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Majjhima Nikāya

MN54: Potaliyasutta - To Potaliya

1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living in the country of the Anguttarāpans where there was a town of theirs named Āpaṇa.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā aṅguttarāpesu viharati āpaṇaṁ nāma aṅguttarāpānaṁ nigamo.

Then, when it was morning, the Blessed One dressed, and taking his bowl and outer robe, went into Āpaṇa for alms. When he had wandered for alms in Āpaṇa and had returned from his almsround, after his meal he went to a certain grove for the day's abiding. Having entered the grove, he sat down at the root of a tree.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya āpaṇaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Āpaṇe piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yenaññataro vanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkami divāvihārāya. Taṁ vanasaṇḍaṁ ajjhogāhetvāaññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi.

Potaliya the householder, while walking and wandering for exercise, wearing full dress with parasol and sandals, also went to the grove, and having entered the grove, he went to the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. When this courteous and amiable talk was finished, he stood at one side. The Blessed One said to him: "There are seats, householder, sit down if you like."

Potaliyopi kho gahapati sampannanivāsanapāvuraṇo chattupāhanāhi jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno yena so vanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ vanasaṇḍaṁ ajjhogāhetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho potaliyaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: "saṁvijjanti kho, gahapati, āsanāni; sace ākaṅkhasi nisīdā"ti.

When this was said, the householder Potaliya thought: "The recluse Gotama addresses me as ‘householder,’" and angry and displeased, he remained silent.

Evaṁ vutte, potaliyo gahapati "gahapativādena maṁ samaṇo gotamo samudācaratī"ti kupito anattamano tuṇhī ahosi.



2A second time the Blessed One said to him: "There are seats, householder, sit down if you like." And a second time the householder Potaliya thought: "The recluse Gotama addresses me as ‘householder,’" and angry and displeased, he remained silent.

2Dutiyampi kho bhagavā … pe …



A third time the Blessed One said to him: "There are seats, householder, sit down if you like." When this was said, the householder Potaliya thought: "The recluse Gotama addresses me as ‘householder,’" and angry and displeased, he said to the Blessed One: "Master Gotama, it is neither fitting nor proper that you address me as ‘householder.’"

tatiyampi kho bhagavā potaliyaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: "saṁvijjanti kho, gahapati, āsanāni; sace ākaṅkhasi nisīdā"ti. Evaṁ vutte, potaliyo gahapati "gahapativādena maṁ samaṇo gotamo samudācaratī"ti kupito anattamano bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "tayidaṁ, bho gotama, nacchannaṁ, tayidaṁ nappatirūpaṁ, yaṁ maṁ tvaṁ gahapativādena samudācarasī"ti.

"Householder, you have the aspects, marks, and signs of a householder."

"Te hi te, gahapati, ākārā, te liṅgā, te nimittā yathā taṁ gahapatissā"ti.

"Nevertheless, Master Gotama, I have given up all my works and cut off all my affairs."

"In what way, householder, have you given up all your works and cut off all your affairs?"

"Tathā hi pana me, bho gotama, sabbe kammantā paṭikkhittā, sabbe vohārā samucchinnā"ti. "Yathā kathaṁ pana te, gahapati, sabbe kammantā paṭikkhittā, sabbe vohārā samucchinnā"ti?



"Master Gotama, I have given all my wealth, grain, silver, and gold to my children as their inheritance. I do not advise or blame them about such matters but merely live on food and clothing. That is how I have given up all my works and cut off all my affairs."

"Idha me, bho gotama, yaṁ ahosi dhanaṁ vā dhaññaṁ vā rajataṁ vā jātarūpaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ puttānaṁ dāyajjaṁ niyyātaṁ, tatthāhaṁ anovādī anupavādī ghāsacchādanaparamo viharāmi. Evaṁ kho me, bho gotama, sabbe kammantā paṭikkhittā, sabbe vohārā samucchinnā"ti.

"Householder, the cutting off of affairs as you describe it is one thing, but in the Noble One's Discipline the cutting off of affairs is different."

