AN 6.53 Diligence – Appamādasutta

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AN 6.53 Diligence – Appamādasutta

Numbered Discourses 6.53 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.53

5. About Dhammika – 5. Dhammikavagga

AN 6.53 Diligence – Appamādasutta

 

1.1

Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

1.2

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Master Gotama, is there one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come?”

“Atthi nu kho, bho gotama, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko”ti?

2.2

“There is, brahmin.”

“Atthi kho, brāhmaṇa, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko”ti.

3.1

“So what is it?”

“Katamo pana, bho gotama, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato yo ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko”ti?

3.2

“Diligence, brahmin, is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.

“Appamādo kho, brāhmaṇa, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko.

4.1

The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint. So an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni, sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti; hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ mahantattena.

4.2

In the same way, diligence is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.

Evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, appamādo eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko.

5.1

The rafters of a bungalow all lean to the peak, slope to the peak, and meet at the peak, so the peak is said to be the topmost of them all.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, kūṭāgārassa yā kāci gopānasiyo sabbā tā kūṭaṅgamā kūṭaninnā kūṭasamosaraṇā, kūṭaṁ tāsaṁ aggamakkhāyati;

5.2

In the same way, diligence is one thing …

evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa …pe….

6.1

A reed-cutter, having cut the reeds, grabs them at the top and shakes them down, shakes them about, and shakes them off.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, pabbajalāyako pabbajaṁ lāyitvā agge gahetvā odhunāti nidhunāti nicchādeti;

6.2

In the same way, diligence is one thing …

evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa …pe….

7.1

When the stalk of a bunch of mangoes is cut, all the mangoes attached to the stalk will follow along.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, ambapiṇḍiyā vaṇṭacchinnāya yāni kānici ambāni vaṇṭūpanibandhanāni sabbāni tāni tadanvayāni bhavanti;

7.2

In the same way, diligence is one thing …

evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa …pe….

8.1

All lesser rulers are vassals of a wheel-turning monarch, so the wheel-turning monarch is said to be the foremost of them all.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, ye keci khuddarājāno sabbete rañño cakkavattissa anuyantā bhavanti, rājā tesaṁ cakkavattī aggamakkhāyati;

8.2

In the same way, diligence is one thing …

evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa …pe….

9.1

The radiance of all the stars is not worth a sixteenth part of the moon’s radiance, so the moon’s radiance is said to be the best of them all.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, yā kāci tārakarūpānaṁ pabhā sabbā tā candassa pabhāya kalaṁ nāgghanti soḷasiṁ, candappabhā tāsaṁ aggamakkhāyati;

9.2

In the same way, diligence is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.

evamevaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, appamādo eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ yo ca attho samparāyiko.

10.1

This is the one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures benefits for both the present life and lives to come.”

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, eko dhammo bhāvito bahulīkato ubho atthe samadhiggayha tiṭṭhati—diṭṭhadhammikañceva atthaṁ, yo ca attho samparāyiko”ti.

11.1

“Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! …

“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

11.2

From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

11.3

Ekādasamaṁ.