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MAJJHIMA NIKAAYA III
II. 3. 5. Maagandiyasutta.m
III.2.3. Sappurisasutta.m
(113) The Worthy One
I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anaathapindika in
Jetas grove in Saavatthi. The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus from there.
Bhikkhus, I will tell the features of the Worthy one and the features of the
unworthy one, listen and attend carefully.
Bhikkhus, what are the features of the worthy one? Here the unworthy one gone forth
from a high clan reflects. I have gone forth homeless from a high clan, these others gone
forth are not from high clans. On account of his high clan, he praises himself and
disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on
account of high birth, these greedy things, angry things and deluded things do not get
destroyed.If someone gone forth homeless from out side a high clan lives according to the
Teaching, following the right conduct, he would become honourable and praiseworthy, on
account of that. He honours the right conduct and does not praise himself or disparage
others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again, bhikkhus, the unworthy one gone forth from an esteemed clan ,....re.... gone
forth from a high and esteemed clan,....re..... gone forth from a noble clan reflects. I
have gone forth homeless from a noble clan, these others gone forth are not from noble
clans. On account of his noble clan, he praises himself and disparages others. This is a
feature of the unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on account of noble clan, these
greedy things, angry things and deluded things do not get destroyed. If someone gone forth
homeless from out side a noble clan lives according to the Teaching, following the right
conduct, he would become honourable and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the
right conduct and does not praise himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature
of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one gone forth is well known and famous, he reflects.
Im well known and famous these others gone forth are not well known and famous On
account of his fame, he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the
unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on account of fame, these greedy things, angry
things and deluded things do not get destroyed.If someonenot well known and famous gone
forth homeless lives according to the Teaching, following the right conduct, he would
become honourable and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the right conduct and
does not praise himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is the gainer of robes, morsels, dwellings and
requisites for the ill and he reflects. Im a gainer of robes, morsels, dwellings and
requisites for the ill, these others gone forth are not the gainers of the four requisites
On account of this, he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the
unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on account of gains, these greedy things, angry
things and deluded things do not get destroyed.If some non gainer of robes, morsels,
dwellings andrequisites for the ill, lives according to the Teaching, following the right
conduct, he would become honourable and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the
right conduct and does not praise himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature
of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is learned, he reflects. Im learned, these other
bhikkhus are not learned On account of his learnedness, he praises himself and disparages
others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on account of
learnedness these greedy things, angry things and deluded things do not get destroyed.If
someone not learned lives according to the Teaching, following the right conduct, he would
become honourable and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the right conduct and
does not praise himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one bears the Discipline, he reflects. I bear the
Discipline these other bhikkhus do not bear the Discipline. On account of his bearing the
Discipline he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy
one. The worthy one reflects on account of bearing the Discipline these greedy things,
angry things and deluded things do not get destroyed.If someone not a bearer of the
Discipline lives according to the Teaching, following the right conduct, he would become
honourable and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the right conduct and does not
praise himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is a preacher, he reflects. Im a preacher these
other bhikkhus are not preachers On account of his ability to preach he praises himself
and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on
account of the ability to preach, these greedy things, angry things and deluded things do
not get destroyed. If someone who is not a preacher lives according to the Teaching,
following the right conduct, he would become honourable and praiseworthy, on account of
that. He honours the right conduct and does not praise himself or disparage others.
Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is a forest dweller, he reflects. Im aforest
dweller these other bhikkhus are not forest dwellers On account of his dwelling in the
forest he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one.
The worthy one reflects on account of dwelling in the forest these greedy things, angry
things and deluded things do not get destroyed. If someone not dwelling in the forest,
lives according to the Teaching, following the right conduct, he would become honourable
and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the right conduct and does not praise
himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is a rag robe wearer, he reflects. Im a rag robe
wearer these other bhikkhus are not rag robe wearers On account of his wearing rag robes
he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The
worthy one reflects on account of wearing rag robes these greedy things, angry things and
deluded things do not get destroyed.If someone not wearing rag robes lives according to
the Teaching, following the right conduct, he would become honourable and praiseworthy, on
account of that. He honours the right conduct and does not praise himself or disparage
others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is a partaker of morsels, he reflects. Im a
partaker of morsels these other bhikkhus are not partakers of morsels.On account of his
partaking morsels, he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the
unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on account of partaking morsels these greedy things,
angry things and deluded things do not get destroyed.If someone not partaking morsels,
lives according to the Teaching, following the right conduct, he would become honourable
and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the right conduct and does not praise
himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is a tree root dweller, he reflects. Im atree
root dweller, these other bhikkhus are not tree root dwellers On account of his dwelling
at the root of a tree, he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the
unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on account of dwelling at the root of a tree these
greedy things, angry things and deluded things do not get destroyed. If someone not
dwelling at the root of a tree, lives according to the Teaching, following the right
conduct, he would become honourable and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the
right conduct and does not praise himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature
of the worthy one
Again bhikkhus, the unworthy one is a dweller in a charnel ground, ....re...a dweller
in the open,...re... one abiding in the sitting posture,..re... one sleeping wherever
possible,...re...one sitting on the same seat, he reflects. Im a sitter on the same
seat, these other bhikkhus are not the sitters on the same seat. On account of his sitting
on the same seat, he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the
unworthy one. The worthy one reflects on account of sitting on the same seat, these greedy
things, angry things and deluded things do not get destroyed. If someone not a sitter on
the same seat, lives according to the Teaching, following the right conduct, he would
become honourable and praiseworthy, on account of that. He honours the right conduct and
does not praise himself or disparage others. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one
Again, bhikkhus, the unworthy one, secluded from sensual desires and things of demerit,
with thoughts and thought processes, and with joy and pleasantness born of seclusion
abides in the first jhaana. He reflects, Im a gainer of the first jhaana, these
other bhikkhus are not the gainers of the first jhaana. On account of his first jhaana he
praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The worthy
one reflects. The Blessed One has said, we should not cling to even the first jhaana.
