9. Theravagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.85

Numbered Discourses 10.85

9. Theravagga

9. Senior Mendicants

Katthīsutta

A Boaster

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahācundo cetīsu viharati sahajātiyaṁ.

At one time Venerable Mahācunda was staying in the land of the Cetīs at Sahajāti.

Tatra kho āyasmā mahācundo bhikkhū āmantesi:

There he addressed the mendicants:

“āvuso bhikkhave”ti.

“Reverends, mendicants!”

“Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahācundassa paccassosuṁ.

“Reverend,” they replied.

Āyasmā mahācundo etadavoca:

Venerable Mahācunda said this:

“Idhāvuso, bhikkhu katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu:

“Take a mendicant who boasts and brags about their achievements:

‘ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.

‘I enter and emerge from the first absorption, the second absorption, the third absorption, and the fourth absorption. And I enter and emerge from the dimensions of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and neither perception nor non-perception. And I enter and emerge from the cessation of perception and feeling.’

Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo samanuyuñjati samanuggāhati samanubhāsati.

They’re pursued, pressed, and grilled by the Realized One, or by one of his disciples who has the absorptions, and is skilled in attainments, in the minds of others, and in encompassing another’s mind.

So tathāgatena vā tathāgatasāvakena vā jhāyinā samāpattikusalena paracittakusalena paracittapariyāyakusalena samanuyuñjiyamāno samanuggāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno irīṇaṁ āpajjati vicinaṁ āpajjati anayaṁ āpajjati byasanaṁ āpajjati anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati.

Grilled in this way they get stuck or lose their way. They fall to ruin and disaster.

Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasi karoti:

The Realized One or one of his disciples encompasses their mind and investigates:

‘kiṁ nu kho ayamāyasmā katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu—

‘Why does this venerable boast and brag about their achievements, saying,

ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi …pe…

“I enter and emerge from the first absorption …

ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.

and the cessation of perception and feeling.”’

Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāti:

They understand,

‘Dīgharattaṁ kho ayamāyasmā khaṇḍakārī chiddakārī sabalakārī kammāsakārī na santatakārī na santatavutti sīlesu.

‘For a long time this venerable’s deeds have been broken, tainted, spotty, and marred. Their deeds and behavior are inconsistent.

Dussīlo kho ayamāyasmā.

This venerable is unethical,

Dussilyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and unethical conduct means decline in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.

Assaddho kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is unfaithful,

assaddhiyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and lack of faith means decline …

Appassuto kho pana ayamāyasmā anācāro;

This venerable is unlearned and unpracticed,

appasaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and lack of learning means decline …

Dubbaco kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is hard to admonish,

dovacassatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and being hard to admonish means decline …

Pāpamitto kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable has bad friends,

pāpamittatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and bad friends mean decline …

Kusīto kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is lazy,

kosajjaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and laziness means decline …

Muṭṭhassati kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is unmindful,

muṭṭhassaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and unmindfulness means decline …

Kuhako kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is deceptive,

kohaññaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and deceitfulness means decline …

Dubbharo kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is burdensome,

dubbharatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and being burdensome means decline …

Duppañño kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is witless,

duppaññatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ’.

and lack of wisdom means decline in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.’

Seyyathāpi, āvuso, sahāyako sahāyakaṁ evaṁ vadeyya:

Suppose one friend was to say to another:

‘yadā te, samma, dhanena dhanakaraṇīyaṁ assa, yāceyyāsi maṁ dhanaṁ. Dassāmi te dhanan’ti.

‘My dear, when you need money for some payment, just ask me and I’ll give it.’

So kiñcideva dhanakaraṇīye samuppanne sahāyako sahāyakaṁ evaṁ vadeyya: ‘attho me, samma, dhanena. Dehi me dhanan’ti.

Then when some payment falls due, that friend says to their friend: ‘I need some money, my dear. Give me some.’

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘tena hi, samma, idha khanāhī’ti. So tatra khananto nādhigaccheyya.

‘Well then, my dear, dig here.’ So they dig there, but don’t find anything.

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘alikaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca; tucchakaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca—idha khanāhī’ti.

