AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.78 Precepts and Observances

Numbered Discourses 3.78 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.78

8. Ānanda – 8. Ānandavagga

AN 3.78 Precepts and Observances – Sīlabbatasutta

1.1

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

1.2

“Ānanda, are all precepts and observances, lifestyles, and spiritual paths fruitful when taken as the essence?”

“sabbaṁ nu kho, ānanda, sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ saphalan”ti?

1.3

“This is no simple matter, sir.”

“Na khvettha, bhante, ekaṁsenā”ti.

1.4

“Well then, Ānanda, break it down.”

“Tena hānanda, vibhajassū”ti.

2.1

“Take the case of someone who cultivates precepts and observances, a lifestyle, and a spiritual path, taking this as the essence. If unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline, that’s not fruitful.

“Yañhissa, bhante, sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti kusalā dhammā parihāyanti, evarūpaṁ sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ aphalaṁ.

2.2

However, if unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow, that is fruitful.”

Yañca khvāssa, bhante, sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, evarūpaṁ sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasāraṁ saphalan”ti.

2.3

That’s what Ānanda said,

Idamavoca āyasmā ānando.

2.4

and the teacher approved.

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

3.1

Then Ānanda, knowing that the teacher approved, got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando “samanuñño me satthā”ti, uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

3.2

Then, not long after Ānanda had left, the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū:

Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkante āyasmante ānande bhikkhū āmantesi:

3.3

“Bhikkhū, Ānanda is a trainee,

“sekho, bhikkhave, ānando;

3.4

but it’s not easy to find his equal in wisdom.”

na ca panassa sulabharūpo samasamo paññāyā”ti.

3.5

Aṭṭhamaṁ.