AN 3.66 With Sāḷha and His Friend – Sāḷhasutta

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AN 3.66 With Sāḷha and His Friend – Sāḷhasutta

Numbered Discourses 3.66 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.66

7. The Great Chapter – 7. Mahāvagga

AN 3.66 With Sāḷha and His Friend – Sāḷhasutta

 

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

Now at that time Venerable Nandaka was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā nandako sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

1.3

Then Sāḷha, Migāra’s grandson, and Rohaṇa, Pekhuṇiya’s grandson went up to Venerable Nandaka, bowed, and sat down to one side. Then Venerable Nandaka said to Sāḷha:

Atha kho sāḷho ca migāranattā sāṇo ca sekhuniyanattā yenāyasmā nandako tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nandakaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho sāḷhaṁ migāranattāraṁ āyasmā nandako etadavoca:

2.1

“Please, Sāḷha and friend, don’t go by oral transmission, don’t go by lineage, don’t go by testament, don’t go by canonical authority, don’t rely on logic, don’t rely on inference, don’t go by reasoned contemplation, don’t go by the acceptance of a view after consideration, don’t go by the appearance of competence, and don’t think ‘The ascetic is our respected teacher.’

“Etha tumhe, sāḷhā, mā anussavena, mā paramparāya, mā itikirāya, mā piṭakasampadānena, mā takkahetu, mā nayahetu, mā ākāraparivitakkena, mā diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, mā bhabbarūpatāya, mā samaṇo no garūti.

2.2

But when you know for yourselves: ‘These things are unskillful, blameworthy, criticized by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to harm and suffering’, then you should give them up.

Yadā tumhe, sāḷhā, attanāva jāneyyātha ‘ime dhammā akusalā, ime dhammā sāvajjā, ime dhammā viññugarahitā, ime dhammā samattā samādinnā ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattantī’ti, atha tumhe, sāḷhā, pajaheyyātha.

3.1

What do you think, Sāḷha?

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā,

3.2

Is greed real?”

atthi lobho”ti?

4.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

5.1

“‘Covetousness’ is what I mean by this.

“Abhijjhāti kho ahaṁ, sāḷhā, etamatthaṁ vadāmi.

5.2

A person who is greedy and covetous kills living creatures, steals, commits adultery, lies, and encourages others to do the same. Is that for their lasting harm and suffering?”

Luddho kho ayaṁ, sāḷhā, abhijjhālu pāṇampi hanati, adinnampi ādiyati, paradārampi gacchati, musāpi bhaṇati, parampi tathattāya samādapeti, yaṁ sa hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyā”ti.

6.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

7.1

“What do you think, Sāḷha?

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā,

7.2

Is hate real?”

atthi doso”ti?

8.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

9.1

“‘Malice’ is what I mean by this.

“Byāpādoti kho ahaṁ, sāḷhā, etamatthaṁ vadāmi.

9.2

A hateful and malicious person kills living creatures, steals, commits adultery, lies, and encourages others to do the same. Is that for their lasting harm and suffering?”

Duṭṭho kho ayaṁ, sāḷhā, byāpannacitto pāṇampi hanati, adinnampi ādiyati, paradārampi gacchati, musāpi bhaṇati, parampi tathattāya samādapeti, yaṁ sa hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyā”ti.

10.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

11.1

“What do you think, Sāḷha?

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā,

11.2

Is delusion real?”

atthi moho”ti?

12.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

13.1

“‘Ignorance’ is what I mean by this.

“Avijjāti kho ahaṁ, sāḷhā, etamatthaṁ vadāmi.

13.2

A person who is deluded and ignorant kills living creatures, steals, commits adultery, lies, and encourages others to do the same. Is that for their lasting harm and suffering?”

Mūḷho kho ayaṁ, sāḷhā, avijjāgato pāṇampi hanati, adinnampi ādiyati, paradārampi gacchati, musāpi bhaṇati, parampi tathattāya samādapeti, yaṁ sa hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāyā”ti.

14.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

15.1

“What do you think, Sāḷha, are these things skillful or unskillful?”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā, ime dhammā kusalā vā akusalā vā”ti?

16.1

“Unskillful, sir.”

“Akusalā, bhante”.

17.1

“Blameworthy or blameless?”

“Sāvajjā vā anavajjā vā”ti?

18.1

“Blameworthy, sir.”

“Sāvajjā, bhante”.

19.1

“Criticized or praised by sensible people?”

