SN 42.8

Saṅkhadhamasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā nāḷandāyaṁ viharati pāvārikambavane. Atha kho asibandhakaputto gāmaṇi nigaṇṭhasāvako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho asibandhakaputtaṁ gāmaṇiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “kathaṁ nu kho, gāmaṇi, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ desetī”ti? “Evaṁ kho, bhante, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ deseti: ‘yo koci pāṇaṁ atipāteti, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci adinnaṁ ādiyati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci kāmesu micchā carati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci musā bhaṇati sabbo, so āpāyiko nerayiko. Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulaṁ viharati, tena tena nīyatī’ti. Evaṁ kho, bhante, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ desetī”ti. “‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati, tena tena nīyati’, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

A Horn Blower

At one time the Buddha was staying near Nāḷandā in Pāvārika’s Mango Grove. Then Asibandhaka’s son the chief, who was a disciple of the Jains, went up to the Buddha, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, “Chief, how does the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan teach his disciples?” “Sir, this is how the Jain Ñātika teaches his disciples: ‘Everyone who kills a living creature, steals, commits sexual misconduct, or lies goes to a place of loss, to hell. You’re led on by what you frequently live by.’ This is how the Jain Ñātika teaches his disciples.” “‘You’re led on by what you usually live by’: if this were true, then, according to what the Jain Ñātika says, no one would go to a place of loss, to hell.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, yo so puriso pāṇātipātī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so pāṇamatipāteti, yaṁ vā so pāṇaṁ nātipātetī”ti? “Yo so, bhante, puriso pāṇātipātī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, appataro so samayo yaṁ so pāṇamatipāteti, atha kho sveva bahutaro samayo yaṁ so pāṇaṁ nātipātetī”ti. “‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati tena tena nīyatī’ti, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

What do you think, chief? Take a person who kills living creatures. If we compare periods of time during the day and night, which is more frequent: the occasions when they’re killing or when they’re not killing?” “The occasions when they’re killing are less frequent, while the occasions when they’re not killing are more frequent.” “‘You’re led on by what you usually live by’: if this were true, then, according to what the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan says, no one would go to a place of loss, to hell.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, yo so puriso adinnādāyī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so adinnaṁ ādiyati, yaṁ vā so adinnaṁ nādiyatī”ti. “Yo so, bhante, puriso adinnādāyī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya appataro so samayo, yaṁ so adinnaṁ ādiyati, atha kho sveva bahutaro samayo, yaṁ so adinnaṁ nādiyatī”ti. “‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati tena tena nīyatī’ti, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

What do you think, chief? Take a person who steals …

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, yo so puriso kāmesumicchācārī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so kāmesu micchā carati, yaṁ vā so kāmesu micchā na caratī”ti? “Yo so, bhante, puriso kāmesumicchācārī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, appataro so samayo yaṁ so kāmesu micchā carati, atha kho sveva bahutaro samayo, yaṁ so kāmesu micchā na caratī”ti. “‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati tena tena nīyatī’ti, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

Take a person who commits sexual misconduct …

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, yo so puriso musāvādī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so musā bhaṇati, yaṁ vā so musā na bhaṇatī”ti? “Yo so, bhante, puriso musāvādī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, appataro so samayo, yaṁ so musā bhaṇati, atha kho sveva bahutaro samayo, yaṁ so musā na bhaṇatī”ti. “‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati tena tena nīyatī’ti, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

Take a person who lies. If we compare periods of time during the day and night, which is more frequent: the occasions when they’re lying or when they’re not lying?” “The occasions when they’re lying are less frequent, while the occasions when they’re not lying are more frequent.” “‘You’re led on by what you usually live by’: if this were true, then, according to what the Jain Ñātika says, no one would go to a place of loss, to hell.

