MN 139 · Pali Canon (Tipiṭaka) – English & Pāli · Verses Across
Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Long & Middle Discourses
MN 139
The Analysis of No Strife · Araṇavibhaṅgasutta
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So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti. “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Mendicants, I shall teach you the analysis of no strife. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
“Don’t indulge in sensual pleasure, which is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. And don’t indulge in self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and pointless. Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One understood the middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment. Know what it means to flatter and to rebuke. Knowing these, avoid them, and just teach Dhamma. Know how to evaluate different kinds of pleasure. Knowing this, pursue inner pleasure. Don’t talk behind people’s backs, and don’t speak sharply in their presence. Don’t speak hurriedly. Don’t insist on popular definitions and don’t overstep normal labels. This is the summary recital for the analysis of no strife.
“Na kāmasukhamanuyuñjeyya hīnaṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, na ca attakilamathānuyogamanuyuñjeyya dukkhaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ. Ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante anupagamma majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā, cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. Ussādanañca jaññā, apasādanañca jaññā; ussādanañca ñatvā apasādanañca ñatvā nevussādeyya, na apasādeyya, dhammameva deseyya. Sukhavinicchayaṁ jaññā; sukhavinicchayaṁ ñatvā ajjhattaṁ sukhamanuyuñjeyya. Rahovādaṁ na bhāseyya, sammukhā na khīṇaṁ bhaṇe. Ataramānova bhāseyya, no taramāno. Janapadaniruttiṁ nābhiniveseyya, samaññaṁ nātidhāveyyāti— ayamuddeso araṇavibhaṅgassa.
‘Don’t indulge in sensual pleasure, which is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. And don’t indulge in self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and pointless.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? Indulging in the happiness of the pleasure linked to sensuality is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. It is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. Breaking off such indulgence is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. Indulging in self-mortification is painful, ignoble, and pointless. It is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. Breaking off such indulgence is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. ‘Don’t indulge in sensual pleasure, which is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. And don’t indulge in self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, and pointless.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One understood the middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. ‘Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One understood the middle way of practice, which gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
And how is there flattering and rebuking without teaching Dhamma? ‘All those who indulge in the happiness of the pleasure linked to sensuality—low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless—are beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the wrong way.’ In speaking like this, one rebukes some here. ‘All those who have broken off indulging in the happiness of the pleasure linked to sensuality are free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the right way.’ In speaking like this, one flatters some here. ‘All those who indulge in self-mortification—painful, ignoble, and pointless—are beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the wrong way.’ In speaking like this, one rebukes some here. ‘All those who have broken off indulging in self-mortification are free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the right way.’ In speaking like this, one flatters some here. ‘All those who have not given up the fetter of continued existence are beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the wrong way.’ In speaking like this, one rebukes some here. ‘All those who have given up the fetter of continued existence are free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the right way.’ In speaking like this, one flatters some here. That’s how there is flattering and rebuking without teaching Dhamma.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, ussādanā ca hoti apasādanā ca, no ca dhammadesanā? ‘Ye kāmapaṭisandhisukhino somanassānuyogaṁ anuyuttā hīnaṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te sadukkhā saupaghātā saupāyāsā sapariḷāhā micchāpaṭipannā’ti— iti vadaṁ ittheke apasādeti. ‘Ye kāmapaṭisandhisukhino somanassānuyogaṁ ananuyuttā hīnaṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te adukkhā anupaghātā anupāyāsā apariḷāhā sammāpaṭipannā’ti— iti vadaṁ ittheke ussādeti. ‘Ye attakilamathānuyogaṁ anuyuttā dukkhaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te sadukkhā saupaghātā saupāyāsā sapariḷāhā micchāpaṭipannā’ti— iti vadaṁ ittheke apasādeti. ‘Ye attakilamathānuyogaṁ ananuyuttā dukkhaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te adukkhā anupaghātā anupāyāsā apariḷāhā sammāpaṭipannā’ti— iti vadaṁ ittheke ussādeti. ‘Yesaṁ kesañci bhavasaṁyojanaṁ appahīnaṁ, sabbe te sadukkhā saupaghātā saupāyāsā sapariḷāhā micchāpaṭipannā’ti— iti vadaṁ ittheke apasādeti. ‘Yesaṁ kesañci bhavasaṁyojanaṁ pahīnaṁ, sabbe te adukkhā anupaghātā anupāyāsā apariḷāhā sammāpaṭipannā’ti— iti vadaṁ ittheke ussādeti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ussādanā ca hoti apasādanā ca, no ca dhammadesanā.
