MN 8 Self-Effacement – Sallekhasutta

Medium Discourses Collection 8 – Majjhima Nikāya 8

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.

2.1

Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Mahācunda came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:

Atha kho āyasmā mahācundo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahācundo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.1

“Sir, there are many different views that arise in the world

“yā imā, bhante, anekavihitā diṭṭhiyo loke uppajjanti—

3.2

connected with doctrines of the self or with doctrines of the cosmos.

attavādapaṭisaṁyuttā vā lokavādapaṭisaṁyuttā vā—

3.3

How does a bhikkhu who is focusing on the starting point give up and let go of these views?”

ādimeva nu kho, bhante, bhikkhuno manasikaroto evametāsaṁ diṭṭhīnaṁ pahānaṁ hoti, evametāsaṁ diṭṭhīnaṁ paṭinissaggo hotī”ti?

3.4

“Cunda, there are many different views that arise in the world

“Yā imā, cunda, anekavihitā diṭṭhiyo loke uppajjanti—

3.5

connected with doctrines of the self or with doctrines of the cosmos.

attavādapaṭisaṁyuttā vā lokavādapaṭisaṁyuttā vā—

3.6

A bhikkhu gives up and lets go of these views by truly seeing with right wisdom where they arise, where they settle in, and where they operate as: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not me (my essence).’ [na meso attā = na me eso attā or this is not my essence]

yattha cetā diṭṭhiyo uppajjanti yattha ca anusenti yattha ca samudācaranti taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na me so attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññā passato evametāsaṁ diṭṭhīnaṁ pahānaṁ hoti, evametāsaṁ diṭṭhīnaṁ paṭinissaggo hoti.

4.1

It’s possible that a certain bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, might enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

4.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

4.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

4.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

4.5

they’re called ‘blissful meditations in the present life’.

Diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārā ete ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

5.1

It’s possible that some bhikkhu, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, might enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of samādhi, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

5.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

5.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

5.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

5.5

they’re called ‘blissful meditations in the present life’.

Diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārā ete ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

6.1

It’s possible that some bhikkhu, with the fading away of rapture, might enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca vihareyya, sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeyya, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

6.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

6.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

6.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

6.5

they’re called ‘blissful meditations in the present life’.

Diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārā ete ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

7.1

It’s possible that some bhikkhu, with the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the ending of former happiness and sadness, might enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

7.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

7.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

7.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

7.5

they’re called ‘blissful meditations in the present life’.

Diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārā ete ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

8.1

It’s possible that some bhikkhu, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, might enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā, paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā, nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā, ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

8.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

8.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

8.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

8.5

they’re called ‘peaceful meditations’.

Santā ete vihārā ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

9.1

It’s possible that some bhikkhu, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, might enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

9.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

9.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

9.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

9.5

they’re called ‘peaceful meditations’.

Santā ete vihārā ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

10.1

It’s possible that some bhikkhu, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, might enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

10.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

10.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

10.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

10.5

they’re called ‘peaceful meditations’.

Santā ete vihārā ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

11.1

It’s possible that some bhikkhu, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, might enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, cunda, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco bhikkhu sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyya.

11.2

They might think

Tassa evamassa:

11.3

they’re practicing self-effacement.

‘sallekhena viharāmī’ti.

11.4

But in the training of the Noble One these are not called ‘self-effacement’;

Na kho panete, cunda, ariyassa vinaye sallekhā vuccanti.

11.5

they’re called ‘peaceful meditations’.

Santā ete vihārā ariyassa vinaye vuccanti.

12.0 [1. The Exposition of Self-Effacement – 1. Sallekhapariyāya]

1. The Exposition of Self-Effacement

1. Sallekhapariyāya

12.1

Now, Cunda, you should work on self-effacement in each of the following ways.

Idha kho pana vo, cunda, sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.2

‘Others will be cruel, but here we will not be cruel.’

