sutta » an » an10 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.172

Dutiyaadhammasutta

Bad Principles (2nd)

“Adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca;
“Mendicants, you should know bad principles and good principles.

anattho ca veditabbo attho ca.
And you should know bad results and good results.

Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban”ti.
Knowing these things, your practice should follow the good principles with good results.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.
When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:
Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered,

“idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:
“The Buddha gave this brief passage for recitation, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail.

‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca;
‘You should know bad principles and good principles.

anattho ca veditabbo attho ca.
And you should know bad results and good results.

Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.
Knowing these things, your practice should follow the good principles with good results.’

Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?
Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief passage for recitation given by the Buddha?”

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi:
Then those mendicants thought,

“ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.
“This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.

Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.
He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief passage for recitation given by the Buddha.

Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyāma.
Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.

Yathā no āyasmā mahākaccāno byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā”ti.
As he answers, so we’ll remember it.”

Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahākaccānena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.
Then those mendicants went to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavocuṁ:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said,

“Idaṁ kho no, āvuso kaccāna, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca;

anattho ca veditabbo attho ca.

Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.

Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:

‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho—

adhammo ca, bhikkhave …pe…

tathā paṭipajjitabbanti.

Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?

Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ etadahosi:

‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.

Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.

Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma.

Yathā no āyasmā mahākaccāno byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā’ti.

Vibhajatu āyasmā mahākaccāno”ti.
“May Venerable Mahākaccāna please explain this.”

“Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāraṁ gavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva mūlaṁ atikkamma khandhaṁ sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya.
“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves.

Evaṁsampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha.
Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you overlooked him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter.

So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passati cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato.
For he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the teacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.

So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ tumhe bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha.
That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.

Yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.
You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

“Addhā, āvuso kaccāna, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passati cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato.
“Certainly he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the teacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.

So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ mayaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma.
That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.

Yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma.
We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.

Api cāyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.
Still, Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.

Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.
He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief passage for recitation given by the Buddha.

Vibhajatāyasmā mahākaccāno agaruṁ karitvā”ti.
Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”

“Tena hāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Well then, reverends, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa paccassosuṁ.
“Yes, reverend,” they replied.

Athāyasmā mahākaccāno etadavoca:
Mahākaccāna said this:

“Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:
“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief passage for recitation, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:

‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo …pe…
‘You should know bad principles and good principles …

tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.
and practice accordingly.’

Katamo cāvuso, adhammo; katamo ca dhammo?
So what are bad principles? What are good principles?

Katamo ca anattho, katamo ca attho?
What are bad results? And what are good results?

Pāṇātipāto, āvuso, adhammo;
Killing living creatures is a bad principle.

pāṇātipātā veramaṇī dhammo;
Not killing living creatures is a good principle.

ye ca pāṇātipātapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by killing living creatures are bad results.

pāṇātipātā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of not killing living creatures are good results.

Adinnādānaṁ, āvuso, adhammo;
Stealing is a bad principle.

adinnādānā veramaṇī dhammo;
Not stealing is a good principle.

ye ca adinnādānapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by stealing are bad results.

adinnādānā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of not stealing are good results.

Kāmesumicchācāro, āvuso, adhammo;
Sexual misconduct is a bad principle.

kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī dhammo;
Avoiding sexual misconduct is a good principle.

ye ca kāmesumicchācārapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by sexual misconduct are bad results.

kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of avoiding sexual misconduct are good results.

Musāvādo, āvuso, adhammo;
Lying is a bad principle.

musāvādā veramaṇī dhammo;
Not lying is a good principle.

ye ca musāvādapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by lying are bad results.

musāvādā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of not lying are good results.

Pisuṇā vācā, āvuso, adhammo;
Divisive speech is a bad principle.

pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī dhammo;
Avoiding divisive speech is a good principle.

ye ca pisuṇāvācāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by divisive speech are bad results.

pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of avoiding divisive speech are good results.

Pharusā vācā, āvuso, adhammo;
Harsh speech is a bad principle.

pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī dhammo;
Avoiding harsh speech is a good principle.

ye ca pharusāvācāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by harsh speech are bad results.

pharusāya vācāya veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of avoiding harsh speech are good results.

Samphappalāpo, āvuso, adhammo;
Talking nonsense is a bad principle.

samphappalāpā veramaṇī dhammo;
Avoiding talking nonsense is a good principle.

ye ca samphappalāpapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by talking nonsense are bad results.

samphappalāpā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of avoiding talking nonsense are good results.

Abhijjhā, āvuso, adhammo;
Covetousness is a bad principle.

anabhijjhā dhammo;
Contentment is a good principle.

ye ca abhijjhāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by covetousness are bad results.

anabhijjhāpaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of contentment are good results.

Byāpādo, āvuso, adhammo;
Ill will is a bad principle.

abyāpādo dhammo;
Good will is a good principle.

ye ca byāpādapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by ill will are bad results.

abyāpādapaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of good will are good results.

Micchādiṭṭhi, āvuso, adhammo;
Wrong view is a bad principle.

sammādiṭṭhi dhammo;
Right view is a good principle.

ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho;
And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong view are bad results.

sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of right view are good results.

‘Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho—
The Buddha gave this brief passage for recitation, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:

adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo …pe…
‘You should know bad principles and good principles …

tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.
and practice accordingly.’

Imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.
And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this passage for recitation.

Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe, āvuso, bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha.
If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this.

Yathā no bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.
You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
“Yes, reverend,” said those mendicants, approving and agreeing with what Mahākaccāna said. Then they rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then they said:

“Yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo …pe…

tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.

Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:

‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

“adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo …pe…

tathā paṭipajjitabban”ti.

Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?

Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi:

‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.

Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.

Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma.

Yathā no āyasmā mahākaccāno byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā’ti.

Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamimhā; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ apucchimhā.
“Sir, we went to Mahākaccāna and asked him about this matter.

Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā mahākaccānena imehi akkharehi imehi padehi imehi byañjanehi attho suvibhatto”ti.
And Mahākaccāna clearly explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhave.
“Good, good, mendicants!

Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, mahākaccāno. Mahāpañño, bhikkhave, mahākaccāno.
Mahākaccāna is astute, he has great wisdom.

Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi cetaṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ mahākaccānena byākataṁ.
If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Mahākaccāna.

Eso ceva tassa attho. Evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.
That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.