Aṅguttara-Nikāya
II. Duka Nipāta
IV. Sama-Cittā Vagga
Suttas 32 and 40
Level Headed
Translated from the Pāḷi by Michael M. Olds
Sutta 32
Mother and Father
[32.1][pts] [than] "Two beggars are not easy to repay, say I.
What two?
Mother and Father.
Carry around Mother on one shoulder, beggars,
carry around father on one shoulder,
for a period of a hundred rains,
for a life of a hundred rains ...
Add to that bathing, scrubbing, and giving massage with scented oils,
them shi'n-n-pis'n as usual ...
not even then, beggars, would one have made repayment to Mother and Father.
And this, beggars: Even establishing sovereignty of Mother and Father
over the lords of the kingdoms of this great earth
together with the seven treasures[2] ...
not even then, beggars, would one have made repayment to Mother and Father.
How come?
Mother and Father do much for their child: — protecting, nourishing,
they raise him to sight of this world.
But, beggars, whoever, with regard to his Mother and Father,
rouses, establishes, settles the faithless in faith,
rouses, establishes, settles the unethical in the ethical,
rouses, establishes, settles the stingy in generosity,
rouses, establishes, settles the stupid in wisdom,
with even just this then, beggars,
would one have made repayment and payment to Mother and Father.
Sutta 40[1]
The Good Thing
[40.1][pts] "Whatever beggar, beggars, deviates from
a teaching that fits spirit and letter
badly grasps that teaching.
Such a beggar, beggars, produces
great unhappiness in many beings.
And loss, disservice, and pain
is brought to deities and men.
Furthermore beggars,
such a beggar creates great bad kamma
and leads to the disappearance
of the good teaching.
Whatever beggar, beggars, adheres to
a teaching that fits spirit and letter
grasps a teaching well.
Such a beggar, beggars, produces
great happiness in many beings.
And profit, service, and happiness
is brought to deities and men.
Furthermore beggars,
such a beggar creates great good kamma
and leads to the preservation
of the good Teaching.
[1] See AN 2 20 which compliments this sutta.
[2] mahā-paṭhaviyā pahūta-satta-ratanāya mātā-pitaro issarādhipacce rajje I am taking this as indicating a sort of wheel-turning king (world-ruling monarch) with the requisite seven gems, although strictly speaking this is a position which cannot be held by a woman ... perhaps this is the reason it is said as it is.