“Viññugarahitā vā viññuppasatthā vā”ti?

20.1

“Criticized by sensible people, sir.”

“Viññugarahitā, bhante”.

21.1

“When you undertake them, do they lead to harm and suffering, or not?

“Samattā samādinnā ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti, no vā?

21.2

Or how do you see this?”

Kathaṁ vā ettha hotī”ti?

22.1

“When you undertake them, they lead to harm and suffering.

“Samattā, bhante, samādinnā ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattantīti.

22.2

That’s how we see it.”

Evaṁ no ettha hotī”ti.

23.1

“So, Sāḷha and friend, when I said:

“Iti kho, sāḷhā, yaṁ taṁ avocumhā:

23.2

‘Please, don’t go by oral transmission, don’t go by lineage, don’t go by testament, don’t go by canonical authority, don’t rely on logic, don’t rely on inference, don’t go by reasoned contemplation, don’t go by the acceptance of a view after consideration, don’t go by the appearance of competence, and don’t think “The ascetic is our respected teacher.”

‘etha tumhe, sāḷhā, mā anussavena, mā paramparāya, mā itikirāya, mā piṭakasampadānena, mā takkahetu, mā nayahetu, mā ākāraparivitakkena, mā diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, mā bhabbarūpatāya, mā samaṇo no garūti.

23.3

But when you know for yourselves:

Yadā tumhe, sāḷhā, attanāva jāneyyātha—

23.4

“These things are unskillful, blameworthy, criticized by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to harm and suffering”, then you should give them up.’

ime dhammā akusalā, ime dhammā sāvajjā, ime dhammā viññugarahitā, ime dhammā samattā samādinnā ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattantīti, atha tumhe, sāḷhā, pajaheyyāthā’ti,

23.5

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

24.1

Please, Sāḷha and friend, don’t go by oral transmission, don’t go by lineage, don’t go by testament, don’t go by canonical authority, don’t rely on logic, don’t rely on inference, don’t go by reasoned contemplation, don’t go by the acceptance of a view after consideration, don’t go by the appearance of competence, and don’t think ‘The ascetic is our respected teacher.’

Etha tumhe, sāḷhā, mā anussavena, mā paramparāya, mā itikirāya, mā piṭakasampadānena, mā takkahetu, mā nayahetu, mā ākāraparivitakkena, mā diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, mā bhabbarūpatāya, mā samaṇo no garūti.

24.2

But when you know for yourselves:

Yadā tumhe, sāḷhā, attanāva jāneyyātha:

24.3

‘These things are skillful, blameless, praised by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness’, then you should acquire them and keep them.

‘ime dhammā kusalā, ime dhammā anavajjā, ime dhammā viññuppasatthā, ime dhammā samattā samādinnā hitāya sukhāya saṁvattantī’ti, atha tumhe, sāḷhā, upasampajja vihareyyātha.

25.1

What do you think? Is contentment real?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā, atthi alobho”ti?

26.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

27.1

“‘Satisfaction’ is what I mean by this.

“Anabhijjhāti kho ahaṁ, sāḷhā, etamatthaṁ vadāmi.

27.2

A person who is content and satisfied doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit adultery, lie, or encourage others to do the same. Is that for their lasting welfare and happiness?”

Aluddho kho ayaṁ, sāḷhā, anabhijjhālu neva pāṇaṁ hanati, na adinnaṁ ādiyati, na paradāraṁ gacchati, na musā bhaṇati, parampi na tathattāya samādapeti, yaṁ sa hoti dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

28.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

29.1

What do you think? Is love real?”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā, atthi adoso”ti?

30.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

31.1

“‘Kindness’ is what I mean by this.

“Abyāpādoti kho ahaṁ, sāḷhā, etamatthaṁ vadāmi.

31.2

A loving and kind-hearted person doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit adultery, lie, or encourage others to do the same. Is that for their lasting welfare and happiness?”

Aduṭṭho kho ayaṁ, sāḷhā, abyāpannacitto neva pāṇaṁ hanati, na adinnaṁ ādiyati, na paradāraṁ gacchati, na musā bhaṇati, parampi na tathattāya samādapeti, yaṁ sa hoti dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

32.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

33.1

“What do you think, Sāḷha?

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā,

33.2

Is understanding real?”

atthi amoho”ti?

34.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

35.1

“‘Knowledge’ is what I mean by this.

“Vijjāti kho ahaṁ, sāḷhā, etamatthaṁ vadāmi.

