10: The Book of the Tens
94. Vajjiyamāhita
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Campā on a bank of the Gaggarā Lotus Pond. Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita left Campā in the middle of the day to see the Blessed One. It then occurred to him: "It is not the proper time to see the Blessed One, who is in seclusion, nor to see the esteemed bhikkhus, who are also in seclusion. Let me go to the park of the wanderers of other sects."
2Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita went to the park of the wanderers of other sects. Now on that occasion the wanderers of other sects had assembled and were making an uproar as they loudly and boisterously sat discussing various pointless topics.
3The wanderers saw the householder Vajjiyamāhita coming in the distance and silenced one another: "Sirs, be quiet. Sirs, do not make any noise. Here comes the householder Vajjiyamāhita, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, one among the ascetic Gotama's white-robed lay disciples who reside in Sāvatthī. Now these venerable ones are fond of quiet, disciplined in quiet, and speak in praise of quiet. Perhaps if he finds that our assembly is quiet, he will think to approach us."
4Then those wanderers of other sects became silent.
Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita approached those wanderers and exchanged greetings with them. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side. The wanderers then said to him:
"Is it true, householder, as it is said, that the ascetic Gotama criticizes all austerities and that he unreservedly condemns and reproves all who live a harsh and austere life?"
"No, Bhante, the Blessed One does not criticize all austerities and he does not unreservedly condemn and reprove all who live a harsh and austere life. The Blessed One criticizes what deserves criticism and praises what is praiseworthy. By criticizing what deserves criticism and praising what is praiseworthy, the Blessed One speaks on the basis of distinctions; he does not speak about such matters one-sidedly." [n.2126] Vibhajjavādī bhagavā, na so bhagavā ettha ekaṁsavādī. The expression vibhajjavādī, used to describe the Buddha, is sometimes understood to mean that the Buddha analyzes things into their component parts. But the use of the term here (and elsewhere in the Nikāyas) shows that it actually means that the Buddha draws the distinctions needed to avoid making broad generalizations that overlook important ambiguities. See how the term is employed at MN 99.4, II 197,10–18.
5When this was said, a wanderer said to the householder Vajjiyamāhita: "Wait a moment, householder! That ascetic Gotama whom you are praising is an abolitionist who refrains from making definite declarations."
"I will deal with that point, too, Bhante. The Blessed One has validly declared: ‘This is wholesome’ and: ‘This is unwholesome.’ Thus, when he declares what is wholesome and what is unwholesome, the Blessed One makes definite declarations. He is not an abolitionist who refrains from making definite declarations."
6When this was said, those wanderers sat silenced, disconcerted, hunched over, downcast, glum, and speechless. Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita, having understood that those wanderers sat silenced … and speechless, rose from his seat and went to the Blessed One. He paid homage to the Blessed One, sat down to one side, and reported to the Blessed One his entire conversation with those wanderers of other sects.
7The Blessed One said: "Good, good, householder! It is in such a way that those hollow men should from time to time be thoroughly refuted with reasoned argument."
(1) –(2) "I do not say, householder, of every kind of austerity that it should be practiced; nor do I say of every kind of austerity that it should not be practiced. (3) –(4) I do not say of every observance that it should be undertaken; nor do I say of every observance that it should not be undertaken. (5) –(6) I do not say that one should strive in every way; nor do I say that one should not strive in any way. (7) –(8) I do not say that one should make every kind of relinquishment; nor do I say that one should not make any kind of relinquishment. (9) –(10) I do not say that one should attain every kind of liberation; nor do I say that one should not attain any kind of liberation.
8(1) –(2) "If, householder, when one practices a particular austerity, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline, then, I say, one should not practice such austerity. But if, when one practices a particular austerity, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase, then, I say, one should practice such austerity.
9(3) –(4) "If, householder, when one undertakes a particular observance, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline, then, I say, one should not undertake such an observance. But if, when one undertakes a particular observance, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase, then, I say, one should undertake such an observance.
10(5) –(6) "If, householder, when one strives in a particular way, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline, then, I say, one should not strive in such a way. But if, when one strives in a particular way, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase, then, I say, one should strive in such a way.
11(7) –(8) "If, householder, when one relinquishes something, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline, then, I say, one should not make such a relinquishment. But if, when one relinquishes something, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase, then, I say, one should make such a relinquishment.
12(9) –(10) "If, householder, when one attains a particular liberation, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline, then, I say, one should not attain such a liberation. But if, when one attains a particular liberation, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase, then, I say, one should attain such a liberation."
13Then, when the householder Vajjiyamāhita had been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, he rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping the right side toward him, and departed.
14Then, not long after the householder Vajjiyamāhita had left, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, if any bhikkhu, even one who has long had little dust in his eyes regarding this Dhamma and discipline, would thoroughly refute with reasoned argument the wanderers of other sects, he would refute them in just such a way as the householder Vajjiyamāhita has done."
