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Majjhima Nikaaya I.
1. 5. Ananganasutta.m
(5)- Blemishes.
I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anaathapindika in
Jetas grove in Saavatthi.
Venerable Saariputta addressed the bhikkhus:" Friends, bhikkhus," and those
bhikkhus replied "Yes, friend." And venerable Saariputta said: Friends, there
are four persons in the world, what four?
"Here, a certain person with blemish does not know, as it really is, there is
blemish in me. A certain person with blemish knows, as it really is, there is blemish in
me. A certain person without blemish does not know as it really is, there is no blemish in
me. A certain person without blemish knows as it really is, there is no blemish in me. Of
the two persons with blemish, the one who does not know as it really is, there is blemish
in me is the inferior The one who knows as it really is, there is blemish in me is the
superior one.
Of the two persons without blemish, the one who does not know, as it really is, there
is no blemish is the inferior one. The one who knows as it really is, there is no blemish
in me is the superior.
When this was said, venerable Mahaamoggallaana said , Friend, Saariputta, what is the
reason that of the two with blemish that one should be inferior and the other superior and
of the other two without blemish, what is the reason that one should be inferior and the
other superior.
Here, friend, Moggallaana, this person with blemish, who does not know, as it really
is, there is blemish in me, would not arouse interest, and make effort to dispel that
blemish. So he would die with a defiled mind with greed, hate and delusion. Just like a
bronze bowl bought from a shop or smithy would be covered with dust and stains, its owner
not partaking food in it would not clean it, would let it lie with dust and as time goes
that bronze bowl would be much more dusty and stained. In the same way this person with
blemish, who would not know, as it really is, there is blemish in me, would not arouse
interest, and make effort to dispel that blemish. So he would die with a defiled mind with
greed, hate and delusion.
Friend, this person with blemish, who knows, as it really is, there is blemish in me,
would arouse interest, and make effort to dispel that blemish. He would die with a
non-defiled mind without greed, hate and delusion. Just like a bronze bowl bought from a
shop or smithy would be covered with dust and stains. Its owner partaking food in it would
clean it. Would not let it lie with dirt and as time goes the bronze bowl would be more
and more clean. In the same manner this person with blemish, who knows, as it really is,
there is blemish in me, would arouse interest and make effort to dispel that blemish. So
he would die with a non-defiled mind without greed, hate, and delusion.
Friend, this person without blemish, who does not know, as it really is, there is no
blemish in me, attending to an agreeable sign greed would overcome his mind, hate and
delusion would overcome his mind and he would die with a defiled mind. Just like a bronze
bowl bought from a shop or smithy clean and pure, the owner would not partake in it, would
let it lie with dirt, then as time goes, that bronze bowl would be more and more dusty and
stained in the same manner this person without blemish, who does not know, as it really
is, there is no blemish in me, attending to an agreeable sign greed would overcome his
mind, hate and delusion would overcome his mind and he would die with a defiled mind.
Friend, this person without blemish, who knows, as it really is, there is no blemish in
me, attending to an agreeable sign, greed would not overcome his mind, hate and delusiosn
would not overcome his mind. He would die without greed, hate and delusion, He would die
with an undefiled mind. Just like a bronze bowl bought from a shop or smithy, clean and
pure, the owner would partake in it, would clean it and not let it lie in dirt, and as
time goes that bronze bowl would be more and more clean. In the same manner this person
without blemish, who knows, as it really is, there is no blemish in me, attending to an
agreeable sign, greed, would not overcome his mind, hate and delusion would not overcome
his mind. He would die without greed, hate and delusion. He would die with an undefiled
mind.
Friend, Moggallaana, this is the reason for the two persons with blemish, one to be
called inferior and the other superior. For the two persons without blemish, one to be
called inferior and the other superior.
Friend, it is called blemish, what is a synonym for blemish? Friend, blemish is the
wanderings of thoughts, in evil demerit. It may happen, that such a desire would arise to
a bhikkhu. I have fallen to an offence, may the bhikkhus not know about this. The bhikkhus
know, that this bhikkhu has fallen to an offence, so this bhikkhu becomes angry and
averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen, that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu, I have fallen to this
offence, may the bhikkhus advise me in secrecy not in the midst of the community. It
happens that the bhikkhu is advised in the midst of the community, For advising in the
midst of the community this bhikkhu becomes angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are
blemishes.