"Aññathā kho tvaṁ, gahapati, vohārasamucchedaṁ vadasi, aññathā ca pana ariyassa vinaye vohārasamucchedo hotī"ti.

"What is the cutting off of affairs like in the Noble One's Discipline, venerable sir? It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma, showing what the cutting off of affairs is like in the Noble One's Discipline."

"Yathā kathaṁ pana, bhante, ariyassa vinaye vohārasamucchedo hoti? Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathā ariyassa vinaye vohārasamucchedo hotī"ti.

"Then listen, householder, and attend closely to what I shall say."

"Tena hi, gahapati, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi, bhāsissāmī"ti.

"Yes, venerable sir," Potaliya the householder replied. The Blessed One said this:

"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho potaliyo gahapati bhagavato paccassosi.



3"Householder, there are these eight things in the Noble One's Discipline that lead to the cutting off of affairs. What are the eight? With the support of the non-killing of living beings, the killing of living beings is to be abandoned. With the support of taking only what is given, the taking of what is not given is to be abandoned. With the support of truthful speech, false speech is to be abandoned. With the support of unmalicious speech, malicious speech is to be abandoned. With the support of no rapacity and greed,[n.567] Each of the two terms joined in this copulative compound, and in the two that follow, are roughly synonymous. rapacity and greed are to be abandoned. With the support of no spite and scolding, spite and scolding are to be abandoned. With the support of no anger and irritation, anger and irritation are to be abandoned. With the support of non-arrogance, arrogance is to be abandoned. These are the eight things, stated in brief without being expounded in detail, that lead to the cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline."

3Bhagavā etadavoca: "aṭṭha kho ime, gahapati, dhammā ariyassa vinaye vohārasamucchedāya saṁvattanti. Katame aṭṭha? Apāṇātipātaṁ nissāya pāṇātipāto pahātabbo; dinnādānaṁ nissāya adinnādānaṁ pahātabbaṁ; saccavācaṁ nissāya musāvādo pahātabbo; apisuṇaṁ vācaṁ nissāya pisuṇā vācā pahātabbā; agiddhilobhaṁ nissāya giddhilobho pahātabbo; anindārosaṁ nissāya nindāroso pahātabbo; akkodhūpāyāsaṁ nissāya kodhūpāyāso pahātabbo; anatimānaṁ nissāya atimāno pahātabbo. Ime kho, gahapati, aṭṭha dhammā saṁkhittena vuttā, vitthārena avibhattā, ariyassa vinaye vohārasamucchedāya saṁvattantī"ti.

"Venerable sir, it would be good if, out of compassion, the Blessed One would expound to me in detail these eight things that lead to the cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline, which have been stated in brief by the Blessed One without being expounded in detail."

"Ye me, bhante, bhagavatā aṭṭha dhammā saṁkhittena vuttā, vitthārena avibhattā, ariyassa vinaye vohārasamucchedāya saṁvattanti, sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā ime aṭṭha dhamme vitthārena vibhajatu anukampaṁ upādāyā"ti.

"Then listen, householder, and attend closely to what I shall say."

"Tena hi, gahapati, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi, bhāsissāmī"ti.

"Yes, venerable sir," Potaliya the householder replied. The Blessed One said this:

"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho potaliyo gahapati bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:



4"‘With the support of the non-killing of living beings, the killing of living beings is to be abandoned.’ So it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Here a noble disciple considers thus: ‘I am practising the way to the abandoning and cutting off of those fetters because of which I might kill living beings. If I were to kill living beings, I would blame myself for doing so; the wise, having investigated, would censure me for doing so; and on the dissolution of the body, after death, because of killing living beings an unhappy destination would be expected. But this killing of living beings is itself a fetter and a hindrance.[n.568] MA: Although the killing of living beings is not included among the ten fetters and five hindrances, it may be called a fetter in the sense of binding one to the round of rebirths and a hindrance in the sense of obstructing one's true welfare. And while taints, vexation, and fever might arise through the killing of living beings, there are no taints, vexation, and fever for one who abstains from killing living beings.’ So it is with reference to this that it was said: ‘With the support of the non-killing of living beings, the killing of living beings is to be abandoned.’

