On one occasion the Venerable Mahakaccana was dwelling among the people of Avanti in a forest hut at Makkarakaṭa. sn.iv.117 Then a number of brahmin youths, students of the brahmin Lohicca, while collecting firewood, approached the Venerable Mahakaccana’s forest hut. Having approached, they stomped and trampled all around the hut, and in a boisterous and noisy manner they played various pranks, saying: “These shaveling ascetics, menials, swarthy offspring of the Lord’s feet, are honoured, respected, esteemed, worshipped, and venerated by their servile devotees.”
Then the Venerable Mahakaccana came out of his dwelling and said to those brahmin youths: “Don’t make any noise, boys. I will speak to you on the Dhamma.” When this was said, those youths became silent. Then the Venerable Mahakaccana addressed those youths with verses:
“Those men of old who excelled in virtue,
Those brahmins who recalled the ancient rules,
Their sense doors guarded, well protected,
Dwelt having vanquished wrath within.
They took delight in Dhamma and meditation,
Those brahmins who recalled the ancient rules.“But these have fallen, claiming ‘We recite.’
Puffed up by clan, faring unrighteously,
Overcome by anger, armed with diverse weapons,
They molest both frail and firm.“For one with sense doors unguarded
All the vows he undertakes are vain
Just like the wealth a man gains in a dream: sn.iv.118
Fasting and sleeping on the ground,
Bathing at dawn, study of the three Vedas,
Rough hides, matted locks, and dirt;
Hymns, rules and vows, austerities,
Hypocrisy, bent staffs, ablutions:
These emblems of the brahmins
Are used to increase their worldly gains.“A mind that is well concentrated,
Clear and free from blemish,
Tender towards all sentient beings—
That is the path for attaining Brahma.”
Then those brahmin youths, angry and displeased, approached the brahmin Lohicca and told him: “See now, sir, you should know that the ascetic Mahakaccana categorically denigrates and scorns the hymns of the brahmins.”
When this was said, the brahmin Lohicca was angry and displeased. But then it occurred to him: “It is not proper for me to abuse and revile the ascetic Mahakaccana solely on the basis of what I have heard from these youths. Let me approach him and inquire.”
Then the brahmin Lohicca, together with those brahmin youths, approached the Venerable Mahakaccana. sn.iv.119 He exchanged greetings with the Venerable Mahakaccana and, when they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to him: “Master Kaccana, did a number of brahmin youths, my students, come this way while collecting firewood?”
“They did, brahmin.”
“Did Master Kaccana have any conversation with them?”
“I did have a conversation with them, brahmin.”
“What kind of conversation did you have with them, Master Kaccana?”
“The conversation I had with those youths was like this:
“‘Those men of old who excelled in virtue,
Those brahmins who recalled the ancient rules, …
Tender towards all sentient beings—
That is the path for attaining Brahma.’
Such was the conversation that I had with those youths.”
“Master Kaccana said ‘with sense doors unguarded.’ In what way, Master Kaccana, is one ‘with sense doors unguarded’?”
“Here, brahmin, having seen a form with the eye, someone is intent upon a pleasing form and repelled by a displeasing form. He dwells without having set up mindfulness of the body, with a limited mind, sn.iv.120 and he does not understand as it really is that liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, wherein those evil unwholesome states cease without remainder. Having heard a sound with the ear … Having cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind, someone is intent upon a pleasing mental phenomenon and repelled by a displeasing mental phenomenon. He dwells without having set up mindfulness of the body … cease without remainder. It is in such a way, brahmin, that one is ‘with sense doors unguarded.’”
“It is wonderful, Master Kaccana! It is amazing, Master Kaccana! How Master Kaccana has declared one whose sense doors are actually unguarded to be one ‘with sense doors unguarded’! But Master Kaccana said ‘with sense doors guarded.’ In what way, Master Kaccana, is one ‘with sense doors guarded’?”
“Here, brahmin, having seen a form with the eye, someone is not intent upon a pleasing form and not repelled by a displeasing form. He dwells having set up mindfulness of the body, with a measureless mind, and he understands as it really is that liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, wherein those evil unwholesome states cease without remainder. Having heard a sound with the ear … Having cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind, someone is not intent upon a pleasing mental phenomenon and not repelled by a displeasing mental phenomenon. He dwells having set up mindfulness of the body … cease without remainder. It is in such a way, brahmin, that one is ‘with sense doors guarded.’”
“It is wonderful, Master Kaccana! It is amazing, Master Kaccana! sn.iv.121 How Master Kaccana has declared one whose sense doors are actually guarded to be one ‘with sense doors guarded’! Magnificent, Master Kaccana! Magnificent, Master Kaccana! The Dhamma has been made clear in many ways by Master Kaccana … as in §127 … From today let Master Kaccana remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.
“Let Master Kaccana approach the Lohicca family just as he approaches the families of the lay followers in Makkarakaṭa. The brahmin youths and maidens there will pay homage to Master Kaccana, they will stand up for him out of respect, they will offer him a seat and water, and that will lead to their welfare and happiness for a long time.”