Majjhima Nikaya - Upakilesa Sutta

128. Upakilesa Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA III
3. 8. Upakilesasuttaü
(128) The Minor Defilements

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One lived in Gosita's monastery in
Kosambi. At that time the bhikkhus of Kosambi had aroused a quarrel, and were
quarrelling and disputing using rough words to each other. Then a certain
bhikkhu approached the Blessed One, worshipped the Blessed One and standing said
thus. `Venerable sir, the bhikkhus of Kosambi have aroused a quarrel, and are
quarrelling and disputing using rough words to each other. Good if the Blessed
One approaches those bhikkhus out of compassion,' The Blessed One accepted in
silence, approached those bhikkhus and said. `Bhikkhus, give up quarrelling,
using rough words and have no disputes.û
When said thus, a certain bhikkhu said to the Blessed One. `Venerable sir, the
lord of the Teaching, be unconcerned, keep away! May the Blessed One abide in
pleasantness here and now! It's we that will be known in this quarrel, dispute
and using rough words.û
For the second time the Blessed One said'Bhikkhus, give up quarrelling, using
rough words and have no disputes.û
When this was said for the second time that bhikkhu said to the Blessed One.
`Venerable sir, the lord of the Teaching, be unconcerned, keep away! May the
Blessed One abide in pleasantness here and now! It's we that will be known in
this quarrel, dispute and using rough words.û
For the third time the Blessed One said'Bhikkhus, give up quarrelling, using
rough words and have no disputes.û
When this was said for the third time that bhikkhu said to the Blessed One.
`Venerable sir, the lord of the Teaching, be unconcerned, keep away! May the
Blessed One abide in pleasantness here and now! It's we that will be known in
this quarrel, dispute and using rough words.û
Then the Blessed One putting on robes in the morning, taking bowl and robes,
went the alms round in Kosambi. Gone the alms round and when the meal was over,
arranged the dwelling and taking bowl and robes, while standing said these
verses
The foolish do not consider the general opinion,
The fact, there will be nothing, when the Community is split.
Forgetful of the main aim and carried beyond
They do not listen to the words of the wise.
I'm scolded, beaten, defeated and carried away,
The hatred of those that bear such grudges are never appeased.
I'm scolded, beaten, defeated and carried away,
The hatred of those that do not bear such grudges are appeased.
In this world hatred never ceases with hatred
With non hatred it ceases, this is the ancient lore.
Some do not know that we have to go from this world.
They that know it, appease their misapprehensions
Those that cut limbs, destroy life, carry away horses, cattle and wealth
And even ruin the country, they too turn round
Why shouldn't it happen to you?
If you gain a clever friend, a wise co-associate,
Overcoming all troubles, live with him mindfully.
If you do not gain a clever, wise co-associate,
Like the king that leaves behind his rulership and country
Go alone like an elephant to the Màtanga remote.
Living alone is superb, there should be no association with fools
Living alone, unconcerned no evil's done.
Like the elephant living in the Màtanga remote.
The Blessed One while standing said these verses, and approached the village
Bàlakalonakàra. At that time venerable Bhagu livedin that village. Seeing the
Blessed One approaching in the distance, venerable bhagu prepared a seat and
placed water to wash the feet. The Blessed One sat on the prepared seat and
washed his feet. Venerable Bhagu too worshipped the Blessed One and sat on a
side. Then the Blessed One said, `Bhikkhu, are you alright, do you have any
fatigue owing to want of morsel food?''Venerable sir, I'm alright, I have no
fatigue owing to lack of morsel food' Then the Blessed One advised, instructed
and made the heart of venerable Bhagu light with a talk on the Teaching and
getting up from the seat approached the eastern royal park.
At that time venerables Anuruddha, Nandiya and Kimbilawere abiding in the royal
eastern park. The grove keeper saw the Blessed One coming in the distance and
said. `Recluse, do not enter this forest. There are three sons of clansmen
abiding here seeking their own good, do not inconvenience them,' Venerable
Anuruddha heard this conversation between the grove keeper and the Blessed One
and told the grove keeper. `Do not obstruct the Blessed One, it is our Teacher,
the Blessed One'. Venerable Anuruddha addressed venerables Nandiya and Kimbila.
`Come! Venerable ones, our Teacher has arrived,' Then Venerables Anuruddha,
Nandiya, and Kimbila approached the Blessed One, accepted bowl and robes from
the Blessed One. One prepared a seat and another administered water to wash the
feet. The Blessed One sat on the prepared seat and washed his feet. Those
venerable ones worshipped the Blessed One and sat on a side.
