MN 55 With Jīvaka – Jīvakasutta

Medium Discourses Collection 55 – Majjhima Nikāya 55

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Mango Grove of Jīvaka Komārabhacca.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati jīvakassa komārabhaccassa ambavane.

2.1

Then Jīvaka went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:

Atha kho jīvako komārabhacco yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jīvako komārabhacco bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.1

“Sir, I have heard this:

“sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante:

3.2

‘They slaughter living creatures specially for the ascetic Gotama. The ascetic Gotama knowingly eats meat prepared on purpose for him: this is a deed he caused.’

‘samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ uddissa pāṇaṁ ārabhanti, taṁ samaṇo gotamo jānaṁ uddissakataṁ maṁsaṁ paribhuñjati paṭiccakamman’ti.

3.3

I trust that those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuke and criticism?”

Ye te, bhante, evamāhaṁsu: ‘samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ uddissa pāṇaṁ ārabhanti, taṁ samaṇo gotamo jānaṁ uddissakataṁ maṁsaṁ paribhuñjati paṭiccakamman’ti, kacci te, bhante, bhagavato vuttavādino, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhanti, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaronti, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchatī”ti?

4.1

“Jīvaka, those who say this do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.

“Ye te, jīvaka, evamāhaṁsu: ‘samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ uddissa pāṇaṁ ārabhanti, taṁ samaṇo gotamo jānaṁ uddissakataṁ maṁsaṁ paribhuñjati paṭiccakamman’ti na me te vuttavādino, abbhācikkhanti ca maṁ te asatā abhūtena.

5.1

In three cases I say that meat may not be eaten:

Tīhi kho ahaṁ, jīvaka, ṭhānehi maṁsaṁ aparibhoganti vadāmi.

5.2

it’s seen, heard, or suspected.

Diṭṭhaṁ, sutaṁ, parisaṅkitaṁ—

5.3

These are three cases in which meat may not be eaten.

imehi kho ahaṁ, jīvaka, tīhi ṭhānehi maṁsaṁ aparibhoganti vadāmi.

5.4

In three cases I say that meat may be eaten:

Tīhi kho ahaṁ, jīvaka, ṭhānehi maṁsaṁ paribhoganti vadāmi.

5.5

it’s not seen, heard, or suspected.

Adiṭṭhaṁ, asutaṁ, aparisaṅkitaṁ—

5.6

These are three cases in which meat may be eaten.

imehi kho ahaṁ, jīvaka, tīhi ṭhānehi maṁsaṁ paribhoganti vadāmi.

6.1

Take the case of a bhikkhu living supported by a town or village.

Idha, jīvaka, bhikkhu aññataraṁ gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā upanissāya viharati.

6.2

They meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

So mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati.

6.3

A householder or their child approaches and invites them for the next day’s meal.

Tamenaṁ gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā upasaṅkamitvā svātanāya bhattena nimanteti.

6.4

The bhikkhu accepts if they want.

Ākaṅkhamānova, jīvaka, bhikkhu adhivāseti.

6.5

When the night has passed, they robe up in the morning, take their bowl and robe, and approach that householder’s home, where they sit on the seat spread out.

So tassā rattiyā accayena pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena tassa gahapatissa vā gahapatiputtassa vā nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamati; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdati.

6.6

That householder or their child serves them with delicious almsfood.

Tamenaṁ so gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā paṇītena piṇḍapātena parivisati.

6.7

It never occurs to them,

Tassa na evaṁ hoti:

6.8

‘It’s so good that this householder serves me with delicious almsfood!

‘sādhu vata māyaṁ gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā paṇītena piṇḍapātena pariviseyyāti.

6.9

I hope they serve me with such delicious almsfood in the future!’

Aho vata māyaṁ gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā āyatimpi evarūpena paṇītena piṇḍapātena pariviseyyā’ti—

6.10

They don’t think that.

evampissa na hoti.

6.11

They eat that almsfood untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.

So taṁ piṇḍapātaṁ agathito amucchito anajjhopanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

6.12

What do you think, Jīvaka?

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, jīvaka,

6.13

At that time is that bhikkhu intending to hurt themselves, hurt others, or hurt both?”

api nu so bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye attabyābādhāya vā ceteti, parabyābādhāya vā ceteti, ubhayabyābādhāya vā cetetī”ti?

6.14

“No, sir.”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

6.15

“Aren’t they eating blameless food at that time?”

“Nanu so, jīvaka, bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye anavajjaṁyeva āhāraṁ āhāretī”ti?

7.1

“Yes, sir.

“Evaṁ, bhante.

7.2

Sir, I have heard that

Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante:

7.3

Brahmā abides in love.

‘brahmā mettāvihārī’ti.

7.4

Now, I’ve seen the Buddha with my own eyes,

Taṁ me idaṁ, bhante, bhagavā sakkhidiṭṭho;

7.5

and it is the Buddha who truly abides in love.”

bhagavā hi, bhante, mettāvihārī”ti.

7.6

“Any greed, hate, or delusion that might give rise to ill will has been given up by the Realized One, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and is unable to arise in the future.

“Yena kho, jīvaka, rāgena yena dosena yena mohena byāpādavā assa so rāgo so doso so moho tathāgatassa pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo.

7.7

If that’s what you were referring to, I acknowledge it.”

Sace kho te, jīvaka, idaṁ sandhāya bhāsitaṁ anujānāmi te etan”ti.

7.8

“That’s exactly what I was referring to.”

“Etadeva kho pana me, bhante, sandhāya bhāsitaṁ”.

8-10.1

“Take the case, Jīvaka, of a bhikkhu living supported by a town or village.

