SN 16.3

Candūpamāsutta

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. “Candūpamā, bhikkhave, kulāni upasaṅkamatha— apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavakā kulesu appagabbhā. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso jarudapānaṁ vā olokeyya pabbatavisamaṁ vā nadīviduggaṁ vā— apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ; evameva kho, bhikkhave, candūpamā kulāni upasaṅkamatha— apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavakā kulesu appagabbhā.

Like the Moon

At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, you should approach families like the moon: withdrawn in body and mind, ever the newcomer, and never rude. Suppose a person were to look down at an old well, a rugged cliff, or an inaccessible riverland. They’d withdraw their body and mind. In the same way, you should approach families like the moon: withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude.

Kassapo, bhikkhave, candūpamo kulāni upasaṅkamati— apakasseva kāyaṁ, apakassa cittaṁ, niccanavako kulesu appagabbho. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, kathaṁrūpo bhikkhu arahati kulāni upasaṅkamitun”ti? “Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

Kassapa approaches families like the moon: withdrawn in body and mind, ever the newcomer, and never rude. What do you think, mendicants? What kind of mendicant is worthy of approaching families?” “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. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ ākāse pāṇi na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati; evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhuno kulāni upasaṅkamato kulesu cittaṁ na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati: ‘labhantu lābhakāmā, puññakāmā karontu puññānī’ti; yathāsakena lābhena attamano hoti sumano, evaṁ paresaṁ lābhena attamano hoti sumano; evarūpo kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahati kulāni upasaṅkamituṁ.

Then the Buddha waved his hand in space. “Mendicants, this hand is not stuck or held or caught in space. In the same way, when approaching families, a mendicant’s mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking: ‘May those who want material things get them, and may those who want merit make merits!’ They’re just as pleased and happy when others get something as they are when they get something. This kind of mendicant is worthy of approaching families.

Kassapassa, bhikkhave, kulāni upasaṅkamato kulesu cittaṁ na sajjati na gayhati na bajjhati: ‘labhantu lābhakāmā, puññakāmā karontu puññānī’ti; yathāsakena lābhena attamano hoti sumano; evaṁ paresaṁ lābhena attamano hoti sumano.

When Kassapa approaches families, his mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking: ‘May those who want material things get them, and may those who want merit make merits!’ He’s just as pleased and happy when others get something as he is when he gets something.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, kathaṁrūpassa bhikkhuno aparisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti, kathaṁrūpassa bhikkhuno parisuddhā dhammadesanā hotī”ti? “Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti. “Tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

What do you think, mendicants? What kind of mendicant’s teaching is pure, and what kind is impure?” “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.” “Well then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti: ‘aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ pasīdeyyuṁ, pasannā ca me pasannākāraṁ kareyyun’ti; evarūpassa kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno aparisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti.

“Whoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought: ‘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.’ Such a mendicant’s teaching is impure.

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti. Aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ ājāneyyuṁ, ājānitvā ca pana tathattāya paṭipajjeyyun’ti. Iti dhammasudhammataṁ paṭicca paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, kāruññaṁ paṭicca anuddayaṁ paṭicca anukampaṁ upādāya paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti. Evarūpassa kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno parisuddhā dhammadesanā hoti.

Whoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought: ‘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. Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.’ So they teach others because of the clear rightness of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy. Such a mendicant’s teaching is pure.

Kassapo, bhikkhave, evaṁcitto paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti. Aho vata me dhammaṁ suṇeyyuṁ, sutvā ca pana dhammaṁ ājāneyyuṁ, ājānitvā ca pana tathattāya paṭipajjeyyun’ti. Iti dhammasudhammataṁ paṭicca paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, kāruññaṁ paṭicca anuddayaṁ paṭicca anukampaṁ upādāya paresaṁ dhammaṁ deseti. Kassapena vā hi vo, bhikkhave, ovadissāmi yo vā panassa kassapasadiso, ovaditehi ca pana vo tathattāya paṭipajjitabban”ti.

Kassapa teaches Dhamma to others with the thought: ‘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. Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they’ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.’ Thus he teaches others because of the clear rightness of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy. I will exhort you with the example of Kassapa or someone like him. You should practice accordingly.”