It may happen, that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu, I have fallen to this
offence, may a bhikkhu and not the Teaacher advise me, It happens that the bhikkhu is
advised by the Teacher. For being advised by the Teacher this bhikkhu becomes angry and
averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen, that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu, O! May the Teacher ask
questions from me and proceed to preach the bhikkhus, It happens that the Teacher asks
questions from another bhikkhu and proceeds to preach the bhikkhus. Because the Teacher
asks questions from another bhikkhu before proceeing to preach the bhikkhus, this bhikkhu
becomes angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I lead the bhikkhus when
going the alms round in the village. It happens that another bhikkhu leads the bhikkhus
going the alms round in the village Because another bhikkhu leads the bhikkhus when going
the alms round in the village, this bhikkhu becomes angry and averse. Both anger and
aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I be the gainer of the
most prominent seat, the first bowl of water and the first morsel of food in the
refactory. It happens that another bhikkhu becomes the gainer of the most prominent seat,
the first bowl of water and the first morsel of food in the refactory. Because another
bhikkhu becomes the gainer of the most prominent seat, the first bowl of water and the
first morsel of food in the refactory, this bhikkhu becomes angry and averse. Both anger
and aversion are blemishes. .
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I be the bhikkhu, to
give the thanks giving at the end of the meal.. It happens that another bhikkhu gives the
thanks giving at the end of the meal. Because another bhikkhu gives the thanks giving at
the end of the meal, this bhikkhu becomes angry and averse. Both snger and aversion are
blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I preach the bhikkhus
that come to the monastery. It happens that another bhikkhu preaches the bhikkhus that
come to the monastery. Because another bhikkhu preaches the bhikkhus that come to the
monastery, this bhikkhu becomes angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
..
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I preach the bhikkhunis
that come to the monastery. It happens that another bhikkhu preaches the bhikkhunis that
come to the monastery. Because another bhikkhu preaches the bhikkhunis that come to the
monastery, this bhikkhu becomes angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I preach the lay
disciples male that come to the monastery. It happens that another bhikkhu preaches the
lay disciples male that come to the monastery. Because another bhikkhu preaches the lay
disciples male that come to the monastery, this bhikkhu is angry and averse. Both anger
and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I preach the lay
disciples female that come to the monastery. It happens that another bhikkhu preaches the
lay disciples female that come to the monastery. Because another bhikkhu preaches the lay
disciples female that come to the monastery, this bhikkhu is angry and averse. Both anger
and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May the bhikkhus honour,
revere and venerate me. It happens that the bhikkhus honour revere and venerate some other
bhikkhu. Because some other bhikkhu is honoured, revered and venerated, this bhikkhu is
angry and averse Both anger and aversion are blemishes. .
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May the bhikkhunis honour,
revere and venerate me. It happens that the bhikkhunis honour, revere and venerate some
other bhikkhu. Because the bhikkhunis honour, revere and venerate some other bhikkhu, this
bhikkhu is angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May the lay disciples male
honour, revere and venerate me. It happens that the lay disciples male honour, revere and
venerate some other bhikkhu. Because the lay disciples male honour, revere and venerate
some other bhikkhu, this bhikkhu is angry and averse. Both aanger and aversion are
blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May the lay disciples female
honour, revere and venerate me. It happens that the lay disciples female honour revere and
venerate some other bhikkhu. Because the lay disciples female honour, revere and venerate
some other bhikkhu, this bhikkhu is angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are
blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I be the gainer of
excellent robes. It happens that another bhikkhu is the gainer of excellent robes. Because
the gainer of excellent robes is another bhikkhu, this bhikkhu is angry and averse. Both
anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I be the gainer of
excellent morsel food.. It happens that another bhikkhu is the gainer of excellent morsel
food. Because the gainer of excellent morsel food is another bhikkhu, this bhikkhu is
angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu. May I be the gainer of
excellent dwellings. It happens that another bhikkhu is the gainer of excellent dwellings.
Because the gainer of excellent dwellings is another bhikkhu , this bhikkhu is angry and
averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes.
It may happen that such a desire would arise to a bhikkhu, May I be the gainer of
excellent requisites when ill. It happens that another bhikkhu is the gainer of excellent
requisites when ill.Because the gainer of excellent requisites when ill is some other
bhikkhu, this bhikkhu is angry and averse. Both anger and aversion are blemishes. Friend,
the wanderings of thoughts in evil demerit is the meaning of blemish.