And how is there neither flattering nor rebuking, and just teaching Dhamma? You don’t say: ‘All those who indulge in the happiness of the pleasure linked to sensuality—low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless—are beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the wrong way.’ Rather, by saying this you just teach Dhamma: ‘The indulgence is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way.’ You don’t say: ‘All those who have broken off indulging in the happiness of the pleasure linked to sensuality are free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the right way.’ Rather, by saying this you just teach Dhamma: ‘Breaking off the indulgence is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way.’ You don’t say: ‘All those who indulge in self-mortification—painful, ignoble, and pointless—are beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the wrong way.’ Rather, by saying this you just teach Dhamma: ‘The indulgence is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way.’ You don’t say: ‘All those who have broken off indulging in self-mortification are free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the right way.’ Rather, by saying this you just teach Dhamma: ‘Breaking off the indulgence is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way.’ You don’t say: ‘All those who have not given up the fetter of continued existence are beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the wrong way.’ Rather, by saying this you just teach Dhamma: ‘When the fetter of continued existence is not given up, continued existence is also not given up.’ You don’t say: ‘All those who have given up the fetter of continued existence are free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and they are practicing the right way.’ Rather, by saying this you just teach Dhamma: ‘When the fetter of continued existence is given up, continued existence is also given up.’ That’s how there is neither flattering nor rebuking, and just teaching Dhamma. ‘Know what it means to flatter and to rebuke. Knowing these, avoid them, and just teach Dhamma.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, nevussādanā hoti na apasādanā, dhammadesanā ca? ‘Ye kāmapaṭisandhisukhino somanassānuyogaṁ anuyuttā hīnaṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te sadukkhā saupaghātā saupāyāsā sapariḷāhā micchāpaṭipannā’ti— na evamāha. ‘Anuyogo ca kho sadukkho eso dhammo saupaghāto saupāyāso sapariḷāho; micchāpaṭipadā’ti— iti vadaṁ dhammameva deseti. ‘Ye kāmapaṭisandhisukhino somanassānuyogaṁ ananuyuttā hīnaṁ gammaṁ pothujjanikaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te adukkhā anupaghātā anupāyāsā apariḷāhā sammāpaṭipannā’ti— na evamāha. ‘Ananuyogo ca kho adukkho eso dhammo anupaghāto anupāyāso apariḷāho; sammāpaṭipadā’ti— iti vadaṁ dhammameva deseti. ‘Ye attakilamathānuyogaṁ anuyuttā dukkhaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te sadukkhā saupaghātā saupāyāsā sapariḷāhā micchāpaṭipannā’ti— na evamāha. ‘Anuyogo ca kho sadukkho eso dhammo saupaghāto saupāyāso sapariḷāho; micchāpaṭipadā’ti— iti vadaṁ dhammameva deseti. ‘Ye attakilamathānuyogaṁ ananuyuttā dukkhaṁ anariyaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ, sabbe te adukkhā anupaghātā anupāyāsā apariḷāhā sammāpaṭipannā’ti— na evamāha. ‘Ananuyogo ca kho adukkho eso dhammo anupaghāto anupāyāso apariḷāho; sammāpaṭipadā’ti— iti vadaṁ dhammameva deseti. ‘Yesaṁ kesañci bhavasaṁyojanaṁ appahīnaṁ, sabbe te sadukkhā saupaghātā saupāyāsā sapariḷāhā micchāpaṭipannā’ti— na evamāha. ‘Bhavasaṁyojane ca kho appahīne bhavopi appahīno hotī’ti— iti vadaṁ dhammameva deseti. ‘Yesaṁ kesañci bhavasaṁyojanaṁ pahīnaṁ, sabbe te adukkhā anupaghātā anupāyāsā apariḷāhā sammāpaṭipannā’ti— na evamāha. ‘Bhavasaṁyojane ca kho pahīne bhavopi pahīno hotī’ti— iti vadaṁ dhammameva deseti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, nevussādanā hoti na apasādanā, dhammadesanā ca. ‘Ussādanañca jaññā, apasādanañca jaññā; ussādanañca ñatvā apasādanañca ñatvā nevussādeyya, na apasādeyya, dhammameva deseyyā’ti— iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
‘Know how to evaluate different kinds of pleasure. Knowing this, pursue inner pleasure.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds known by the ear … Smells known by the nose … Tastes known by the tongue … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called sensual pleasure—a filthy, common, ignoble pleasure. Such pleasure should not be cultivated or developed, but should be feared, I say. Now, take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. This is called the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening. Such pleasure should be cultivated and developed, and should not be feared, I say. ‘Know how to evaluate different kinds of pleasure. Knowing this, pursue inner pleasure.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘Don’t talk behind people’s backs, and don’t speak sharply in their presence.