10: The Book of the Tens
85. The Boaster
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1On one occasion the Venerable Mahācunda was dwelling among the Cetis at Sahajāti. There the Venerable Mahācunda addressed the bhikkhus:
"Friends, bhikkhus!"
"Friend!" those bhikkhus replied. The Venerable Mahācunda said this:
2"Here, friends, a bhikkhu is a boaster, one who brags about achievements: ‘I attain and emerge from the first jhāna. I attain and emerge from the second jhāna … the third jhāna … the fourth jhāna … … the base of the infinity of space … the base of the infinity of consciousness … the base of nothingness … the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. I attain and emerge from the cessation of feeling and perception.’
3The Tathāgata or his disciple who is a jhāna-attainer—skilled in attainment, skilled in others’ minds, skilled in the ways of others’ minds—questions him, interrogates him, and cross-examines him. When he is being questioned, interrogated, and cross-examined by the Tathāgata or by his disciple, he comes to an impasse and is flustered. He meets with calamity, meets with disaster, meets with calamity and disaster.
4"The Tathāgata or his disciple who is a jhāna-attainer … encompasses his mind with his own mind and considers: ‘Why is this venerable one a boaster, one who brags about achievements: "I attain and emerge from the first jhāna … I attain and emerge from the cessation of feeling and perception"?’
5The Tathāgata or his disciple, having encompassed his mind with his own mind, understands:
6(1) "‘For a long time this venerable one's conduct has been broken, flawed, blemished, and blotched, and he does not consistently observe and follow virtuous behavior. This venerable one is immoral. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, immorality is a case of decline.
7(2) "‘This venerable one is without faith. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, lack of faith is a case of decline.
8(3) "‘This venerable one is of little learning and without proper conduct. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, little learning is a case of decline.
9(4) "‘This venerable one is difficult to correct. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, being difficult to correct is a case of decline.
10(5) "‘This venerable one has bad friends. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, bad friendship is a case of decline.
11(6) "‘This venerable one is lazy. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, laziness is a case of decline.
12(7) "‘This venerable one is muddle-minded. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, muddlemindedness is a case of decline.
13(8) "‘This venerable one is a deceiver. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, deceitfulness is a case of decline.
14(9) "‘This venerable one is difficult to support. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, being difficult to support is a case of decline.
15(10) "‘This venerable one is unwise. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, lack of wisdom is a case of decline.’
16"Suppose, friends, that one man would say to his companion: ‘Whenever you need money for anything, my friend, just ask me and I’ll give it to you.’ When the companion has need of money, he says to his friend: ‘I need money, friend. Give me some.’ The other says: ‘In that case, friend, dig here.’ He digs there but doesn’t find anything. He then says: ‘You lied to me, friend, you spoke falsely when you told me to dig here.’ The other says: ‘I didn’t lie to you, friend, I didn’t speak falsely. Rather, dig there.’ He digs there as well but doesn’t find anything. Again, he says: ‘You lied to me, friend, you spoke falsely when you told me to dig there.’ The other says: ‘I didn’t lie to you, friend, I didn’t speak falsely. Rather, dig there.’ He digs there as well but doesn’t find anything. He then says: ‘You lied to me, friend, you spoke falsely when you told me to dig there.’ [n.2103] Ce repeats the exchange here once more, with the trickster telling his companion to dig still again. I follow Be and Ee, which omit this repetition. The other says: ‘I didn’t lie to you, friend, I didn’t speak falsely. I was insane, out of my mind.’
17-30"So too, friends, a bhikkhu is a boaster, one who brags about achievements: ‘I attain and emerge from the first jhāna.’ … all as above down to: … (10) ‘This venerable one is unwise. But in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, lack of wisdom is a case of decline.’
31"Truly, friends, it is impossible for a bhikkhu who has not abandoned these ten things to achieve growth, progress, and maturity in this Dhamma and discipline. But it is possible for a bhikkhu who has abandoned these ten things to achieve growth, progress, and maturity in this Dhamma and discipline."
1Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahācundo cetīsu viharati sahajātiyaṁ. Tatra kho āyasmā mahācundo bhikkhū āmantesi:
"āvuso bhikkhave"ti.
"Āvuso"ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahācundassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā mahācundo etadavoca:
2"Idhāvuso, bhikkhu katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu: ‘Ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.
3Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo samanuyuñjati samanuggāhati samanubhāsati. So tathāgatena vā tathāgatasāvakena vā jhāyinā samāpattikusalena paracittakusalena paracittapariyāyakusalena samanuyuñjiyamāno samanuggāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno irīṇaṁ āpajjati vicinaṁ āpajjati anayaṁ āpajjati byasanaṁ āpajjati anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati.
4Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasi karoti: ‘kiṁ nu kho ayamāyasmā katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu – ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi … pe … ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.
5Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāti:
6‘Dīgharattaṁ kho ayamāyasmā khaṇḍakārī chiddakārī sabalakārī kammāsakārī na santatakārī na santatavutti sīlesu. Dussīlo kho ayamāyasmā. Dussilyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (1)
7Assaddho kho pana ayamāyasmā; assaddhiyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (2)
8Appassuto kho pana ayamāyasmā anācāro; appasaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (3)
9Dubbaco kho pana ayamāyasmā; dovacassatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (4)
10Pāpamitto kho pana ayamāyasmā; pāpamittatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (5)
11Kusīto kho pana ayamāyasmā; kosajjaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (6)
12Muṭṭhassati kho pana ayamāyasmā; muṭṭhassaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (7)
13Kuhako kho pana ayamāyasmā; kohaññaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (8)
14Dubbharo kho pana ayamāyasmā; dubbharatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (9)
15Duppañño kho pana ayamāyasmā; duppaññatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ’. (10)
16Seyyathāpi, āvuso, sahāyako sahāyakaṁ evaṁ vadeyya: ‘yadā te, samma, dhanena dhanakaraṇīyaṁ assa, yāceyyāsi maṁ dhanaṁ. Dassāmi te dhanan’ti. So kiñcideva dhanakaraṇīye samuppanne sahāyako sahāyakaṁ evaṁ vadeyya: ‘attho me, samma, dhanena. Dehi me dhanan’ti. So evaṁ vadeyya: ‘tena hi, samma, idha khanāhī’ti. So tatra khananto nādhigaccheyya. So evaṁ vadeyya: ‘alikaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca; tucchakaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca – idha khanāhī’ti. So evaṁ vadeyya: ‘nāhaṁ taṁ, samma, alikaṁ avacaṁ, tucchakaṁ avacaṁ. Tena hi, samma, idha khanāhī’ti. So tatrapi khananto nādhigaccheyya. So evaṁ vadeyya: ‘alikaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca, tucchakaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca – idha khanāhī’ti. So evaṁ vadeyya: ‘nāhaṁ taṁ, samma, alikaṁ avacaṁ, tucchakaṁ avacaṁ. Tena hi, samma, idha khanāhī’ti. So tatrapi khananto nādhigaccheyya. So evaṁ vadeyya: ‘alikaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca, tucchakaṁ maṁ, samma, avaca – idha khanāhī’ti. So evaṁ vadeyya: ‘nāhaṁ taṁ, samma, alikaṁ avacaṁ, tucchakaṁ avacaṁ. Api ca ahameva ummādaṁ pāpuṇiṁ cetaso vipariyāyan’ti.
17Evamevaṁ kho, āvuso, bhikkhu katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu: ‘Ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipi, ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.
18Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo samanuyuñjati samanuggāhati samanubhāsati. So tathāgatena vā tathāgatasāvakena vā jhāyinā samāpattikusalena paracittakusalena paracittapariyāyakusalena samanuyuñjiyamāno samanuggāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno irīṇaṁ āpajjati vicinaṁ āpajjati anayaṁ āpajjati byasanaṁ āpajjati anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati.
19Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittakusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasi karoti: ‘kiṁ nu kho ayamāyasmā katthī hoti vikatthī adhigamesu – ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmipi … pe … ahaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpajjāmipi vuṭṭhahāmipī’ti.
20Tamenaṁ tathāgato vā tathāgatasāvako vā jhāyī samāpattikusalo paracittapariyāyakusalo cetasā ceto paricca pajānāti:
21‘Dīgharattaṁ kho ayamāyasmā khaṇḍakārī chiddakārī sabalakārī kammāsakārī, na santatakārī na santatavutti sīlesu. Dussīlo kho ayamāyasmā; dussilyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (1)
22Assaddho kho pana ayamāyasmā; assaddhiyaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (2)
23Appassuto kho pana ayamāyasmā anācāro; appasaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (3)
24Dubbaco kho pana ayamāyasmā; dovacassatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (4)
25Pāpamitto kho pana ayamāyasmā; pāpamittatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (5)
26Kusīto kho pana ayamāyasmā; kosajjaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (6)
27Muṭṭhassati kho pana ayamāyasmā; muṭṭhassaccaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (7)
28Kuhako kho pana ayamāyasmā; kohaññaṁ kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (8)
29Dubbharo kho pana ayamāyasmā; dubbharatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ. (9)
30Duppañño kho pana ayamāyasmā; duppaññatā kho pana tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye parihānametaṁ’. (10)
31So vatāvuso, bhikkhu ‘ime dasa dhamme appahāya imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatī’ti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. So vatāvuso, bhikkhu ‘ime dasa dhamme pahāya imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatī’ti ṭhānametaṁ vijjatī"ti.
Pañcamaṁ.