His Mother

Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.

[1] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these six occasions
which cannot become.

What six?

One who has achieved right view
cannot become one who will take his mother's life,

■

one who has achieved right view
cannot become one who will take his father's life,

■

one who has achieved right view
cannot become one who will take an arahant's life,

■

one who has achieved right view
cannot become one who with evil mind draw the blood of the Tathāgata,

■

one who has achieved right view
cannot become one to embroil the Order,

■

one who has achieved right view
cannot become one to point to another teacher.'

Verily, monks, these are the six occasions
which cannot become.'