Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
IX. Samaṇa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
IX. The Recluse
Sutta 86
Dutiya Sikkha Suttaṃ
Recital (b)
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, Lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said this:
"Monks, this recital to be made twice a month
[213] amounts to more than one hundred and fifty rules
wherein are trained
clansmen who are eager for their welfare.
Now all these combine together
to make these three forms of training.
What three?
The higher morality,
the higher thought
and the higher insight.
Herein are combined
one and all of these rules.
§
2. Now, Monks, in this matter
a monk keeps the laws of morality in full,
he is moderately given to mental concentration,
moderately given to striving for insight.
Whatever minor, trifling observances
he may transgress,
he is cleared of them.
Why so?
I do not declare him
to be rendered unfit because of them,
for he strictly observes
the rudiments of the holy life,
the constituents of the holy life:
■
He is established in morality,
he trains himself in the rules of training
by undertaking them.
Such an one,
by destroying three fetters
is a stream-winner,
is destined to seven more births at most:[1]
seven times more at most
he fares and wanders up and down
among devas and mankind
and then makes an end of Ill.
■
Or, such an one again,
by destroying three fetters,
is reborn in a good family.[2]
He fares and wanders up and down
in two or three families
and then makes an end of Ill.
■
Or, such an one again,
by destroying three fetters,
is a "one-seeder":[3]
he just takes one rebirth as a man
and then makes an end of Ill.
This monk, by destroying three fetters
and weakening those of lust,
malice
and delusion,
is a once-returner.
He comes back to this world
only once and makes an end of Ill.
§
3. Again, Monks, in this matter
a monk keeps the laws of morality in full,
he practises concentration in full,
but he is moderately given to striving for insight.
Whatever minor, trifling observances
he may transgress,
he is cleared of them.
Why so?
I do not declare him
to be rendered unfit because of them,
for he strictly observes
the rudiments of the holy life,
the constituents of the holy life:
■
He is established in morality,
he trains himself in the rules of training
by undertaking them.
By destroying the five fetters
binding to rebirth (in the lower worlds)
he is "one who goes upstream,"[4]
he goes to the Pure Abodes.[5]
■
Or, by destroying these five fetters,
he attains release without much trouble.
■
Or, by destroying these five fetters,
he attains release with some little trouble.[6]
■
Or, by destroying these five fetters,
he attains release by reduction of his time.[7]
■
Or, by destroying these five fetters,
he attains release midway.[8]
§
4. Again, monks, a monk keeps the laws of morality in full,
he practises concentration in full,
he practises the acquiring of insight in full.
Whatever minor, trifling observances
he may transgress,
he is cleared of them.
Why so?
I do not declare him
to be rendered unfit because of them,
for he strictly observes
the rudiments of the holy life,
the constituents of the holy life:
■
He is established in morality,
he trains himself in the rules of training
by undertaking them.
Such an one, by destroying the āsavas,
in this very life
himself knowing it thoroughly
realizes the heart's release,
the release by insight,
and attaining it
abides therein.
§
[214] Thus, monks, the partial fulfiller (of observances)
attains partially:
the perfect observer
attains in full.
Not barren of result
are these rules of the training,
I declare."
[1] Sattakkhattu-paramo, cf. K.S. v, 180 n. The number varies according to his qualifications in the Five Controlling Powers.
[2] Kolaṃ-kolo, lit. 'from clan to clan,' kula. Comy. kulaṃ kulaṃ gamanako. Cf. Pug., p. 15; S. v, 69, 205.
[3] Eka-bījī. Cf. Pts. of Contr. 269.
[4] Uddhaṃ-soto.
[5] Akaniṭṭha-gāmī
[6] Sappayogena (sasaṇkhāra, cf. K.S. v, 57 n. Our text should read asaṇkhāra- above, and sasaṇkhāra- below).
[7] Upahacca-parinibbāyī (after another 500 kalpas! Comy.).
[8] Antarā-parinibbāyī, he is a non-returner and finishes his course in the Brahmā worlds.
[ed1] See the Outline comparing Suttas 85-86-87.
