MN 29 The Longer Simile of the Heartwood

Medium Discourses Collection 29 – Majjhima Nikāya 29

MN 29 The Longer Simile of the Heartwood – Mahāsāropamasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte.

1.3

There the Buddha spoke to the bhikkhū about Devadatta:

Tatra kho bhagavā devadattaṁ ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, take the case of a gentleman who has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness, thinking,

“Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

2.2

‘I’m swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I’m swamped by suffering, mired in suffering.

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

2.3

Hopefully I can find an end to this entire mass of suffering.’

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

2.4

When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity.

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

2.5

They’re happy with that, and they’ve got all they wished for.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

2.6

And they glorify themselves and put others down because of that:

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attānukkaṁseti paraṁ vambheti:

2.7

‘I’m the one with possessions, honor, and popularity. These other bhikkhū are obscure and insignificant.’

‘ahamasmi lābhasakkārasilokavā, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti.

2.8

And so they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding those possessions, honor, and popularity. And being negligent they live in suffering.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

2.9

Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But, passing over the heartwood, softwood, bark, and shoots, he’d cut off the branches and leaves and depart imagining they were heartwood.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ atikkamma papaṭikaṁ, sākhāpalāsaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.

2.10

If a person with good eyesight saw him they’d say,

Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:

2.11

‘This gentleman doesn’t know what heartwood, softwood, bark, shoots, or branches and leaves are.

‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.

2.12

That’s why he passed them over, cut off the branches and leaves, and departed imagining they were heartwood.

Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ atikkamma papaṭikaṁ, sākhāpalāsaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno.

2.13

Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he won’t succeed.’ …

Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.

2.14

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

2.15

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

2.16

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

2.17

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

2.18

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

2.19

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti ‘ahamasmi lābhasakkārasilokavā, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti.

2.20

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

2.21

This is called a bhikkhu who has grabbed the branches and leaves of the spiritual life

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sākhāpalāsaṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;

2.22

and stopped short with that.

tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.

3.1

Next, take a gentleman who has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness …

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

3.2

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

3.3

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

3.4

When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity.

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

3.5

They’re not happy with that, and haven’t got all they wished for.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

3.6

They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

3.7

Nor do they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding those possessions, honor, and popularity.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.

3.8

Being diligent, they become accomplished in ethics.

Appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

3.9

They’re happy with that, and they’ve got all they wished for.

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

3.10

And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that:

So tāya sīlasampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:

3.11

‘I’m the one who is ethical, of good character. These other bhikkhū are unethical, of bad character.’

‘ahamasmi sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, ime panaññe bhikkhū dussīlā pāpadhammā’ti.

3.12

And so they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding their accomplishment in ethics. And being negligent they live in suffering.

So tāya sīlasampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

3.13

Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But, passing over the heartwood, softwood, and bark, he’d cut off the shoots and depart imagining they were heartwood.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ, papaṭikaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.

3.14

If a person with good eyesight saw him they’d say,

Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:

3.15

‘This gentleman doesn’t know what heartwood, softwood, bark, shoots, or branches and leaves are.

‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.

3.16

That’s why he passed them over, cut off the shoots, and departed imagining they were heartwood.

Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ, papaṭikaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno;

3.17

Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he won’t succeed.’ …

yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.

4.1

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

4.2

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

4.3

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

4.4

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

4.5

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.6

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

4.7

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.

4.8

Appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

4.9

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.10

So tāya sīlasampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:

4.11

‘ahamasmi sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, ime panaññe bhikkhū dussīlā pāpadhammā’ti.

4.12

So tāya sīlasampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

4.13

This is called a bhikkhu who has grabbed the shoots of the spiritual life

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu papaṭikaṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;

4.14

and stopped short with that.

tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.

4.15

Next, take a gentleman who has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness …

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

4.16

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

4.17

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

4.18

When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity. …

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

4.19

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.20

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

4.21

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

4.22

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.23

So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

4.24

So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.

4.25

Being diligent, they achieve samādhi.

Appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.

4.26

They’re happy with that, and they’ve got all they wished for.

So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.27

And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that:

So tāya samādhisampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:

4.28

‘I’m the one with samādhi and unified mind. These other bhikkhū lack samādhi, they have straying minds.’

‘ahamasmi samāhito ekaggacitto, ime panaññe bhikkhū asamāhitā vibbhantacittā’ti.

4.29

And so they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding that accomplishment in samādhi. And being negligent they live in suffering.

So tāya samādhisampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

4.30

Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But, passing over the heartwood and softwood, he’d cut off the bark and depart imagining it was heartwood.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ tacaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.

4.31

If a person with good eyesight saw him they’d say: ‘This gentleman doesn’t know what heartwood, softwood, bark, shoots, or branches and leaves are.

Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya ‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.

4.32

That’s why he passed them over, cut off the bark, and departed imagining it was heartwood.

Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ tacaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno.

4.33

Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he won’t succeed.’ …

Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.

4.34

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

4.35

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

4.36

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

4.37

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

4.38

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.39

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

4.40

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

4.41

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.42

So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

4.43

So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.

4.44

So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

4.45

So tāya samādhisampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:

4.46

‘ahamasmi samāhito ekaggacitto, ime panaññe bhikkhū asamāhitā vibbhantacittā’ti.

4.47

So tāya samādhisampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

4.48

This is called a bhikkhu who has grabbed the bark of the spiritual life

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tacaṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;

4.49

and stopped short with that.

tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.

