sutta » sn » sn16 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 16.3

Candūpamāsutta

Like the Moon

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
At Sāvatthī.

“Candūpamā, bhikkhave, kulāni upasaṅkamatha—
“Mendicants, you should approach families like the moon:

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavakā kulesu appagabbhā.
withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso jarudapānaṁ vā olokeyya pabbatavisamaṁ vā nadīviduggaṁ vā—
Suppose a person were to look down at an old well, a rugged cliff, or an inaccessible riverland.

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ;
They’d withdraw their body and mind.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, candūpamā kulāni upasaṅkamatha—
In the same way, you should approach families like the moon:

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavakā kulesu appagabbhā.
withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude.

Kassapo, bhikkhave, candūpamo kulāni upasaṅkamati—
Kassapa approaches families like the moon:

apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavako kulesu appagabbho.
withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
What do you think, mendicants?

kathaṁrūpo bhikkhu arahati kulāni upasaṅkamitun”ti?
What kind of mendicant is worthy of approaching families?”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.
“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”

Atha kho bhagavā ākāse pāṇiṁ cālesi.
Then the Buddha waved his hand in space.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ ākāse pāṇi na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati;
“Mendicants, this hand is not stuck or held or caught in space.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhuno kulāni upasaṅkamato kulesu cittaṁ na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati:
In the same way, when approaching families, a mendicant’s mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking:

‘labhantu lābhakāmā, puññakāmā karontu puññānī’ti;
‘May those who want material possessions get them, and may those who want merit make merits!’

yathāsakena lābhena attamano hoti sumano, evaṁ paresaṁ lābhena attamano hoti sumano;
They’re just as pleased and happy when others get something as they are when they get something.

evarūpo kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahati kulāni upasaṅkamituṁ.
This kind of mendicant is worthy of approaching families.

Kassapassa, bhikkhave, kulāni upasaṅkamato kulesu cittaṁ na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati:
When Kassapa approaches families, his mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking:

‘labhantu lābhakāmā, puññakāmā karontu puññānī’ti;
‘May those who want material possessions get them, and may those who want merit make merits!’

yathāsakena lābhena attamano hoti sumano;
He’s just as pleased and happy when others get something as he is when he gets something.

evaṁ paresaṁ lābhena attamano hoti sumano.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
What do you think, mendicants?

kathaṁrūpassa bhikkhuno aparisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti, kathaṁrūpassa bhikkhuno parisuddhā dhammadesanā hotī”ti?
What kind of mendicant’s teaching is pure, and what kind is impure?”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.
“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”

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

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:
The Buddha said this:

“Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:
“Whoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought:

‘aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ pasīdeyyuṁ, pasannā ca me pasannākāraṁ kareyyun’ti;
‘Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they gain confidence in the teaching and demonstrate their confidence to me.’

evarūpassa kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno aparisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti.
Such a mendicant’s teaching is impure.

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:
Whoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought:

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.
‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

Aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ ājāneyyuṁ, ājānitvā ca pana tathattāya paṭipajjeyyun’ti.
Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.’

Iti dhammasudhammataṁ paṭicca paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, kāruññaṁ paṭicca anuddayaṁ paṭicca anukampaṁ upādāya paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.
So they teach others because of the natural excellence of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy.

Evarūpassa kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno parisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti.
Such a mendicant’s teaching is pure.

Kassapo, bhikkhave, evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:
Kassapa teaches Dhamma to others with the thought:

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.
‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

Aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ ājāneyyuṁ, ājānitvā ca pana tathattāya paṭipajjeyyun’ti.
Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.’

Iti dhammasudhammataṁ paṭicca paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, kāruññaṁ paṭicca anuddayaṁ paṭicca anukampaṁ upādāya paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.
Thus he teaches others because of the natural excellence of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy.

Kassapena vā hi vo, bhikkhave, ovadissāmi yo vā panassa kassapasadiso, ovaditehi ca pana vo tathattāya paṭipajjitabban”ti.
I will exhort you with the example of Kassapa or someone like him. You should practice accordingly.”

Tatiyaṁ.