SN 12-21 The Group of Connected Discourses Beginning With Causation – Nidānavaggasaṁyutta > SN 16 Connected Discourses with Kassapa – Kassapasaṁyutta > SN 16.3 Like the Moon

Linked Discourses 16.3 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 16.3

1. Kassapa – 1. Kassapavagga

SN 16.3 Like the Moon – Candūpamāsutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Bhikkhū, you should approach families like the moon:

“Candūpamā, bhikkhave, kulāni upasaṅkamatha—

withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude.

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavakā kulesu appagabbhā.

Suppose a person were to look down at an old well, a rugged cliff, or an inaccessible riverland.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso jarudapānaṁ vā olokeyya pabbatavisamaṁ vā nadīviduggaṁ vā—

They’d withdraw their body and mind.

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ;

In the same way, you should approach families like the moon:

evameva kho, bhikkhave, candūpamā kulāni upasaṅkamatha—

withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude.

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavakā kulesu appagabbhā.

Kassapa approaches families like the moon:

Kassapo, bhikkhave, candūpamo kulāni upasaṅkamati—

withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude.

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavako kulesu appagabbho.

What do you think, bhikkhū?

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

What kind of bhikkhu is worthy of approaching families?”

kathaṁrūpo bhikkhu arahati kulāni upasaṅkamitun”ti?

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The bhikkhū will listen and remember it.”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

Then the Buddha waved his hand in space.

Atha kho bhagavā ākāse pāṇiṁ cālesi.

“Bhikkhū, this hand is not stuck or held or caught in space.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ ākāse pāṇi na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati;

In the same way, when approaching families, a bhikkhu’s mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking:

evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhuno kulāni upasaṅkamato kulesu cittaṁ na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati:

‘May those who want material possessions get them, and may those who want merit make merits!’

‘labhantu lābhakāmā, puññakāmā karontu puññānī’ti;

They’re just as pleased and happy when others get something as they are when they get something.

yathāsakena lābhena attamano hoti sumano, evaṁ paresaṁ lābhena attamano hoti sumano;

This kind of bhikkhu is worthy of approaching families.

evarūpo kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahati kulāni upasaṅkamituṁ.

When Kassapa approaches families, his mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking:

Kassapassa, bhikkhave, kulāni upasaṅkamato kulesu cittaṁ na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati:

‘May those who want material possessions get them, and may those who want merit make merits!’

‘labhantu lābhakāmā, puññakāmā karontu puññānī’ti;

He’s just as pleased and happy when others get something as he is when he gets something.

yathāsakena lābhena attamano hoti sumano;

evaṁ paresaṁ lābhena attamano hoti sumano.

What do you think, bhikkhū?

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

What kind of bhikkhu’s teaching is pure, and what kind is impure?”

kathaṁrūpassa bhikkhuno aparisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti, kathaṁrūpassa bhikkhuno parisuddhā dhammadesanā hotī”ti?

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The bhikkhū will listen and remember it.”

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

“Tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Whoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought:

“Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:

‘Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they gain confidence in the teaching and demonstrate their confidence to me.’

‘aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ pasīdeyyuṁ, pasannā ca me pasannākāraṁ kareyyun’ti;

Such a bhikkhu’s teaching is impure.

evarūpassa kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno aparisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti.

Whoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought:

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.

Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.’

Aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ ājāneyyuṁ, ājānitvā ca pana tathattāya paṭipajjeyyun’ti.

So they teach others because of the natural excellence of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy.

Iti dhammasudhammataṁ paṭicca paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, kāruññaṁ paṭicca anuddayaṁ paṭicca anukampaṁ upādāya paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.

Such a bhikkhu’s teaching is pure.

Evarūpassa kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno parisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti.

Kassapa teaches Dhamma to others with the thought:

Kassapo, bhikkhave, evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.

Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.’

Aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ ājāneyyuṁ, ājānitvā ca pana tathattāya paṭipajjeyyun’ti.

Thus he teaches others because of the natural excellence of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy.

Iti dhammasudhammataṁ paṭicca paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, kāruññaṁ paṭicca anuddayaṁ paṭicca anukampaṁ upādāya paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.

I will exhort you with the example of Kassapa or someone like him. You should practice accordingly.”

Kassapena vā hi vo, bhikkhave, ovadissāmi yo vā panassa kassapasadiso, ovaditehi ca pana vo tathattāya paṭipajjitabban”ti.