AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.74 One Who Lives by the Teaching (2nd)

Numbered Discourses 5.74 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.74

8. Warriors – 8. Yodhājīvavagga

AN 5.74 One Who Lives by the Teaching (2nd) – Dutiyadhammavihārīsutta

1.1

Then a bhikkhu went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.2

“Sir, they speak of ‘one who lives by the teaching’.

“‘dhammavihārī, dhammavihārī’ti, bhante, vuccati.

1.3

How is one who lives by the teaching defined?”

Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu dhammavihārī hotī”ti?

2.1

“Bhikkhu, take a bhikkhu who memorizes the teaching—

“Idha, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

2.2

statements, songs, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and classifications.

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ;

2.3

But they don’t understand the higher meaning.

uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti.

2.4

That bhikkhu is called one who studies a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu pariyattibahulo, no dhammavihārī’.

3.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu teaches Dhamma in detail to others as they learned and memorized it. But they don’t understand the higher meaning.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti, uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti.

3.2

That bhikkhu is called one who advocates a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu paññattibahulo, no dhammavihārī’.

4.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu recites the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. But they don’t understand the higher meaning.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena sajjhāyaṁ karoti, uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti.

4.2

That bhikkhu is called one who recites a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu sajjhāyabahulo, no dhammavihārī’.

5.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu thinks about and considers the teaching in their heart, examining it with the mind as they learned and memorized it. But they don’t understand the higher meaning.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati, uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti.

5.2

That bhikkhu is called one who thinks a lot, not one who lives by the teaching.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu vitakkabahulo, no dhammavihārī’.

6.1

Take a bhikkhu who memorizes the teaching—

Idha, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

6.2

statements, songs, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and classifications.

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ;

6.3

And they do understand the higher meaning.

uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ pajānāti.

6.4

That’s how a bhikkhu is one who lives by the teaching.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammavihārī hoti.

7.1

So, bhikkhu, I’ve taught you the one who studies a lot, the one who advocates a lot, the one who recites a lot, the one who thinks a lot, and the one who lives by the teaching.

Iti kho, bhikkhu, desito mayā pariyattibahulo, desito paññattibahulo, desito sajjhāyabahulo, desito vitakkabahulo, desito dhammavihārī.

7.2

Out of compassion, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā.

7.3

Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, bhikkhu! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”

Etāni, bhikkhu, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha bhikkhu, mā pamādattha, mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

7.4

Catutthaṁ.