AN 3.99

Potthakasutta

“Navopi, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo ca hoti dukkhasamphasso ca appaggho ca; majjhimopi, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo ca hoti dukkhasamphasso ca appaggho ca; jiṇṇopi, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo ca hoti dukkhasamphasso ca appaggho ca. Jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, potthakaṁ ukkhaliparimajjanaṁ vā karonti saṅkārakūṭe vā naṁ chaḍḍenti.

Jute

“Jute canvas is ugly, unpleasant to touch, and worthless whether it’s new, worn in, or worn out. They use worn out jute canvas for scrubbing cauldrons, or else they just throw it away on the rubbish heap.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, navo cepi bhikkhu hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo. Idamassa dubbaṇṇatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya. Idamassa dukkhasamphassatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dukkhasamphasso tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ. Idamassa appagghatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako appaggho tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Majjhimo cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe… thero cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, idamassa dubbaṇṇatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya. Idamassa dukkhasamphassatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dukkhasamphasso tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ. Idamassa appagghatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako appaggho tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

In the same way, if a junior mendicant is unethical, of bad character, this is how they’re ugly, I say. That individual is just as ugly as jute canvas. If you associate with, accompany, and attend to them, following their example, it’ll be for your lasting harm and suffering. This is how they’re unpleasant to touch, I say. That individual is just as unpleasant to touch as jute canvas. Any robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick that they receive are not very fruitful or beneficial for the donor. This is how they’re worthless, I say. That individual is just as worthless as jute canvas. If a middle mendicant is unethical, of bad character, this is how they’re ugly, I say. … If a senior mendicant is unethical, of bad character, this is how they’re ugly, I say. … If you associate with, accompany, and attend to them, following their example, it’ll be for your lasting harm and suffering. …

Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, thero bhikkhu saṅghamajjhe bhaṇati. Tamenaṁ bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu: ‘kiṁ nu kho tuyhaṁ bālassa abyattassa bhaṇitena, tvampi nāma bhaṇitabbaṁ maññasī’ti. So kupito anattamano tathārūpiṁ vācaṁ nicchāreti yathārūpāya vācāya saṅgho taṁ ukkhipati, saṅkārakūṭeva naṁ potthakaṁ.

If such a senior mendicant speaks among the Saṅgha, the mendicants say: ‘What’s an incompetent fool like you got to say? How on earth could you imagine you’ve got something worth saying!’ They become angry and upset, and blurt out things that make the Saṅgha throw them out, as if they were throwing jute canvas away on the rubbish heap.

Navampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca; majjhimampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca; jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca. Jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ ratanapaliveṭhanaṁ vā karoti gandhakaraṇḍake vā naṁ pakkhipanti.

Cloth from Kāsi is beautiful, pleasant to touch, and valuable whether it’s new, worn in, or worn out. They use worn out cloth from Kāsi for wrapping, or else they place it in a fragrant casket.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, navo cepi bhikkhu hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, idamassa suvaṇṇatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya. Idamassa sukhasamphassatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ sukhasamphassaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsaṁ. Idamassa mahagghatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ mahagghaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Majjhimo cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe… thero cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe… puggalaṁ vadāmi.

In the same way, if a junior mendicant is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say. That individual is just as beautiful as cloth from Kāsi. If you associate with, accompany, and attend to such an individual, following their example, it will be for your lasting welfare and happiness. This is how they’re pleasant to touch, I say. That individual is just as pleasant to touch as cloth from Kāsi. Any robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick that they receive are very fruitful and beneficial for the donor. This is how they’re valuable, I say. That individual is just as valuable as cloth from Kāsi. If a middle mendicant is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say. … If a senior mendicant is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say. …

Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, thero bhikkhu saṅghamajjhe bhaṇati. Tamenaṁ bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu: ‘appasaddā āyasmanto hotha, thero bhikkhu dhammañca vinayañca bhaṇatī’ti. Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘kāsikavatthūpamā bhavissāma, na potthakūpamā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

If such a senior mendicant speaks in the midst of the Saṅgha, the mendicants say: ‘Venerables, be quiet! The senior mendicant is speaking on the teaching and training.’ So you should train like this: ‘We will be like cloth from Kāsi, not like jute canvas.’ That’s how you should train.”