• Aggañña Sutta is the 27th sutta of the Digha Nikaya collection (Pāli version).

• The sutta describes a discourse by the Buddha to two brahmins, Bharadvaja and Vasettha, who left their family and varna to become monks.

• The two brahmins are insulted and maligned by their own caste for their intention to join the Sangha.

• The Buddha explains that varna (class) and lineage cannot be compared to the achievement of morality, practice, and the Dhamma.

• Anyone from the four varnas can become a monk and reach the state of Arahant.

• The Buddha explains the beginning and destruction of the Earth, a process determined by karma and devoid of a supreme being.

• The Buddha then explains the birth of social order and its structure, including the varnas.

• The Buddha emphasizes the message of universality in the Dhamma and how the Dhamma is the best of all things.

Introduction

• The Tipitaka (in Pali) or Tripitaka (in Sanskrit) and The Three Baskets (in English) is the collected Buddhist scriptures.

• It is divided into three main parts: Vinaya Pitaka (basket of discipline), Sutta Pitaka (basket of discourse), and Abhidhamma Pitaka (basket of special doctrine).

• There are five Nikayas in the Sutta Pitaka, with the first being the Dirgha Nikaya (meaning long discourse).

• The twenty-seventh sutta of the Dirgha Nikaya discusses the origin of life, family, society, and the state.

• The Dirgha Nikaya is a discourse given by the enlightened one (Buddha) to two Brahmins, Bharadvaja and Vasettha.

• The Lord was staying at Savatthi at Migara’s mother’s mansion in the East Park.

• At that time, Vasettha and Bharadvaja were living among the monks, aspiring to become monks themselves.

• In the evening, the Lord came out from his secluded meditation and began walking up and down in the mansion’s shade.

• Vasettha noticed this and suggested to Bharadvaja that they approach the Lord to hear a talk on Dhamma.

• Vasettha and Bharadvaja went up to the Lord, saluted him, and walked alongside him.

• The Lord spoke to Vasettha, acknowledging that they were Brahmins by birth who had left the household life for homelessness.

• The Lord asked if the Brahmins ever reviled or abused them for leaving the traditional lifestyle.

• Vasettha replied affirmatively, stating that the Brahmins indeed revile and abuse them, flooding them with reproaches.

• Vasettha explained the Brahmins’ reproach: they believe the Brahmin caste is the highest, while other castes are base.

• They claim the Brahmin caste is fair, while others are dark, and that Brahmins are purified while others are not.

• Brahmins view themselves as the true children of Brahma, born from his mouth, created by Brahma, and heirs of Brahma.

• Vasettha and Bharadvaja were accused of deserting the highest class and joining the base class of petty ascetics, servants, and dark fellows born of Brahma’s foot.

• The Brahmins reproached them for mixing with such people, calling it improper.

• The Enlightened One (Buddha) responded to the two Brahmins’ complaints and gave his teachings.