AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.68 Followers of Other Paths

Numbered Discourses 3.68 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.68

7. The Great Chapter – 7. Mahāvagga

AN 3.68 Followers of Other Paths – Aññatitthiyasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, if wanderers who follow other paths were to ask:

“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:

1.2

‘There are these three things.

‘tayome, āvuso, dhammā.

1.3

What three?

Katame tayo?

1.4

Greed, hate, and delusion.

Rāgo, doso, moho—

1.5

These are the three things.

ime kho, āvuso, tayo dhammā.

1.6

What’s the difference between them?’

Imesaṁ, āvuso, tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ ko viseso ko adhippayāso kiṁ nānākaraṇan’ti?

1.7

How would you answer them?”

Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ kinti byākareyyāthā”ti?

1.8

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The bhikkhū will listen and remember it.”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

1.9

“Well then, bhikkhū, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

1.10

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.11

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, if wanderers who follow other paths were to ask:

“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:

2.2

‘There are these three things.

‘tayome, āvuso, dhammā.

2.3

What three?

Katame tayo?

2.4

Greed, hate, and delusion.

Rāgo, doso, moho—

2.5

These are the three things.

ime kho, āvuso, tayo dhammā;

2.6

What’s the difference between them?’

imesaṁ, āvuso, tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ ko viseso ko adhippayāso kiṁ nānākaraṇan’ti?

2.7

You should answer them:

Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:

2.8

‘Greed, reverends, is mildly blameworthy, but slow to fade away. Hate is very blameworthy, but quick to fade away. Delusion is very blameworthy, and slow to fade away.’

‘rāgo kho, āvuso, appasāvajjo dandhavirāgī, doso mahāsāvajjo khippavirāgī, moho mahāsāvajjo dandhavirāgī’ti.

3.1

And if they ask: ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why greed arises, and once arisen it increases and grows?’

‘Ko panāvuso, hetu ko paccayo yena anuppanno vā rāgo uppajjati uppanno vā rāgo bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattatī’ti?

3.2

You should say: ‘The beautiful feature of things.

‘“Subhanimittan”tissa vacanīyaṁ.

3.3

When you attend improperly to the beautiful feature of things, greed arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.

Tassa subhanimittaṁ ayoniso manasi karoto anuppanno vā rāgo uppajjati uppanno vā rāgo bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati.

3.4

This is the cause, this is the reason why greed arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.’

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena anuppanno vā rāgo uppajjati uppanno vā rāgo bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattatī’ti.

4.1

And if they ask: ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why hate arises, and once arisen it increases and grows?’

‘Ko panāvuso, hetu ko paccayo yena anuppanno vā doso uppajjati uppanno vā doso bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattatī’ti?

4.2

You should say: ‘The feature of harshness.

‘“Paṭighanimittan”tissa vacanīyaṁ.

4.3

When you attend improperly to the feature of harshness, hate arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.

Tassa paṭighanimittaṁ ayoniso manasi karoto anuppanno vā doso uppajjati uppanno vā doso bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati.

4.4

This is the cause, this is the reason why hate arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.’

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena anuppanno vā doso uppajjati uppanno vā doso bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattatī’ti.

5.1

And if they ask: ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why delusion arises, and once arisen it increases and grows?’

‘Ko panāvuso, hetu ko paccayo yena anuppanno vā moho uppajjati uppanno vā moho bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattatī’ti?

5.2

You should say: ‘Improper attention.

‘“Ayoniso manasikāro”tissa vacanīyaṁ.

5.3

When you attend improperly, delusion arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.

Tassa ayoniso manasi karoto anuppanno vā moho uppajjati uppanno vā moho bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati.

5.4

This is the cause, this is the reason why delusion arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.’

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena anuppanno vā moho uppajjati uppanno vā moho bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattatī’ti.

6.1

And if they ask, ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why greed doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up?’

‘Ko panāvuso, hetu ko paccayo yena anuppanno ceva rāgo nuppajjati uppanno ca rāgo pahīyatī’ti?

6.2

You should say: ‘The ugly feature of things.

‘“Asubhanimittan”tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.3

When you attend properly on the ugly feature of things, greed doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up.

Tassa asubhanimittaṁ yoniso manasi karoto anuppanno ceva rāgo nuppajjati uppanno ca rāgo pahīyati.

6.4

This is the cause, this is the reason why greed doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up.’

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena anuppanno ceva rāgo nuppajjati uppanno ca rāgo pahīyatī’ti.

7.1

And if they ask, ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why hate doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up?’

‘Ko panāvuso, hetu ko paccayo yena anuppanno ceva doso nuppajjati uppanno ca doso pahīyatī’ti?

7.2

You should say: ‘The heart’s release by love.’

‘“Mettā cetovimuttī”tissa vacanīyaṁ.

7.3

When you attend properly on the heart’s release by love, hate doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up.

Tassa mettaṁ cetovimuttiṁ yoniso manasi karoto anuppanno ceva doso nuppajjati uppanno ca doso pahīyati.

7.4

This is the cause, this is the reason why hate doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up.’

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena anuppanno ceva doso nuppajjati uppanno ca doso pahīyatī’ti.

8.1

And if they ask, ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why delusion doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up?’

‘Ko panāvuso, hetu ko paccayo yena anuppanno ceva moho nuppajjati uppanno ca moho pahīyatī’ti?

8.2

You should say: ‘Proper attention.

‘“Yonisomanasikāro”tissa vacanīyaṁ.

8.3

When you attend properly, delusion doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up.

Tassa yoniso manasi karoto anuppanno ceva moho nuppajjati uppanno ca moho pahīyati.

8.4

This is the cause, this is the reason why delusion doesn’t arise, or if it’s already arisen it’s given up.’”

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena anuppanno vā moho nuppajjati uppanno ca moho pahīyatī’”ti.

8.5

Aṭṭhamaṁ.