Idha, gāmaṇi, ekacco satthā evaṁvādī hoti evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘yo koci pāṇamatipāteti, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci adinnaṁ ādiyati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci kāmesu micchā carati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci musā bhaṇati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko’ti. Tasmiṁ kho pana, gāmaṇi, satthari sāvako abhippasanno hoti. Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘mayhaṁ kho satthā evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi— yo koci pāṇamatipāteti, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayikoti. Atthi kho pana mayā pāṇo atipātito, ahampamhi āpāyiko nerayikoti diṭṭhiṁ paṭilabhati. Taṁ, gāmaṇi, vācaṁ appahāya taṁ cittaṁ appahāya taṁ diṭṭhiṁ appaṭinissajjitvā yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Mayhaṁ kho satthā evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi— yo koci adinnaṁ ādiyati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayikoti. Atthi kho pana mayā adinnaṁ ādinnaṁ ahampamhi āpāyiko nerayikoti diṭṭhiṁ paṭilabhati. Taṁ, gāmaṇi, vācaṁ appahāya taṁ cittaṁ appahāya taṁ diṭṭhiṁ appaṭinissajjitvā yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Mayhaṁ kho satthā evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi— yo koci kāmesu micchā carati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko’ti. Atthi kho pana mayā kāmesu micchā ciṇṇaṁ. ‘Ahampamhi āpāyiko nerayiko’ti diṭṭhiṁ paṭilabhati. Taṁ, gāmaṇi, vācaṁ appahāya taṁ cittaṁ appahāya taṁ diṭṭhiṁ appaṭinissajjitvā yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye. Mayhaṁ kho satthā evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi— yo koci musā bhaṇati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayikoti. Atthi kho pana mayā musā bhaṇitaṁ. ‘Ahampamhi āpāyiko nerayiko’ti diṭṭhiṁ paṭilabhati. Taṁ, gāmaṇi, vācaṁ appahāya taṁ cittaṁ appahāya taṁ diṭṭhiṁ appaṭinissajjitvā yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

Take some teacher who has this doctrine and view: ‘Everyone who kills a living creature, steals, commits sexual misconduct, or lies goes to a place of loss, to hell.’ And there’s a disciple who is devoted to that teacher. They think: ‘My teacher has this doctrine and view: “Everyone who kills a living creature, steals, commits sexual misconduct, or lies goes to a place of loss, to hell.” But I’ve killed living creatures … stolen … committed sexual misconduct … or lied.’ They get the view: ‘I too am going to a place of loss, to hell.’ Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there.

Idha pana, gāmaṇi, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. So anekapariyāyena pāṇātipātaṁ garahati vigarahati, ‘pāṇātipātā viramathā’ti cāha. Adinnādānaṁ garahati vigarahati, ‘adinnādānā viramathā’ti cāha. Kāmesumicchācāraṁ garahati, vigarahati ‘kāmesumicchācārā viramathā’ti cāha. Musāvādaṁ garahati vigarahati ‘musāvādā viramathā’ti cāha. Tasmiṁ kho pana, gāmaṇi, satthari sāvako abhippasanno hoti. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘bhagavā kho anekapariyāyena pāṇātipātaṁ garahati vigarahati, pāṇātipātā viramathāti cāha. Atthi kho pana mayā pāṇo atipātito yāvatako vā tāvatako vā. Yo kho pana mayā pāṇo atipātito yāvatako vā tāvatako vā, taṁ na suṭṭhu, taṁ na sādhu. Ahañceva kho pana tappaccayā vippaṭisārī assaṁ. Na metaṁ pāpaṁ kammaṁ akataṁ bhavissatī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya tañceva pāṇātipātaṁ pajahati. Āyatiñca pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa samatikkamo hoti.

But consider when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. In many ways he criticizes and denounces killing living creatures, saying: ‘Stop killing living creatures!’ He criticizes and denounces stealing … sexual misconduct … lying, saying: ‘Stop lying!’ And there’s a disciple who is devoted to that teacher. Then they reflect: ‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces killing living creatures, saying: “Stop killing living creatures!” But I have killed living creatures to a certain extent. That’s not right, it’s not good, and I feel remorseful because of it. But I can’t undo what I have done.’ Reflecting like this, they give up killing living creatures, and in future they don’t kill living creatures. That’s how to give up this bad deed and get past it.