The Blessed One addressed venerable Anuruddha: `Anuruddha, are you alright, do
you have any fatigue owing to want of morsel food?''Venerable sir, we are
alright, we have no fatigue owing to lack of morsel food'. `Anuruddha, are you
united and friendly without a dispute, like milk and water and do you abide
seeing each other with friendly eyes?' `Venerable sir, we are united like milk
and water, friendly, without a dispute and abide seeing each other with friendly
eyes,' `Anuruddha, how do you abide united like milk and water, friendly,
without a dispute seeing each other with friendly eyes?' `Venerable sir, this
thought occurs to me It is gain for me that I live with such co-associates in
the holy life. So I abide with bodily actions of loving kindness towards these
venerable ones openly and secretly. With verbal actions of lovingkindnesstowards
these venerable ones openly and secretly. With mental actions of loving kindness
towards these venerable ones openly and secretly Sometimes it occurs to me what
ifI discard my thoughts and concede to the thoughts of these venerable ones. So
I discard my thoughts and concede to the thoughts of these venerable ones.
Venerable sir, we are various in bodies, and one in mind.û
Venerable Nandiyànd venerable Kimbila too said to the Blessed One. `Venerable
sir, this thought occurs to me. It is gain for me, that I live with such
co-associates in the holy life. So I abide, with bodily actions of loving
kindness towards these venerable ones openly and secretly. With verbal actions
of loving kindness openly and secretly. With mental actions of loving kindness
openly and secretly Sometimes it occurs to me, what if I discard my thoughts and
concede to the thoughts of these venerable ones. So I discard my thoughts and
concede to the thoughts of these venerable ones. Venerable sir, we are various
in bodies and single in mind ...
Venerable sir, in this manner we abide united like milk and water, friendly,
without a dispute, seeing each other with friendly eyes. Good, Anuruddha, do you
live diligently for dispelling? Venerable sir, indeed we abide diligently for
dispelling. Anuruddha, how do you abide diligently for dispelling? Venerable
sir, whoever comes from the village first, after collecting morsel food,
prepares the seats administers water for drinking and washing and places the
spittoons. Whoever comes last from the village, partakes of what is left over if
he desires, if he does not, throws it to a place where nothing grows, or puts it
into some water where there isnolife. He puts away the seats, andthe vessels of
water, washes the spittoons and sweeps the refectory, Whoever seesthe water
vessels for drinking, washing or toilets empty, fills them up. If he finds it
not in his capacity to carry it, would call another with the wave of the hand.
Would not utter a word on account of it. On every fifth day we would sit
throughout the night discussing a topic on the Teaching. Venerable sir, thus we
abide diligently for dispelling. Good, Anuruddha, you abide diligently for
dispellingHave you attained some distinctive knowledge, a pleasant abiding above
human?
ßVenerable sir, when abiding diligent to dispel we perceived effulgence and
beautiful forms. The effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared in no time and
we did not understand that signû
ßAnuruddha, that sign should be understood. Earlier when I was a seeker of
enlightenment, I too perceived effulgence and beautiful forms, and they
disappeared in no time. Then it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and
beautiful forms disappear? I knew, that doubts arose to me. On account of doubts
my concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and
beautiful forms disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner, so that doubts
do not arise again. When abiding diligent to dispel I perceived effulgence and
beautiful forms. The effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared in no timeThen
it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and beautiful forms disappear? I knew,
that non attention arose to me. On account of not attending my concentration
faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful forms
disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner, so that doubts and non attention
do not arise again. When abiding diligent to dispel I perceived effulgence and
beautiful forms. The effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared in no timeThen
it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and beautiful forms disappear? I knew,
that sloth and tor por arose to me. On account of sloth and tor por my
concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful
forms disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner, so that doubts, non
attention and sloth and tor por do not arise again. When abiding diligent to
dispel I perceived effulgence and beautiful forms. The effulgence and beautiful
forms disappeared in no timeThen it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and
beautiful forms disappear? I knew, that fear arose to me. On account of fear my
concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful
forms disappeared. Like a man come on the highway followed by murderers on both
sides, has arisen fear on both sides. In the same manner fear arose to me. On
account of fear my concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the
effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner,
so that doubts, non attention, sloth and tor por and fear do not arise again.
When abiding diligent to dispel I perceived effulgence and beautiful forms. The
effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared in no time Then it occurred to me.
Why did my effulgence and beautiful forms disappear? I knew, that jubilation
arose to me. On account of jubilation my concentration faded. When the
concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared. Like a man
in search of one treasure was to come to five treasures at one and the same
time. In the same manner jubilation arose to me. On account of jubilation my
concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful
forms disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner, so that doubts, non
attention, sloth and tor por, fear and jubilation do not arise again. When
abiding diligent to dispel I perceived effulgence and beautiful forms. The
effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared in no time Then it occurred to me.
