Continuing from where we stopped.

“There are non-human beings, dear Sir, who are fierce, cruel, and violent, they do not take notice of the Great Kings, they do not take notice of the Great Kings’ men, they do not take notice of the Great Kings’ men’s men, and those non-human beings, dear Sir, are said to be in revolt against the Great Kings. Just as, dear Sir, there are thieves in the king of Magadha’s realm, who do not take notice of the king of Magadha, who do not take notice of the king of Magadha’s men, who do not take notice of the king of Magadha’s men’s men, and those great thieves, dear Sir, are said to be in revolt against the king of Magadha. Even so, dear Sir, there are non-human beings who are fierce, cruel, and violent, they do not take notice of the Great Kings, they do not take notice of the Great Kings’ men, they do not take notice of the Great Kings’ men’s men, and those non-human beings, dear Sir, are said to be in revolt against the Great Kings.

https://suttacentral.net/dn32/en/anandajoti?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false

In the above paragraph, we know that there are rogue spirits. The twist is that these spirits belong to the same race who are committed to protecting Buddhism and its practitioners. From this sutta, we know that the spirit world is just as complex as our human society. The powerful and affluent spirits who are good reside in the lowest heaven that is closest to us. And amongst these spirits, there are ranks and a hierarchy that is almost similar to our human world.

And amongst these spirits, there are some who are rogue or criminal in nature. They are against morality. They are outcasts or “fallen”. They are ostracised and are punished by the more powerful ones.

“Now, dear Sir, whatever non-human beings—be they male yakkha or female yakkha or yakkha boy or yakkha girl or yakkha minister or yakkha councillor or yakkha messenger

or male gandhabba or female gandhabba or gandhabba boy or gandhabba girl or gandhabba minister or gandhabba councillor or gandhabba messenger

or male kumbhaṇḍa or female kumbhaṇḍa or kumbhaṇḍa boy or kumbhaṇḍa girl or kumbhaṇḍa minister or kumbhaṇḍa councillor or kumbhaṇḍa messenger

or male nāga or female nāga or nāga boy or nāga girl or nāga minister or nāga councillor or nāga messenger—with a wicked mind should come near a monk or a nun or a layman or a laywoman while they are going, or stand near while they are standing, or sit near while they are sitting, or lie near while they are lying,

then to these yakkhas, great yakkhas, generals, great generals, one should call out, one should shout out, one should cry out:

“This yakkha has seized me, this yakkha has grabbed me, this yakkha annoys me, this yakkha harasses me, this yakkha hurts me, this yakkha injures me, this yakkha will not release me.” To which yakkhas, great yakkhas, generals, and great generals?

The above passage detail how we can “call out” to the good spirits or the enforcer/”police”/guardian deva(angel) of the spirit world for help when we are troubled by evil spirits. Next, the sutta provides a list of guardian deva who will protect us from evil spirits.

“‘Inda, Soma, and Varuṇa,
Bhāradvāja, Pajāpati,
Candana, and Kāmaseṭṭha,
Kinnughaṇḍu, and Nighaṇḍu,
Panāda, and Opamañña,
and Mātali, the gods’ charioteer.

“‘The gandhabbas Citta and Sena,
the kings Nala and Janesabha,
Sātāgira, Hemavata,
Puṇṇaka, Karatiya, Guḷa,

“‘Sīvaka, and Mucalinda,
Vessāmitta, Yugandhara,
Gopāla, and Suppagedha,
Hiri, Netti, and Mandiya,

“‘Pañcālacaṇḍa, Ālavaka,
Pajjuna, Sumana, Sumukha, Dadhīmukha,
Maṇi, Māṇi, Cara, Dīgha,
together with Serissaka

The above list the powerful spiritual guardians. The scripture mentions, “call out”. Since these spirits are closest to the human realm, the action of calling out involves verbal recitation and invocation. Preferably with a focused mind that is untainted by evil thoughts.

“‘Then to these yakkhas, great yakkhas, generals, and great generals, one should call out, one should shout out, one should cry out: “This yakkha has seized me, this yakkha has grabbed me, this yakkha annoys me, this yakkha harasses me, this yakkha hurts me, this yakkha injures me, this yakkha will not release me.”

This, dear Sir, is the Āṭānāṭiyā protection, for the monks’, nuns’, laymen’s, and laywomen’s guard, protection, freedom from harm, and comfortable living. And now, dear Sir, we shall go, as we have many duties, and there is much which ought to be done.”

Moreover, there are also messenger spirits who report our moral effort and are close to us when we practice Dharma. Therefore, we need to have strong faith that our “call out” will be answered.

It is also important to understand that morality is being practiced to benefit ourselves and others. Therefore, we should always try to be kind while practicing morality,

The following is the conclusion of this sutta.

“‘Now is the time for whatever you Great Kings are thinking.’

Then the Four Great Kings, monks, rose from their seats and after worshipping and circumambulating me, vanished right there. Then some yakkhas, monks, rose from their seats and after worshipping and circumambulating me, vanished right there. Some exchanged greetings with me, and after exchanging polite and courteous greetings, vanished right there. Some, after raising their hands in respectful salutation to me, vanished right there. Some, after announcing their name and family vanished right there. And some, while keeping silent, vanished right there.

“Learn the Āṭānāṭiya protection, monks, master the Āṭānāṭiya protection, monks, bear in mind the Āṭānāṭiya protection, monks, the Āṭānāṭiya protection, monks, is for your welfare and benefit, for the monks’, nuns’, laymen’s, and laywomen’s guard, protection, freedom from harm, and comfortable living.”

The Gracious One said this, and those monks were uplifted and greatly rejoiced in what was said by the Gracious One.

The above was narrated by Buddha to the Sangha Assembly after the spiritual congregation disperse. In this manner, we conclude our reading of this wonderful sutta. Let us be inspired by remembering the content of this sutta. Let us have confidence in our practice of morality, Let us be uplifted. And let us always be humble.

May all be well and happy.