The Eight Kinds of Assemblies

Ānanda, these eight [kinds of] assemblies.

What are they?

They are the assembly of Khattiyas, the assembly of Brāhmins, the assembly of Householders, the assembly of Ascetics, the assembly of heavenly beings of the Realm of The Four Great Kings, the assembly of the Thirty‑Three Gods, the assembly of Māras, the assembly of Brahmās (God).

I remember well, Ānanda, many hundreds of assemblies of Khattiyas … of Brāhmins … of Householders … of Ascetics … of heavenly beings of the Realm of The Four Great Kings … of the Thirty‑Three Gods … of Māras … of Brahmās that I have attended; and before I sat down with them, spoke to them or joined in their conversation, I adopted their appearance and speech, whatever it might be.

And I instructed, inspired, fired, and delighted them with a discourse on The Teachings.

And as I spoke with them, they did not know me and wondered: Who is it that speaks like this — a heavenly being or a man?

And having thus instructed them, I disappeared, and still they did not know: He who has just disappeared — was he a heavenly being or a man?

(Reference: AN 8.69)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how he provided instruction in these Teachings to many different communities of different beings.