4"‘Apāṇātipātaṁ nissāya pāṇātipāto pahātabbo’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu pāṇātipātī assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana pāṇātipātī assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya pāṇātipātapaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ pāṇātipātapaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā pāṇātipātapaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ pāṇātipāto. Ye ca pāṇātipātapaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, pāṇātipātā paṭiviratassa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Apāṇātipātaṁ nissāya pāṇātipāto pahātabbo’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



5"‘With the support of taking only what is given, the taking of what is not given is to be abandoned.’ So it was said …

5‘Dinnādānaṁ nissāya adinnādānaṁ pahātabban’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu adinnādāyī assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana adinnādāyī assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya adinnādānapaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ adinnādānapaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā adinnādānapaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ adinnādānaṁ. Ye ca adinnādānapaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā adinnādānā paṭiviratassa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Dinnādānaṁ nissāya adinnādānaṁ pahātabban’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



6"‘With the support of truthful speech, false speech is to be abandoned.’ So it was said …

6‘Saccavācaṁ nissāya musāvādo pahātabbo’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu musāvādī assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana musāvādī assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya musāvādapaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ musāvādapaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā musāvādapaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ musāvādo. Ye ca musāvādapaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, musāvādā paṭiviratassa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Saccavācaṁ nissāya musāvādo pahātabbo’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



7"‘With the support of unmalicious speech, malicious speech is to be abandoned.’ So it was said …

7‘Apisuṇaṁ vācaṁ nissāya pisuṇā vācā pahātabbā’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu pisuṇavāco assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana pisuṇavāco assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya pisuṇavācāpaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ pisuṇavācāpaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā pisuṇavācāpaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ pisuṇā vācā. Ye ca pisuṇavācāpaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭiviratassa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Apisuṇaṁ vācaṁ nissāya pisuṇā vācā pahātabbā’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



8"‘With the support of no rapacity and greed, rapacity and greed are to be abandoned.’ So it was said …

8‘Agiddhilobhaṁ nissāya giddhilobho pahātabbo’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu giddhilobhī assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana giddhilobhī assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya giddhilobhapaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ giddhilobhapaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā giddhilobhapaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ giddhilobho. Ye ca giddhilobhapaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, giddhilobhā paṭiviratassa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Agiddhilobhaṁ nissāya giddhilobho pahātabbo’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



9"‘With the support of no spite and scolding, spite and scolding are to be abandoned.’ So it was said …

9‘Anindārosaṁ nissāya nindāroso pahātabbo’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu nindārosī assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana nindārosī assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya nindārosapaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ nindārosapaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā nindārosapaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ nindāroso. Ye ca nindārosapaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, anindārosissa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Anindārosaṁ nissāya nindāroso pahātabbo’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



10"‘With the support of no anger and irritation, anger and irritation are to be abandoned.’ So it was said …

10‘Akkodhūpāyāsaṁ nissāya kodhūpāyāso pahātabbo’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu kodhūpāyāsī assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana kodhūpāyāsī assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya kodhūpāyāsapaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ kodhūpāyāsapaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā kodhūpāyāsapaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ kodhūpāyāso. Ye ca kodhūpāyāsapaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, akkodhūpāyāsissa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Akkodhūpāyāsaṁ nissāya kodhūpāyāso pahātabbo’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



11"‘With the support of non-arrogance, arrogance is to be abandoned.’ So it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Here a noble disciple considers thus: ‘I am practising the way to the abandoning and cutting off of those fetters because of which I might be arrogant. If I were to be arrogant, I would blame myself for this; the wise, having investigated, would censure me for this; and on the dissolution of the body, after death, because of being arrogant an unhappy destination would be expected. But this arrogance is itself a fetter and a hindrance. And while taints, vexation, and fever might arise through arrogance, there are no taints, vexation, and fever for one who is not arrogant.’ So it is with reference to this that it was said: ‘With the support of non-arrogance, arrogance is to be abandoned.’[n.569] MA: Killing and taking what is not given are to be abandoned by bodily virtue; false speech and malicious speech, by verbal virtue; rapacious greed, angry despair, and arrogance, by mental virtue. Spiteful scolding (which can include violent reprisals) is to be abandoned by both bodily and verbal virtue.

