Going down to the holy fire

On that full moon day the Brahmin Janussoni having bathed and dressed in a suit of linen cloth, with some freshly plucked grass in his fist, was standing close to The Blessed One. The Blessed One saw the Brahmin Janussoni bathed and dressed in a suit of linen cloth, with some freshly plucked grass in his fist standing close to him, and said: -

“Brahmin, on this full moon day, having bathed and dressed in a suit of linen cloth and with some freshly plucked grass in your hand, why do you stand here? What is the significance of the day to the Brahmin clans?

“Good Gotama, today is the day of going down to the holy fire, for the Brahmin clans.

“How do the Brahmins observe the day of going down to the holy fire?

“Here, good Gotama, on the full moon day, the Brahmins bathe and dress in a suit of linen cloth, rub wet cowdung on the ground, spread some grass on the ground and lie on the grass at the right time inside the fire house. During that night they get up three times and worship the fire with clasped hands saying: `Good one, we worship you!' They feed the fire with much ghee, oil and butter. At the end of that night they feed the Brahmins with nourishing eatables and drinks. Good Gotama, this is the ceremony of going down to the holy fire, done by the Brahmins.

“ Brahmin, going down to the holy fire in the noble ones' discipline is something different from this.

“Venerable sir, what is, going down to the holy fire in the noble ones' discipline? It is good if I be taught the going down to the holy fire in the noble ones; discipline.

“Then Brahmin, listen and attend carefully I will tell.

Here, Brahmin, the noble disciple reflects: -

Wrong view has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong view and descends from it.

Wrong thoughts have evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong thoughts and descends from them.

Wrong speech has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong speech and descends from it.

Wrong actions have evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong actions and descends from them.

Wrong livelihood has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong livelihood and descends from it.

Wrong endeavour has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong endeavour and descends from it.

Wrong mindfulness has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong mindfulness and descends from it.

Wrong concentration has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong concentration and descends from it.

Wrong knowledge has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong knowledge and descends from it.

Wrong release has evil results in this very life and evil results in the next birth, judging carefully he dispels wrong release and descends from it.