Chapter 26: The Brahmana

The author urges the Brahmana to resist the stream of desires through vigilant effort, promising that understanding destruction leads to understanding the unconstructed.

Those who achieve mastery in both restraint and contemplation reach the other shore and are freed from all bonds through knowledge.

A true Brahmana is one who transcends both shores and dualities, remaining fearless and unshackled.

A true Brahmana is thoughtful, blameless, settled, dutiful, passionless, and has attained the highest end.

The chapter compares the brightness of sun, moon, warrior, and Brahmana, concluding that Buddha shines with splendor day and night, surpassing all.

The names Brahmana, Samana, and Pravragita are justified by etymological derivation from qualities (freedom from evil, quietness, purity) rather than birth.

Brahmanas should not be attacked, and if attacked, they should not retaliate; those who strike a Brahmana face greater karmic consequences.

When a Brahmana restrains himself from worldly pleasures and eliminates the wish to harm others, suffering ceases.

A true Brahmana is one who refrains from offending through body, word, or thought and maintains control in all three.

After understanding the Buddha's teaching, one should worship it carefully as a Brahmana worships sacrificial fire.

Birth, family, or outward appearance do not make one a Brahmana; only truth and righteousness do.

Mere external practices like platted hair or goat-skin raiment are useless if inner ravening persists; true cleanliness must be within.

One who wears simple clothes, is emaciated, lives alone in the forest, and meditates is truly called a Brahmana.

Birth and wealth do not make one a Brahmana; the poor person free from attachments deserves this title.

A true Brahmana has severed all bonds, is fearless, independent, and unshackled.

A Brahmana has transcended all forms of constraint and bondage and achieved awakening.

A true Brahmana endures blame and hardship without having committed offense, relying on endurance and strength.

A true Brahmana is free from anger, dutiful, virtuous, without appetite, subdued, and has completed his cycle of rebirth.

A true Brahmana does not cling to pleasures with the same ease that water does not stick to a lotus leaf.

A true Brahmana understands the end of suffering, has set down his burden, and is free and unshackled.

A true Brahmana possesses deep knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of right and wrong paths, achieving the highest end.

A true Brahmana maintains distance from both lay people and mendicants, enters no homes, and has few desires.

A true Brahmana finds no fault with any beings and neither kills nor causes slaughter.

A true Brahmana remains tolerant with the intolerant, mild with those who criticize, and free from passion.

A true Brahmana has shed anger, hatred, pride, and envy as easily as a mustard seed falls from a needle's point.

A true Brahmana speaks truth that is instructive and free from harshness, offending no one.

A true Brahmana takes nothing without being given it, regardless of size, quality, or other characteristics.

A true Brahmana fostered no desires for this world or the next, has no inclinations, and is unshackled.

A true Brahmana has no interests, ceases questioning after understanding truth, and has reached the depth of the Immortal.

A true Brahmana transcends duality, is free from bondage to both good and evil, and is liberated from grief and sin.

A true Brahmana is bright like the moon, pure, serene, undisturbed, with all gaiety extinguished.

A true Brahmana has traversed the world's miry road and reached the other shore, being thoughtful, guileless, free from doubt and attachment.

A true Brahmana wanders without home, having left all desires and extinguished all concupiscence.

A true Brahmana wanders without home after leaving all longings and extinguishing all covetousness.

A true Brahmana has transcended bondage to humans and gods alike, achieving freedom from all bonds.

A true Brahmana has left both pleasure and pain, is cold, free from germs of renewed life, and is a hero who has conquered all worlds.

A true Brahmana knows the destruction and return of all beings, is free from bondage, well-faring, and awakened.

A true Brahmana's path is unknown to gods or spirits, his passions are extinct, and he is an Arhat worthy of veneration.

A true Brahmana owns nothing in past, present, or future, is poor, and is free from love of the world.

A true Brahmana is manly, noble, heroic, a great sage, conqueror, impassible, accomplished, and awakened.

A true Brahmana remembers former abodes, perceives heaven and hell, has ended rebirth, possesses perfect knowledge and wisdom.