SuttaCentral
Hi friends,
I am looking for a particular sutta where the Buddha describes his evolving relationship to devas.
If I remember right: Buddha says that he initially ignored devas, then started to look at them, talk to them, etc. And it was only after he knew all the devas in all their realms that he could declare himself the Buddha.
Does this ring any bells & any idea which sutta?
Perfect, thank you!
Now, perchance do you have an interpretation of âlight and visionsâ? Is that a deva-specific synonym, or does it have a more general meaning?
So after some time, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, I perceived light and saw visions. But I didnât associate with those deities, converse, or engage in discussion.
As far as Iâm aware, âperceiving light and seeing visionsâ, or, as Bhikkhu Bodhi translates it, âperceiving light and seeing formsâ, isnât further explained in the early discourses. Of course, the commentaries have their own explanations of it.
Those two phrases together do seem to be associated with development of the divine eye. They show up again in MN 128 (with the only change being a different word for âseeingâ). Some take MN 128 to be describing the Anuruddhaâs and his companionsâ difficulty in developing the jhÄnas and the Buddhaâs sharing of his own difficulties in developing the jhÄnas. The evidence for this is the description of the threefold samÄdhi at the end of the sutta.
My personal opinion, though, is that both suttas are describing the difficulties of developing the divine eye. We donât really see jhÄna typically being associated with light and forms in other suttas. AN 4.41 does describe a development of samÄdhi that is associated with the perception of light (using different verbiage than the suttas above) and is definitely not associated with the jhÄnas (because the jhÄnas have already been listed as a separate development of samÄdhi). Iâve wondered if this development of samÄdhi associated with the perception of light is referring to the divine eye.
Another bit of circumstantial evidence is that MN 128 is a sutta featuring Anuruddha, known as the foremost disciple in the divine eye.
Itâs also interesting to note that the Chinese parallel to MN 128, MÄ 72, describes the Buddha recalling his reaction to perceiving light and seeing forms as being ââWhat in the world does not exist; can I see and know that?â, in my mind this doubt aroseâ. To me, this fits well with how one might react when seeing devas for the first time.
MN 128 is often cited as evidence that the jhÄnas are very difficult to attain. Regardless of oneâs views on that, it seems to me more likely that it is describing an even more difficult skill to attain: the divine eye, which was a much rarer skill to possess than jhÄna. Not even all arahants had this skill (notably SÄriputta).
I remember the excitement when I read that suttas and joined the dots as @Christopher describes 
In this sutta we have a glimpse at the seeking of knowledge that the Buddha undertook, nothing else than mapping all the heavens and its inhabitants in this case.
Thanks @Christopher! I much appreciate hearing your take on this.
I am very fond of MN 128 - like you, I interpret it to be instructions in developing the divine eye rather than jhana.
AN 4.41 I hadnât read until now but that strikes me as different but perhaps neighboring terrain? It would be a fun to sutta to investigate through direct experience 
Great detective work, @Christopher! Upon reading your case, I believe you are correct, that MN 128 is about developing the divine eye. You draw attention to some details that are easy to overlook. The point about MN 128 being directed to âAnuruddha and friendsâ (Anuruddha being renowned for his divine eye) is a good one. Also, the point about doubt being the first hindrance that he mentionedâŚthat does seem consistent with someone seeing Devas for the first time.