Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
VI. Brāhmaṇa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
VI. The Brāhmins
Sutta 53
Aññatara Brāhmaṇa Suttaɱ
The Brahmin
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then a certain[1] brahmin came to see the Exalted One.
On coming to him he greeted him courteously
and sat down at one side.
As he sat at one side
that brahmin said this to the Exalted One:
"As to the saying
'Seen in this life[2] is Dhamma,'
master Gotama,
pray how far is Dhamma seen in this life?
How far is it a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be realized for themselves
by the wise?"
■
"Brahmin, one who is ablaze with lust,
overwhelmed with lust,
infatuated with lust,
plans[3] to his own hindrance,
to that of others,
to the hindrance both of self and others,
and experiences mental[4] suffering
and dejection.
If lust be abandoned,
he no longer plans to his own hindrance,
to that of others,
to the hindrance both of self and others,
he no longer experiences mental suffering
and dejection.
So far, brahmin, Dhamma is seen in this life;
it is a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onwards,
to be realized for themselves
by the wise.
■
One who is depraved with malice,
overwhelmed with malice,
infatuated with malice,
plans to his own hindrance,
to that of others,
to the hindrance both of self and others,
and experiences mental suffering
and dejection.
If malice be abandoned,
he no longer plans to his own hindrance,
to that of others,
to the hindrance both of self and others,
he no longer experiences mental suffering
and dejection.
So far, brahmin, Dhamma is seen in this life;
it is a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onwards,
to be realized for themselves
by the wise.
■
One who is bewildered with delusion,
overwhelmed with delusion,
infatuated with delusion,
plans to his own hindrance,
to that of others,
to the hindrance both of self and others,
and experiences mental suffering
and dejection.
If delusion be abandoned,
he no longer plans to his own hindrance,
to that of others,
to the hindrance both of self and others,
he no longer experiences mental suffering
and dejection.
So far, brahmin, Dhamma is seen in this life;
it is a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onwards,
to be realized for themselves
by the wise."
■
"Excellent, master Gotama!
Excellent, master Gotama!
Even as one raises what is overthrown,
or shows forth what is hidden,
or points out the way to him that wanders astray,
or holds up a light in the darkness,
that they who have eyes ay see objects, —
even so in divers ways
hath the Norm been set forth by the worthy Gotama.
I myself, master Gotama,
do go for refuge to the worthy Gotama,
to Dhamma
and to the Order of monks.
May the worthy Gotama
accept me as a lay-follower
from this day forth
so long as life shall last,
as one who has taken refuge in him."
[1] Text should read aññataro.
[2] Sandiṭṭhiko.
[3] Ceteti.
[4] For cetasika cf. Compendium, 239, Bud. Psych. 175.
