rose from his seat, bowed at my feet, and then withdrew, returning to the heavens.”
At that time, Maha-maudgal-yaayana, hearing Budha’s words, he followed it with joy.