1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā campāyaṁ viharati gaggarāya pokkharaṇiyā tīre. Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati divā divassa campāya nikkhami bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Atha kho vajjiyamāhitassa gahapatissa etadahosi: "akālo kho tāva bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Paṭisallīno bhagavā. Manobhāvanīyānampi bhikkhūnaṁ akālo dassanāya. Paṭisallīnā manobhāvanīyāpi bhikkhū. Yannūnāhaṁ yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkameyyan"ti.
2Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkami. Tena kho pana samayena te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā saṅgamma samāgamma unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentā nisinnā honti.
3Addasaṁsu kho te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna aññamaññaṁ saṇṭhāpesuṁ: "appasaddā bhonto hontu. Mā bhonto saddamakattha. Ayaṁ vajjiyamāhito gahapati āgacchati samaṇassa gotamassa sāvako. Yāvatā kho pana samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakā gihī odātavasanā campāyaṁ paṭivasanti, ayaṁ tesaṁ aññataro vajjiyamāhito gahapati. Appasaddakāmā kho pana te āyasmanto appasaddavinītā appasaddassa vaṇṇavādino. Appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā"ti.
4Atha kho te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.
Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yena te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā etadavocuṁ:
"Saccaṁ kira, gahapati, samaṇo gotamo sabbaṁ tapaṁ garahati, sabbaṁ tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ ekaṁsena upakkosati upavadatī"ti?
"Na kho, bhante, bhagavā sabbaṁ tapaṁ garahati napi sabbaṁ tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ ekaṁsena upakkosati upavadati. Gārayhaṁ kho, bhante, bhagavā garahati, pasaṁsitabbaṁ pasaṁsati. Gārayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhagavā garahanto pasaṁsitabbaṁ pasaṁsanto vibhajjavādo bhagavā. Na so bhagavā ettha ekaṁsavādo"ti.
5Evaṁ vutte, aññataro paribbājako vajjiyamāhitaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: "Āgamehi tvaṁ, gahapati, yassa tvaṁ samaṇassa gotamassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, samaṇo gotamo venayiko appaññattiko"ti?
"Etthapāhaṁ, bhante, āyasmante vakkhāmi sahadhammena: ‘idaṁ kusalan’ti, bhante, bhagavatā paññattaṁ; ‘idaṁ akusalan’ti, bhante, bhagavatā paññattaṁ. Iti kusalākusalaṁ bhagavā paññāpayamāno sapaññattiko bhagavā; na so bhagavā venayiko appaññattiko"ti.
6Evaṁ vutte te paribbājakā tuṇhībhūtā maṅkubhūtā pattakkhandhā adhomukhā pajjhāyantā appaṭibhānā nisīdiṁsu. Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati te paribbājake tuṇhībhūte maṅkubhūte pattakkhandhe adhomukhe pajjhāyante appaṭibhāne viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati yāvatako ahosi tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.
7"Sādhu sādhu, gahapati. Evaṁ kho te, gahapati, moghapurisā kālena kālaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetabbā.
Nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ tapaṁ tapitabbanti vadāmi; na ca panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ tapaṁ na tapitabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ samādānaṁ samāditabbanti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ samādānaṁ na samāditabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ padhānaṁ padahitabbanti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbaṁ padhānaṁ na padahitabbanti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbo paṭinissaggo paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi. Na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbo paṭinissaggo na paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbā vimutti vimuccitabbāti vadāmi; na panāhaṁ, gahapati, sabbā vimutti na vimuccitabbāti vadāmi.
8Yañhi, gahapati, tapaṁ tapato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ tapaṁ na tapitabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, tapaṁ tapato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ tapaṁ tapitabbanti vadāmi.
9Yañhi, gahapati, samādānaṁ samādiyato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ samādānaṁ na samāditabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, samādānaṁ samādiyato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ samādānaṁ samāditabbanti vadāmi.
10Yañhi, gahapati, padhānaṁ padahato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ padhānaṁ na padahitabbanti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, padhānaṁ padahato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ padhānaṁ padahitabbanti vadāmi.
11Yañhi, gahapati, paṭinissaggaṁ paṭinissajjato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpo paṭinissaggo na paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, paṭinissaggaṁ paṭinissajjato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpo paṭinissaggo paṭinissajjitabboti vadāmi.
12Yañhi, gahapati, vimuttiṁ vimuccato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpā vimutti na vimuccitabbāti vadāmi. Yañca khvassa, gahapati, vimuttiṁ vimuccato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpā vimutti vimuccitabbāti vadāmī"ti.
13Atha kho vajjiyamāhito gahapati bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.
14Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante vajjiyamāhite gahapatimhi bhikkhū āmantesi: "yopi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dīgharattaṁ apparajakkho imasmiṁ dhammavinaye, sopi evamevaṁ aññatitthiye paribbājake sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggaṇheyya yathā taṁ vajjiyamāhitena gahapatinā niggahitā"ti.
Catutthaṁ.