AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.20 Sabbath

Numbered Discourses 8.20 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.20

2. The Great Chapter – 2. Mahāvagga

AN 8.20 Sabbath – Uposathasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

1.2

Now, at that time it was the sabbath, and the Buddha was sitting surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto nisinno hoti.

1.3

And then, as the night was getting late, in the first watch of the night, Venerable Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said,

Atha kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante paṭhame yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.4

“Sir, the night is getting late. It is the first watch of the night, and the Saṅgha has been sitting long.

“abhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto paṭhamo yāmo, ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho.

1.5

Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the bhikkhū.”

Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti.

2.1

But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent.

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.

2.2

For a second time, as the night was getting late, in the middle watch of the night, Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said,

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante majjhime yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.3

“Sir, the night is getting late. It is the middle watch of the night, and the Saṅgha has been sitting long.

“abhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto majjhimo yāmo, ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho.

2.4

Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the bhikkhū.”

Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti.

2.5

But for a second time the Buddha kept silent.

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.

2.6

For a third time, as the night was getting late, in the last watch of the night, as dawn stirred, bringing joy to the night, Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said,

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante pacchime yāme, uddhaste aruṇe, nandimukhiyā rattiyā uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.7

“Sir, the night is getting late. It is the last watch of the night and dawn stirs, bringing joy to the night.

“abhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto pacchimo yāmo, uddhastaṁ aruṇaṁ, nandimukhī ratti;

2.8

And the Saṅgha has been sitting long.

ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho.

2.9

Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the bhikkhū.”

Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti.

2.10

“Ānanda, the assembly is not pure.”

“Aparisuddhā, ānanda, parisā”ti.

3.1

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna thought,

Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi:

3.2

“Who is the Buddha talking about?”

“kaṁ nu kho bhagavā puggalaṁ sandhāya evamāha:

3.3

‘aparisuddhā, ānanda, parisā’”ti?

3.4

Then he focused on comprehending the minds of everyone in the Saṅgha.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno sabbāvantaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasākāsi.

3.5

He saw that unethical person, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner—though claiming to be one—rotten inside, corrupt, and depraved, sitting in the middle of the Saṅgha.

Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ dussīlaṁ pāpadhammaṁ asuciṁ saṅkassarasamācāraṁ paṭicchannakammantaṁ assamaṇaṁ samaṇapaṭiññaṁ abrahmacāriṁ brahmacāripaṭiññaṁ antopūtiṁ avassutaṁ kasambujātaṁ majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa nisinnaṁ;

3.6

When he saw him he got up from his seat, went up to him and said,

disvāna uṭṭhāyāsanā yena so puggalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca:

3.7

“Get up, reverend. The Buddha has seen you.

“uṭṭhehāvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā.

3.8

You can’t live in communion with the bhikkhū.”

Natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti.

4.1

But when he said this, that person kept silent.

Evaṁ vutte, so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi.

4.2

For a second time

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca:

4.3

“uṭṭhehāvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā.

4.4

Natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti.

4.5

Dutiyampi kho so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi.

4.6

and a third time,

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca:

4.7

he asked that monk to leave.

“uṭṭhehāvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā.

4.8

Natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti.

4.9

But for a third time that person kept silent.

Tatiyampi kho so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi.

5.1

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna took that person by the arm, ejected him out the gate, and bolted the door. Then he went up to the Buddha, and said to him,

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ bāhāyaṁ gahetvā bahidvārakoṭṭhakā nikkhāmetvā sūcighaṭikaṁ datvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

5.2

“I have ejected that person.

“nikkhāmito so, bhante, puggalo mayā.

5.3

The assembly is pure.

Parisuddhā parisā.

5.4

Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the bhikkhū.”

Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti.

5.5

“It’s incredible, Moggallāna, it’s amazing,

“Acchariyaṁ, moggallāna, abbhutaṁ, moggallāna.

5.6

how that silly man waited to be taken by the arm!”

Yāva bāhā gahaṇāpi nāma so moghapuriso āgamissatī”ti.

6.1

Then the Buddha said to the bhikkhū:

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

6.2

“Now, bhikkhū, you should perform the sabbath and recite the monastic code.

“tumheva dāni, bhikkhave, uposathaṁ kareyyātha, pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyyātha.

6.3

From this day forth, I will not perform the sabbath or recite the monastic code.

Na dānāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ajjatagge uposathaṁ karissāmi, pātimokkhaṁ uddisissāmi.

6.4

It’s impossible, bhikkhū, it can’t happen that a Realized One could recite the monastic code in an impure assembly.

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ tathāgato aparisuddhāya parisāya pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyya.

7.1

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the demons love the ocean.

Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

7.2

What eight?

Katame aṭṭha?

7.3

The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice.

Mahāsamuddo, bhikkhave, anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto.

7.4

Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto;

7.5

This is the first thing the demons love about the ocean.

ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti (yathā purime tathā vitthāro.)

7.6

(Expand in detail as in the previous sutta.)

…pe…

8.1

Furthermore, many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, demons, dragons, and fairies. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā. Vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā.

8.2

Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā; vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā;

8.3

This is the eighth thing the demons love about the ocean.

ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

8.4

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the demons love the ocean.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

9.1

In the same way, seeing eight incredible and amazing things, bhikkhū, the bhikkhū love this teaching and training.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha imasmiṁ dhammavinaye acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

9.2

What eight?

Katame aṭṭha?

9.3

The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto;

9.4

In the same way in this teaching and training the penetration to enlightenment comes from gradual training, progress, and practice, not abruptly.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho.

9.5

Yampi, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho;

9.6

This is the first thing the bhikkhū love about this teaching and training. …

ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti …pe…

9.7

Many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, demons, dragons, and fairies. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long.

seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā, vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā;

9.8

In the same way, great beings live in this teaching and training, and these are those beings. The stream-enterer and the one practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry. The once-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of once-return. The non-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of non-return. The perfected one, and the one practicing for perfection.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno …pe… arahā arahattāya paṭipanno.

9.9

Yampi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno …pe… arahā arahattāya paṭipanno;

9.10

This is the eighth thing the bhikkhū love about this teaching and training.

ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

9.11

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things, the bhikkhū love this teaching and training.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī”ti.

9.12

Dasamaṁ.

9.13

Mahāvaggo dutiyo.

10.0

Tassuddānaṁ

10.1

Verañjo sīho ājaññaṁ,

10.2

khaḷuṅkena malāni ca;

10.3

Dūteyyaṁ dve ca bandhanā,

10.4

pahārādo uposathoti.