11‘Anatimānaṁ nissāya atimāno pahātabbo’ti iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ, kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yesaṁ kho ahaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ hetu atimānī assaṁ, tesāhaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ pahānāya samucchedāya paṭipanno. Ahañceva kho pana atimānī assaṁ, attāpi maṁ upavadeyya atimānapaccayā, anuviccāpi maṁ viññū garaheyyuṁ atimānapaccayā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā duggati pāṭikaṅkhā atimānapaccayā. Etadeva kho pana saṁyojanaṁ etaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ yadidaṁ atimāno. Ye ca atimānapaccayā uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, anatimānissa evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti’. ‘Anatimānaṁ nissāya atimāno pahātabbo’ti — iti yantaṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.



12"These eight things that lead to the cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline have now been expounded in detail. But the cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline has not yet been achieved entirely and in all ways."

12Ime kho, gahapati, aṭṭha dhammā saṁkhittena vuttā, vitthārena vibhattā, ye ariyassa vinaye vohārasamucchedāya saṁvattanti; na tveva tāva ariyassa vinaye sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ vohārasamucchedo hotī"ti.

13"Venerable sir, how is the cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline achieved entirely and in all ways? It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma, showing me how the cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline is achieved entirely and in all ways."

13"Yathā kathaṁ pana, bhante, ariyassa vinaye sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ vohārasamucchedo hoti? Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathā ariyassa vinaye sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ vohārasamucchedo hotī"ti.

"Then listen, householder, and attend closely to what I shall say."

"Tena hi, gahapati, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi, bhāsissāmī"ti.

"Yes, venerable sir," Potaliya the householder replied. The Blessed One said this:

"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho potaliyo gahapati bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca: 

 

1. Kāmādīnavakathā

14"Householder, suppose a dog, overcome by hunger and weakness, was waiting by a butcher's shop.[n.570] These similes for the dangers in sensual pleasures are alluded to at MN 22.3, though this sutta does not elaborate on the last three similes mentioned there. Then a skilled butcher or his apprentice would toss the dog a well hacked, clean hacked skeleton of meatless bones smeared with blood. What do you think, householder? Would that dog get rid of his hunger and weakness by gnawing such a well hacked, clean hacked skeleton of meatless bones smeared with blood?"

14"Seyyathāpi, gahapati, kukkuro jighacchādubbalyapareto goghātakasūnaṁ paccupaṭṭhito assa. Tamenaṁ dakkho goghātako vā goghātakantevāsī vā aṭṭhikaṅkalaṁ sunikkantaṁ nikkantaṁ nimmaṁsaṁ lohitamakkhitaṁ upasumbheyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, api nu kho so kukkuro amuṁ aṭṭhikaṅkalaṁ sunikkantaṁ nikkantaṁ nimmaṁsaṁ lohitamakkhitaṁ palehanto jighacchādubbalyaṁ paṭivineyyā"ti?



15"No, venerable sir.

15"No hetaṁ, bhante".

16Why is that?

16"Taṁ kissa hetu"?

17Because that was a skeleton of well hacked, clean hacked meatless bones smeared with blood. Eventually that dog would reap weariness and disappointment." "So too, householder, a noble disciple considers thus: ‘Sensual pleasures have been compared to a skeleton by the Blessed One; they provide much suffering and much despair, while the danger in them is great.’ Having seen this thus as it actually is with proper wisdom, he avoids the equanimity that is diversified, based on diversity, and develops the equanimity that is unified, based on unity,[n.571] According to MA, the "equanimity that is based on diversity" is equanimity (i.e., apathy, indifference) related to the five cords of sensual pleasure; the "equanimity that is based on unity" is the equanimity of the fourth jhāna. where clinging to the material things of the world utterly ceases without remainder.