‘You lied to me, my dear, you spoke hollow words when you told me to dig here.’

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘nāhaṁ taṁ, samma, alikaṁ avacaṁ, tucchakaṁ avacaṁ. Tena hi, samma, idha khanāhī’ti.

‘My dear, I didn’t lie or speak hollow words. Well then, dig here.’

So tatrapi khananto nādhigaccheyya.

So they dig there as well, but don’t find anything.

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘alikaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca, tucchakaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca—idha khanāhī’ti.

‘You lied to me, my dear, you spoke hollow words when you said dig here.’

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘nāhaṁ taṁ, samma, alikaṁ avacaṁ, tucchakaṁ avacaṁ. Tena hi, samma, idha khanāhī’ti.

‘My dear, I didn’t lie or speak hollow words. Well then, dig here.’

So tatrapi khananto nādhigaccheyya.

So they dig there as well, but don’t find anything.

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘alikaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca, tucchakaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca—idha khanāhī’ti.

‘You lied to me, my dear, you spoke hollow words when you said dig here.’

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘nāhaṁ taṁ, samma, alikaṁ avacaṁ, tucchakaṁ avacaṁ. Api ca ahameva ummādaṁ pāpuṇiṁ cetaso vipariyāyan’ti.

‘My dear, I didn’t lie or speak hollow words. But I had gone mad, I was out of my mind.’

Evamevaṁ kho, āvuso, bhikkhu katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu:

In the same way, take a mendicant who boasts and brags about their achievements:

‘ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.

‘I enter and emerge from the first absorption … and the cessation of perception and feeling.’

Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo samanuyuñjati samanuggāhati samanubhāsati.

They’re pursued, pressed, and grilled by the Realized One, or by one of his disciples …

So tathāgatena vā tathāgatasāvakena vā jhāyinā samāpattikusalena paracittakusalena paracittapariyāyakusalena samanuyuñjiyamāno samanuggāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno irīṇaṁ āpajjati vicinaṁ āpajjati anayaṁ āpajjati byasanaṁ āpajjati anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati.

Grilled in this way they get stuck or lose their way. They fall to ruin and disaster.

Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasi karoti:

The Realized One or one of his disciples encompasses their mind and investigates:

‘kiṁ nu kho ayamāyasmā katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu—

‘Why does this venerable boast and brag about their achievements, saying,

ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi …pe…

“I enter and emerge from the first absorption …

ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.

and the cessation of perception and feeling.”’

Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo cetasā ceto paricca pajānāti:

They understand,

‘Dīgharattaṁ kho ayamāyasmā khaṇḍakārī chiddakārī sabalakārī kammāsakārī, na santatakārī na santatavutti sīlesu.

‘For a long time this venerable’s deeds have been broken, tainted, spotty, and marred. Their deeds and behavior are inconsistent.

Dussīlo kho ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is unethical,

dussilyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

and unethical conduct means decline in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.

Assaddho kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is unfaithful …

assaddhiyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Appassuto kho pana ayamāyasmā anācāro;

unlearned and unpracticed …

appasaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Dubbaco kho pana ayamāyasmā;

hard to admonish …

dovacassatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Pāpamitto kho pana ayamāyasmā;

with bad friends …

pāpamittatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Kusīto kho pana ayamāyasmā;

lazy …

kosajjaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Muṭṭhassati kho pana ayamāyasmā;

unmindful …

muṭṭhassaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Kuhako kho pana ayamāyasmā;

deceptive …

kohaññaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Dubbharo kho pana ayamāyasmā;

burdensome …

dubbharatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ.

Duppañño kho pana ayamāyasmā;

This venerable is witless,

duppaññatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ’.

and lack of wisdom means decline in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.’

So vatāvuso, bhikkhu ‘ime dasa dhamme appahāya imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatī’ti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training without giving up these ten qualities.

So vatāvuso, bhikkhu ‘ime dasa dhamme pahāya imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatī’ti ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī”ti.

It is quite possible for a mendicant to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training after giving up these ten qualities.”

Pañcamaṁ.