<p>In DN 13 the term is originally used by Brahmins talking with each other, and so between them it meant whatever (non-Buddhist doctrine) they each understood it to mean.</p>

<p>At the end of the sutta the Buddha teaches them the four brahmaviharas and defines or explains that these are the path to "companionship with Brahma" -- i.e. I think he thus redefines <em>brahmasahabyatāya</em> (whatever it used to mean) in Buddhist terms, in a way that can be understood and agreed by the Brahmins.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-12T08:35:40.233Z
2019-08-12T08:35:40.233Z
ChrisW
<p>The Buddha says:  This is a path to companionship with Brahmā.</p>

<p>Regardless of whether companionship means union or company, the Buddha says that this is a <strong>path that is related to Brahmā</strong> (and not to Emptiness / Void)</p>

<p>Company with Brahmā is lower than Union with Brahmā.</p>

<p>What sort of 'company' can it possibly be that will justify to be called The path of Lord Buddha ?</p>

<p>It is - becoming One with Brahmā.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-16T21:37:29.603Z
2020-05-16T21:37:29.603Z
Portman
<p>I feel this is "in the audience/assembly of the brahma". So "company of the brahma" seems more right. This seems more like a literal translation. </p>

<p>Looking at the context union with the brahma might be right if the brahmins were teaching this. In the case the brahmins in question were teaching being born among the brahmas or brahma plane then company of the brahma is more correct. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-12T19:41:02.877Z
2019-07-12T19:47:36.867Z
2019-07-12T19:47:36.867Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>DN 13 is not for Buddhists. It is an example of the Buddha's universal love; in that he taught something suitable for Brahmins; which probably also became the doctrine of Christianity. The Lord Buddha is the Lord of the whole world. MN 115 says there is only one Buddha is a world-system.</p>

<p>"Union with Brahman" merely means "Universal Love". Refer to MN 43, which refers to Boundless Liberation Via Loving-Kindness (which is said to not be the foremost liberation).</p>

<p>Previously, the Brahmans, like the Jews, believed they were a chosen or special people, born of Brahma's Mouth or Breath (refer to MN 93). But Buddha, which was later taught by Jesus, said Brahma is Universal Love (rather than exclusive tribal or caste self-love).</p>

<p>This is unrelated to "rebirth" or Hindu Moksha. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-12T21:09:57.673Z
2019-07-12T21:22:26.820Z
2019-07-12T21:22:26.820Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>This topic is thoroughly analyzed in a 2013 paper “Brahmanical Terminology and the Straight Way in the Tevijja Sutta" by Brett Shults.</p>

<p>There, Shults explains that "sahaya" means "friend", "companion" - therefore "sahavyata" means "companionship" or "fellowship".</p>

<p>Shults explains (as ChrisW said too) that the term refers to the Brahman's idea of The Goal, which Buddha then takes and clarifies according to the Buddhist proper interpretation.</p>

<p>Shults also argues that the <em>meaning</em> of the word is most probably "joining", "in a sense as we might speak of joining a club".</p>

<p>I personally think "sahaya" means something more like "sidekick" or "henchman" - i.e. someone who is always together with, but is "lesser" than, the main figure. The idea IMO is that one is in a state of joining with Brahma without actually being Brahma.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-12T16:20:50.077Z
2019-08-12T16:34:29.020Z
2019-08-12T16:34:29.020Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>The following phrase comes from DN 13:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa<br>
  <strong>brahmasahabyatāya</strong>, yvāyaṃ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā”ti.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>T.W. Rhys Davids translated <a href="https://suttacentral.net/dn13/en/tw_rhysdavids" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>‘This is the straight path, this the direct way which makes for
  salvation, and leads him, who acts according to it, into a state of
  <strong>union with Brahmā</strong>. I mean that which has been announced by the Brahman
  Pokkharasādi.’</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Bhikkhu Sujato translated <a href="https://suttacentral.net/dn13/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“This is the only straight path, the direct route that leads someone
  who practices it to the <strong>company of Brahmā</strong>; namely, that explained by
  the brahmin Pokkharasāti.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What does "brahmasahabyatāya" mean? What does "sahabyatāya" mean?</p>

<p>This translation could be meaningful. "Union with Brahman" sounds like the modern Hindu concept of Moksha which is a union with God or Ultimate Reality. On the other hand, "company of Brahma" sounds like rebirth into the Brahma realm. What's the correct interpretation?</p>

<pali-canon><pali-language>
Union with Brahma, or company of Brahma?
# Union with Brahma, or company of Brahma?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-12)

The following phrase comes from DN 13:

> “ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa  
> **brahmasahabyatāya**, yvāyaṃ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā”ti.