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? When you know that what you say behind someone’s back is untrue, false, and pointless, then to the best of your ability you should not speak. When you know that what you say behind someone’s back is true and correct, but pointless, then you should train yourself not to speak. When you know that what you say behind someone’s back is true, correct, and beneficial, then you should know the right time to speak. When you know that your sharp words in someone’s presence are untrue, false, and pointless, then to the best of your ability you should not speak. When you know that your sharp words in someone’s presence are true and correct, but pointless, then you should train yourself not to speak. When you know that your sharp words in someone’s presence are true, correct, and beneficial, then you should know the right time to speak. ‘Don’t talk behind people’s backs, and don’t speak sharply in their presence.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘Don’t speak hurriedly.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? When speaking hurriedly, your body gets tired, your mind gets stressed, your voice gets stressed, your throat gets sore, and your words become unclear and hard to understand. When not speaking hurriedly, your body doesn’t get tired, your mind doesn’t get stressed, your voice doesn’t get stressed, your throat doesn’t get sore, and your words are clear and easy to understand. ‘Don’t speak hurriedly.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
‘Ataramānova bhāseyya no taramāno’ti— iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Tatra, bhikkhave, taramānassa bhāsato kāyopi kilamati, cittampi upahaññati, saropi upahaññati, kaṇṭhopi āturīyati, avisaṭṭhampi hoti aviññeyyaṁ taramānassa bhāsitaṁ. Tatra, bhikkhave, ataramānassa bhāsato kāyopi na kilamati, cittampi na upahaññati, saropi na upahaññati, kaṇṭhopi na āturīyati, visaṭṭhampi hoti viññeyyaṁ ataramānassa bhāsitaṁ. ‘Ataramānova bhāseyya, no taramāno’ti— iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
‘Don’t insist on popular definitions and don’t overstep normal labels.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? And how do you insist on popular definitions and overstep normal labels? It’s when among different populations they label the same thing as a ‘cup’, a ‘bowl’, a ‘jar’, a ‘scoop’, a ‘vessel’, a ‘dish’, or a ‘plate’. And however it is known among those various populations, you speak accordingly, obstinately sticking to that and insisting: ‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’ That’s how you insist on popular definitions and overstep normal labels. And how do you not insist on popular definitions and overstep normal labels? It’s when among different populations they label the same thing as a ‘cup’, a ‘bowl’, a ‘jar’, a ‘scoop’, a ‘vessel’, a ‘dish’, or a ‘plate’. And however it is known among those various populations, you speak accordingly, thinking: ‘It seems that the venerables are referring to this.’ That’s how you don’t insist on popular definitions and don’t overstep normal labels. ‘Don’t insist on popular definitions and don’t overstep normal labels.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
Now, mendicants, indulging in the happiness of the pleasure linked to sensuality is low, crude, ordinary, ignoble, and pointless. It is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Breaking off such indulgence is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. Indulging in self-mortification is painful, ignoble, and pointless. It is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Breaking off such indulgence is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. The middle way of practice that was understood by the Realized One gives vision and knowledge, and leads to peace, direct knowledge, awakening, and extinguishment. It is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. Flattering and rebuking without teaching Dhamma is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Neither flattering nor rebuking, and just teaching Dhamma is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. Sensual pleasure—a filthy, common, ignoble pleasure—is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. The pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. Saying untrue, false, and pointless things behind someone’s back is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Saying true and correct, but pointless things behind someone’s back is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Saying true, correct, and beneficial things behind someone’s back is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. Saying untrue, false, and pointless things in someone’s presence is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Saying true and correct, but pointless things in someone’s presence is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Saying true, correct, and beneficial things in someone’s presence is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. Speaking hurriedly is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Speaking unhurriedly is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife. Insisting on popular definitions and overriding common usage is a principle beset by pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the wrong way. That’s why this is a principle beset by strife. Not insisting on popular definitions and not overriding common usage is a principle free of pain, harm, stress, and fever, and it is the right way. That’s why this is a principle free of strife.
So you should train like this: ‘We shall know the principles beset by strife and the principles free of strife. Knowing this, we will practice the way free of strife.’ And, mendicants, the gentleman Subhūti practices the way free of strife.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.