Why did my effulgence and beautiful forms disappear? I knew, that wickedness has
arisen to me. On account of wickedness my concentration faded. When the
concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared. I attended
to it in such a manner, so that doubts, non attention, sloth and tor por, fear,
jubilation and wickedness do not arise again. When abiding diligent to dispel I
perceived effulgence and beautiful forms. The effulgence and beautiful forms
disappeared in no time Then it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and
beautiful forms disappear? I knew, that too much aroused effort had arisen to
me. On account of too much effort my concentration faded. When the concentration
faded, the effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared. Like a man who holds a
hand cart firmly with bothhands, would die with it. In the same manner
Anuruddha, too much aroused effort had arisen to me. On account of too much
effort my concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effu lgence and
beautiful forms disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner, so that doubts,
non attention, sloth and tor por, fear, jubilation, wickedness and too much
effort do not arise again. When abiding diligent to dispel I perceived
effulgence and beautiful forms. The effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared
in no time. Then it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and beautiful forms
disappear? I knew, that I had aroused little effort. On account of too little
effort my concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and
beautiful forms disappeared. Like a man who holds a hand cart loosely and gives
up the hold. In the same manner Anuruddha, too little effort had arisen to me.
On account of too little effort my concentration faded. When the concentration
faded, the effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared. I attended to it in such
a manner, so that doubts, non attention, sloth and tor por, fear, jubilation,
wickedness too much effort nor too little effort do not arise again. When
abiding diligent to dispel I perceived effulgence and beautiful forms. The
effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared in no time.
Then it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and beautiful forms disappear? I
knew, that I had too much striving. On account of too much striving my
concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful
forms disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner, so that doubts, non
attention, sloth and tor por, fear, jubilation, wickedness too much effort, too
little effort and too much striving do not arise again. When abiding diligent to
dispel I perceived effulgence and beautiful forms. The effulgence and beautiful
forms disappeared in no time. Then it occurred to me. Why did my effulgence and
beautiful forms disappear? I knew, that various perceptions had arisen to me. On
account of various perceptions my concentration faded. When the concentration
faded, the effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared. I attended to it in such
a manner, so that doubts, non attention, sloth and tor por, fear, jubilation,
wickedness too much effort, too little effort, too much striving and various
perceptions do not arise again.
When abiding diligent to dispel I perceived effulgence and beautiful forms. The
effulgence and beautiful forms disappeared in no time Then it occurred to me.
Why did my effulgence and beautiful forms disappear? I knew, that thinking too
much about forms it hadhappened. On account of thinking too much about forms my
concentration faded. When the concentration faded, the effulgence and beautiful
forms disappeared. I attended to it in such a manner, so that doubts, non
attention, sloth and tor por, fear, jubilation, wickedness too much effort, too
little effort, too much striving, various perceptions and thinking too much
about forms do not arise again.
Anuruddha, I knew that doubts is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled
it. Knew that non attention is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled it.
Knew that sloth and tor por is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled it.
Knew that fear is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled it. Knew that
jubilation is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled it. Knew that
wickedness is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled it. Knew that too
much aroused effort is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled it. Knew
that too little effort is a minor defilement of the mind and dispelled it. Knew
that various perceptions are minor defilements of the mind and dispelled them
Knew that thinking too much about forms is a minor defilement of the mind and
dispelled it
When I was abiding diligent to dispel, throughout the night, throughout the day
and throughout the night and day, I perceived limited effulgence and saw limited
forms. I perceived limitless effulgence and saw limitless forms It occurred to
me. What is the reason, that ñhroughout the night, throughout the day and
throughout the night and day, I perceive limited effulgence and see limited
forms. I perceive limitless effulgence and see limitless forms? Anuruddha it
occurred to me, when my concentration is limited, my knowledge is limited. With
limited knowledge I perceive limited effulgence and see limited forms. When my
concentration is limitless, my knowledge is limitless. With limitless knowledge
I perceive limitless effulgences and see limitlessforms, throughout the night,
throughout the day and throughout the night and day.
ßAnuruddha, when these minor defilements, such as doubts, non attenton, sloth
and torpor, fear, jubilation, wickedness, too much aroused effort, too little
effort, various perceptions, thinking too much about forms were dispelled, it
occurred to me, now these minor defilements are dispelled and I should develop
concentration in a threefold manner. Then I developed concentration with
thoughts and discursive thoughts. developed concentration without thoughts,
thinking discursively. developed concentration without thoughts and without
discursive thoughtsdeveloped concentration with joy and without joy. developed
concentration which is equanimity. Then knowledge and vision arose and I knew
that my release is unshakeable. This is my last birth. There is no more
rebirth.û
The Blessed One said thus and venerable Anuruddha delighted in the words of the
Blessed One.