AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.45 Debt

Numbered Discourses 6.45 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.45

5. About Dhammika – 5. Dhammikavagga

AN 6.45 Debt – Iṇasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, isn’t poverty suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

“Dāliddiyaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?

1.2

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

2.1

“When a poor, penniless person falls into debt, isn’t being in debt also suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko iṇaṁ ādiyati, iṇādānampi, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?

2.2

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

3.1

“When a poor person who has fallen into debt agrees to pay interest, isn’t the interest also suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko iṇaṁ ādiyitvā vaḍḍhiṁ paṭissuṇāti, vaḍḍhipi, bhikkhave, dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?

3.2

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

4.1

“When a poor person who has fallen into debt and agreed to pay interest fails to pay it when it falls due, they get a warning.

“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko vaḍḍhiṁ paṭissuṇitvā kālābhataṁ vaḍḍhiṁ na deti, codentipi naṁ;

4.2

Isn’t being warned suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

codanāpi, bhikkhave, dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?

4.3

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

5.1

“When a poor person fails to pay after getting a warning, they’re prosecuted.

“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko codiyamāno na deti, anucarantipi naṁ;

5.2

Isn’t being prosecuted suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

anucariyāpi, bhikkhave, dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?

5.3

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

6.1

“When a poor person fails to pay after being prosecuted, they’re imprisoned.

“Yampi, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko anucariyamāno na deti, bandhantipi naṁ;

6.2

Isn’t being imprisoned suffering in the world for a person who enjoys sensual pleasures?”

bandhanampi, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino”ti?

6.3

“Yes, sir.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

7.1

“So bhikkhū, poverty, debt, interest, warnings, prosecution, and imprisonment are suffering in the world for those who enjoy sensual pleasures.

“Iti kho, bhikkhave, dāliddiyampi dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, iṇādānampi dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, vaḍḍhipi dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, codanāpi dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, anucariyāpi dukkhā lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino, bandhanampi dukkhaṁ lokasmiṁ kāmabhogino;

7.2

In the same way, whoever has no faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī natthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu—

7.3

is called poor and penniless in the training of the Noble One.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyassa vinaye daliddo assako anāḷhiko.

8.1

Since they have no faith, conscience, prudence, energy, or wisdom when it comes to skillful qualities, they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko saddhāya asati kusalesu dhammesu, hiriyā asati kusalesu dhammesu, ottappe asati kusalesu dhammesu, vīriye asati kusalesu dhammesu, paññāya asati kusalesu dhammesu, kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati.

8.2

This is how they’re in debt, I say.

Idamassa iṇādānasmiṁ vadāmi.

9.1

In order to conceal the bad things they do by way of body, speech, and mind they harbour corrupt wishes.

So tassa kāyaduccaritassa paṭicchādanahetu pāpikaṁ icchaṁ paṇidahati.

9.2

They wish, plan, speak, and act with the thought: ‘May no-one find me out!’

‘Mā maṁ jaññū’ti icchati, ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti saṅkappati, ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti vācaṁ bhāsati, ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti kāyena parakkamati. So tassa vacīduccaritassa paṭicchādanahetu …pe… so tassa manoduccaritassa paṭicchādanahetu …pe… ‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti kāyena parakkamati.

9.3

This is how they pay interest, I say.

Idamassa vaḍḍhiyā vadāmi.

10.1

Good-hearted spiritual companions say this about them:

Tamenaṁ pesalā sabrahmacārī evamāhaṁsu:

10.2

‘This venerable acts like this, and behaves like that.’

‘ayañca so āyasmā evaṅkārī evaṁsamācāro’ti.

10.3

This is how they’re warned, I say.

Idamassa codanāya vadāmi.

11.1

When they go to a wilderness, the root of a tree, or an empty hut, they’re beset by remorseful, unskillful thoughts.

Tamenaṁ araññagataṁ vā rukkhamūlagataṁ vā suññāgāragataṁ vā vippaṭisārasahagatā pāpakā akusalavitakkā samudācaranti.

11.2

This is how they’re prosecuted, I say.

Idamassa anucariyāya vadāmi.

12.1

That poor, penniless person has done bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re trapped in the prison of hell or the animal realm.

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, daliddo assako anāḷhiko kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā nirayabandhane vā bajjhati tiracchānayonibandhane vā.

12.2

I don’t see a single prison that’s as brutal, as vicious, and such an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary as the prison of hell or the animal realm.

Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekabandhanampi samanupassāmi evaṁdāruṇaṁ evaṅkaṭukaṁ evaṁantarāyakaraṁ anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya, yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayabandhanaṁ vā tiracchānayonibandhanaṁ vāti.

13.1

Poverty is said to be suffering in the world,

Dāliddiyaṁ dukkhaṁ loke,

13.2

and so is being in debt.

iṇādānañca vuccati;

13.3

A poor person who has fallen into debt

Daliddo iṇamādāya,

13.4

frets even when spending the loan.

bhuñjamāno vihaññati.