‘Pare vihiṁsakā bhavissanti, mayamettha avihiṁsakā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.3

‘Others will kill living creatures, but here we will not kill living creatures.’

‘Pare pāṇātipātī bhavissanti, mayamettha pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.4

‘Others will steal, but here we will not steal.’

‘Pare adinnādāyī bhavissanti, mayamettha adinnādānā paṭiviratā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.5

‘Others will be unchaste, but here we will not be unchaste.’

‘Pare abrahmacārī bhavissanti, mayamettha brahmacārī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.6

‘Others will lie, but here we will not lie.’

‘Pare musāvādī bhavissanti, mayamettha musāvādā paṭiviratā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.7

‘Others will speak divisively, but here we will not speak divisively.’

‘Pare pisuṇavācā bhavissanti, mayamettha pisuṇāya vācāya paṭiviratā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.8

‘Others will speak harshly, but here we will not speak harshly.’

‘Pare pharusavācā bhavissanti, mayamettha pharusāya vācāya paṭiviratā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.9

‘Others will talk nonsense, but here we will not talk nonsense.’

‘Pare samphappalāpī bhavissanti, mayamettha samphappalāpā paṭiviratā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.10

‘Others will be covetous, but here we will not be covetous.’

‘Pare abhijjhālū bhavissanti, mayamettha anabhijjhālū bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.11

‘Others will have ill will, but here we will not have ill will.’

‘Pare byāpannacittā bhavissanti, mayamettha abyāpannacittā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.12

‘Others will have wrong view, but here we will have right view.’

‘Pare micchādiṭṭhī bhavissanti, mayamettha sammādiṭṭhī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.13

‘Others will have wrong thought, but here we will have right thought.’

‘Pare micchāsaṅkappā bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāsaṅkappā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.14

‘Others will have wrong speech, but here we will have right speech.’

‘Pare micchāvācā bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāvācā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.15

‘Others will have wrong action, but here we will have right action.’

‘Pare micchākammantā bhavissanti, mayamettha sammākammantā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.16

‘Others will have wrong livelihood, but here we will have right livelihood.’

‘Pare micchāājīvā bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāājīvā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.17

‘Others will have wrong effort, but here we will have right effort.’

‘Pare micchāvāyāmā bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāvāyāmā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.18

‘Others will have wrong mindfulness, but here we will have right mindfulness.’

‘Pare micchāsatī bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāsatī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.19

‘Others will have wrong samādhi, but here we will have right samādhi.’

‘Pare micchāsamādhi bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāsamādhī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.20

‘Others will have wrong knowledge, but here we will have right knowledge.’

‘Pare micchāñāṇī bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāñāṇī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.21

‘Others will have wrong freedom, but here we will have right freedom.’

‘Pare micchāvimuttī bhavissanti, mayamettha sammāvimuttī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.22

‘Others will be overcome with dullness and drowsiness, but here we will be rid of dullness and drowsiness.’

‘Pare thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitā bhavissanti, mayamettha vigatathinamiddhā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.23

‘Others will be restless, but here we will not be restless.’

‘Pare uddhatā bhavissanti, mayamettha anuddhatā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.24

‘Others will have doubts, but here we will have gone beyond doubt.’

‘Pare vicikicchī bhavissanti, mayamettha tiṇṇavicikicchā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.25

‘Others will be irritable, but here we will be without anger.’

‘Pare kodhanā bhavissanti, mayamettha akkodhanā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.26

‘Others will be hostile, but here we will be without hostility.’

‘Pare upanāhī bhavissanti, mayamettha anupanāhī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.27

‘Others will be offensive, but here we will be inoffensive.’

‘Pare makkhī bhavissanti, mayamettha amakkhī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.28

‘Others will be contemptuous, but here we will be without contempt.’

‘Pare paḷāsī bhavissanti, mayamettha apaḷāsī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.29

‘Others will be jealous, but here we will be without jealousy.’

‘Pare issukī bhavissanti, mayamettha anissukī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.30

‘Others will be stingy, but here we will be without stinginess.’