Whatever we imagine it turns to be otherwise.Giving the first preference to not clinging,
he does not praise himself or disparage others, on account of the first jhaana. Bhikkhus
this is a feature of the worthy one .
Again, bhikkhus, the unworthy one, overcoming thoughts and thought processes, the mind
internally appeased, in one point and with joy and pleasantness born of concentration
abides in the second jhaana, ...re.... in the third jhaana, ...re.... in the fourth
jhaana. He reflects, Im a gainer of the forthjhaana, these other bhikkhus are not
the gainers of the forth jhaana. On account of his forth jhaana he praises himself and
disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The worthy one reflects. The
Blessed One has said, we should not cling to even the forth jhaana. Whatever we imagine it
turns to be otherwise.Giving the first preference to not clinging, he does not praise
himself or disparage others, on account of the forth jhaana. Bhikkhus this is a feature of
the worthy one
Again, bhikkhus, the unworthy one, overcomingall perceptions of matter, all perceptions
of anger and not attending to the varied perceptions, with space is boundless abides in
the sphere of space.He reflects, Im a gainer of the sphere of space, these other
bhikkhus are not the gainers of the sphere of space. On account of his birth in the sphere
of space he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one.
The worthy one reflects. The Blessed One has said, we should not cling to even the sphere
of space.Whatever we imagine it turns to be otherwise.Giving the first preference to not
clinging, he does not praise himself or disparage others, on account of the birth in the
sphere of space. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again, bhikkhus, the unworthy one, overcomingall the sphere of space, with
consciousness is boundless, attains to the sphere of consciousness. He reflects, Im
a gainer in the sphere of consciousness, these other bhikkhus are not the gainers in the
sphere of consciousness. On account of his birth in the sphere of consciousness he praises
himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The worthy one
reflects. The Blessed One has said, we should not cling to even the sphere of
consciousness. Whatever we imagine it turns to be otherwise.Giving the first preference to
not clinging, he does not praise himself or disparage others, on account of the birth in
the sphere of consciousness. Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again, bhikkhus, the unworthy one, overcomingall the sphere of consciousness, with
there is nothing attains to the sphere of nothingness. He reflects, Im a gainer in
the sphere of nothingness, these other bhikkhus are not the gainers in the sphere of
nothingness. On account of his birth in the sphere of nothingness he praises himself and
disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy one. The worthy one reflects. The
Blessed One has said, we should not cling to even the sphere of nothingness. Whatever we
imagine it turns to be otherwise.Giving the first preference to not clinging, he does not
praise himself or disparage others, on account of the birth in the sphere of nothingness.
Bhikkhus this is a feature of the worthy one.
Again, bhikkhus, the unworthy one, overcomingall the sphere of nothingness, attains to
neither perception nor non perception. He reflects, Im a gainer of neither
perception nor non perception, these other bhikkhus are not the gainers of neither
perception nor non perception.On account of his birth in neither perception nor non
perception he praises himself and disparages others. This is a feature of the unworthy
one. The worthy one reflects. The Blessed One has said, we should not cling to even
neither perception nor non perception. Whatever we imagine it turns to be otherwise.Giving
the first preference to not clinging, he does not praise himself or disparage others, on
account of the birth in neither perception nor non perception. Bhikkhus this is a feature
of the worthy one
Again the worthy one overcoming all neither perceptions nor non perceptions, attains
the cessation of perceptions and feelings. Seeing this with wisdom his desires too get
destroyed. Here the bhikkhu does not imagine anything, to go anywhere, for any reason.
The Blessed One said thus and those bhikkhu delighted in the words of the Blessed One..
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