MN 3 Heirs in the Teaching – Dhammadāyādasutta

Medium Discourses Collection 3 – Majjhima Nikāya 3

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.3

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.4

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

1.5

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.6

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, be my heirs in the teaching, not in material things.

“Dhammadāyādā me, bhikkhave, bhavatha, mā āmisadāyādā.

2.2

Out of compassion for you, I think,

Atthi me tumhesu anukampā:

2.3

‘How can my disciples become heirs in the teaching, not in material things?’

‘kinti me sāvakā dhammadāyādā bhaveyyuṁ, no āmisadāyādā’ti.

2.4

If you become heirs in material things, not in the teaching, they’ll point to you, saying,

Tumhe ca me, bhikkhave, āmisadāyādā bhaveyyātha no dhammadāyādā, tumhepi tena ādiyā bhaveyyātha:

2.5

‘The Teacher’s disciples live as heirs in material things, not in the teaching.’

‘āmisadāyādā satthusāvakā viharanti, no dhammadāyādā’ti;

2.6

And they’ll point to me, saying,

ahampi tena ādiyo bhaveyyaṁ:

2.7

‘The Teacher’s disciples live as heirs in material things, not in the teaching.’

‘āmisadāyādā satthusāvakā viharanti, no dhammadāyādā’ti.

2.8

If you become heirs in the teaching, not in material things, they’ll point to you, saying,

Tumhe ca me, bhikkhave, dhammadāyādā bhaveyyātha, no āmisadāyādā, tumhepi tena na ādiyā bhaveyyātha:

2.9

‘The Teacher’s disciples live as heirs in the teaching, not in material things.’

‘dhammadāyādā satthusāvakā viharanti, no āmisadāyādā’ti;

2.10

And they’ll point to me, saying,

ahampi tena na ādiyo bhaveyyaṁ:

2.11

‘The Teacher’s disciples live as heirs in the teaching, not in material things.’

‘dhammadāyādā satthusāvakā viharanti, no āmisadāyādā’ti.

2.12

So, bhikkhū, be my heirs in the teaching, not in material things.

Tasmātiha me, bhikkhave, dhammadāyādā bhavatha, mā āmisadāyādā.

2.13

Out of compassion for you, I think,

Atthi me tumhesu anukampā:

2.14

‘How can my disciples become heirs in the teaching, not in material things?’

‘kinti me sāvakā dhammadāyādā bhaveyyuṁ, no āmisadāyādā’ti.

3.1

Suppose that I had eaten and refused more food, being full, and having had as much as I needed.

Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhuttāvī assaṁ pavārito paripuṇṇo pariyosito suhito yāvadattho;

3.2

And there was some extra almsfood that was going to be thrown away.

siyā ca me piṇḍapāto atirekadhammo chaḍḍanīyadhammo.

3.3

Then two bhikkhū were to come who were weak with hunger.

Atha dve bhikkhū āgaccheyyuṁ jighacchādubbalyaparetā.

3.4

I’d say to them,

Tyāhaṁ evaṁ vadeyyaṁ:

3.5

‘Bhikkhū, I have eaten and refused more food, being full, and having had as much as I need.

‘ahaṁ khomhi, bhikkhave, bhuttāvī pavārito paripuṇṇo pariyosito suhito yāvadattho;

3.6

And there is this extra almsfood that’s going to be thrown away.

atthi ca me ayaṁ piṇḍapāto atirekadhammo chaḍḍanīyadhammo.

3.7

Eat it if you like. Otherwise I’ll throw it out where there is little that grows, or drop it into water that has no living creatures.’

Sace ākaṅkhatha, bhuñjatha, no ce tumhe bhuñjissatha, idānāhaṁ appaharite vā chaḍḍessāmi, appāṇake vā udake opilāpessāmī’ti.

3.8

Then one of those bhikkhū thought,

Tatrekassa bhikkhuno evamassa:

3.9

‘The Buddha has eaten and refused more food.

‘bhagavā kho bhuttāvī pavārito paripuṇṇo pariyosito suhito yāvadattho;

3.10

And he has some extra almsfood that’s going to be thrown away.

atthi cāyaṁ bhagavato piṇḍapāto atirekadhammo chaḍḍanīyadhammo.