‘Pare maccharī bhavissanti, mayamettha amaccharī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.31

‘Others will be devious, but here we will not be devious.’

‘Pare saṭhā bhavissanti, mayamettha asaṭhā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.32

‘Others will be deceitful, but here we will not be deceitful.’

‘Pare māyāvī bhavissanti, mayamettha amāyāvī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.33

‘Others will be pompous, but here we will not be pompous.’

‘Pare thaddhā bhavissanti, mayamettha atthaddhā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.34

‘Others will be arrogant, but here we will not be arrogant.’

‘Pare atimānī bhavissanti, mayamettha anatimānī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.35

‘Others will be hard to admonish, but here we will not be hard to admonish.’

‘Pare dubbacā bhavissanti, mayamettha suvacā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.36

‘Others will have bad friends, but here we will have good friends.’

‘Pare pāpamittā bhavissanti, mayamettha kalyāṇamittā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.37

‘Others will be negligent, but here we will be diligent.’

‘Pare pamattā bhavissanti, mayamettha appamattā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.38

‘Others will be faithless, but here we will have faith.’

‘Pare assaddhā bhavissanti, mayamettha saddhā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.39

‘Others will be conscienceless, but here we will have a sense of conscience.’

‘Pare ahirikā bhavissanti, mayamettha hirimanā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.40

‘Others will be imprudent, but here we will be prudent.’

‘Pare anottāpī bhavissanti, mayamettha ottāpī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.41

‘Others will be uneducated, but here we will be well educated.’

‘Pare appassutā bhavissanti, mayamettha bahussutā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.42

‘Others will be lazy, but here we will be energetic.’

‘Pare kusītā bhavissanti, mayamettha āraddhavīriyā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.43

‘Others will be unmindful, but here we will be mindful.’

‘Pare muṭṭhassatī bhavissanti, mayamettha upaṭṭhitassatī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.44

‘Others will be witless, but here we will be accomplished in wisdom.’

‘Pare duppaññā bhavissanti, mayamettha paññāsampannā bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

12.45

‘Others will be attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go, but here we will not be attached to our own views, not holding them tight, but will let them go easily.’

‘Pare sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī ādhānaggāhī duppaṭinissaggī bhavissanti, mayamettha asandiṭṭhiparāmāsī anādhānaggāhī suppaṭinissaggī bhavissāmā’ti sallekho karaṇīyo.

13.0 [2. Giving Rise to the Thought – 2. Cittupapādapariyāya]

2. Giving Rise to the Thought

2. Cittupapādapariyāya

13.1

Cunda, I say that even giving rise to the thought of skillful qualities is very helpful, let alone following that path in body and speech.

Cittuppādampi kho ahaṁ, cunda, kusalesu dhammesu bahukāraṁ vadāmi, ko pana vādo kāyena vācāya anuvidhīyanāsu.

13.2

That’s why you should give rise to the following thoughts. ‘Others will be cruel, but here we will not be cruel.’

Tasmātiha, cunda, ‘pare vihiṁsakā bhavissanti, mayamettha avihiṁsakā bhavissāmā’ti cittaṁ uppādetabbaṁ.

13.3

‘Others will kill living creatures, but here we will not kill living creatures.’ …

‘Pare pāṇātipātī bhavissanti, mayamettha pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā bhavissāmā’ti cittaṁ uppādetabbaṁ …pe…

13.4

‘Others will be attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go, but here we will not be attached to our own views, not holding them tight, but will let them go easily.’

‘pare sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī ādhānaggāhī duppaṭinissaggī bhavissanti, mayamettha asandiṭṭhiparāmāsī anādhānaggāhī suppaṭinissaggī bhavissāmā’ti cittaṁ uppādetabbaṁ.

14.0 [3. A Way Around – 3. Parikkamanapariyāya]

3. A Way Around

3. Parikkamanapariyāya

14.1

Cunda, suppose there was a rough path and another smooth path to get around it.

