Majjhima Nikaya - Cula Assapura Sutta

40. Cula Assapura Sutta - English Majjhima Nikàya I
4. 10. Cåla assapursuttaü
(40) The Shorter Discourse in Assapura

I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One lived in the Anga country, in a hamlet named
Assapura. The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus from there. Bhikkhus, people
call you recluses, and you too acknowledge we are recluses. Bhikkhus, you,
recluses, have a promise to keep. Should take upon yourself to follow that
method of recluseship. So that our recluseship becomes true, and our promise
carried out. May it be of much fruit to those who offer us of robes, morsel
food, dwellings and requisites when ill. By that our going forth will be
fruitful and full of results. [1] Bhikkhus, you should train thus.
Bhikkhus, how doesn't the bhikkhu follow the method of recluseship. The bhikkhu
whose covetousness is not dispelled, the corrupt heart isn't dispelled, anger is
not dispelled, ill will is not dispelled, hypocrisy is not dispelled, malice is
not dispelled, jealousy is not dispelled, selfishness is not dispelled,
craftiness is not dispelled, deceit is not dispelled, evil desires are not
dispelled, wrong view is not dispelled, has not fallen to the method of
recluseship. Without dispelling these impurities, defects and blemishes, which
bring hellish feelings to a recluse, I say, you have not fallen to the method of
recluseship To the edges of the yellow robe is fixed a weapon named Matajà,
sharp on both edges, and with it the bhikkhu is wrapped. I compare the going
forth of the bhikkhu with these impurities, to that.
Bhikkkhus; for the matter of wearing the three robes, I do not call him a
recluse, for the matter of going naked I do not call him a recluse, for living
with dust and dirt, I do not call him a recluse, for that matter of descending
to wateer I do not call him a recluse. For sitting at the root of a tree, for
living in open space, for maintaining the standing posture, I do not call him a
recluse. For taking food at regular intervals, for reciting the Teaching, for
wearing a headdress one does not become a recluse.
Bhikkhus, when wearing the three robes, if the coveting mind fades, the corrupt
heart fades, anger fades, ill will fades, hypocrisy fades; the malice fades, the
jealousy fades, the selfishness fades, the craftiness fades, the deceit fades,
evil desires fade, and the wrong view gets dispelled. His friends and blood
relations should make him wear the three robes and maintain it, from his birth.
Come! You lucky one when you wear the three robes, your covetousness will fade,
corrupt heart will fade, anger will fade, ill will, hypocrisy, malice, jealousy,
selfishness, craftiness, deceit, evil desires and wrong view will fade,
Bhikkhus, since I see a certain one wearing the three robes with covetousness, I
say that, for the matter of wearing the three robes one is not a recluse.
Bhikkhus, if for the matter of going naked, -- living in dust and dirt, --
ascending the water, --sitting at the root of a tree, -- living in open space,
--maintaining the standing posture, --being fed at regular intervals, --reciting
the Teaching, --when wearing a headdress, if covetousness fades, corruptions in
the heart fades, anger fades, ill will fades, hypocrisy fades; malice fades,
jealousy fades, selfishness fades, craftiness fades, deceit fades, evil desires
fade, and if wrong view gets dispelled. His friends and blood relations should
make him wear the headdress and maintain it, when he is born Come! You lucky one
when you wear the headdress, your covetousness will fade, corrupt heart will
fade, anger will fade, ill will, hypocrisy, malice, jealousy, selfishness,
craftiness, deceit, evil desires and wrong view will fade, Bhikkhus, since I see
a certain one, wearing the headdress with covetousness, I say that, for the
matter of wearing the headdress one is not a recluse.
Bhikkhus, how does the bhikkhu follow the method of recluseship. When
covetousness is dispelled, the corrupt heart is dispelled, anger is dispelled,
ill will is dispelled, hypocrisy is dispelled, malice is dispelled, jealousy is
dispelled, selfishness is dispelled, craftiness is dispelled, deceit is
dispelled, evil desires are dispelled, wrong view is dispelled, I say you have
fallen to the method of recluseship. When these impurities, defects and
blemishes of a recluse, which bring hellish feelings are dispelled, I say, you
have fallen to the method of recluseship. Seeing himself pure when all these
evil things of demerit are dispelled, he finds himsself relieved. When released
he is delighted. To the delighted arises joy. The body of one with joyful mind
is appeased. An appeased body feels pleasant. The pleasant mind concentrates. He
abides pervading one direction with thoughts of loving kindness, so too the
second, the third, the fourth, above, below and across, in all circumstances,
for all purposes, entirely, the thought of loving kindness grown great
limitless, free of ill will and anger. He abides pervading one direction with
thoughts of compassion, ---- He abides pervading one direction with thoughts of
intrinsic joy, ---He abides pervading one direction with thoughts of equanimity,
so too the second, the third, the fourth, above, below, and across, in all
circumstances, for all purposes, entirely, with the thought of equanimity grown
great limitless, free of ill will and anger, he abides.
Bhikkhus, there is a pond with clear, transparent, pure, cool, water with well
formed banks in a pleasant setting. A man from the east would come to it
thirsty, tired and overcome with the heat and the burning. Coming there he would
dispel his thirst, and burning. A man from the west would come, --from the north
would come, ---from the south would come. In whatever direction they come;
coming to that pond they would quench their thirst and dispel the burning. In
the same manner, even from the warrior clan a certain one would go forth as a
homeless to the discipline declared by the Thus Gone One and developing thoughts
of loving kindness, compassion, intrinsic joy and equanimity will gain internal
appeasement When internally appeased, I say he has followed the method of
recluseship. One gone forth as a homeless even from the warrior clan, would
destroy desires, his mind released and released through wisdom here and now,
knowing realising would abide. With the destruction of desires he is a recluse.
One gone forth as a homeless even from the brahmin clan-even from the
householder clan, -- even from the clan of out castes, would also destroy
desires, his mind released and released through wisdom here and now, knowing and
realising would abide. He with the destruction of desires is a recluse.
The Blessed One said thus and those bhikkhus delighted in the words of the
Blessed One.



[1] By that our going forth will be fruitful and full of results (amhàkancàyaü
pabbajjà avanjhà bhavissati saphalà saudrà'). To those who offer the four
requistes, to the bhikkhu, much merit will accumulate, and it will be fruitful
to the bhikkhu, when he attains some distinction above human.