3.11

If we don’t eat it he’ll throw it away.

Sace mayaṁ na bhuñjissāma, idāni bhagavā appaharite vā chaḍḍessati, appāṇake vā udake opilāpessati.

3.12

But the Buddha has also said:

Vuttaṁ kho panetaṁ bhagavatā:

3.13

“Be my heirs in the teaching, not in material things.”

“dhammadāyādā me, bhikkhave, bhavatha, mā āmisadāyādā”ti.

3.14

And almsfood is a kind of material thing.

Āmisaññataraṁ kho panetaṁ, yadidaṁ piṇḍapāto.

3.15

Instead of eating this almsfood, why don’t I spend this day and night weak with hunger?’

Yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ abhuñjitvā imināva jighacchādubbalyena evaṁ imaṁ rattindivaṁ vītināmeyyan’ti.

3.16

And that’s what they did.

So taṁ piṇḍapātaṁ abhuñjitvā teneva jighacchādubbalyena evaṁ taṁ rattindivaṁ vītināmeyya.

3.17

Then the second of those bhikkhū thought,

Atha dutiyassa bhikkhuno evamassa:

3.18

‘The Buddha has eaten and refused more food.

‘bhagavā kho bhuttāvī pavārito paripuṇṇo pariyosito suhito yāvadattho;

3.19

And he has some extra almsfood that’s going to be thrown away.

atthi cāyaṁ bhagavato piṇḍapāto atirekadhammo chaḍḍanīyadhammo.

3.20

If we don’t eat it he’ll throw it away.

Sace mayaṁ na bhuñjissāma, idāni bhagavā appaharite vā chaḍḍessati, appāṇake vā udake opilāpessati.

3.21

Why don’t I eat this almsfood, then spend the day and night having got rid of my hunger and weakness?’

Yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjitvā jighacchādubbalyaṁ paṭivinodetvā evaṁ imaṁ rattindivaṁ vītināmeyyan’ti.

3.22

And that’s what they did.

So taṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjitvā jighacchādubbalyaṁ paṭivinodetvā evaṁ taṁ rattindivaṁ vītināmeyya.

3.23

Even though that bhikkhu, after eating the almsfood, spent the day and night rid of hunger and weakness, it is the former bhikkhu who is more worthy of respect and praise.

Kiñcāpi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu taṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjitvā jighacchādubbalyaṁ paṭivinodetvā evaṁ taṁ rattindivaṁ vītināmeyya, atha kho asuyeva me purimo bhikkhu pujjataro ca pāsaṁsataro ca.

3.24

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

3.25

Because for a long time that will conduce to that bhikkhu being of few wishes, content, self-effacing, unburdensome, and energetic.

Tañhi tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno dīgharattaṁ appicchatāya santuṭṭhiyā sallekhāya subharatāya vīriyārambhāya saṁvattissati.

3.26

So, bhikkhū, be my heirs in the teaching, not in material things.

Tasmātiha me, bhikkhave, dhammadāyādā bhavatha, mā āmisadāyādā.

3.27

Out of compassion for you, I think,

Atthi me tumhesu anukampā:

3.28

‘How can my disciples become heirs in the teaching, not in material things?’”

‘kinti me sāvakā dhammadāyādā bhaveyyuṁ, no āmisadāyādā’”ti.

4.1

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

4.2

When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

4.3

Then soon after the Buddha left, Venerable Sāriputta said to the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto acirapakkantassa bhagavato bhikkhū āmantesi:

4.4

“Reverends, bhikkhū!”

“āvuso bhikkhave”ti.

4.5

“Reverend,” they replied.

“Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ.

4.6

Sāriputta said this:

Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:

5.1

“Reverends, how do the disciples of a Teacher who lives in seclusion not train in seclusion? And how do they train in seclusion?”

“Kittāvatā nu kho, āvuso, satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekaṁ nānusikkhanti, kittāvatā ca pana satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekamanusikkhantī”ti?

5.2

“Reverend, we would travel a long way to learn the meaning of this statement in the presence of Venerable Sāriputta.

