Entertainment

1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the squirrels' sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha

2. Then Gāmaṇi who danced on a stage to entertain approached the Blessed One, worshipped and sat on a side.

3. Sitting on a side Gāmaṇi who danced on a stage to entertain said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, I have heard, the early teachers of teachers who danced say, `they that danced, said lies as truth to entertain people, made laughter and amusement in front of a crowd, after death will be born with the gods of laughter.' What does the Blessed One say about this?”

“Gāmaṇi, enough of it, do not ask me!”

4. For the second time, Gāmaṇi who danced on a stage to entertain said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, I have heard, the early teachers of teachers who danced say, `They that danced, said lies as truth to entertain people, made laughter and amusement in front of a crowd, after death will be born with the gods of laughter' What does the Blessed One say about this?”

“Gāmaṇi, enough of it, do not ask me!”

5. For the third time, Gāmaṇi who danced on a stage to entertain said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, I have heard, the early teachers of teachers who danced say, `they that danced, said lies as truth to entertain people, made laughter and amusement in front of a crowd, after death will be born with the gods of laughter' What does the Blessed One say about this?”

“Gāmaṇi, you do not gain by it! Enough! Do not ask me! Yet you ask me I will explain.”

6. “Gāmaṇi, when beings are greedy, bound by greed, they dance in the midst of crowds and exhibit passionate things to increase attachment, pleasure, and enjoyment. Gāmaṇi, when beings are hateful, bound by hate, they dance in the midst of crowds and exhibit hateful things to increase hatred. Gāmaṇi, when beings are deluded, bound by delusion, they dance in the midst of crowds and exhibit deluded things to increase delusion.

7. “These intoxicated and negligent beings intoxicate and cause negligence in others and after death are born in a hell called laughter. If it happens, they cling to a view, `they that danced, said lies as truth to entertain people, made laughter and amusement in front of a crowd, after death will be born with the gods of laughter.' They will be born with the gods of laughter. It is wrong view to him. Gamini, to a person who has wrong view, I declare two courses of action either hell or an animal womb.”

8. Hearing this, Gāmaṇi who danced on a stage to entertain cried loudly with tears streaming.

“There! Gāmaṇi, I told you it is useless! I told you do not ask me!”

“Venerable sir, I do not cry for what the Blessed One has told, yet I have been deceived, enticed and cheated by the early teachers of teachers who knew, saying, `they that danced, said lies as truth to entertain people, made laughter and amusement in front of a crowd, after death will be born with the gods of laughter.

9. “Venerable sir, now I understand, it is like something overturned is put upright, something covered is made manifest, as though the way was shown when someone has lost his way, as though an oil lamp is lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this manner the Blessed One has explained the Teaching in many ways. Now I take refuge in the Blessed One. May I gain the going forth and the higher ordination in the Blessed One's dispensation.”

10. Gāmaṇi who danced on a stage to entertain, gained the going forth and the higher ordination in the presence of the Blessed One.

11. Soon after his higher ordination Gāmaṇi who danced on a stage to entertain became a worthy one.