Majjhima Nikaya - Anumana Sutta

15. Anumana Sutta - English Majjhima Nikàya I
2. 5. Anumànasuttaü
(15) Self Observation

I heard thus.
At one time venerable Mahàmoggallàna lived in the deer park, in the Bhesakalà
forest among the Sumsumàra hills in the Bhagga country. Then venerable
Mahàmoggallàna addressed the bhikkhus:
ßEven if the bhikkhus concede to be advised, if they are unruly, with unruly
talk, not submisive to advice, the co-associates in the holy should think not to
advise them and not take them into their confidence. Friends, what are the
unruly things?
ßThe bhikkhu with evil desires is submerged in them. The bhikkhu with evil
desires submerged in them is an unruly thing. Praising himself the bhikkhu
disparages others. The bhikkhu praising himself and disparaging others is an
unruly thing. Again the angry bhikkhu is overcome by it. The bhikkhu angry and
overcome by it, is an unruly thing. Again the angry bhikkhu bears a grudge. The
bhikkhu angry and bearing a grudge is an unruly thing. Become angry the bhikkhu
has a cursing nature. The bhikkhu angry and cursing on account of that anger, is
an unruly thing. Become angry the bhikkhu speaks angry words. The bhikkhu angry,
speaking angry words, is an unruly thing. When reprimanded the bhikkhu retorts.
The reprimanded bhikkhu retorting is an unruly thing. When reprimanded the
bhikkhu reprimands in return. The reprimanded bhikkhu reprimanding in return, is
an unruly thing. When reprimanded the bhikkhu makes a counter charge. The
reprimanded bhikkhu making a counter charge is an unruly thing. Again when
reprimanded the bhikkhu evades the question and shows anger and discontent, the
reprimanded bhikkhu evading the question, and becoming angry and discontented,
is an unruly thing. The reprimanded bhikkhu would not accept admonition. The
reprimanded bhikkhu not accepting admonition is an unruly thing, Again, the
bhikkhu becomes hypocritical and unmerciful, the bhikkhu becoming hypocritical
and unmercciful is an unruly thing. Again, the bhikkhu becomes jealous and
selfish. The bhikkhu becoming jealous and selfish is an unruly thing. Again, the
bhikkhu becomes crafty and fraudulent. The bhikkhu becoming crafty and
fraudulent, is an unruly thing. Again, the bhikkhu becomes obstinate and holds a
high opinion of himself. The bhikkhu becoming obstinate and holding a high
opinion of himself is an unruly thing. Again, the bhikkhu stained with
worldliness, holds to it tenaciously finding it difficult to give up. The
worldly bhikkhu holding to views tenaciously and finding it difficult to give
up, is an unruly thing.
ßEven if the bhikkhus do not ask for advice, are suave have a gentle
disposition, patient, and full of reverence when advised, the bhikkhus should
think to advise them and take them into confidence. Friends, bhikkhus, what are
suave things?
ßA bhikkhu not overcome by evil desires is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not
praising himself and not disparaging others is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu
not angry and not bearing a grudge is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not
angry and not cursing others is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not speaking
angry words is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not retorting when reprimanded
is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not counter charging when reprimanded is a
suave thing. Again the reprimanded bhikkhu not leading the conversation aside
and not showing anger and discontent, is a suave thing. Again the reprimanded
bhikkhu accepting admonition is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not
hypocritical, is merciful is a susave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not jealous and
selfish is a suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not crafty and fraudulent is a
suave thing. Again, the bhikkhu not obstinate, not holding a high opinion of
himself, is a suave thing.
ßHere, friends, by the bhikkhu himself should this observation be done: `I do
not like a person overcome by evil desires. In the same manner if I were
overcome by evil desires, others would detest me; knowing this, I should arouse
thoughts, not to be overcome by evil desires. I do not like a person praising
himself and disparaging others, in the same manner, if I praise myself and
disparage others, I would be detested. Knowing this I should arouse thoughts to
be careful when praising myself and disparaging others. I do not like an angry
person, in the same manner, I would be detested, if overcome by anger, knowing
this I should arouse thoughts not to be overcome by anger. I do not like a
person with a grudge, in the same manner, if I had a grudge on account of anger,
others would detest me, knowing this I should arouse thoughts not to bear a
grudge. I do not like a cursing person, in the same manner others would detest
me if I had a cursing nature, knowing this I should arouse thoughts to dispel
the cursing nature. I do not like a person speaking angrily, in the same manner
others would detest me if I spoke angry words, knowing this, I should arouse
thoughts to overcome this nature I do not like a person who retorts when
reprimanded, in the same manner, I would be detested if I retorted when
reprimanded, knowing this I should not retort when reprimanded. I do not like a
person who evades the question and becomes angry and discontented when
repremanded, if I did this, others would detest me, knowing this. I should not
evade the question and become angry and discontented when repremanded. I do not
like a person who would not accept admonition after being reprimanded. If I did
this othes would detest me, knowing this I should accept admonition after being
reprimanded. I do not like a merciless hypocrite. If I became a merciless
hypocrite, others would detest me, knowing this I should be merciful and no
hypocrite. I do not like a jealous selfish person, If I were jealous and
selfish, others would detest me, knowing this I should be not jealous and
selfish. I do not like a crafty fraudulent person. If I were crafty and
fraudulent, others would detest me, knowing this I should be not crafty and not
fraudulent. I do not like an obstinate person who has a high opinion of himself.