T.W. Rhys Davids translated [here](https://suttacentral.net/dn13/en/tw_rhysdavids) as:

> ‘This is the straight path, this the direct way which makes for
> salvation, and leads him, who acts according to it, into a state of
> **union with Brahmā**. I mean that which has been announced by the Brahman
> Pokkharasādi.’

Bhikkhu Sujato translated [here](https://suttacentral.net/dn13/en/sujato) as:

> “This is the only straight path, the direct route that leads someone
> who practices it to the **company of Brahmā**; namely, that explained by
> the brahmin Pokkharasāti.”

What does "brahmasahabyatāya" mean? What does "sahabyatāya" mean?

This translation could be meaningful. "Union with Brahman" sounds like the modern Hindu concept of Moksha which is a union with God or Ultimate Reality. On the other hand, "company of Brahma" sounds like rebirth into the Brahma realm. What's the correct interpretation?

**Tags:** pali-canon, pali-language


---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-08-12. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

This topic is thoroughly analyzed in a 2013 paper “Brahmanical Terminology and the Straight Way in the Tevijja Sutta" by Brett Shults.

There, Shults explains that "sahaya" means "friend", "companion" - therefore "sahavyata" means "companionship" or "fellowship".

Shults explains (as username_1 said too) that the term refers to the Brahman's idea of The Goal, which Buddha then takes and clarifies according to the Buddhist proper interpretation.

Shults also argues that the *meaning* of the word is most probably "joining", "in a sense as we might speak of joining a club".

I personally think "sahaya" means something more like "sidekick" or "henchman" - i.e. someone who is always together with, but is "lesser" than, the main figure. The idea IMO is that one is in a state of joining with Brahma without actually being Brahma.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-08-12. Score: 3

In DN 13 the term is originally used by Brahmins talking with each other, and so between them it meant whatever (non-Buddhist doctrine) they each understood it to mean.

At the end of the sutta the Buddha teaches them the four brahmaviharas and defines or explains that these are the path to "companionship with Brahma" -- i.e. I think he thus redefines *brahmasahabyatāya* (whatever it used to mean) in Buddhist terms, in a way that can be understood and agreed by the Brahmins.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-05-16. Score: 0

The Buddha says: This is a path to companionship with Brahmā.

Regardless of whether companionship means union or company, the Buddha says that this is a **path that is related to Brahmā** (and not to Emptiness / Void)

Company with Brahmā is lower than Union with Brahmā.

What sort of 'company' can it possibly be that will justify to be called The path of Lord Buddha ?

It is - becoming One with Brahmā.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-07-12. Score: 0

I feel this is "in the audience/assembly of the brahma". So "company of the brahma" seems more right. This seems more like a literal translation.

Looking at the context union with the brahma might be right if the brahmins were teaching this. In the case the brahmins in question were teaching being born among the brahmas or brahma plane then company of the brahma is more correct.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-07-12. Score: 0

DN 13 is not for Buddhists. It is an example of the Buddha's universal love; in that he taught something suitable for Brahmins; which probably also became the doctrine of Christianity. The Lord Buddha is the Lord of the whole world. MN 115 says there is only one Buddha is a world-system.

"Union with Brahman" merely means "Universal Love". Refer to MN 43, which refers to Boundless Liberation Via Loving-Kindness (which is said to not be the foremost liberation).

Previously, the Brahmans, like the Jews, believed they were a chosen or special people, born of Brahma's Mouth or Breath (refer to MN 93). But Buddha, which was later taught by Jesus, said Brahma is Universal Love (rather than exclusive tribal or caste self-love).

This is unrelated to "rebirth" or Hindu Moksha.


---

