Date: 01/24/2026 01/25/2026
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Four Brāhmaṇas Attain the Path
Long ago, there were four Brāhmaṇa ascetics who, through devoted cultivation, obtained certain spiritual powers and were able to fly freely through the sky. The four often gathered together to discuss the marvels of their supernatural abilities, and whenever this topic arose, each of them felt great delight.
One day, the four Brāhmaṇas assembled again. While flying through the air and conversing, one of them said,
“Whoever hears the Buddha-Dharma can enter the gate of liberation.”
Another Brāhmaṇa, upon hearing this, asked,
“If people like us were to hear the Buddha-Dharma, what would happen?”
A third Brāhmaṇa replied,
“If we hear the Buddha-Dharma, we too would surely enter the gate of liberation.”
Another then said,
“Liberation from worldly suffering may be acceptable, but if even joy must be relinquished, what meaning would there be?”
Another added,
“Indeed. To seek the Path yet obtain no happiness would have no meaning at all.”
Another concluded,
“In my view, we should simply not listen to the Buddha-Dharma.”
Another said,
“That is well said; I fully agree.”
Yet another remarked,
“Is it not pleasant to fly about like this? If we could remain so forever, there would be nothing more to seek.”
Thus, the four Brāhmaṇa ascetics together agreed not to listen to the Buddha-Dharma. Although they were unwilling to hear the Dharma, in their hearts they still held great reverence for the Buddha.
On one occasion, each of them took a jar of sweet rock honey, intending to make an offering to the Buddha. When they arrived outside the Buddha’s monastery, they became concerned that if all four were to enter together, the Buddha would certainly expound the Dharma for them. They therefore discussed among themselves and agreed that each would enter in turn, make the offering, and immediately depart, thereby avoiding the Buddha’s teaching.
When the first Brāhmaṇa ascetic raised the jar of rock honey and presented it before the Buddha, the Buddha said,
“All conditioned actions are impermanent …”
As soon as he heard the Buddha speaking the Dharma, he hastily covered his ears with his hands.
At that moment, the second Brāhmaṇa ascetic entered to present his offering and heard the Buddha say,
“… this is called the arising and passing of the Dharma …”
Knowing at once that the Buddha was expounding the Dharma, he too hurriedly covered his ears.
Then the third Brāhmaṇa ascetic entered to present his offering and heard the Buddha say,
“… whatever is born must surely perish …”
Realizing likewise that the Buddha was teaching the Dharma, he followed the others and covered his ears.
Finally, the last Brāhmaṇa ascetic slowly presented his offering and heard the Buddha say,
“… this cessation is bliss.”
He immediately recognized that the Buddha was teaching the Dharma and promptly covered his ears as well.
All four covered their ears and hurried outside, asking one another what each had heard. When each recounted the words he had heard, they happened to combine perfectly into a single gāthā of the Buddha:
“All conditioned actions are impermanent; this is called the arising and passing of the Dharma.
Whatever is born must surely perish; this cessation is bliss.”
Upon hearing this gāthā, the four Brāhmaṇa ascetics immediately understood its meaning. Their minds opened and their understanding became clear; they comprehended the Buddha’s intent and, at that very moment, all attained the First Fruit.
These four Brāhmaṇas who had attained the First Fruit all felt remorse for their former views. They immediately turned back to the Buddha’s monastery, came before the Buddha, bowed in repentance, and said,
“We have now resolved to seek the Buddha Path. Therefore we have returned to hear the Buddha teach the Dharma. We wish to shave our heads, leave home, and follow you in cultivation.”
The Buddha replied,
“Excellent indeed. Bhikṣus, you may now begin to cultivate the path of liberation.”
Relying upon the Buddha’s majestic spiritual power, as soon as the four Brāhmaṇas heard the Buddha’s words, their hair fell away of itself, and their garments instantly transformed into monastic robes. At that moment, they completely relinquished worldly attachments and defilements, and before the Buddha they immediately became four Arhats.
