Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Numbered Discourses (Aṅguttara)
AN 10.172Bad Principles (2nd) · Dutiyaadhammasutta
18
Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Numbered Discourses (Aṅguttara)
AN 10.172
Bad Principles (2nd) · Dutiyaadhammasutta
EnglishEnglish
PāliPali
“Mendicants, you should know bad principles and good principles. And you should know bad results and good results. Knowing these things, your practice should follow the good principles with good results.” That is what the Buddha said. When he had spoken, the Holy One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.
Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered, “The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. ‘You should know bad principles and good principles. And you should know bad results and good results. Knowing these things, your practice should follow the good principles with good results.’ Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha?”
Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: “idaṁ kho no, āvuso, 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. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?
Then those mendicants thought, “This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter. As he answers, so we’ll remember it.”
Then those mendicants went to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said,
“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. Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you bypassed him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter. 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 preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”
“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 preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer. Still, Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”
“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail: ‘You should know bad principles and good principles … and practice accordingly.’
So what are bad principles? What are good principles? What are bad results? And what are good results? Killing living creatures is a bad principle. Not killing living creatures is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by killing living creatures are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of not killing living creatures are good results.
Katamo cāvuso, adhammo; katamo ca dhammo? Katamo ca anattho, katamo ca attho? Pāṇātipāto, āvuso, adhammo; pāṇātipātā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca pāṇātipātapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; pāṇātipātā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Stealing is a bad principle. Not stealing is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by stealing are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of not stealing are good results.
Adinnādānaṁ, āvuso, adhammo; adinnādānā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca adinnādānapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; adinnādānā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Sexual misconduct is a bad principle. Refraining from sexual misconduct is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by sexual misconduct are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of refraining from sexual misconduct are good results.
Kāmesumicchācāro, āvuso, adhammo; kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca kāmesumicchācārapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Lying is a bad principle. Not lying is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by lying are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of not lying are good results.
Musāvādo, āvuso, adhammo; musāvādā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca musāvādapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; musāvādā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Backbiting is a bad principle. Refraining from divisive speech is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by backbiting are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of refraining from divisive speech are good results.
Pisuṇā vācā, āvuso, adhammo; pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca pisuṇāvācāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Harsh speech is a bad principle. Refraining from harsh speech is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by harsh speech are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of refraining from harsh speech are good results.
Pharusā vācā, āvuso, adhammo; pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca pharusāvācāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; pharusāya vācāya veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Talking nonsense is a bad principle. Refraining from talking nonsense is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by talking nonsense are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of refraining from talking nonsense are good results.
Samphappalāpo, āvuso, adhammo; samphappalāpā veramaṇī dhammo; ye ca samphappalāpapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; samphappalāpā veramaṇipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Covetousness is a bad principle. Contentment is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by covetousness are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of contentment are good results.
Abhijjhā, āvuso, adhammo; anabhijjhā dhammo; ye ca abhijjhāpaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; anabhijjhāpaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Ill will is a bad principle. Good will is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by ill will are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of good will are good results.
Byāpādo, āvuso, adhammo; abyāpādo dhammo; ye ca byāpādapaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; abyāpādapaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
Wrong view is a bad principle. Right view is a good principle. And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong view are bad results. And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of right view are good results.
Micchādiṭṭhi, āvuso, adhammo; sammādiṭṭhi dhammo; ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.
The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail: ‘You should know bad principles and good principles … and practice accordingly.’ And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital. If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this. You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”
“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:
“Sir, we went to Mahākaccāna and asked him about this matter. And Mahākaccāna clearly explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”
“Good, good, mendicants! Mahākaccāna is astute, he has great wisdom. If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Mahākaccāna. That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”