35.2

A person who understands and knows doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit adultery, lie, or encourage others to do the same. Is that for their lasting welfare and happiness?”

Amūḷho kho ayaṁ, sāḷhā, vijjāgato neva pāṇaṁ hanati, na adinnaṁ ādiyati, na paradāraṁ gacchati, na musā bhaṇati, parampi na tathattāya samādapeti, yaṁ sa hoti dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

36.1

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

37.1

“What do you think, Sāḷha, are these things skillful or unskillful?”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, sāḷhā, ime dhammā kusalā vā akusalā vā”ti?

38.1

“Skillful, sir.”

“Kusalā, bhante”.

39.1

“Blameworthy or blameless?”

“Sāvajjā vā anavajjā vā”ti?

40.1

“Blameless, sir.”

“Anavajjā, bhante”.

41.1

“Criticized or praised by sensible people?”

“Viññugarahitā vā viññuppasatthā vā”ti?

42.1

“Praised by sensible people, sir.”

“Viññuppasatthā, bhante”.

43.1

“When you undertake them, do they lead to welfare and happiness, or not?

“Samattā samādinnā hitāya sukhāya saṁvattanti, no vā?

43.2

Or how do you see this?”

Kathaṁ vā ettha hotī”ti?

44.1

“When you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness.

“Samattā, bhante, samādinnā hitāya sukhāya saṁvattantīti.

44.2

That’s how we see it.”

Evaṁ no ettha hotī”ti.

45.1

“So, Sāḷha and friend, when I said:

“Iti kho, sāḷhā, yaṁ taṁ avocumhā:

45.2

‘Please, don’t go by oral transmission, don’t go by lineage, don’t go by testament, don’t go by canonical authority, don’t rely on logic, don’t rely on inference, don’t go by reasoned contemplation, don’t go by the acceptance of a view after consideration, don’t go by the appearance of competence, and don’t think “The ascetic is our respected teacher.”

‘etha tumhe, sāḷhā, mā anussavena, mā paramparāya, mā itikirāya, mā piṭakasampadānena, mā takkahetu, mā nayahetu, mā ākāraparivitakkena, mā diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, mā bhabbarūpatāya, mā samaṇo no garūti.

45.3

But when you know for yourselves:

Yadā tumhe, sāḷhā, attanāva jāneyyātha—

45.4

“These things are skillful, blameless, praised by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness”, then you should acquire them and keep them.’

ime dhammā kusalā, ime dhammā anavajjā, ime dhammā viññuppasatthā, ime dhammā samattā samādinnā dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya saṁvattantīti, atha tumhe, sāḷhā, upasampajja vihareyyāthā’ti,

45.5

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

46.1

Then that noble disciple is rid of desire, rid of ill will, unconfused, aware, and mindful. They meditate spreading a heart full of love …

Sa kho so, sāḷhā, ariyasāvako evaṁ vigatābhijjho vigatabyāpādo asammūḷho sampajāno patissato mettāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

46.2

compassion …

karuṇā …

46.3

rejoicing …

muditā …

46.4

equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ, iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjhena pharitvā viharati.

46.5

They understand:

So evaṁ pajānāti:

46.6

‘There is this, there is what is worse than this, there is what is better than this, and there is an escape beyond the scope of perception.’

‘atthi idaṁ, atthi hīnaṁ, atthi paṇītaṁ, atthi imassa saññāgatassa uttari nissaraṇan’ti.

46.7

Knowing and seeing like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.

Tassa evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati;

46.8

When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

46.9

They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is no return to any state of existence.’

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.

47.1

They understand:

So evaṁ pajānāti:

47.2

‘Formerly there was greed, which was unskillful. Now there is none, so that’s skillful.

‘ahu pubbe lobho, tadahu akusalaṁ, so etarahi natthi, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ;

47.3

Formerly there was hate, which was unskillful. Now there is none, so that’s skillful.

ahu pubbe doso …pe…

47.4

Formerly there was delusion, which was unskillful. Now there is none, so that’s skillful.’

ahu pubbe moho, tadahu akusalaṁ, so etarahi natthi, iccetaṁ kusalan’ti.

47.5

So they live without wishes in the present life, extinguished, cooled, experiencing bliss, having become holy in themselves.”

So diṭṭheva dhamme nicchāto nibbuto sītibhūto sukhappaṭisaṁvedī brahmabhūtena attanā viharatī”ti.

47.6

Chaṭṭhaṁ.