AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.30 Upside-down

Numbered Discourses 3.30 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.30

3. Persons – 3. Puggalavagga

AN 3.30 Upside-down – Avakujjasutta

1.1

“These three kinds of people are found in the world.

“Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

1.2

What three?

Katame tayo?

1.3

One with upside-down wisdom, one with wisdom on their lap, and one with wide wisdom.

Avakujjapañño puggalo, ucchaṅgapañño puggalo, puthupañño puggalo.

1.4

And who is the person with upside-down wisdom?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, avakujjapañño puggalo?

1.5

It’s someone who often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the bhikkhū.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santike dhammassavanāya.

1.6

The bhikkhū teach them Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

Tassa bhikkhū dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti.

1.7

But even while sitting there, that person doesn’t pay attention to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion.

So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti;

1.8

And when they get up from their seat, they don’t pay attention to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion.

vuṭṭhitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti.

1.9

It’s like when a pot full of water is tipped over, so the water drains out and doesn’t stay.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kumbho nikujjo tatra udakaṁ āsittaṁ vivaṭṭati, no saṇṭhāti;

1.10

In the same way, someone often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the bhikkhū.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santike dhammassavanāya.

1.11

Tassa bhikkhū dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti.

1.12

But even while sitting there, that person doesn’t pay attention to the discussion in the beginning, middle, or end.

So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti;

1.13

And when they get up from their seat, they don’t pay attention to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion.

vuṭṭhitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti.

1.14

This is called a person with upside-down wisdom.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, avakujjapañño puggalo.

2.1

And who is the person with wisdom on their lap?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, ucchaṅgapañño puggalo?

2.2

It’s someone who often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the bhikkhū.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santike dhammassavanāya.

2.3

Tassa bhikkhū dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti.

2.4

While sitting there, that person pays attention to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end.

So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti;

2.5

But when they get up from their seat, they don’t pay attention to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion.

vuṭṭhito ca kho tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti.

2.6

It’s like a person who has different kinds of food crammed on their lap—

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, purisassa ucchaṅge nānākhajjakāni ākiṇṇāni—

2.7

such as sesame, rice, sweets, or jujube—

tilā taṇḍulā modakā badarā.

2.8

so that if they get up from the seat without mindfulness, everything gets scattered.

So tamhā āsanā vuṭṭhahanto satisammosā pakireyya.

2.9

In the same way, someone often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the bhikkhū.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santike dhammassavanāya.

2.10

Tassa bhikkhū dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti.

2.11

While sitting there, that person pays attention to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end.

So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti;

2.12

But when they get up from their seat, they don’t pay attention to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion.

vuṭṭhito ca kho tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti.

2.13

This is called a person with wisdom on their lap.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ucchaṅgapañño puggalo.

3.1

And who is the person with wide wisdom?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puthupañño puggalo?

3.2

It’s someone who often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the bhikkhū.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santike dhammassavanāya.

3.3

Tassa bhikkhū dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti.

3.4

While sitting there, that person pays attention to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end.

So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti;

3.5

And when they get up from their seat, they continue to pay attention to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion.

vuṭṭhitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti.

3.6

It’s like when a pot full of water is set straight, so the water stays and doesn’t drain out.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kumbho ukkujjo tatra udakaṁ āsittaṁ saṇṭhāti no vivaṭṭati;

3.7

In the same way, someone often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the bhikkhū.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santike dhammassavanāya.

3.8

Tassa bhikkhū dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti.

3.9

While sitting there, that person pays attention to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end.

So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti;

3.10

And when they get up from their seat, they continue to pay attention to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion.

vuṭṭhitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti.

3.11

This is called a person with wide wisdom.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, puthupañño puggalo.

3.12

These are the three kinds of people found in the world.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

4.1

A person with upside-down wisdom,

Avakujjapañño puriso,

4.2

is stupid and cannot see,

dummedho avicakkhaṇo;

4.3

and even if they frequently

Abhikkhaṇampi ce hoti,

4.4

go into the bhikkhū’ presence,

gantā bhikkhūna santike.

5.1

such a person can’t learn

Ādiṁ kathāya majjhañca,

5.2

the beginning, middle, or end

pariyosānañca tādiso;

5.3

of the discussion,

Uggahetuṁ na sakkoti,

5.4

for their wisdom is lacking.

paññā hissa na vijjati.

6.1

The person with wisdom on their lap

Ucchaṅgapañño puriso,

6.2

is better than that, it’s said;

seyyo etena vuccati;

6.3

but even if they frequently

Abhikkhaṇampi ce hoti,

6.4

go into the bhikkhū’ presence,

gantā bhikkhūna santike.

7.1

such a person can only learn

Ādiṁ kathāya majjhañca,

7.2

the beginning, middle, and end

pariyosānañca tādiso;

7.3

while sitting in that seat;

Nisinno āsane tasmiṁ,

7.4

but they’ve only grasped the phrasing,

uggahetvāna byañjanaṁ;

7.5

for when they get up their understanding fails,

Vuṭṭhito nappajānāti,

7.6

and what they’ve learned is lost.

gahitaṁ hissa mussati.

8.1

The person with wide wisdom

Puthupañño ca puriso,

8.2

is better than that, it’s said;

seyyo etehi vuccati;

8.3

and if they, too, frequently

Abhikkhaṇampi ce hoti,

8.4

go into the bhikkhū’ presence,

gantā bhikkhūna santike.

9.1

such a person can learn

Ādiṁ kathāya majjhañca,

9.2

the beginning, middle, and end

pariyosānañca tādiso;

9.3

while sitting in that seat;

Nisinno āsane tasmiṁ,

9.4

and when they’ve grasped the phrasing,

uggahetvāna byañjanaṁ.

10.1

they remember it with the best of intentions.

Dhāreti seṭṭhasaṅkappo,

10.2

That peaceful-hearted person,

Abyaggamānaso naro;

10.3

practicing in line with the teaching,

Dhammānudhammappaṭipanno,

10.4

would make an end of suffering.”

Dukkhassantakaro siyā”ti.

10.5

Dasamaṁ.

10.6

Puggalavaggo tatiyo.

11.0

Tassuddānaṁ

11.1

Samiddha gilāna saṅkhārā,

11.2

bahukārā vajirena ca;

11.3

Sevi jiguccha gūthabhāṇī,

11.4

andho ca avakujjatāti.