“Idha, jīvaka, bhikkhu aññataraṁ gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā upanissāya viharati.

8-10.2

They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion …

So karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

8-10.3

They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing …

muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe…

8-10.4

They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth.

upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ.

8-10.5

In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati.

8-10.6

A householder or their child approaches and invites them for the next day’s meal.

Tamenaṁ gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā upasaṅkamitvā svātanāya bhattena nimanteti.

8-10.7

The bhikkhu accepts if they want.

Ākaṅkhamānova, jīvaka, bhikkhu adhivāseti.

8-10.8

When the night has passed, they robe up in the morning, take their bowl and robe, and approach that householder’s home, where they sit on the seat spread out.

So tassā rattiyā accayena pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena gahapatissa vā gahapatiputtassa vā nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamati; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdati.

8-10.9

That householder or their child serves them with delicious almsfood.

Tamenaṁ so gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā paṇītena piṇḍapātena parivisati.

8-10.10

It never occurs to them,

Tassa na evaṁ hoti:

8-10.11

‘It’s so good that this householder serves me with delicious almsfood!

‘sādhu vata māyaṁ gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā paṇītena piṇḍapātena pariviseyyāti.

8-10.12

I hope they serve me with such delicious almsfood in the future!’

Aho vata māyaṁ gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā āyatimpi evarūpena paṇītena piṇḍapātena pariviseyyā’ti—

8-10.13

They don’t think that.

evampissa na hoti.

8-10.14

They eat that almsfood untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.

So taṁ piṇḍapātaṁ agathito amucchito anajjhopanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

8-10.15

What do you think, Jīvaka?

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, jīvaka,

8-10.16

At that time is that bhikkhu intending to hurt themselves, hurt others, or hurt both?”

api nu so bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye attabyābādhāya vā ceteti, parabyābādhāya vā ceteti, ubhayabyābādhāya vā cetetī”ti?

8-10.17

“No, sir.”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

8-10.18

“Aren’t they eating blameless food at that time?”

“Nanu so, jīvaka, bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye anavajjaṁyeva āhāraṁ āhāretī”ti?

11.1

“Yes, sir.

“Evaṁ, bhante.

11.2

Sir, I have heard that

Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante:

11.3

Brahmā abides in equanimity.

‘brahmā upekkhāvihārī’ti.

11.4

Now, I’ve seen the Buddha with my own eyes,

Taṁ me idaṁ, bhante, bhagavā sakkhidiṭṭho;

11.5

and it is the Buddha who truly abides in equanimity.”

bhagavā hi, bhante, upekkhāvihārī”ti.

11.6

“Any greed, hate, or delusion that might give rise to cruelty, discontent, or repulsion has been given up by the Realized One, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and is unable to arise in the future.

“Yena kho, jīvaka, rāgena yena dosena yena mohena vihesavā assa arativā assa paṭighavā assa so rāgo so doso so moho tathāgatassa pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo.

11.7

If that’s what you were referring to, I acknowledge it.”

Sace kho te, jīvaka, idaṁ sandhāya bhāsitaṁ, anujānāmi te etan”ti.

11.8

“That’s exactly what I was referring to.”

“Etadeva kho pana me, bhante, sandhāya bhāsitaṁ”.

12.1

“Jīvaka, anyone who slaughters a living creature specially for the Realized One or the Realized One’s disciple makes much bad karma for five reasons.

“Yo kho, jīvaka, tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā uddissa pāṇaṁ ārabhati so pañcahi ṭhānehi bahuṁ apuññaṁ pasavati.

12.2

When they say:

Yampi so, gahapati, evamāha:

12.3

‘Go, fetch that living creature,’ this is the first reason.

‘gacchatha, amukaṁ nāma pāṇaṁ ānethā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena bahuṁ apuññaṁ pasavati.

12.4

When that living creature experiences pain and sadness as it’s led along by a collar, this is the second reason.

Yampi so pāṇo galappaveṭhakena ānīyamāno dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena bahuṁ apuññaṁ pasavati.

12.5

When they say:

Yampi so evamāha:

12.6

‘Go, slaughter that living creature,’ this is the third reason.

‘gacchatha imaṁ pāṇaṁ ārabhathā’ti, iminā tatiyena ṭhānena bahuṁ apuññaṁ pasavati.

12.7

When that living creature experiences pain and sadness as it’s being slaughtered, this is the fourth reason.

Yampi so pāṇo ārabhiyamāno dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, iminā catutthena ṭhānena bahuṁ apuññaṁ pasavati.

12.8

When they provide the Realized One or the Realized One’s disciple with unallowable food, this is the fifth reason.

Yampi so tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā akappiyena āsādeti, iminā pañcamena ṭhānena bahuṁ apuññaṁ pasavati.

12.9

Anyone who slaughters a living creature specially for the Realized One or the Realized One’s disciple makes much bad karma for five reasons.”

Yo kho, jīvaka, tathāgataṁ vā tathāgatasāvakaṁ vā uddissa pāṇaṁ ārabhati so imehi pañcahi ṭhānehi bahuṁ apuññaṁ pasavatī”ti.

13.1

When he had spoken, Jīvaka said to the Buddha:

Evaṁ vutte, jīvako komārabhacco bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

13.2

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

“acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.

13.3

The bhikkhū indeed eat allowable food.

Kappiyaṁ vata, bhante, bhikkhū āhāraṁ āhārenti;

13.4

The bhikkhū indeed eat blameless food.

anavajjaṁ vata, bhante, bhikkhū āhāraṁ āhārenti.

13.5

Excellent, sir! Excellent! …

Abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante …pe…

13.6

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

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

13.7

Jīvakasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ pañcamaṁ.