MN 113

Sappurisasutta

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:

A True Person

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:

“sappurisadhammañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi asappurisadhammañca. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mendicants, I will teach you the qualities of a true person and the qualities of an untrue person. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo? Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso uccākulā pabbajito hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi uccākulā pabbajito, ime panaññe bhikkhū na uccākulā pabbajitā’ti. So tāya uccākulīnatāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho uccākulīnatāya lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi uccākulā pabbajito hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya uccākulīnatāya nevattānukkaṁseti na paraṁ vambheti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

“And what is a quality of an untrue person? Take an untrue person who has gone forth from an eminent family. They reflect: ‘I have gone forth from an eminent family, unlike these other mendicants.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘It’s not because of one’s eminent family that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end. Even if someone has not gone forth from an eminent family, if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’ Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their eminent family. This is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso mahākulā pabbajito hoti …pe… mahābhogakulā pabbajito hoti …pe… uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito, ime panaññe bhikkhū na uḷārabhogakulā pabbajitā’ti. So tāya uḷārabhogatāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho uḷārabhogatāya lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya uḷārabhogatāya nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who has gone forth from a great family … from a wealthy family … from an exceptionally wealthy family. They reflect: ‘I have gone forth from an exceptionally wealthy family, unlike these other mendicants.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘It’s not because of one’s exceptionally wealthy family that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end. Even if someone has not gone forth from an exceptionally wealthy family, if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’ Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their exceptionally wealthy family. This too is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso ñāto hoti yasassī. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi ñāto yasassī, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti. So tena ñattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho ñattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi ñāto hoti yasassī; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena ñattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who is well-known and famous. They reflect: ‘I’m well-known and famous. These other mendicants are obscure and insignificant.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘It’s not because of one’s fame that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end. Even if someone is not well-known and famous, if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’ Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their fame. This too is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi lābhī cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ, ime panaññe bhikkhū na lābhino cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan’ti. So tena lābhena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho lābhena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena lābhena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who receives robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. They reflect: ‘I receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick, unlike these other mendicants.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘It’s not because of one’s material things that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end. Even if someone doesn’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick, if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’ Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their material things. This too is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso bahussuto hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi bahussuto, ime panaññe bhikkhū na bahussutā’ti. So tena bāhusaccena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho bāhusaccena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi bahussuto hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena bāhusaccena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who is very learned …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vinayadharo hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi vinayadharo, ime panaññe bhikkhū na vinayadharā’ti. So tena vinayadharattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho vinayadharattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi vinayadharo hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena vinayadharattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

who is an expert in the monastic law …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso dhammakathiko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi dhammakathiko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na dhammakathikā’ti. So tena dhammakathikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho dhammakathikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi dhammakathiko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena dhammakathikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

who is a Dhamma teacher …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso āraññiko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi āraññiko ime panaññe bhikkhū na āraññikā’ti. So tena āraññikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho āraññikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi āraññiko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena āraññikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

who dwells in the wilderness …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso paṁsukūliko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi paṁsukūliko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na paṁsukūlikā’ti. So tena paṁsukūlikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho paṁsukūlikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi paṁsukūliko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena paṁsukūlikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

who is a rag robe wearer …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso piṇḍapātiko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi piṇḍapātiko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na piṇḍapātikā’ti. So tena piṇḍapātikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho piṇḍapātikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi piṇḍapātiko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena piṇḍapātikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

who eats only almsfood …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso rukkhamūliko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi rukkhamūliko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na rukkhamūlikā’ti. So tena rukkhamūlikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho rukkhamūlikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi rukkhamūliko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena rukkhamūlikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

who stays at the root of a tree …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sosāniko hoti …pe… abbhokāsiko hoti … nesajjiko hoti …pe… yathāsanthatiko hoti …pe… ekāsaniko hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi ekāsaniko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na ekāsanikā’ti. So tena ekāsanikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘na kho ekāsanikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. No cepi ekāsaniko hoti; so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena ekāsanikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

who stays in a charnel ground … who stays in the open air … who never lies down … who sleeps wherever they lay their mat … who eats in one sitting per day. They reflect: ‘I eat in one sitting per day, unlike these other mendicants.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘It’s not because of eating in one sitting per day that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end. Even if someone eats in more than one sitting per day, if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’ Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their eating in one sitting per day. This too is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person 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. They reflect: ‘I have attained the first absorption, unlike these other mendicants.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘The Buddha has spoken of not being determined even by the attainment of the first absorption. For however they imagine it, it turns out to be something else.’ Keeping to themselves the fact that they are not determined by that, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their attainment of the first absorption. This too is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ … catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘catutthajjhānasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. They reflect: ‘I have attained the fourth absorption, unlike these other mendicants.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘The Buddha has spoken of not being determined even by the attainment of the fourth absorption. For however they imagine it, it turns out to be something else.’ Keeping to themselves the fact that they are not determined by that, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their attainment of the fourth absorption. This too is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

the dimension of nothingness …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ khomhi nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. So tāya nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. They reflect: ‘I have attained the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, unlike these other mendicants.’ And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a quality of an untrue person. A true person reflects: ‘The Buddha has spoken of not being determined even by the attainment of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. For however they imagine it, it turns out to be something else.’ Keeping to themselves the fact that they are not determined by that, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their attainment of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This too is a quality of a true person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sappuriso sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati. Paññāya cassa disvā āsavā parikkhīṇā honti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na kiñci maññati, na kuhiñci maññati, na kenaci maññatī”ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Furthermore, take a true person who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end. This is a mendicant who does not conceive with anything, does not conceive regarding anything, does not conceive through anything.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.