AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.82 The Donkey

Numbered Discourses 3.82 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.82

9. Ascetics – 9. Samaṇavagga

AN 3.82 The Donkey – Gadrabhasutta

1.1

“Suppose, bhikkhū, a donkey followed behind a herd of cattle, thinking:

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gadrabho gogaṇaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandho hoti:

1.2

‘I can moo too! I can moo too!’

‘ahampi dammo, ahampi dammo’ti.

1.3

But it doesn’t look like a cow, or sound like a cow, or leave a footprint like a cow.

Tassa na tādiso vaṇṇo hoti seyyathāpi gunnaṁ, na tādiso saro hoti seyyathāpi gunnaṁ, na tādisaṁ padaṁ hoti seyyathāpi gunnaṁ.

1.4

Still it follows behind a herd of cattle, thinking:

So gogaṇaṁyeva piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandho hoti:

1.5

‘I can moo too! I can moo too!’

‘ahampi dammo, ahampi dammo’ti.

2.1

In the same way, some bhikkhu follows behind the bhikkhu Saṅgha, thinking:

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco bhikkhu bhikkhusaṅghaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandho hoti:

2.2

‘I’m a monk too! I’m a monk too!’

‘ahampi bhikkhu, ahampi bhikkhū’ti.

2.3

But they don’t have the same enthusiasm for undertaking the training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom as the other bhikkhū.

Tassa na tādiso chando hoti adhisīlasikkhāsamādāne seyyathāpi aññesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ, na tādiso chando hoti adhicittasikkhāsamādāne seyyathāpi aññesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ, na tādiso chando hoti adhipaññāsikkhāsamādāne seyyathāpi aññesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ.

2.4

Still they follow behind the bhikkhu Saṇgha, thinking:

So bhikkhusaṅghaṁyeva piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandho hoti:

2.5

‘I’m a monk too! I’m a monk too!’

‘ahampi bhikkhu, ahampi bhikkhū’ti.

3.1

So you should train like this:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

3.2

‘We will have keen enthusiasm for undertaking the training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.’

‘tibbo no chando bhavissati adhisīlasikkhāsamādāne, tibbo no chando bhavissati adhicittasikkhāsamādāne, tibbo no chando bhavissati adhipaññāsikkhāsamādāne’ti.

3.3

That’s how you should train.”

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

3.4

Dutiyaṁ.