17"Aduñhi, bhante, aṭṭhikaṅkalaṁ sunikkantaṁ nikkantaṁ nimmaṁsaṁ lohitamakkhitaṁ. Yāvadeva pana so kukkuro kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā"ti. "Evameva kho, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘aṭṭhikaṅkalūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo’ti. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā yāyaṁ upekkhā nānattā nānattasitā taṁ abhinivajjetvā, yāyaṁ upekkhā ekattā ekattasitā yattha sabbaso lokāmisūpādānā aparisesā nirujjhanti tamevūpekkhaṁ bhāveti.

18"Householder, suppose a vulture, a heron, or a hawk seized a piece of meat and flew away, and then vultures, herons, and hawks pursued it and pecked and clawed it. What do you think, householder? If that vulture, heron, or hawk does not quickly let go of that piece of meat, wouldn’t it incur death or deadly suffering because of that?"

18Seyyathāpi, gahapati, gijjho vā kaṅko vā kulalo vā maṁsapesiṁ ādāya uḍḍīyeyya. Tamenaṁ gijjhāpi kaṅkāpi kulalāpi anupatitvā anupatitvā vitaccheyyuṁ vissajjeyyuṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, sace so gijjho vā kaṅko vā kulalo vā taṁ maṁsapesiṁ na khippameva paṭinissajjeyya, so tatonidānaṁ maraṇaṁ vā nigaccheyya maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan"ti?



19"Yes, venerable sir."

19"Evaṁ, bhante".

20"So too, householder, a noble disciple considers thus: ‘Sensual pleasures have been compared to a piece of meat by the Blessed One; they provide much suffering and much despair, while the danger in them is great.’ Having seen this thus as it actually is with proper wisdom … clinging to the material things of the world utterly ceases without remainder.

20"Evameva kho, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘maṁsapesūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo’ti. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā yāyaṁ upekkhā nānattā nānattasitā taṁ abhinivajjetvā yāyaṁ upekkhā ekattā ekattasitā yattha sabbaso lokāmisūpādānā aparisesā nirujjhanti tamevūpekkhaṁ bhāveti.

21"Householder, suppose a man took a blazing grass torch and went against the wind. What do you think, householder? If that man does not quickly let go of that blazing grass torch, wouldn’t that blazing grass torch burn his hand or his arm or some other part of his body, so that he might incur death or deadly suffering because of that?"

21Seyyathāpi, gahapati, puriso ādittaṁ tiṇukkaṁ ādāya paṭivātaṁ gaccheyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, sace so puriso taṁ ādittaṁ tiṇukkaṁ na khippameva paṭinissajjeyya tassa sā ādittā tiṇukkā hatthaṁ vā daheyya bāhuṁ vā daheyya aññataraṁ vā aññataraṁ vā angapaccaṅgaṁ daheyya, so tatonidānaṁ maraṇaṁ vā nigaccheyya maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan"ti?



22"Yes, venerable sir."

22"Evaṁ, bhante".

23"So too, householder, a noble disciple considers thus: ‘Sensual pleasures have been compared to a grass torch by the Blessed One; they provide much suffering and much despair, while the danger in them is great.’ Having seen this thus as it actually is with proper wisdom … clinging to the material things of the world utterly ceases without remainder.

23"Evameva kho, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘tiṇukkūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo’ti. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā … pe … tamevūpekkhaṁ bhāveti.

24"Householder, suppose there were a charcoal pit deeper than a man's height full of glowing coals without flame or smoke. Then a man came who wanted to live and not to die, who wanted pleasure and recoiled from pain, and two strong men seized him by both arms and dragged him towards that charcoal pit. What do you think, householder? Would that man twist his body this way and that?"

24Seyyathāpi, gahapati, aṅgārakāsu sādhikaporisā, pūrā aṅgārānaṁ vītaccikānaṁ vītadhūmānaṁ. Atha puriso āgaccheyya jīvitukāmo amaritukāmo sukhakāmo dukkhapaṭikkūlo. Tamenaṁ dve balavanto purisā nānābāhāsu gahetvā aṅgārakāsuṁ upakaḍḍheyyuṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, api nu so puriso iticiticeva kāyaṁ sannāmeyyā"ti?