14.1

And then they’re prosecuted,

Tato anucaranti naṁ,

14.2

or even thrown in jail.

bandhanampi nigacchati;

14.3

Such imprisonment is true suffering

Etañhi bandhanaṁ dukkhaṁ,

14.4

for someone who prays for pleasure and possessions.

kāmalābhābhijappinaṁ.

15.1

In the same way, in the noble one’s training

Tatheva ariyavinaye,

15.2

whoever has no faith,

saddhā yassa na vijjati;

15.3

no conscience or prudence,

Ahirīko anottappī,

15.4

contemplates bad deeds.

pāpakammavinibbayo.

16.1

After doing bad things

Kāyaduccaritaṁ katvā,

16.2

by way of body,

vacīduccaritāni ca;

16.3

speech, and mind,

Manoduccaritaṁ katvā,

16.4

they wish, ‘May no-one find me out!’

‘mā maṁ jaññū’ti icchati.

17.1

Their behavior is creepy

So saṁsappati kāyena,

17.2

by body, speech, and mind.

vācāya uda cetasā;

17.3

They pile up bad deeds

Pāpakammaṁ pavaḍḍhento,

17.4

on and on, life after life.

tattha tattha punappunaṁ.

18.1

That stupid evildoer,

So pāpakammo dummedho,

18.2

knowing their own misdeeds,

jānaṁ dukkaṭamattano;

18.3

is a poor person who has fallen into debt,

Daliddo iṇamādāya,

18.4

and frets even when spending the loan.

bhuñjamāno vihaññati.

19.1

And when in village or wilderness

Tato anucaranti naṁ,

19.2

they’re prosecuted

saṅkappā mānasā dukhā;

19.3

by painful mental plans,

Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,

19.4

which are born of remorse.

yassa vippaṭisārajā.

20.1

That stupid evildoer,

So pāpakammo dummedho,

20.2

knowing their own misdeeds,

jānaṁ dukkaṭamattano;

20.3

goes to one of the animal realms,

Yonimaññataraṁ gantvā,

20.4

or is trapped in hell.

niraye vāpi bajjhati.

21.1

Such imprisonment is true suffering,

Etañhi bandhanaṁ dukkhaṁ,

21.2

from which a wise one is released.

yamhā dhīro pamuccati;

21.3

With confident heart, they give

Dhammaladdhehi bhogehi,

21.4

with wealth that is properly earned.

dadaṁ cittaṁ pasādayaṁ.

22.1

That faithful householder

Ubhayattha kaṭaggāho,

22.2

wins both ways:

saddhassa gharamesino;

22.3

welfare and benefit in this life,

Diṭṭhadhammahitatthāya,

22.4

and happiness in the next.

samparāyasukhāya ca;

22.5

This is how, for a householder,

Evametaṁ gahaṭṭhānaṁ,

22.6

merit grows by generosity.

cāgo puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati.

23.1

In the same way, in the noble one’s training,

Tatheva ariyavinaye,

23.2

whoever is grounded in faith,

saddhā yassa patiṭṭhitā;

23.3

with conscience and prudence,

Hirīmano ca ottappī,

23.4

wise, and ethically restrained,

paññavā sīlasaṁvuto.

24.1

is said to live happily

Eso kho ariyavinaye,

24.2

in the noble one’s training.

‘sukhajīvī’ti vuccati;

24.3

After gaining spiritual bliss,

Nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ laddhā,

24.4

they concentrate on equanimity.

upekkhaṁ adhitiṭṭhati.

25.1

They give up the five hindrances,

Pañca nīvaraṇe hitvā,

25.2

constantly energetic,

niccaṁ āraddhavīriyo;

25.3

and enter the absorptions,

Jhānāni upasampajja,

25.4

unified, alert, and mindful.

ekodi nipako sato.

26.1

Truly knowing in this way

Evaṁ ñatvā yathābhūtaṁ,

26.2

the end of all fetters,

sabbasaṁyojanakkhaye;

26.3

by not grasping in any way,

Sabbaso anupādāya,

26.4

their mind is rightly freed.

sammā cittaṁ vimuccati.

27.1

To that poised one, rightly freed

Tassa sammā vimuttassa,

27.2

with the end of the fetters of rebirth,

ñāṇañce hoti tādino;

27.3

the knowledge comes:

‘Akuppā me vimuttī’ti,

27.4

‘My freedom is unshakable.’

bhavasaṁyojanakkhaye.

28.1

This is the ultimate knowledge.

Etaṁ kho paramaṁ ñāṇaṁ,

28.2

This is the supreme happiness.

etaṁ sukhamanuttaraṁ;

28.3

Sorrowless, stainless, secure:

Asokaṁ virajaṁ khemaṁ,

28.4

this is the highest freedom from debt.”

etaṁ ānaṇyamuttaman”ti.

28.5

Tatiyaṁ.