Page 19 - ENG Edition Ver2
P. 19
16
The Translated Tipiṭaka on Brāmajālasutta
To study the Sutta on Brāhmajālasutta which is the first Sutta of
12
Suttantapiṭaka, Dīghanikāya, Sīlakhandhavagga (Long Suttas Collection,
Sīlakhandhavagga), it is essential to understand the study steps. There 5 as follows:
1. Understand the source of the Sutta name.
2. Understand the Sutta content.
3. Study the word order in the Sutta.
4. Comprehend the Dhamma essence existing in the Sutta.
5. Study meanings of vocabulary and the translated expressions.
The Source of the Sutta Name
Considering meaning, “Brāhmajālasuta” is “The Sutta of the Holy Net.” In this
sense “the Holy Net” means “The Buddha Omniscience,” since the penetration all
views and theories existing at that time realized thoroughly by the Buddha. The
detail on those views was explained to the monks by the Buddha that there were 62
views set up by various school leaders. The explanation on 62 views by the Buddha
13
is shown in no.102 of Brāmajālasutta as follows:
From Romanized Pali:
“Evameva kho bhikkhave ye hi keci samaṇā vā brahmaṇā va pubbantakappikā
vā aparantaka kappikā vā pubbantāparantakakappikā vā pubbantā parantānuḍiṭṭhino
pubbantāparantaṃ ārabbha anekavihitāni adhivuttipadāni abhivadanti,..”
From Translation in English:
“Whatever / Bhikkhus / recluses / or / Brahmans / who are speculators /
about the past / or / are speculators / about the future / or / are speculators / about
both past and future / settled on the view / about the past and the future / focusing
the past and the future / various / conceptual outgrowing /,..”
Other meanings of “Brāhmajālasutta,” besides “Net,” are given to Venerable
Ananda by the Buddha at the conclusion (Ending part-Nigamavacana) in
12
There are 13 Suttas in Dīghanikāya, Sīlakhandhavagga: Brāhmajālasutta, Sāmaññaphalasutta,
Ambaṭṭhasutta, Soṇadaṇḍasutta, Kuṭadantasutta, Mahālisutta, Jāliyasutta, Mahāsīhanādasutta,
Poṭṭhapādasutta, Subhasutta, Kevaṭṭasutta, Lohiccasutta, Tevijjasutta.
13
No. (102) Tipiṭaka, Thai version, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Edition.