Ayacana Sutta, Āyācana-sutta: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Ayacana Sutta means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Ayacana Sutta in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Ayacana Sutta - The good monk, if he would perfectly aspire, should wish to be like Sariputta and Moggallana ; the nun to be like Khema and Uppalavanna; the householder like Citta and Hatthaka; the house mistress like Khujjuttara and Velukantaki, the mother of Nanda. A.ii.164.

2. Ayacana Sutta - Contains the story of the reluctance felt by the Buddha, while meditating at Uruvela, in the eighth week after the Enlightenment, to preach his doctrine to the world, feeling that it would not appeal to the human temperament; and of the appearance before him, of the Brahma Sahampati, who had read his thoughts and who entreated him to overcome this reluctance. He assured the Buddha that there were in the world many who would comprehend the Dhamma if they heard it. The Buddha saw that this assurance was justified and agreed to set forth as a teacher (S.i.136ff).

The sutta appears verbatim in the Vinaya (i.4ff) and almost verbatim in the Digha Nikaya (ii.36ff), as an episode in the life of each of the Buddhas mentioned there, but with two variants; the Brahma repeats his request three times and the stanzas in which the request is made, as given in the Samyutta, are omitted.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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