Friend, to whatever bhikkhu these wanderings of thought in evil demerit is seen and
heard to be present,whoever he may be, a forest dweller, a leaves hut dweller, a partaker
of morsel food going in due order, a wearer of rough rag robes, his co-associates in the
holy life do not honour, revere and venerate him: What is the reason: Because the
wanderings of thoughts in evil demerit are seen and heard to be not dispelled in him.Just
as a bronze bowl pure and clean bought from a shop or a smithy, its owner would fill up
with the dead body of a serpent, a dog or a human covering it up with another bowl would
carry it to the fair. People seeing it would say, friend, what is it you are carrying,
seems to be something delicious. Then they would stop him, open it and peep inside. At the
sight of it disgust and running away from it gets established. Those hungry lose their
appetite, whats there to speak of those not hungry. Friend, in the same manner to
whatever bhikkhu these wanderings of thought in evil demerit are seen and heard to be
present, whoever he may be, a forest dweller, a leaves hut dweller, a partaker of morsel
food going in due order, a wearer of rough rag robes, his co-associates in the holy life
do not honour, revere and venerate him. What is the reason: Because the wanderings of
thoughts in evil demerit are seen and heard to be not dispelled in him. Friend, to
whatever bhikkhu these wanderings of thought in evil demerit are seen and heard to be
dispelled, whoever he may be a dweller in the out skirts of the village, an invitee, a
wearer of robes offered by householders, his co-associates in the holy life honour, revere
and venerate him. What is the reason: Because the wanderings of thoughts in evil demerit
are seen and heard to be dispelled in him. Just as a bronze bowl pure and clean bought
from a shop or a smithy, its owner would fill up with cooked fine rice, dark seeds picked
with various soups and curries. Covering it up with another bowl would carry it to the
fair.People seeing it would say, friend, what is it you are carrying, seems to be
something delicious. Then they would stop him, open it and peep inside. At the sight of it
agreeability and a desire to eat gets established. Even those not hungry desire to eat it,
what to speak of those hungry. Friend, in the same manner, to whatever bhikkhu these
wanderings of thought in evil demerit are seen and heard to be dispelled whoever he may be
a dweller in the out skirts of the village, an invitee, a wearer of robes offered by
householders, his co-associates in the holy life honour, revere and venerate him. What is
the reason: Because the wanderings of thoughts in evil demerit are seen and heard to be
dispelled in him. .
When this was said venerable Mahaamoggallaana said: Friend, Saariputta, a comparison
occurs to me.Friend, say it. Friend, at one time, I was living in the mountains of
Rajagaha. Then one morning wearing robes and taking bowl and robes I entered Rajagaha. At
that time Samiiti the chariot makers son was bending the circumference of a wheel
for an ascetic, the son of Pandu, the earlier chariot maker, . Then it occured to the
ascetic, O! If Samiitis son corrects these crookednesses, slants, and faults and
makes the wheel perfect. Whatever crookedness, slant, or fault that the ascetic thought
of, that and that he corrected and made the circumference of the wheel perfect. Then the
ascetic expressed words of pleasure and said. Its like he knew the heart with the heart.
Friend, Saariputta,. in the same manner, those making a livelihood without faith, crafty
hypocrites, trained deceivers, unsteady, wavering, with loose talk, mental faculties not
restrained, not knowing the right amount to partake, not yoked to wakefulness and not
desirous of the recluse -ship, not honouring the training, living in abundance and
lethargy, unyoked from seclusion, without effort, not mindful and aware, not concentrated,
those lacking in wisdom deaf and dumb, hearing this discourse should know the heart with
the heart and make repairs.
. As for those sons of clansmen gone forth out of faith, not crafty, not hypocrites,
not trained deceivers, steady, without loose talk, mental faculties restrained, yoked to
wakefulness, desirous of the recluseship, honouring the training, not living in abundance
and lethargy, yoked to seclusion with effort, mindful and aware, concentrated and wise,
they hearing this discourse of venerable Saariputta, I think should devour the word and
thought of it. Good if the co-associates in the holy life raised themselves from demerit
and got established in merit.
The two great men delighted in each others words.
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