10: The Book of the Tens
172. Non-Dhamma (2)
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1"Bhikkhus, what is non-Dhamma and what is the Dhamma should be understood, and what is harmful and what is beneficial should also be understood. Having understood what is non-Dhamma and what is the Dhamma, and also what is harmful and what is beneficial, one should practice in accordance with the Dhamma and with what is beneficial."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.
2Then, soon after the Blessed One had left, the bhikkhus considered: "Friends, the Blessed One taught this brief synopsis: ‘Bhikkhus, what is non-Dhamma and what is the Dhamma should be understood … one should practice in accordance with the Dhamma and with what is beneficial.’ Then he rose from his seat and entered his dwelling without expounding its meaning in detail. Now who will expound its meaning in detail?’
3Then it occurred to them: "The Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by his wise fellow monks; he is capable of expounding the detailed meaning of this brief synopsis. Let us approach the Venerable Mahākaccāna and ask him the meaning of this. We will retain it in mind as he explains it to us."
4-7Then those bhikkhus approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna and exchanged greetings with him, after which they sat down to one side and said: "Friend Mahākaccāna, the Blessed One taught this brief synopsis …. … Then he rose from his seat and entered his dwelling without expounding the meaning in detail. Soon after he left, we considered: ‘Friends, the Blessed One taught this brief synopsis …. all as above down to: … Let us approach the Venerable Mahākaccāna and ask him the meaning of this. We will retain it in mind as he explains it to us.’ Let the Venerable Mahākaccāna expound it to us."
8The Venerable Mahākaccāna replied: "Friends, it is as though a man needing heartwood, seeking heartwood, wandering in search of heartwood, would pass over the root and trunk of a great tree possessed of heartwood, thinking that heartwood should be sought among the branches and foliage. And so it is with you. When you were face to face with the Teacher you passed by the Blessed One, thinking to ask me about the meaning. For, friends, knowing, the Blessed One knows; seeing, he sees; he has become vision, he has become knowledge, he has become the Dhamma, he has become Brahmā; he is the expounder, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the giver of the deathless, the lord of the Dhamma, the Tathāgata. That was the time when you should have approached the Blessed One and asked him about the meaning. You should have retained it in mind as he would have explained it to you."
9"Surely, friend Kaccāna, knowing, the Blessed One knows; seeing, he sees; he has become vision … the Tathāgata. That was the time when we should have approached the Blessed One and asked him about the meaning, and we should have retained it in mind as he would have explained it to us. Yet the Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by his wise fellow monks. He is capable of expounding the detailed meaning of this synopsis. Let the Venerable Mahākaccāna expound it without finding it troublesome."
10"Then listen, friends, and attend closely. I will speak."
"Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied. The Venerable Mahākaccāna said this:
11"Friends, the Blessed One taught this brief synopsis without expounding the detailed meaning: ‘Bhikkhus, what is non-Dhamma and what is the Dhamma should be understood, and what is harmful and what is beneficial should also be understood. Having understood what is non-Dhamma and what is the Dhamma, and also what is harmful and what is beneficial, one should practice in accordance with the Dhamma and with what is beneficial.’
12Now what, friends, is non-Dhamma and what is the Dhamma? And what is harmful and what is beneficial?
(1) "The destruction of life, friends, is non-Dhamma; abstention from the destruction of life is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with the destruction of life as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with abstention from the destruction of life as condition: these are beneficial.
13(2) "Taking what is not given is non-Dhamma; abstention from taking what is not given is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with taking what is not given as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with abstention from taking what is not given as condition: these are beneficial.
14(3) "Sexual misconduct is non-Dhamma; abstention from sexual misconduct is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with sexual misconduct as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with abstention from sexual misconduct as condition: these are beneficial.
15(4) "False speech is non-Dhamma; abstention from false speech is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with false speech as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with abstention from false speech as condition: these are beneficial.
16(5) "Divisive speech is non-Dhamma; abstention from divisive speech is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with divisive speech as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with abstention from divisive speech as condition: these are beneficial.
17(6) "Harsh speech is non-Dhamma; abstention from harsh speech is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with harsh speech as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with abstention from harsh speech as condition: these are beneficial.
18(7) "Idle chatter is non-Dhamma; abstention from idle chatter is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with idle chatter as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with abstention from idle chatter as condition: these are beneficial.
19(8) "Longing is non-Dhamma; non-longing is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with longing as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with non-longing as condition: these are beneficial.
