Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
8. Yodhājīva Vagga
Sutta 73
Paṭhama Dhamma-Viharin Suttaṃ
One Who Dwells in the Dhamma
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.
[1][pts][olds] Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and,
on arrival, having bowed down to him,
sat to one side.
As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One,
"'One who dwells in the Dhamma,
one who dwells in the Dhamma':
thus it is said, lord.
To what extent is a bhikkhu
one who dwells in the Dhamma?"
■
"Monk, there is the case
where a monk studies the Dhamma:
dialogues, narratives of mixed prose and verse,
explanations, verses, spontaneous exclamations [udāna],
quotations [itivuttaka], birth stories [jātaka], amazing events,
question and answer sessions.[1]
He spends the day in Dhamma-study.
He neglects seclusion.
He doesn't commit himself
to internal tranquility of awareness.
This is called a monk who is keen on study,
not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
■
"Then there is the case
where a monk takes the Dhamma
as he has heard and studied it
and teaches it in full detail to others.
He spends the day in Dhamma-description.
He neglects seclusion.
He doesn't commit himself
to internal tranquility of awareness.
This is called a monk who is keen on description,
not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
■
"Then there is the case
where a monk takes the Dhamma
as he has heard and studied it
and recites it in full detail.
He spends the day in Dhamma-recitation.
He neglects seclusion.
He doesn't commit himself
to internal tranquility of awareness.
This is called a monk who is keen on recitation,
not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
■
"Then there is the case
where a monk takes the Dhamma
as he has heard and studied it
and thinks about it,
evaluates it,
and examines it with his intellect.
He spends the day in Dhamma-thinking.
He neglects seclusion.
He doesn't commit himself
to internal tranquility of awareness.
This is called a monk who is keen on thinking,
not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
■
"Then there is the case
where a monk studies the Dhamma:
dialogues, narratives of mixed prose and verse,
explanations, verses, spontaneous exclamations,
quotations, birth stories, amazing events,
question and answer sessions.
He doesn't spend the day in Dhamma-study.
He doesn't neglect seclusion.
He commits himself
to internal tranquility of awareness.
This is called a monk who dwells in the Dhamma.
§
"Now, monk, I have taught you
the person who is keen on study,
the one who is keen on description,
the one who is keen on recitation,
the one who is keen on thinking,
and the one who dwells in the Dhamma.
■
Whatever a teacher should do
— seeking the welfare of his disciples,
out of sympathy for them —
that have I done for you.
Over there are the roots of trees;
over there, empty dwellings.
Practice jhāna, monk.
Don't be heedless.
Don't later fall into regret.
This is our message to you."
[1] These are the earliest classifications of the Buddha’s teachings.
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