Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
XII. Āpāyika Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
XII. The Downfall
Sutta 120
Moneyya Suttaɱ
Perfection
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these three perfections.[1]
What three?
Perfection of body,
perfection of speech,
perfection of mind.
§
2. And of what sort is perfection of body?
Herein a monk abstains from taking life,
from stealing,
from sinful living.
This is called
'perfection of body.'
■
3. And of what sort is perfection of speech?
Herein a certain one
abstains from falsehooda,
slander,
bitter speech,
idle babble.
This is called
'perfection of speech.'
■
And of what sort is perfection in mind?
Herein a monk,
by the destruction of the āsavas,
realizing in this very life
himself knowing it thoroughly
the heart's release,
the release by insight
which is free from the āsavas,
having attained it
abides therein.
This is called
'perfection in mind.'
These are the three perfections."
(Perfect) in body, speech and mind, a sage
Sinless with saintly silence blessed,-they say
That such is "one who hath abandoned all.[2]
[1] Moneyyāni = muni-bhāva (states of silence of a sage). Comy. Cf. D. iii, 220; Vin. i, p. xl of Oldenberg's Introduction.
[2] Sabba-p-pahāyinaɱ = khīṇāsavaɱ. Comy.
