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an.5.196 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Dreams

“When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, five great dreams appeared to him. Which five?

“When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, this great earth was his great bed. The Himalayas, king of mountains, was his pillow. His left hand rested in the eastern sea, his right hand in the western sea, and both feet in the southern sea. When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, this was the first great dream that appeared to him.

“Furthermore, when the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, a woody vine growing out of his navel stood reaching to the sky. When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, this was the second great dream that appeared to him.

“Furthermore, when the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, white worms with black heads crawling up from his feet covered him as far as his knees. When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, this was the third great dream that appeared to him.

“Furthermore, when the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, four different-colored birds coming from the four directions fell at his feet and turned entirely white. When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, this was the fourth great dream that appeared to him.

“Furthermore, when the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, he walked back & forth on top of a giant mountain of excrement but was not soiled by the excrement. When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, this was the fifth great dream that appeared to him.

“Now, when the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, and this great earth was his great bed, the Himalayas, king of mountains, was his pillow, his left hand rested in the eastern sea, his right hand in the western sea, and both feet in the southern sea: this first great dream appeared to let him know that he would awaken to the unexcelled right self-awakening.

“When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, and a woody vine growing out of his navel stood reaching to the sky: this second great dream appeared to let him know that when he had awakened to the noble eightfold path, he would proclaim it well as far as there are human & celestial beings.

“When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, and white worms with black heads crawling up from his feet covered him as far as his knees: this third great dream appeared to let him know that many white-clothed householders would go for life-long refuge to the Tathagata.

“When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, and four different-colored birds coming from the four directions fell at his feet and turned entirely white: this fourth great dream appeared to let him know that people from the four castes—brahmans, noble-warriors, merchants, and laborers—having gone forth from the home life into homelessness in the Dhamma & Vinaya taught by the Tathagata, would realize unexcelled release.

“When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, and he walked back & forth on top of a giant mountain of excrement but was not soiled by the excrement: this fifth great dream appeared to let him know that the Tathagata would receive gifts of robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites to cure the sick, but he would use them unattached to them, uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing the drawbacks [of attachment to them], and discerning the escape from them.

“When the Tathagata—worthy & rightly self-awakened—was still just an unawakened bodhisatta, these five great dreams appeared to him.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

The Great Dreams

“Mendicants, before his awakening five great dreams appeared to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, when he was still not awake but intent on awakening.
What five?
This great earth was his bed. Himalaya, king of mountains, was his pillow. His left hand was laid down in the eastern sea. His right hand was laid down in the western sea. And both his feet were laid down in the southern sea.
This is the first great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.
Next, a kind of grass called ‘the crosser’ grew up from his navel and stood pressing against the cloudy sky.
This is the second great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.
Next, white caterpillars with black heads crawled up from his feet and covered his knees.
This is the third great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.
Next, four birds of different colors came from the four quarters. They fell at his feet, turning pure white.
This is the fourth great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.
Next, he walked back and forth on top of a huge mountain of filth while remaining unsoiled.
This is the fifth great dream that appeared to the Realized One before his awakening.
Now, as to when, before his awakening, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha was still not awake but intent on awakening. This great earth was his bed. Himalaya, king of mountains, was his pillow. His left hand was laid down in the eastern sea. His right hand was laid down in the western sea. And both his feet were laid down in the southern sea.
This was fulfilled when the Buddha awakened to the perfect awakening.
This was the first great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.
As to when a kind of grass called ‘the crosser’ grew up from his navel and stood pressing against the cloudy sky.
This was fulfilled when, after the Buddha had awakened to the noble eightfold path, it was well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.
This was the second great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.
As to when white caterpillars with black heads crawled up from his feet and covered his knees.
This was fulfilled when many white-clothed laypeople went for refuge to him for life.
This was the third great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.
As to when four birds of different colors came from the four quarters. They fell at his feet, turning pure white.
This was fulfilled when members of the four castes—aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, and workers—went forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One and realized supreme freedom.
This was the fourth great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.
As to when he walked back and forth on top of a huge mountain of filth while remaining unsoiled.
This was fulfilled when the Realized One received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And he used them untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape.
This was the fifth great dream that appeared to him while he was still not awakened.
Before his awakening these five great dreams appeared to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, when he was still not awake but intent on awakening.”