AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.99 Jute

Numbered Discourses 3.99 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.99

10. A Lump of Salt – 10. Loṇakapallavagga

AN 3.99 Jute – Potthakasutta

1.1

“Jute canvas is ugly, unpleasant to touch, and worthless whether it’s new, worn in, or worn out.

“Navopi, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo ca hoti dukkhasamphasso ca appaggho ca;

1.2

majjhimopi, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo ca hoti dukkhasamphasso ca appaggho ca;

1.3

jiṇṇopi, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo ca hoti dukkhasamphasso ca appaggho ca.

1.4

They use worn out jute canvas for scrubbing pots, or else they just throw it away on the rubbish heap.

Jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, potthakaṁ ukkhaliparimajjanaṁ vā karonti saṅkārakūṭe vā naṁ chaḍḍenti.

2.1

In the same way, if a junior bhikkhu is unethical, of bad character,

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, navo cepi bhikkhu hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo.

2.2

this is how they’re ugly, I say.

Idamassa dubbaṇṇatāya vadāmi.

2.3

That person is just as ugly as jute canvas.

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

2.4

If you associate with, accompany, and attend to that person, following their example, it’ll be for your lasting harm and suffering.

Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.

2.5

This is how they’re unpleasant to touch, I say.

Idamassa dukkhasamphassatāya vadāmi.

2.6

That person is just as unpleasant to touch as jute canvas.

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dukkhasamphasso tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

2.7

Any robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick that they receive are not very fruitful or beneficial for the donor.

Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ.

2.8

This is how they’re worthless, I say.

Idamassa appagghatāya vadāmi.

2.9

That person is just as worthless as jute canvas.

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako appaggho tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

2.10

If a middle bhikkhu is unethical, of bad character, this is how they’re ugly, I say. …

Majjhimo cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe…

2.11

If a senior bhikkhu is unethical, of bad character, this is how they’re ugly, I say. …

thero cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, idamassa dubbaṇṇatāya vadāmi.

2.12

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

2.13

If you associate with, accompany, and attend to that person, following their example, it’ll be for your lasting harm and suffering. …

Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.

2.14

Idamassa dukkhasamphassatāya vadāmi.

2.15

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dukkhasamphasso tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

2.16

Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ.

2.17

Idamassa appagghatāya vadāmi.

2.18

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako appaggho tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

3.1

If such a senior bhikkhu speaks among the Saṅgha,

Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, thero bhikkhu saṅghamajjhe bhaṇati.

3.2

the bhikkhū say:

Tamenaṁ bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu:

3.3

‘What’s an incompetent fool like you got to say?

‘kiṁ nu kho tuyhaṁ bālassa abyattassa bhaṇitena,

3.4

How on earth could you imagine you’ve got something worth saying!’

tvampi nāma bhaṇitabbaṁ maññasī’ti.

3.5

That person becomes angry and upset, and blurts out things that make the Saṅgha throw them out, as if they were throwing jute canvas away on the rubbish heap.

So kupito anattamano tathārūpiṁ vācaṁ nicchāreti yathārūpāya vācāya saṅgho taṁ ukkhipati, saṅkārakūṭeva naṁ potthakaṁ.

4.1

Cloth from Kāsī is beautiful, pleasant to touch, and valuable whether it’s new, worn in, or worn out.

Navampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca; majjhimampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca; jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca.

4.2

They use worn out cloth from Kāsī for wrapping, or else they place it in a fragrant casket.

Jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ ratanapaliveṭhanaṁ vā karoti gandhakaraṇḍake vā naṁ pakkhipanti.

5.1

In the same way, if a junior bhikkhu is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, navo cepi bhikkhu hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, idamassa suvaṇṇatāya vadāmi.

5.2

That person is just as beautiful as cloth from Kāsī.

Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.3

If you associate with, accompany, and attend to such a person, following their example, it will be for your lasting welfare and happiness.

Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

5.4

This is how they’re pleasant to touch, I say.

Idamassa sukhasamphassatāya vadāmi.

5.5

That person is just as pleasant to touch as cloth from Kāsī.

Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ sukhasamphassaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.6

Any robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick that they receive are very fruitful and beneficial for the donor.

Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsaṁ.

5.7

This is how they’re valuable, I say.

Idamassa mahagghatāya vadāmi.

5.8

That person is just as valuable as cloth from Kāsī.

Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ mahagghaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.9

If a middle bhikkhu is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say. …

Majjhimo cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe…

5.10

If a senior bhikkhu is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say. …

thero cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe… puggalaṁ vadāmi.

6.1

If such a senior bhikkhu speaks in the midst of the Saṅgha,

Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, thero bhikkhu saṅghamajjhe bhaṇati.

6.2

the bhikkhū say:

Tamenaṁ bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu:

6.3

‘Venerables, be quiet! The senior bhikkhu is speaking on the teaching and training.’

‘appasaddā āyasmanto hotha, thero bhikkhu dhammañca vinayañca bhaṇatī’ti.

6.4

So you should train like this:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

6.5

‘We will be like cloth from Kāsī, not like jute canvas.’

‘kāsikavatthūpamā bhavissāma, na potthakūpamā’ti.

6.6

That’s how you should train.”

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

6.7

Aṭṭhamaṁ.