‘Bhagavā kho anekapariyāyena adinnādānaṁ garahati vigarahati, adinnādānā viramathāti cāha. Atthi kho pana mayā adinnaṁ ādinnaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā. Yaṁ kho pana mayā adinnaṁ ādinnaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā taṁ na suṭṭhu, taṁ na sādhu. Ahañceva kho pana tappaccayā vippaṭisārī assaṁ, na metaṁ pāpaṁ kammaṁ akataṁ bhavissatī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya tañceva adinnādānaṁ pajahati. Āyatiñca adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa samatikkamo hoti.

‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces stealing …’

‘Bhagavā kho pana anekapariyāyena kāmesumicchācāraṁ garahati vigarahati, kāmesumicchācārā viramathāti cāha. Atthi kho pana mayā kāmesu micchā ciṇṇaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā. Yaṁ kho pana mayā kāmesu micchā ciṇṇaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā taṁ na suṭṭhu, taṁ na sādhu. Ahañceva kho pana tappaccayā vippaṭisārī assaṁ, na metaṁ pāpaṁ kammaṁ akataṁ bhavissatī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya tañceva kāmesumicchācāraṁ pajahati, āyatiñca kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa samatikkamo hoti.

‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces sexual misconduct …’

‘Bhagavā kho pana anekapariyāyena musāvādaṁ garahati vigarahati, musāvādā viramathāti cāha. Atthi kho pana mayā musā bhaṇitaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā. Yaṁ kho pana mayā musā bhaṇitaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā taṁ na suṭṭhu, taṁ na sādhu. Ahañceva kho pana tappaccayā vippaṭisārī assaṁ, na metaṁ pāpaṁ kammaṁ akataṁ bhavissatī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya tañceva musāvādaṁ pajahati, āyatiñca musāvādā paṭivirato hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa samatikkamo hoti.

‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces lying, saying: “Stop lying!” But I have lied to a certain extent. That’s not right, it’s not good, and I feel remorseful because of it. But I can’t undo what I have done.’ Reflecting like this, they give up lying, and in future they refrain from lying. That’s how to give up this bad deed and get past it.

So pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti. Adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti. Kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti. Musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato hoti. Pisuṇaṁ vācaṁ pahāya pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti. Pharusaṁ vācaṁ pahāya pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti. Samphappalāpaṁ pahāya samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti. Abhijjhaṁ pahāya anabhijjhālu hoti. Byāpādappadosaṁ pahāya abyāpannacitto hoti. Micchādiṭṭhiṁ pahāya sammādiṭṭhiko hoti.

They give up killing living creatures. They give up stealing. They give up sexual misconduct. They give up lying. They give up backbiting. They give up harsh speech. They give up talking nonsense. They give up covetousness. They give up ill will and malevolence. They give up wrong view and have right view.

Sa kho so, gāmaṇi, ariyasāvako evaṁ vigatābhijjho vigatabyāpādo asammūḷho sampajāno paṭissato mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. Seyyathāpi, gāmaṇi, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; evameva kho, gāmaṇi, evaṁ bhāvitāya mettāya cetovimuttiyā evaṁ bahulīkatāya yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ, na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhati.

That noble disciple is rid of desire, rid of ill will, unconfused, aware, and mindful. They meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters. In the same way, when the heart’s release by love has been developed and cultivated like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there.

Sa kho so, gāmaṇi, ariyasāvako evaṁ vigatābhijjho vigatabyāpādo asammūḷho sampajāno paṭissato karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe… muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe…. Upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. Seyyathāpi, gāmaṇi, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; evameva kho, gāmaṇi, evaṁ bhāvitāya upekkhāya cetovimuttiyā evaṁ bahulīkatāya yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhatī”ti.

Then that noble disciple is rid of desire, rid of ill will, unconfused, aware, and mindful. They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion … They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing … They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters. In the same way, when the heart’s release by equanimity has been developed and cultivated like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there.”

Evaṁ vutte, asibandhakaputto gāmaṇi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante …pe… upāsakaṁ maṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

When he said this, Asibandhaka’s son the chief said to the Buddha, “Excellent, sir! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”