25"Yes, venerable sir.

25"Evaṁ, bhante".

26Why is that?

26"Taṁ kissa hetu"?



27Because that man knows that if he falls into that charcoal pit, he will incur death or deadly suffering because of that. So too, householder, a noble disciple considers thus: ‘Sensual pleasures have been compared to a charcoal pit by the Blessed One; they provide much suffering and much despair, while the danger in them is great.’ Having seen this thus as it actually is with proper wisdom … clinging to the material things of the world utterly ceases without remainder.

27"Viditañhi, bhante, tassa purisassa imañcāhaṁ aṅgārakāsuṁ papatissāmi, tatonidānaṁ maraṇaṁ vā nigacchissāmi maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan"ti. "Evameva kho, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘aṅgārakāsūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo’ti. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā … pe … tamevūpekkhaṁ bhāveti.

28"Householder, suppose a man dreamt about lovely parks, lovely groves, lovely meadows, and lovely lakes, and on waking he saw nothing of it. So too, householder, a noble disciple considers thus: ‘Sensual pleasures have been compared to a dream by the Blessed One; they provide much suffering and much despair, while the danger in them is great.’ Having seen this thus as it actually is with proper wisdom … clinging to the material things of the world utterly ceases without remainder.

28Seyyathāpi, gahapati, puriso supinakaṁ passeyya ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ. So paṭibuddho na kiñci paṭipasseyya. Evameva kho, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘supinakūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo’ti … pe … tamevūpekkhaṁ bhāveti.

29"Householder, suppose a man borrowed goods on loan — a fancy carriage and fine-jewelled earrings — and preceded and surrounded by those borrowed goods he went to the marketplace. Then people, seeing him, would say: ‘Sirs, that is a rich man! That is how the rich enjoy their wealth!’ Then the owners, whenever they saw him, would take back their things. What do you think, householder? Would that be enough for that man to become dejected?"

29Seyyathāpi, gahapati, puriso yācitakaṁ bhogaṁ yācitvā yānaṁ vā poriseyyaṁpavaramaṇikuṇḍalaṁ. So tehi yācitakehi bhogehi purakkhato parivuto antarāpaṇaṁ paṭipajjeyya. Tamenaṁ jano disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘bhogī vata bho puriso, evaṁ kira bhogino bhogāni bhuñjantī’ti. Tamenaṁ sāmikā yattha yattheva passeyyuṁ tattha tattheva sāni hareyyuṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, alaṁ nu kho tassa purisassa aññathattāyā"ti?



30"Yes, venerable sir.

30"Evaṁ, bhante".

31Why is that?

31"Taṁ kissa hetu"?

32Because the owners took back their things." So too, householder, a noble disciple considers thus: ‘Sensual pleasures have been compared to borrowed goods by the Blessed One; they provide much suffering and much despair, while the danger in them is great.’ Having seen this thus as it actually is with proper wisdom … clinging to material things of the world utterly ceases without remainder.

32"Sāmino hi, bhante, sāni harantī"ti. "Evameva kho, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yācitakūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo’ti … pe … tamevūpekkhaṁ bhāveti.

33"Householder, suppose there were a dense grove not far from some village or town, within which there was a tree laden with fruit but none of its fruit had fallen to the ground. Then a man came needing fruit, seeking fruit, wandering in search of fruit, and he entered the grove and saw the tree laden with fruit. Thereupon he thought: ‘This tree is laden with fruit but none of its fruit has fallen to the ground. I know how to climb a tree, so let me climb this tree, eat as much fruit as I want, and fill my bag.’ And he did so. Then a second man came needing fruit, seeking fruit, wandering in search of fruit, and taking a sharp axe, he too entered the grove and saw that tree laden with fruit. Thereupon he thought: ‘This tree is laden with fruit but none of its fruit has fallen to the ground. I do not know how to climb a tree, so let me cut this tree down at its root, eat as much fruit as I want, and fill my bag.’ And he did so. What do you think, householder? If that first man who had climbed the tree doesn’t come down quickly, when the tree falls, wouldn’t he break his hand or his foot or some other part of his body, so that he might incur death or deadly suffering because of that?"

