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Majjhima Nikāya

MN113: Sappurisasutta - A Good Person

1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. There he addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus." — "Venerable sir," they replied. The Blessed One said this:

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "bhikkhavo"ti. "Bhadante"ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

"Bhikkhus, I shall teach you the character of a true man and the character of an untrue man.[n.1064] Sappurisadhamma; asappurisadhamma. Listen and attend closely to what I shall say." — "Yes, venerable sir," the bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

"sappurisadhammañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi asappurisadhammañca. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī"ti. "Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca: 

2"Bhikkhus, what is the character of an untrue man? Here an untrue man who has gone forth from an aristocratic family considers thus: ‘I have gone forth from an aristocratic family; but these other bhikkhus have not gone forth from aristocratic families. ’ So he lauds himself and disparages others because of his aristocratic family. This is the character of an untrue man.

2"Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso uccākulā pabbajito hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi uccākulā pabbajito, ime panaññe bhikkhū na uccākulā pabbajitā’ti. So tāya uccākulīnatāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo.

"But a true man considers thus: ‘It is not because of one's aristocratic family that states of greed, hatred, or delusion are destroyed. Even though someone may not have gone forth from an aristocratic family, yet if he has entered upon the way that accords with the Dhamma, entered upon the proper way, and conducts himself according to the Dhamma, he should be honoured for that, he should be praised for that.’ So, putting the practice of the way first, he neither lauds himself nor disparages others because of his aristocratic family. This is the character of a true man.

Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho uccākulīnatāya lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi uccākulā pabbajito hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya uccākulīnatāya nevattānukkaṁseti na paraṁ vambheti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (1)

3"Moreover, an untrue man who has gone forth from a great family … from a wealthy family … from an influential family considers thus: ‘I have gone forth from an influential family; but these other bhikkhus have not gone forth from influential families. ’ So he lauds himself and disparages others because of his influential family. This too is the character of an untrue man.

3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso mahākulā pabbajito hoti … pe … mahābhogakulā pabbajito hoti … pe … uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito, ime panaññe bhikkhū na uḷārabhogakulā pabbajitā’ti. So tāya uḷārabhogatāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo.

"But a true man considers thus: ‘It is not because of one's influential family that states of greed, hatred, or delusion are destroyed. Even though someone may not have gone forth from an influential family, yet if he has entered upon the way that accords with the Dhamma, entered upon the proper way, and conducts himself according to the Dhamma, he should be honoured for that, he should be praised for that.’ So, putting the practice of the way first, he neither lauds himself nor disparages others because of his influential family. This too is the character of a true man.

Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho uḷārabhogatāya lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya uḷārabhogatāya nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (2–4.)

4"Moreover, an untrue man who is well known and famous considers thus: ‘I am well known and famous; but these other bhikkhus are unknown and of no account.’ So he lauds himself and disparages others because of his renown. This too is the character of an untrue man.

4Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso ñāto hoti yasassī. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi ñāto yasassī, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti. So tena ñattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo.

"But a true man considers thus: ‘It is not because of one's renown that states of greed, hatred, or delusion are destroyed. Even though someone may not be well known and famous, yet if he has entered upon the way that accords with the Dhamma, entered upon the proper way, and conducts himself according to the Dhamma, he should be honoured for that, he should be praised for that.’ So, putting the practice of the way first, he neither lauds himself nor disparages others because of his renown. This too is the character of a true man.

Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho ñattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi ñāto hoti yasassī; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena ñattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (5)

5"Moreover, an untrue man who gains robes, almsfood, resting places, and requisites of medicine considers thus: ‘I gain robes, almsfood, resting places, and requisites of medicine; but these other bhikkhus do not gain these things.’ So he lauds himself and disparages others because of gain. This too is the character of an untrue man.

5Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi lābhī cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ, ime panaññe bhikkhū na lābhino cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan’ti. So tena lābhena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo.

"But a true man considers thus: ‘It is not because of gain that states of greed, hatred, or delusion are destroyed. Even though someone has no gain, yet if he has entered upon the way that accords with the Dhamma, entered upon the proper way, and conducts himself according to the Dhamma, he should be honoured for that, he should be praised for that.’ So, putting the practice of the way first, he neither lauds himself nor disparages others because of gain. This too is the character of a true man.

Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho lābhena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena lābhena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (6)



6–12"Moreover, an untrue man who is learned … who is expert in the Discipline …

6Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso bahussuto hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi bahussuto, ime panaññe bhikkhū na bahussutā’ti. So tena bāhusaccena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho bāhusaccena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi bahussuto hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena bāhusaccena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (7)

7Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vinayadharo hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi vinayadharo, ime panaññe bhikkhū na vinayadharā’ti. So tena vinayadharattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho vinayadharattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi vinayadharo hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena vinayadharattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (8)

8Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso dhammakathiko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi dhammakathiko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na dhammakathikā’ti. So tena dhammakathikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho dhammakathikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi dhammakathiko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena dhammakathikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (9)

9Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso āraññiko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi āraññiko ime panaññe bhikkhū na āraññikā’ti. So tena āraññikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho āraññikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi āraññiko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena āraññikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (10)

10Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso paṁsukūliko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi paṁsukūliko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na paṁsukūlikā’ti. So tena paṁsukūlikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho paṁsukūlikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi paṁsukūliko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena paṁsukūlikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (11)

11Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso piṇḍapātiko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi piṇḍapātiko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na piṇḍapātikā’ti. So tena piṇḍapātikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho piṇḍapātikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi piṇḍapātiko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena piṇḍapātikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (12)

12Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso rukkhamūliko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi rukkhamūliko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na rukkhamūlikā’ti. So tena rukkhamūlikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho rukkhamūlikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi rukkhamūliko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena rukkhamūlikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (13)



13… a charnel-ground dweller … an open-air dweller … a continual sitter … an any-bed dweller … an open-air dweller … a continual sitter … an any-bed user … a one-session eater considers thus: ‘I am a one-session eater; but these other bhikkhus are not one-session eaters.’[n.1065] These are nine of the thirteen ascetic practices discussed in Vsm II. The "continual sitter" (nesajjika) observes the practice of never lying down but of sleeping in the sitting posture. So he lauds himself and disparages others because of his being a one-session eater. This too is the character of an untrue man.

13Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sosāniko hoti … pe … abbhokāsiko hoti … nesajjiko hoti … pe … yathāsanthatiko hoti … pe … ekāsaniko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi ekāsaniko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na ekāsanikā’ti. So tena ekāsanikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo.

"But a true man considers thus: ‘It is not because of being a one-session eater that states of greed, hatred, or delusion are destroyed. Even though someone may not be a one-session eater, yet if he has entered upon the way that accords with the Dhamma, entered upon the proper way, and conducts himself according to the Dhamma, he should be honoured for that, he should be praised for that.’ So, putting the practice of the way first, he neither lauds himself nor disparages others because of his being a one-session eater. This too is the character of a true man.

Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho ekāsanikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi ekāsaniko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena ekāsanikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (14–18.)

14"Moreover, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, an untrue man enters upon and abides in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. He considers thus: ‘I have gained the attainment of the first jhāna; but these other bhikkhus have not gained the attainment of the first jhāna.’ So he lauds himself and disparages others because of his attainment of the first jhāna. This too is the character of an untrue man.

14Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo.

"But a true man considers thus: ‘Non-identification even with the attainment of the first jhāna has been declared by the Blessed One; for in whatever way they conceive, the fact is ever other than that.’[n.1066] MA explains "non-identification" (atammayatā, lit. "not consisting of that") as the absence of craving. However, the context suggests that the absence of conceit may be the meaning. The statement "for in whatever way they conceive, the fact is ever other than that" (yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā) is a philosophical riddle appearing also at Sn 588, Sn 757, and Ud 3:10. Though MA is silent, the Udāna commentary (to Ud 3:10) explains it to mean that in whatever way worldly people conceive any of the five aggregates — as self or self's belonging, etc. — the thing conceived turns out to be other than the aspect ascribed to it: it is not self or self's belonging, not "I" or "mine." So, putting non-identification first, he neither lauds himself nor disparages others because of his attainment of the first jhāna. This too is the character of a true man.

Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (19)



15"Moreover, with the stilling of applied and sustained thought, an untrue man enters upon and abides in the second jhāna … With the fading away as well of rapture … he enters upon and abides in the third jhāna … With the abandoning of pleasure and pain … he enters upon and abides in the fourth jhāna …

15Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ … pe … tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ … catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘catutthajjhānasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (20–22.)



16"Moreover, with the complete surmounting of perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of sensory impact, with non-attention to perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite,’ an untrue man enters upon and abides in the base of infinite space …

16Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (23)



17"Moreover, by completely surmounting the base of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite,’ an untrue man enters upon and abides in the base of infinite consciousness … …

17Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (24)



18"Moreover, by completely surmounting the base of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing,’ an untrue man enters upon and abides in the base of nothingness …

18Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘Natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (25)



19"Moreover, by completely surmounting the base of nothingness, an untrue man enters upon and abides in the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. He considers thus: ‘I have gained the attainment of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception; but these other bhikkhus have not gained the attainment of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. ’ So he lauds himself and disparages others because of his attainment of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. This too is the character of an untrue man.

19Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Ahaṁ khomhi nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo.

"But a true man considers thus: ‘Non-identification even with the attainment of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception has been declared by the Blessed One; for in whatever way they conceive, the fact is ever other than that.’ So, putting non-identification first, he neither lauds himself nor disparages others because of his attainment of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. This too is the character of a true man.

Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo. (26)

20"Moreover, by completely surmounting the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, a true man enters upon and abides in the cessation of perception and feeling .[n.1067] It should be noted that there is no passage on the untrue man entering the cessation of perception and feeling. Unlike the jhānas and immaterial attainments, which can be attained by worldlings, cessation is the domain exclusively of non-returners and arahants. And his taints are destroyed by his seeing with wisdom. This bhikkhu does not conceive anything, he does not conceive in regard to anything, he does not conceive in any way."[n.1068] Na kiñci maññati, na kuhiñci maññati, na kenaci maññati. This is a brief statement of the same situation described in full at MN 1.51–146. On "conceiving" see n.6

20Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sappuriso sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati. Paññāya cassa disvā āsavā parikkhīṇā honti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na kiñci maññati, na kuhiñci maññati, na kenaci maññatī"ti. (27)

21That is what the Blessed One said. The bhikkhus were satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One's words.

21Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.


Sappurisasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.