Aṇguttara Nikāya
Chakka Nipāta
V. Dhammika Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Sixes
Chapter V: Dhammika
Dutiya Sandiṭṭhika Suttaṃ
Sutta 48
For This Life (b)
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
A brāhman,
approached the Exalted One,
greeted him
and, after exchanging the usual compliments,
sat down at one side.
So seated, he said to the Exalted One:
'They say, sir,
"Dhamma's for this life,
Dhamma's for this life!"
But how, sir, is Dhamma for this life,
for other worlds,
bidding "Come see,"
leading onwards,
knowable to the wise by its relation to self?'
'Come, brāhman,
I will just question you in turn about this;
answer as you please.
■
Now what think you, brāhman,
suppose there's passion here in the self,
would you know:
"There's passion here in myself" -
or suppose there's no passion,
would you know:
"There is no passion here in myself"?'
'Surely, sir.'
'Well, when you know
"There's passion here in myself"
when you know
"There is no passion here in myself"
thus is Dhamma for this life,
for other worlds,
bidding "Come see,"
leading onwards,
knowable to the wise
by its relation to self.
■
Now what think you, brāhman,
suppose there's hatred here in the self,
would you know:
"There's hatred here in myself" -
or suppose there's no hatred,
would you know:
"There is no hatred here in myself"?'
'Surely, sir.'
'Well, when you know
"There's hatred here in myself"
when you know
"There is no hatred here in myself"
thus is Dhamma for this life,
for other worlds,
bidding "Come see,"
leading onwards,
knowable to the wise
by its relation to self.
■
Now what think you, brāhman,
suppose there's infatuation here in the self,
would you know:
"There's infatuation here in myself" -
or suppose there's no infatuation,
would you know:
"There is no infatuation here in myself"?'
'Surely, sir.'
'Well, when you know
"There's infatuation here in myself"
when you know
"There is no infatuation here in myself"
thus is Dhamma for this life,
for other worlds,
bidding "Come see,"
leading onwards,
knowable to the wise
by its relation to self.
§
Now what think you, brāhman,
suppose there's self-defilement in deed,
would you know:
"There's self-defilement in deed" -
or suppose there's no self-defilement in deed,
would you know:
"There is no self-defilement in deed"?'
'Surely, sir.'
'Well, when you know
"There's some self-defilement in deed"
when you know
"There is no self-defilement in deed"
thus is Dhamma for this life,
for other worlds,
bidding "Come see,"
leading onwards,
knowable to the wise
by its relation to self.
■
Now what think you, brāhman,
suppose there's self-defilement in word,
would you know:
"There's self-defilement in word" -
or suppose there's no self-defilement in word,
would you know:
"There is no self-defilement in word"?'
'Surely, sir.'
'Well, when you know
"There's some self-defilement in word"
when you know
"There is no self-defilement in word"
thus is Dhamma for this life,
for other worlds,
bidding "Come see,"
leading onwards,
knowable to the wise
by its relation to self.
■
Now what think you, brāhman,
suppose there's self-defilement in thought,
would you know:
"There's self-defilement in thought" -
or suppose there's no self-defilement in thought,
would you know:
"There is no self-defilement in thought"?'
'Surely, sir.'
'Well, when you know
"There's some self-defilement in thought"
when you know
"There is no self-defilement in thought"
thus is Dhamma for this life,
for other worlds,
bidding "Come see,"
leading onwards,
knowable to the wise
by its relation to self.
■
'This, indeed, is wonderful, Master Gotama!
This, indeed, is wonderful, Master Gotama!
'Tis just as if one had set upright a thing toppled over,
opened out a covered thing,
showed a blind man along the road,
brought an oil lamp into the dark,
so that those that had eyes could see objects —
it is just thus that Dhamma
has been blazed abroad by Master Gotama
in manifold ways.
'I, Master Gotama,
go to Master Gotama for refuge,
to Dhamma
and to the monk-Order;
let Master Gotama look upon me as a lay-disciple,
to that refuge gone,
henceforth as long as life lasts!'