“Dūratopi kho mayaṁ, āvuso, āgacchāma āyasmato sāriputtassa santike etassa bhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ.

5.3

May Venerable Sāriputta himself please clarify the meaning of this.

Sādhu vatāyasmantaṁyeva sāriputtaṁ paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho;

5.4

The bhikkhū will listen and remember it.”

āyasmato sāriputtassa sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

5.5

“Well then, reverends, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Tena hāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

5.6

“Yes, reverend,” they replied.

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ.

5.7

Sāriputta said this:

Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:

6.1

“Reverends, how do the disciples of a Teacher who lives in seclusion not train in seclusion?

“Kittāvatā nu kho, āvuso, satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekaṁ nānusikkhanti?

6.2

The disciples of a teacher who lives in seclusion do not train in seclusion.

Idhāvuso, satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekaṁ nānusikkhanti,

6.3

They don’t give up what the Teacher tells them to give up.

yesañca dhammānaṁ satthā pahānamāha, te ca dhamme nappajahanti,

6.4

They’re indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion.

bāhulikā ca honti, sāthalikā, okkamane pubbaṅgamā, paviveke nikkhittadhurā.

6.5

In this case, the senior bhikkhū should be criticized on three grounds.

Tatrāvuso, therā bhikkhū tīhi ṭhānehi gārayhā bhavanti.

6.6

‘The disciples of a teacher who lives in seclusion do not train in seclusion.’

‘Satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekaṁ nānusikkhantī’ti—

6.7

This is the first ground.

iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena therā bhikkhū gārayhā bhavanti.

6.8

‘They don’t give up what the Teacher tells them to give up.’

‘Yesañca dhammānaṁ satthā pahānamāha te ca dhamme nappajahantī’ti—

6.9

This is the second ground.

iminā dutiyena ṭhānena therā bhikkhū gārayhā bhavanti.

6.10

‘They’re indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion.’

‘Bāhulikā ca, sāthalikā, okkamane pubbaṅgamā, paviveke nikkhittadhurā’ti—

6.11

This is the third ground.

iminā tatiyena ṭhānena therā bhikkhū gārayhā bhavanti.

6.12

The senior bhikkhū should be criticized on these three grounds.

Therā, āvuso, bhikkhū imehi tīhi ṭhānehi gārayhā bhavanti.

6.13

In this case, the middle bhikkhū

Tatrāvuso, majjhimā bhikkhū …pe…

6.14

and the junior bhikkhū should be criticized on the same three grounds.

navā bhikkhū tīhi ṭhānehi gārayhā bhavanti.

6.15

‘Satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekaṁ nānusikkhantī’ti—

6.16

iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena navā bhikkhū gārayhā bhavanti.

6.17

‘Yesañca dhammānaṁ satthā pahānamāha te ca dhamme nappajahantī’ti—

6.18

iminā dutiyena ṭhānena navā bhikkhū gārayhā bhavanti.

6.19

‘Bāhulikā ca honti, sāthalikā, okkamane pubbaṅgamā, paviveke nikkhittadhurā’ti—

6.20

iminā tatiyena ṭhānena navā bhikkhū gārayhā bhavanti.

6.21

Navā, āvuso, bhikkhū imehi tīhi ṭhānehi gārayhā bhavanti.

6.22

This is how the disciples of a Teacher who lives in seclusion do not train in seclusion.

Ettāvatā kho, āvuso, satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekaṁ nānusikkhanti.

7.1

And how do the disciples of a teacher who lives in seclusion train in seclusion?

Kittāvatā ca panāvuso, satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekamanusikkhanti?

7.2

The disciples of a teacher who lives in seclusion train in seclusion.

Idhāvuso, satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekamanusikkhanti—

7.3

They give up what the Teacher tells them to give up.

yesañca dhammānaṁ satthā pahānamāha te ca dhamme pajahanti;

7.4

They’re not indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion.

na ca bāhulikā honti, na sāthalikā okkamane nikkhittadhurā paviveke pubbaṅgamā.

