Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
16. Saddhamma Vaggo
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
Chapter XVI: Saddhamma
Sutta 153
Tatiya Sammatta-Niyāma Suttaɱ
The Saddhamma Way (c)
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, pursuing five courses
and not hearkening unto Saddhamma
he does not become one to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.
What five?
Unction [L.f. unct- pa. ppl stem of ung(u)ere smear] 1. the action or an act of anointing a person or thing with oil as a religious rite. ... 3. fig. A spiritual influence acting on a person. ... b. The manifestation of intense spiritual emotion; a manner suggestive of religious earnestness. Now freq. derog. simulated or self-satisfied religious earnestness or spiritual emotion.
- OED Shorter.
— p.p.
Unctiously he hearkens to Dhamma,
unctuously prepossessed,
he hearkens with captiousness,
seeking flaws,
at Dhamma-teaching time his heart is smitten
and barren,
is stupid, a dullard and lack-wit
and is not given to thinking of his knowledge of the unknown.
Verily, monks, pursuing these five courses
and not hearkening unto Saddhamma
he does not become one
to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.'
§
"Monks, pursuing five courses
and hearkening unto Saddhamma
he must become one to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.
What five?
Without unction[1] he hearkens to Dhamma,
not unctuously prepossessed,
he hearkens without captiousness[2],
without seeking flaws,
at Dhamma-teaching time his heart is not smitten[3]
nor barren,
hears Dhamma with unperturbed mind
is filled with insight, no dullard or lack-wit,
given to thinking of his knowledge of the unknown.
Verily, monks, pursuing these five courses
and hearkening unto Saddhamma
he must become one
to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.'
[1] Makkha, lit. to smear.
[2] Upārambha-. Comy. niggahāropana-.
[3] Dhamma-desake anāhataº-akhilajāto; Cf. Psalm cii, 4: 'My heart is smitten and withered like grass.'