If I was obstinate and had a high opinion of myself, others would detest me,
knowing this I should not be obstinate and hold a high opinion of myself. I do
not like a worldly person who holds to views tenaciously and finds it difficult
to give them up. If I was like that others would detest me. Knowing this, I
should not hold to views tenaciously and should give them up with ease.
ßAgain, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Are there evil desires in me?' If when
reflecting the bhikkhu sees any evil desires, he should make an effort to dispel
those evil desires. When reflecting, if the bhikkhu sees, `There are no evil
desires, ` he should abide delighted and joyful training in those meritorious
things day and night. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Do I praise myself and
disparage others?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees praising himself and
disparaging others, he should make an effort to dispel those evil things. When
reflecting, if the bhikkhu sees not praising himself and not disparaging others,
he should abide delighted and joyful training in those meritorious things day
and night. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Am I overcome with anger?' When
reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself overcome by anger, he should make an
effort to dispel those evil things. When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself
not overcome by anger, he should abide delighted and joyful training in those
meritorious things. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Do I bear a grudge?'
When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself angry with a grudge, he should make
an effort to dispel those evil things. When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees
himself not angry and without a grudge, he should abide delighted and joyful
training in those meritorious things day and night. Again, the bhikkhu should
reflect, `Do I curse with an angry mind?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees
himself cursing and angry, he should make an effort to dispel those evil things.
When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself not angry and not cursing he should
abide delighted and joyful training in those meritorious things day and night.
Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Do I utter angry words?' When reflecting if
the bhikkhu sees himself uttering angry words, he should make an effort to
dispel those evil things. When reflecting if he sees himself not uttering angry
words, he should abide delighted and joyful training in those mertiorious things
say and night. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Do I retort when
reprimanded?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself retorting when
reprimanded, he should make an effort to dispel those evil things. When
reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself not retorting when reprimanded, he should
abide delighted and joyful training in those meritorious things. Again, the
bhikkhu should reflect, `Do I depreciate the reprimander?' When reflecting if
the bhikkhu sees himself depreciating the reprimander, he should make an effort
to dispel those evil things. When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself not
depreciating the repremander, he should abide delighted and joyful training in
those meritorious things. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Do I repremand the
repremander?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself repremanding the
repremander, he should make an effort to dispel those evil things. When
reflecting if he sees himself not repremanding the repremander, he should abide
delighted and joyful training in those meritorious things. Again, the bhikkhu
should reflect, `Do I evade the repremander and show anger and discontent?' When
reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself evading the repremander and showing anger
and discontent, he should make an effort to dispel those evil things. When
reflecting if he sees himself not evading the repremander and not showing anger
and discontent, he should abide delighted and joyful training in those
meritorious things. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Do I accept admonition
from the repremander?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself not accepting
admonition from the repremander, he should make an effort to dispel those evil
things. When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself accepting admonition from
the repremander, he should abide delighted and joyful training in those
meritorious things day and night. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Am I an
unmerciful hypocrite?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself an unmerciful
hypocrite, he should make an effort to dispel those evil things. When reflecting
if he sees himself merciful and not a hypocrite, he should abide delighted and
joyful training in those meritorious things day and night. Again, the bhikkhu
should reflect, am I jealous and selfish?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees
himself jealous and selfish, he make an effort to dispel those evil things. When
reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself not jealous or selfish, he should abide
delighted and joyful, training in those meritorious things day and night Again,
the bhikkhu should reflect, `Am I crafty and fradulent?' When reflecting if the
bhikkhu sees himself crafty and fraudulent, he should make an effort to dispel
those evil things. When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself not crafty nor
fraudulent, he should abide delighted and joyful, training in those meritorious
things day and night. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Am I obstinate and do
I have a high opinion of myself?' When reflecting if the bhikkhu sees himself
obstinate with a high opinion of himself, he should make an effort to dispel
those evil things. When reflecting if he sees himself not obstinate and without
a high opinion of himself, he should abide delighted and joyful training in
those meritorious things day and night. Again, the bhikkhu should reflect, `Am I
worldly holding to views tenaciously and finding it difficult to give up?' When
reflecting if he sees himself holding to views tenaciously and finding it
difficult to give up, he should make effort to dispel those evil things. When
reflecting, if he sees himself not holding to views tenaciously and giving them
up with ease, he should be delighted and joyful, training in those meritorious
things day and night.
ßWhen reflecting, if the bhikkhu sees all these evil things not dispelled, he
should make effort to dispel all these evil things. When reflecting if he sees
all these things dispelled, he should abide delighted and joyful training in
those meritorious things day and night. Like a woman, a man, a child or youth
fond of decoration would take a mirror, a clear surface, or a bowl of water and
would see the reflection of the face, and seeing a speck of dirt would make
effort to dispel it, not seeing a speck of dirt would be pleased on account of
it. In the same way the bhikkhu when reflecting if he sees all these evil things
should make effort to dispel them. When reflecting if he does not see thse
things should be delighted and joyful training in those meritorious things day
and night. û
Venerable Mahàmoggallàna said thus and those bhikkhus delighted in those words.