Seyyathāpi, cunda, visamo maggo assa, tassa añño samo maggo parikkamanāya;

14.2

Or suppose there was a rough ford and another smooth ford to get around it.

seyyathā vā pana, cunda, visamaṁ titthaṁ assa, tassa aññaṁ samaṁ titthaṁ parikkamanāya;

14.3

In the same way, a cruel individual gets around it by not being cruel. An individual who kills gets around it by not killing. …

evameva kho, cunda, vihiṁsakassa purisapuggalassa avihiṁsā hoti parikkamanāya, pāṇātipātissa purisapuggalassa pāṇātipātā veramaṇī hoti parikkamanāya, adinnādāyissa purisapuggalassa adinnādānā veramaṇī hoti parikkamanāya, abrahmacārissa purisapuggalassa abrahmacariyā veramaṇī hoti parikkamanāya, musāvādissa purisapuggalassa musāvādā veramaṇī hoti parikkamanāya, pisuṇavācassa purisapuggalassa pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī hoti parikkamanāya, pharusavācassa purisapuggalassa pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī hoti parikkamanāya, samphappalāpissa purisapuggalassa samphappalāpā veramaṇī hoti parikkamanāya, abhijjhālussa purisapuggalassa anabhijjhā hoti parikkamanāya, byāpannacittassa purisapuggalassa abyāpādo hoti parikkamanāya.

14.4

Micchādiṭṭhissa purisapuggalassa sammādiṭṭhi hoti parikkamanāya, micchāsaṅkappassa purisapuggalassa sammāsaṅkappo hoti parikkamanāya, micchāvācassa purisapuggalassa sammāvācā hoti parikkamanāya, micchākammantassa purisapuggalassa sammākammanto hoti parikkamanāya, micchāājīvassa purisapuggalassa sammāājīvo hoti parikkamanāya, micchāvāyāmassa purisapuggalassa sammāvāyāmo hoti parikkamanāya, micchāsatissa purisapuggalassa sammāsati hoti parikkamanāya, micchāsamādhissa purisapuggalassa sammāsamādhi hoti parikkamanāya, micchāñāṇissa purisapuggalassa sammāñāṇaṁ hoti parikkamanāya, micchāvimuttissa purisapuggalassa sammāvimutti hoti parikkamanāya.

14.5

An individual who is attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go, gets around it by not being attached to their own views, not holding them tight, but letting them go easily.

Thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitassa purisapuggalassa vigatathinamiddhatā hoti parikkamanāya, uddhatassa purisapuggalassa anuddhaccaṁ hoti parikkamanāya, vicikicchissa purisapuggalassa tiṇṇavicikicchatā hoti parikkamanāya, kodhanassa purisapuggalassa akkodho hoti parikkamanāya, upanāhissa purisapuggalassa anupanāho hoti parikkamanāya, makkhissa purisapuggalassa amakkho hoti parikkamanāya, paḷāsissa purisapuggalassa apaḷāso hoti parikkamanāya, issukissa purisapuggalassa anissukitā hoti parikkamanāya, maccharissa purisapuggalassa amacchariyaṁ hoti parikkamanāya, saṭhassa purisapuggalassa asāṭheyyaṁ hoti parikkamanāya, māyāvissa purisapuggalassa amāyā hoti parikkamanāya, thaddhassa purisapuggalassa atthaddhiyaṁ hoti parikkamanāya, atimānissa purisapuggalassa anatimāno hoti parikkamanāya, dubbacassa purisapuggalassa sovacassatā hoti parikkamanāya, pāpamittassa purisapuggalassa kalyāṇamittatā hoti parikkamanāya, pamattassa purisapuggalassa appamādo hoti parikkamanāya, assaddhassa purisapuggalassa saddhā hoti parikkamanāya, ahirikassa purisapuggalassa hirī hoti parikkamanāya, anottāpissa purisapuggalassa ottappaṁ hoti parikkamanāya, appassutassa purisapuggalassa bāhusaccaṁ hoti parikkamanāya, kusītassa purisapuggalassa vīriyārambho hoti parikkamanāya, muṭṭhassatissa purisapuggalassa upaṭṭhitassatitā hoti parikkamanāya, duppaññassa purisapuggalassa paññāsampadā hoti parikkamanāya, sandiṭṭhiparāmāsiādhānaggāhiduppaṭinissaggissa purisapuggalassa asandiṭṭhiparāmāsianādhānaggāhisuppaṭinissaggitā hoti parikkamanāya.