33Seyyathāpi, gahapati, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre tibbo vanasaṇḍo. Tatrassa rukkho sampannaphalo ca upapannaphalo ca, na cassu kānici phalāni bhūmiyaṁ patitāni. Atha puriso āgaccheyya phalatthiko phalagavesī phalapariyesanaṁ caramāno. So taṁ vanasaṇḍaṁ ajjhogāhetvā taṁ rukkhaṁ passeyya sampannaphalañca upapannaphalañca. Tassa evamassa: ‘Ayaṁ kho rukkho sampannaphalo ca upapannaphalo ca, natthi ca kānici phalāni bhūmiyaṁ patitāni. Jānāmi kho panāhaṁ rukkhaṁ ārohituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ rukkhaṁ ārohitvā yāvadatthañca khādeyyaṁ ucchaṅgañca pūreyyan’ti. So taṁ rukkhaṁ ārohitvā yāvadatthañca khādeyya ucchaṅgañca pūreyya. Atha dutiyo puriso āgaccheyya phalatthiko phalagavesī phalapariyesanaṁ caramāno tiṇhaṁ kuṭhāriṁ ādāya. So taṁ vanasaṇḍaṁ ajjhogāhetvā taṁ rukkhaṁ passeyya sampannaphalañca upapannaphalañca. Tassa evamassa: ‘Ayaṁ kho rukkho sampannaphalo ca upapannaphalo ca, natthi ca kānici phalāni bhūmiyaṁ patitāni. Na kho panāhaṁ jānāmi rukkhaṁ ārohituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ rukkhaṁ mūlato chetvā yāvadatthañca khādeyyaṁ ucchaṅgañca pūreyyan’ti. So taṁ rukkhaṁ mūlatova chindeyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, amuko yo so puriso paṭhamaṁ rukkhaṁ ārūḷho sace so na khippameva oroheyya tassa so rukkho papatanto hatthaṁ vā bhañjeyya pādaṁ vā bhañjeyya aññataraṁ vā aññataraṁ vā angapaccaṅgaṁ bhañjeyya, so tatonidānaṁ maraṇaṁ vā nigaccheyya maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan"ti?



34"Yes, venerable sir."

34"Evaṁ, bhante".

35"So too, householder, a noble disciple considers thus: ‘Sensual pleasures have been compared to fruits on a tree by the Blessed One; they provide much suffering and much despair, while the danger in them is great.’ Having seen this thus as it actually is with proper wisdom, he avoids the equanimity that is diversified, based on diversity, and develops the equanimity that is unified, based on unity, where clinging to the material things of the world utterly ceases without remainder.

35"Evameva kho, gahapati, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘rukkhaphalūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo’ti. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā yāyaṁ upekkhā nānattā nānattasitā taṁ abhinivajjetvā yāyaṁ upekkhā ekattā ekattasitā yattha sabbaso lokāmisūpādānā aparisesā nirujjhanti tamevūpekkhaṁ bhāveti.

36"Based upon that same supreme mindfulness whose purity is due to equanimity, this noble disciple recollects his manifold past lives, that is, one birth, two births … Thus with their aspects and particulars he recollects his manifold past lives.

36Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako imaṁyeva anuttaraṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ āgamma anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ — ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo … pe … iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.

37"Based upon that same supreme mindfulness whose purity is due to equanimity, with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, this noble disciple sees beings passing away and reappearing, inferior and superior, fair and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate … and he understands how beings pass on according to their actions.

37Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako imaṁyeva anuttaraṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ āgamma dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate … pe … yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.

38"Based upon that same supreme mindfulness whose purity is due to equanimity, by realising for himself with direct knowledge, this noble disciple here and now enters upon and abides in the deliverance of mind and deliverance by wisdom that are taintless with the destruction of the taints.

38Sa kho so, gahapati, ariyasāvako imaṁyeva anuttaraṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ āgamma āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

"At this point, householder, the cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline has been achieved entirely and in all ways.