20(9) "Ill will is non-Dhamma; good will is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with ill will as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with good will as condition: these are beneficial.
21(10) "Wrong view is non-Dhamma; right view is the Dhamma. The numerous bad unwholesome qualities that originate with wrong view as condition: these are harmful. The numerous wholesome qualities that reach fulfillment by development with right view as condition: these are beneficial.
22"Friends, it is in this way that I understand the detailed meaning of the Blessed One's brief synopsis. Now, if you wish, you may go to the Blessed One himself and ask him about the meaning of this. You should retain it in mind as the Blessed One explains it to you."
23-27"Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied, and having delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Mahākaccāna's statement, they rose from their seats and went to the Blessed One. After paying homage to him, they sat down to one side and said to the Blessed One: "Bhante, the Blessed One taught this synopsis …. they here relate all that had taken place, adding: … Then, Bhante, we approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna and asked him about the meaning. The Venerable Mahākaccāna expounded the meaning to us in these ways, in these terms and phrases."
28"Good, good, bhikkhus! Mahākaccāna is wise. Mahākaccāna has great wisdom. If you had approached me and asked me the meaning of this, I would have explained it to you in the same way as Mahākaccāna. Such is the meaning of this, and so you should retain it in mind."
1"Adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca; anattho ca veditabbo attho ca. Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban"ti.
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.
2Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: "Idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca; anattho ca veditabbo attho ca. Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā"ti?
3Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: "Ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyāma. Yathā no āyasmā mahākaccāno byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā"ti.
4Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahākaccānena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavocuṁ:
5"Idaṁ kho no, āvuso kaccāna, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca; anattho ca veditabbo attho ca. Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.
6Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho – adhammo ca, bhikkhave … pe … tathā paṭipajjitabbanti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?
7Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘Ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. Yathā no āyasmā mahākaccāno byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā’ti. Vibhajatu āyasmā mahākaccāno"ti.
8"Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāraṁ gavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva mūlaṁ atikkamma khandhaṁ sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya. Evaṁsampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha. So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passati cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ tumhe bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. Yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā"ti.
9"Addhā, āvuso kaccāna, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passati cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ mayaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. Yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma. Api cāyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Vibhajatāyasmā mahākaccāno agaruṁ karitvā"ti.
10"Tena hāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī"ti.
"Evaṁ, āvuso"ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa paccassosuṁ. Athāyasmā mahākaccāno etadavoca:
11"Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo … pe … tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.
12Katamo cāvuso, adhammo; katamo ca dhammo? Katamo ca anattho, katamo ca attho?
Pāṇātipāto, āvuso, adhammo; pāṇātipātā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca pāṇātipātapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; pāṇātipātā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
13Adinnādānaṁ, āvuso, adhammo; adinnādānā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca adinnādānapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; adinnādānā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
14Kāmesumicchācāro, āvuso, adhammo; kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca kāmesumicchācārapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
15Musāvādo, āvuso, adhammo; musāvādā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca musāvādapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; musāvādā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
16Pisuṇā vācā, āvuso, adhammo; pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca pisuṇāvācāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
17Pharusā vācā, āvuso, adhammo; pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca pharusāvācāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; pharusāya vācāya veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
18Samphappalāpo, āvuso, adhammo; samphappalāpā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca samphappalāpapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; samphappalāpā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
19Abhijjhā, āvuso, adhammo; anabhijjhā dhammo; ye ca abhijjhāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; anabhijjhāpaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
20Byāpādo, āvuso, adhammo; abyāpādo dhammo; ye ca byāpādapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; abyāpādapaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
21Micchādiṭṭhi, āvuso, adhammo; sammādiṭṭhi dhammo; ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
22‘Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho – adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo … pe … tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti. Imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe, āvuso, bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. Yathā no bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā"ti.
23"Evamāvuso"ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
24"Yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo … pe … tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.
25Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: "adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo … pe … tathā paṭipajjitabban"ti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?
26Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘Ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. Yathā no āyasmā mahākaccāno byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā’ti.
27Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamimhā; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ apucchimhā. Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā mahākaccānena imehi akkharehi imehi padehi imehi byañjanehi attho suvibhatto"ti.
28"Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhave. Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, mahākaccāno. Mahāpañño, bhikkhave, mahākaccāno. Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi cetaṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ mahākaccānena byākataṁ. Eso ceva tassa attho. Evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā"ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.