15.0 [4. Going Up – 4. Uparibhāgapariyāya]

4. Going Up

4. Uparibhāgapariyāya

15.1

Cunda, all unskillful qualities lead downwards, while all skillful qualities lead upwards.

Seyyathāpi, cunda, ye keci akusalā dhammā sabbe te adhobhāgaṅgamanīyā, ye keci kusalā dhammā sabbe te uparibhāgaṅgamanīyā;

15.2

In the same way, a cruel individual is led upwards by not being cruel. An individual who kills is led upwards by not killing …

evameva kho, cunda, vihiṁsakassa purisapuggalassa avihiṁsā hoti uparibhāgāya, pāṇātipātissa purisapuggalassa pāṇātipātā veramaṇī hoti uparibhāgāya …pe…

15.3

An individual who is attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go, is led upwards by not being attached to their own views, not holding them tight, but letting them go easily.

sandiṭṭhiparāmāsiādhānaggāhiduppaṭinissaggissa purisapuggalassa asandiṭṭhiparāmāsianādhānaggāhisuppaṭinissaggitā hoti uparibhāgāya.

16.0 [5. The Exposition by Extinguishment – 5. Parinibbānapariyāya]

5. The Exposition by Extinguishment

5. Parinibbānapariyāya

16.1

Truly, Cunda, if you’re sinking down in the mud you can’t pull out someone else who is also sinking down in the mud.

So vata, cunda, attanā palipapalipanno paraṁ palipapalipannaṁ uddharissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

16.2

But if you’re not sinking down in the mud you can pull out someone else who is sinking down in the mud.

So vata, cunda, attanā apalipapalipanno paraṁ palipapalipannaṁ uddharissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

16.3

Truly, if you’re not tamed, trained, and extinguished you can’t tame, train, and extinguish someone else.

So vata, cunda, attanā adanto avinīto aparinibbuto paraṁ damessati vinessati parinibbāpessatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

16.4

But if you’re tamed, trained, and extinguished you can tame, train, and extinguish someone else.

So vata, cunda, attanā danto vinīto parinibbuto paraṁ damessati vinessati parinibbāpessatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

16.5

In the same way, a cruel individual extinguishes it by not being cruel. An individual who kills extinguishes it by not killing. …

Evameva kho, cunda, vihiṁsakassa purisapuggalassa avihiṁsā hoti parinibbānāya, pāṇātipātissa purisapuggalassa pāṇātipātā veramaṇī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.6

Adinnādāyissa purisapuggalassa adinnādānā veramaṇī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.7

Abrahmacārissa purisapuggalassa abrahmacariyā veramaṇī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.8

Musāvādissa purisapuggalassa musāvādā veramaṇī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.9

Pisuṇavācassa purisapuggalassa pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.10

Pharusavācassa purisapuggalassa pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.11

Samphappalāpissa purisapuggalassa samphappalāpā veramaṇī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.12

Abhijjhālussa purisapuggalassa anabhijjhā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.13

Byāpannacittassa purisapuggalassa abyāpādo hoti parinibbānāya.

16.14

Micchādiṭṭhissa purisapuggalassa sammādiṭṭhi hoti parinibbānāya.

16.15

Micchāsaṅkappassa purisapuggalassa sammāsaṅkappo hoti parinibbānāya.

16.16

Micchāvācassa purisapuggalassa sammāvācā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.17

Micchākammantassa purisapuggalassa sammākammanto hoti parinibbānāya.