Ettāvatā kho, gahapati, ariyassa vinaye sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ vohārasamucchedo hoti.

39What do you think, householder? Do you see in yourself any cutting off of affairs like this cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline when it is achieved entirely and in all ways?"

39Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gahapati, yathā ariyassa vinaye sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ vohārasamucchedo hoti, api nu tvaṁ evarūpaṁ vohārasamucchedaṁ attani samanupassasī"ti?

"Venerable sir, who am I that I should possess any cutting off of affairs entirely and in all ways like that in the Noble One's Discipline? I am far indeed, venerable sir, from that cutting off of affairs in the Noble One's Discipline when it has been achieved entirely and in all ways. For, venerable sir, though the wanderers of other sects are not thoroughbreds, we imagined that they are thoroughbreds;[n.572] In Ms, Ñm had followed the gloss of MA in rendering jānīya as "those who know" (taking the word as derived from ājānāti); it seems far preferable, however, to understand the word here as "thoroughbred." See MN 65.32 for assājānīya, "thoroughbred colt," and for purisājānīya, "thoroughbred man" (i.e., an arahant), see AN 9:10/v, 324. though they are not thoroughbreds, we fed them the food of thoroughbreds; though they are not thoroughbreds, we set them in the place of thoroughbreds. But though the bhikkhus are thoroughbreds, we imagined that they are not thoroughbreds; though they are thoroughbreds, we fed them the food of those who are not thoroughbreds; though they are thoroughbreds, we set them in the place of those who are not thoroughbreds. But now, venerable sir, as the wanderers of other sects are not thoroughbreds, we shall understand that they are not thoroughbreds; as they are not thoroughbreds, we shall feed them the food of those who are not thoroughbreds; as they are not thoroughbreds, we shall set them in the place of those who are not thoroughbreds. But as the bhikkhus are thoroughbreds, we shall understand that they are thoroughbreds; as they are thoroughbreds, we shall feed them the food of thoroughbreds; as they are thoroughbreds, we shall set them in the place of those who are thoroughbreds. Venerable sir, the Blessed One has inspired in me love for recluses, confidence in recluses, reverence for recluses.

"Ko cāhaṁ, bhante, ko ca ariyassa vinaye sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ vohārasamucchedo. Ārakā ahaṁ, bhante, ariyassa vinaye sabbena sabbaṁ sabbathā sabbaṁ vohārasamucchedā. Mayañhi, bhante, pubbe aññatitthiye paribbājake anājānīyeva samāne ājānīyāti amaññimha, anājānīyeva samāne ājānīyabhojanaṁ bhojimha, anājānīyeva samāne ājānīyaṭhāne ṭhapimha; bhikkhū pana mayaṁ, bhante, ājānīyeva samāne anājānīyāti amaññimha, ājānīyeva samāne anājānīyabhojanaṁ bhojimha, ājānīyeva samāne anājānīyaṭhāne ṭhapimha; idāni pana mayaṁ, bhante, aññatitthiye paribbājake anājānīyeva samāne anājānīyāti jānissāma, anājānīyeva samāne anājānīyabhojanaṁ bhojessāma, anājānīyeva samāne anājānīyaṭhāne ṭhapessāma. Bhikkhū pana mayaṁ, bhante, ājānīyeva samāne ājānīyāti jānissāma, ājānīyeva samāne ājānīyabhojanaṁ bhojessāma, ājānīyeva samāne ājānīyaṭhāne ṭhapessāma. Ajanesi vata me, bhante, bhagavā samaṇesu samaṇappemaṁ, samaṇesu samaṇappasādaṁ, samaṇesu samaṇagāravaṁ.

"Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama! Master Gotama has made the Dhamma clear in many ways, as though he were turning upright what had been overthrown, revealing what was hidden, showing the way to one who was lost, or holding up a lamp in the dark for those with eyesight to see forms. I go to Master Gotama for refuge and to the Dhamma and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. From today let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone to him for refuge for life."

Abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante. Seyyathāpi, bhante, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya, ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ kho, bhante, bhagavatā anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

Potaliyasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.