7.5

In this case, the senior bhikkhū should be praised on three grounds.

Tatrāvuso, therā bhikkhū tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.6

‘The disciples of a teacher who lives in seclusion train in seclusion.’

‘Satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekamanusikkhantī’ti—

7.7

This is the first ground.

iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena therā bhikkhū pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.8

‘They give up what the Teacher tells them to give up.’

‘Yesañca dhammānaṁ satthā pahānamāha te ca dhamme pajahantī’ti—

7.9

This is the second ground.

iminā dutiyena ṭhānena therā bhikkhū pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.10

‘They’re not indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion.’

‘Na ca bāhulikā, na sāthalikā okkamane nikkhittadhurā paviveke pubbaṅgamā’ti—

7.11

This is the third ground.

iminā tatiyena ṭhānena therā bhikkhū pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.12

The senior bhikkhū should be praised on these three grounds.

Therā, āvuso, bhikkhū imehi tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.13

In this case, the middle bhikkhū

Tatrāvuso, majjhimā bhikkhū …pe…

7.14

and the junior bhikkhū should be praised on the same three grounds.

navā bhikkhū tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.15

‘Satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekamanusikkhantī’ti—

7.16

iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena navā bhikkhū pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.17

‘Yesañca dhammānaṁ satthā pahānamāha te ca dhamme pajahantī’ti—

7.18

iminā dutiyena ṭhānena navā bhikkhū pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.19

‘Na ca bāhulikā, na sāthalikā okkamane nikkhittadhurā paviveke pubbaṅgamā’ti—

7.20

iminā tatiyena ṭhānena navā bhikkhū pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.21

Navā, āvuso, bhikkhū imehi tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁsā bhavanti.

7.22

This is how the disciples of a Teacher who lives in seclusion train in seclusion.

Ettāvatā kho, āvuso, satthu pavivittassa viharato sāvakā vivekamanusikkhanti.

8.1

The bad thing here is greed and hate.

Tatrāvuso, lobho ca pāpako doso ca pāpako.

8.2

There is a middle way of practice for giving up greed and hate. It gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.

Lobhassa ca pahānāya dosassa ca pahānāya atthi majjhimā paṭipadā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.

8.3

And what is that middle way of practice?

Katamā ca sā, āvuso, majjhimā paṭipadā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati?

8.4

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—

8.5

right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi.

sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā sammākammanto sammāājīvo sammāvāyāmo sammāsati sammāsamādhi.

8.6

This is that middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.

Ayaṁ kho sā, āvuso, majjhimā paṭipadā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.

9-15.1

The bad thing here is anger and hostility. …

Tatrāvuso, kodho ca pāpako upanāho ca pāpako …pe…

9-15.2

disdain and contempt …

makkho ca pāpako paḷāso ca pāpako,

9-15.3

jealousy and stinginess …

issā ca pāpikā maccherañca pāpakaṁ,

9-15.4

deceit and deviousness …

māyā ca pāpikā sāṭheyyañca pāpakaṁ,

9-15.5

obstinacy and aggression …

thambho ca pāpako sārambho ca pāpako,

9-15.6

conceit and arrogance …

māno ca pāpako atimāno ca pāpako,

9-15.7

vanity and negligence.

mado ca pāpako pamādo ca pāpako.

9-15.8

There is a middle way of practice for giving up vanity and negligence. It gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.

Madassa ca pahānāya pamādassa ca pahānāya atthi majjhimā paṭipadā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati.

9-15.9

And what is that middle way of practice?

Katamā ca sā, āvuso, majjhimā paṭipadā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati?

9-15.10

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—

9-15.11

right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi.

sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā sammākammanto sammāājīvo sammāvāyāmo sammāsati sammāsamādhi.

9-15.12

This is that middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.”

Ayaṁ kho sā, ?vuso, majjhimā paṭipadā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattatī”ti.

9-15.13

This is what Venerable Sāriputta said.

Idamavocāyasmā sāriputto.

9-15.14

Satisfied, the bhikkhū were happy with what Sāriputta said.

Attamanā te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

9-15.15

Dhammadāyādasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.