5.1

Next, take a gentleman who has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness …

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

5.2

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

5.3

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

5.4

When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity. …

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

5.5

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.6

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

5.7

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.

5.8

Appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

5.9

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.10

So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

5.11

So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.

5.12

So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.13

So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

5.14

Being diligent, they achieve knowledge and vision.

So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.

5.15

They’re happy with that, and they’ve got all they wished for.

So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.16

And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that,

So tena ñāṇadassanena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:

5.17

‘I’m the one who meditates knowing and seeing.

‘ahamasmi jānaṁ passaṁ viharāmi.

5.18

These other bhikkhū meditate without knowing and seeing.’

Ime panaññe bhikkhū ajānaṁ apassaṁ viharantī’ti.

5.19

And so they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding that knowledge and vision. And being negligent they live in suffering.

So tena ñāṇadassanena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

5.20

Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But, passing over the heartwood, he’d cut out the softwood and depart imagining it was heartwood.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ phegguṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.

5.21

If a person with good eyesight saw him they’d say,

Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:

5.22

‘This gentleman doesn’t know what heartwood, softwood, bark, shoots, or branches and leaves are.

‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ na aññāsi phegguṁ na aññāsi tacaṁ na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.

5.23

That’s why he passed them over, cut out the softwood, and departed imagining it was heartwood.

Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ phegguṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno.

5.24

Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he won’t succeed.’ …

Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.

5.25

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

5.26

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

5.27

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

5.28

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

5.29

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.30

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

5.31

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

5.32

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.33

So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

5.34

So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.

5.35

So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.36

So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

5.37

So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.

5.38

So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

5.39

So tena ñāṇadassanena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:

5.40

‘ahamasmi jānaṁ passaṁ viharāmi, ime panaññe bhikkhū ajānaṁ apassaṁ viharantī’ti.

5.41

So tena ñāṇadassanena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.

5.42

This is called a bhikkhu who has grabbed the softwood of the spiritual life

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu phegguṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;

5.43

and stopped short with that.

tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.

6.1

Next, take a gentleman who has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness, thinking,

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

6.2

‘I’m swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I’m swamped by suffering, mired in suffering.

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

6.3

Hopefully I can find an end to this entire mass of suffering.’

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

6.4

When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity.

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

6.5

They’re not happy with that, and haven’t got all they wished for.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti, na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.6

They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.7

Nor do they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding those possessions, honor, and popularity. Being diligent, they become accomplished in ethics.

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

6.8

They’re happy with that, but they haven’t got all they wished for.

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.9

They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.

So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.10

Nor do they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding that accomplishment in ethics. Being diligent, they achieve samādhi.

So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.

6.11

They’re happy with that, but they haven’t got all they wished for.

So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.12

They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.

So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.13

Nor do they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding that accomplishment in samādhi. Being diligent, they achieve knowledge and vision.

So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.

6.14

They’re happy with that, but they haven’t got all they wished for.

So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.15

They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.

So tena ñāṇadassanena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.16

Nor do they become indulgent and fall into negligence regarding that knowledge and vision. Being diligent, they achieve permanent liberation.

So tena ñāṇadassanena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno asamayavimokkhaṁ ārādheti.

6.17

And it’s impossible for that bhikkhu to fall away from that irreversible liberation.

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu tāya asamayavimuttiyā parihāyetha.

6.18

Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. He’d cut out just the heartwood and depart knowing it was heartwood.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāraññeva chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti jānamāno.

6.19

If a person with good eyesight saw him they’d say,

Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:

6.20

‘This gentleman knows what heartwood, softwood, bark, shoots, and branches and leaves are.

‘aññāsi vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāraṁ, aññāsi phegguṁ, aññāsi tacaṁ, aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.

6.21

That’s why he cut out just the heartwood and departed knowing it was heartwood.

Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāraññeva chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti jānamāno.

6.22

Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he will succeed.’ …

Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ anubhavissatī’ti.

6.23

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:

6.24

‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,

6.25

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

6.26

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.

6.27

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti, na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.28

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.29

So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.

6.30

So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.31

So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.32

So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.

6.33

So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.34

So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.35

So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.

6.36

So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.

6.37

So tena ñāṇadassanena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.

6.38

So tena ñāṇadassanena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno asamayavimokkhaṁ ārādheti.

6.39

It’s impossible for that bhikkhu to fall away from that irreversible liberation.

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu tāya asamayavimuttiyā parihāyetha.

7.1

And so, bhikkhū, this spiritual life is not lived for the sake of possessions, honor, and popularity, or for accomplishment in ethics, or for accomplishment in samādhi, or for knowledge and vision.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, nayidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ lābhasakkārasilokānisaṁsaṁ, na sīlasampadānisaṁsaṁ, na samādhisampadānisaṁsaṁ, na ñāṇadassanānisaṁsaṁ.

7.2

Rather, the goal, heartwood, and final end of the spiritual life is the unshakable freedom of heart.”

Yā ca kho ayaṁ, bhikkhave, akuppā cetovimutti—

7.3

etadatthamidaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaṁ, etaṁ sāraṁ etaṁ pariyosānan”ti.

7.4

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

7.5

Satisfied, the bhikkhū were happy with what the Buddha said.

Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

7.6

Mahāsāropamasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.