Khuddaka Nikaya - Sutta Nipata - Dhammacariya Sutta

Sn 2.6
Dhammacariya Sutta
Wrong Conduct
Translated from the Pali by
John D. IrelandPTS: Sn 274-283



Source: From The Discourse Collection: Selected Texts from the Sutta
Nipata (WH 82), translated by John D. Ireland (Kandy: Buddhist Publication
Society, 1983). Copyright © 1983 Buddhist Publication Society. Used with
permission.



Copyright © 1983 Buddhist Publication Society.
Access to Insight edition © 1994
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"The practice of Dhamma, 1 the practice of continence, 2 mastery of this is said
to be best if a person has gone forth from home to the homeless life. But if he
is garrulous and, like a brute, delights in hurting others, his life is evil and
his impurity increases.
"A quarrelsome bhikkhu shrouded by delusion, does not comprehend the Dhamma
taught by the Awakened One when it is revealed. Annoying those practiced in
meditation, being led by ignorance, he is not aware that his defiled path leads
to Niraya-hell. Falling headlong, passing from womb to womb, from darkness to
(greater) darkness, such a bhikkhu undergoes suffering hereafter for certain.
"As a cesspool filled over a number of years is difficult to clean, similarly,
whoever is full of impurity is difficult to make pure. Whoever you know to be
such, bhikkhus, bent on worldliness, having wrong desires, wrong thoughts, wrong
behavior and resort, being completely united avoid him, sweep him out like dirt,
remove him like rubbish. Winnow like chaff the non-recluses. Having ejected
those of wrong desires, of wrong behavior and resort, be pure and mindful,
dwelling with those who are pure. Being united and prudent you will make an end
to suffering."



Notes
1. Dhammacariya.
2. Brahmacariya, the divine-life, the practice of purity or chastity.
Dhammacariya and Brahmacariya are two closely related terms. "Dhamma" being used
here in the sense of virtue or good conduct.