16.18

Micchāājīvassa purisapuggalassa sammāājīvo hoti parinibbānāya.

16.19

Micchāvāyāmassa purisapuggalassa sammāvāyāmo hoti parinibbānāya.

16.20

Micchāsatissa purisapuggalassa sammāsati hoti parinibbānāya.

16.21

Micchāsamādhissa purisapuggalassa sammāsamādhi hoti parinibbānāya.

16.22

Micchāñāṇissa purisapuggalassa sammāñāṇaṁ hoti parinibbānāya.

16.23

Micchāvimuttissa purisapuggalassa sammāvimutti hoti parinibbānāya.

16.24

Thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitassa purisapuggalassa vigatathinamiddhatā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.25

Uddhatassa purisapuggalassa anuddhaccaṁ hoti parinibbānāya.

16.26

Vicikicchissa purisapuggalassa tiṇṇavicikicchatā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.27

Kodhanassa purisapuggalassa akkodho hoti parinibbānāya.

16.28

Upanāhissa purisapuggalassa anupanāho hoti parinibbānāya.

16.29

Makkhissa purisapuggalassa amakkho hoti parinibbānāya.

16.30

Paḷāsissa purisapuggalassa apaḷāso hoti parinibbānāya.

16.31

Issukissa purisapuggalassa anissukitā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.32

Maccharissa purisapuggalassa amacchariyaṁ hoti parinibbānāya.

16.33

Saṭhassa purisapuggalassa asāṭheyyaṁ hoti parinibbānāya.

16.34

Māyāvissa purisapuggalassa amāyā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.35

Thaddhassa purisapuggalassa atthaddhiyaṁ hoti parinibbānāya.

16.36

Atimānissa purisapuggalassa anatimāno hoti parinibbānāya.

16.37

Dubbacassa purisapuggalassa sovacassatā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.38

Pāpamittassa purisapuggalassa kalyāṇamittatā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.39

Pamattassa purisapuggalassa appamādo hoti parinibbānāya.

16.40

Assaddhassa purisapuggalassa saddhā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.41

Ahirikassa purisapuggalassa hirī hoti parinibbānāya.

16.42

Anottāpissa purisapuggalassa ottappaṁ hoti parinibbānāya.

16.43

Appassutassa purisapuggalassa bāhusaccaṁ hoti parinibbānāya.

16.44

Kusītassa purisapuggalassa vīriyārambho hoti parinibbānāya.

16.45

Muṭṭhassatissa purisapuggalassa upaṭṭhitassatitā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.46

Duppaññassa purisapuggalassa paññāsampadā hoti parinibbānāya.

16.47

An individual who is attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go, extinguishes it by not being attached to their own views, not holding them tight, but letting them go easily.

Sandiṭṭhiparāmāsiādhānaggāhiduppaṭinissaggissa purisapuggalassa asandiṭṭhiparāmāsianādhānaggāhisuppaṭinissaggitā hoti parinibbānāya.

17.1

So, Cunda, I’ve taught the expositions by way of self-effacement, giving rise to thought, the way around, going up, and extinguishing.

Iti kho, cunda, desito mayā sallekhapariyāyo, desito cittuppādapariyāyo, desito parikkamanapariyāyo, desito uparibhāgapariyāyo, desito parinibbānapariyāyo.

17.2

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

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

17.3

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

Etāni, cunda, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni, jhāyatha, cunda, mā pamādattha, mā pacchāvippaṭisārino ahuvattha—ayaṁ kho amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

17.4

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

17.5

Satisfied, Venerable Mahācunda was happy with what the Buddha said.

Attamano āyasmā mahācundo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

17.6

Forty-four items have been stated,

Catuttālīsapadā vuttā,

17.7

organized into five sections.

sandhayo pañca desitā;

17.8

“Effacement” is the name of this discourse,

Sallekho nāma suttanto,

17.9

which is deep as the ocean.

gambhīro sāgarūpamoti.

17.10

Sallekhasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.