Difference between revisions of "Sukhamala Sutta: Refinement"
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[[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]]<br/>}}<br/><br/> | [[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]]<br/>}}<br/><br/> | ||
− | :'''Translator's note''': The [[Pali Text Society]] editions treat this {{Wiki|discourse}} as two discourses — III.38 & III.39 — divided at the triple asterisk. {{Wiki|Asian}} editions treat it as one, numbered III.39. The autobiographical [[verse]] at the end of the second half — which is [[identical]] with the [[verse]] concluding [[Upajjhatthana Sutta: Subjects for Contemplation|AN 5.57]] — fits neatly with the autobiographical first half of the {{Wiki|discourse}}, suggesting that the two halves were meant to go together. | + | :'''Translator's note''': The [[Pali Text Society]] editions treat this {{Wiki|discourse}} as two [[discourses]] — III.38 & III.39 — divided at the triple asterisk. {{Wiki|Asian}} editions treat it as one, numbered III.39. The autobiographical [[verse]] at the end of the second half — which is [[identical]] with the [[verse]] concluding [[Upajjhatthana Sutta: Subjects for Contemplation|AN 5.57]] — fits neatly with the autobiographical first half of the {{Wiki|discourse}}, suggesting that the two halves were meant to go together. |
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"Even though I was endowed with such [[fortune]], such total refinement, the [[thought]] occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill [[person]], himself [[subject]] to [[aging]], not beyond [[aging]], sees another who is aged, he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is [[subject]] to [[aging]], not beyond [[aging]]. If I — who am [[subject]] to [[aging]], not beyond [[aging]] — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on [[seeing]] another [[person]] who is aged, that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the [typical] young person's [[intoxication]] with youth entirely dropped away. | "Even though I was endowed with such [[fortune]], such total refinement, the [[thought]] occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill [[person]], himself [[subject]] to [[aging]], not beyond [[aging]], sees another who is aged, he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is [[subject]] to [[aging]], not beyond [[aging]]. If I — who am [[subject]] to [[aging]], not beyond [[aging]] — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on [[seeing]] another [[person]] who is aged, that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the [typical] young person's [[intoxication]] with youth entirely dropped away. | ||
− | "Even though I was endowed with such [[fortune]], such total refinement, the [[thought]] occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill [[person]], himself [[subject]] to {{Wiki|illness}}, not beyond {{Wiki|illness}}, sees another who is ill, he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is [[subject]] to {{Wiki|illness}}, not beyond {{Wiki|illness}}. And if I — who am [[subject]] to {{Wiki|illness}}, not beyond {{Wiki|illness}} — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on [[seeing]] another [[person]] who is ill, that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the healthy person's [[intoxication]] with health entirely dropped away. | + | "Even though I was endowed with such [[fortune]], such total refinement, the [[thought]] occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill [[person]], himself [[subject]] to {{Wiki|illness}}, not beyond {{Wiki|illness}}, sees another who is ill, he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is [[subject]] to {{Wiki|illness}}, not beyond {{Wiki|illness}}. And if I — who am [[subject]] to {{Wiki|illness}}, not beyond {{Wiki|illness}} — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on [[seeing]] another [[person]] who is ill, that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the healthy person's [[intoxication]] with [[health]] entirely dropped away. |
"Even though I was endowed with such [[fortune]], such total refinement, the [[thought]] occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill [[person]], himself [[subject]] to [[death]], not beyond [[death]], sees another who is [[dead]], he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is [[subject]] to [[death]], not beyond [[death]]. And if I — who am [[subject]] to [[death]], not beyond [[death]] — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on [[seeing]] another [[person]] who is [[dead]], that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the living person's [[intoxication]] with [[life]] entirely dropped away. | "Even though I was endowed with such [[fortune]], such total refinement, the [[thought]] occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill [[person]], himself [[subject]] to [[death]], not beyond [[death]], sees another who is [[dead]], he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is [[subject]] to [[death]], not beyond [[death]]. And if I — who am [[subject]] to [[death]], not beyond [[death]] — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on [[seeing]] another [[person]] who is [[dead]], that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the living person's [[intoxication]] with [[life]] entirely dropped away. | ||
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{{Centre|<big><big><big>* * *</big></big></big>}} | {{Centre|<big><big><big>* * *</big></big></big>}} | ||
− | "[[Monks]], there are these three [[forms]] of [[intoxication]]. Which three? [[Intoxication]] with youth, [[intoxication]] with health, [[intoxication]] with [[life]]. | + | "[[Monks]], there are these three [[forms]] of [[intoxication]]. Which three? [[Intoxication]] with youth, [[intoxication]] with [[health]], [[intoxication]] with [[life]]. |
− | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of youth, an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill [[person]] engages in [[bodily]] misconduct, [[verbal]] misconduct, & [[mental]] misconduct. Having engaged in [[bodily]] misconduct, [[verbal]] misconduct, & [[mental]] misconduct, he — on the break-up of the [[body]], after [[death]] — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the [[lower realms]], in [[hell]]. | + | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of youth, an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill [[person]] engages in [[bodily]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, [[verbal]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, & [[mental]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}. Having engaged in [[bodily]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, [[verbal]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, & [[mental]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, he — on the break-up of the [[body]], after [[death]] — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the [[bad destination]], the [[lower realms]], in [[hell]]. |
− | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of health, an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill [[person]] engages in [[bodily]] misconduct, [[verbal]] misconduct, & [[mental]] misconduct. Having engaged in [[bodily]] misconduct, [[verbal]] misconduct, & [[mental]] misconduct, he — on the break-up of the [[body]], after [[death]] — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the [[lower realms]], in [[hell]]. | + | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of [[health]], an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill [[person]] engages in [[bodily]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, [[verbal]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, & [[mental]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}. Having engaged in [[bodily]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, [[verbal]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, & [[mental]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, he — on the break-up of the [[body]], after [[death]] — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the [[bad destination]], the [[lower realms]], in [[hell]]. |
− | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of [[life]], an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill [[person]] engages in [[bodily]] misconduct, [[verbal]] misconduct, & [[mental]] misconduct. Having engaged in [[bodily]] misconduct, [[verbal]] misconduct, & [[mental]] misconduct, he — on the break-up of the [[body]], after [[death]] — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the [[lower realms]], in [[hell]]. | + | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of [[life]], an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill [[person]] engages in [[bodily]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, [[verbal]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, & [[mental]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}. Having engaged in [[bodily]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, [[verbal]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, & [[mental]] {{Wiki|misconduct}}, he — on the break-up of the [[body]], after [[death]] — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the [[bad destination]], the [[lower realms]], in [[hell]]. |
− | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of youth, a [[monk]] leaves the training and returns to the lower [[life]]. Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of health, a [[monk]] leaves the training and returns to the lower [[life]]. Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of [[life]], a [[monk]] leaves the training and returns to the lower [[life]]." | + | "Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of youth, a [[monk]] leaves the {{Wiki|training}} and returns to the lower [[life]]. Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of [[health]], a [[monk]] leaves the {{Wiki|training}} and returns to the lower [[life]]. Drunk with the [[intoxication]] of [[life]], a [[monk]] leaves the {{Wiki|training}} and returns to the lower [[life]]." |
:'[[Subject]] to [[birth]], [[subject]] to [[aging]], | :'[[Subject]] to [[birth]], [[subject]] to [[aging]], | ||
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:without acquisitions — | :without acquisitions — | ||
:I overcame all [[intoxication]] | :I overcame all [[intoxication]] | ||
− | :with health, youth, & [[life]] | + | :with [[health]], youth, & [[life]] |
:as one who sees | :as one who sees | ||
:[[renunciation]] as rest. | :[[renunciation]] as rest. |
Latest revision as of 06:23, 9 March 2015
AN 3.38
Sukhamala Sutta: Refinement
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- Translator's note: The Pali Text Society editions treat this discourse as two discourses — III.38 & III.39 — divided at the triple asterisk. Asian editions treat it as one, numbered III.39. The autobiographical verse at the end of the second half — which is identical with the verse concluding AN 5.57 — fits neatly with the autobiographical first half of the discourse, suggesting that the two halves were meant to go together.
"Monks, I lived in refinement, utmost refinement, total refinement. My father even had lotus ponds made in our palace: one where red-lotuses bloomed, one where white lotuses bloomed, one where blue lotuses bloomed, all for my sake. I used no sandalwood that was not from Varanasi. My turban was from Varanasi, as were my tunic, my lower garments, & my outer cloak. A white sunshade was held over me day & night to protect me from cold, heat, dust, dirt, & dew.
"I had three palaces: one for the cold season, one for the hot season, one for the rainy season. During the four months of the rainy season I was entertained in the rainy-season palace by minstrels without a single man among them, and I did not once come down from the palace. Whereas the servants, workers, & retainers in other people's homes are fed meals of lentil soup & broken rice, in my father's home the servants, workers, & retainers were fed wheat, rice, and meat.
"Even though I was endowed with such fortune, such total refinement, the thought occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill person, himself subject to aging, not beyond aging, sees another who is aged, he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is subject to aging, not beyond aging. If I — who am subject to aging, not beyond aging — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on seeing another person who is aged, that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the [typical] young person's intoxication with youth entirely dropped away.
"Even though I was endowed with such fortune, such total refinement, the thought occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill person, himself subject to illness, not beyond illness, sees another who is ill, he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is subject to illness, not beyond illness. And if I — who am subject to illness, not beyond illness — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on seeing another person who is ill, that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the healthy person's intoxication with health entirely dropped away.
"Even though I was endowed with such fortune, such total refinement, the thought occurred to me: 'When an untaught, run-of-the-mill person, himself subject to death, not beyond death, sees another who is dead, he is horrified, humiliated, & disgusted, oblivious to himself that he too is subject to death, not beyond death. And if I — who am subject to death, not beyond death — were to be horrified, humiliated, & disgusted on seeing another person who is dead, that would not be fitting for me.' As I noticed this, the living person's intoxication with life entirely dropped away.
* * *
"Monks, there are these three forms of intoxication. Which three? Intoxication with youth, intoxication with health, intoxication with life.
"Drunk with the intoxication of youth, an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person engages in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct. Having engaged in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct, he — on the break-up of the body, after death — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell.
"Drunk with the intoxication of health, an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person engages in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct. Having engaged in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct, he — on the break-up of the body, after death — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell.
"Drunk with the intoxication of life, an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person engages in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct. Having engaged in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct, he — on the break-up of the body, after death — reappears in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell.
"Drunk with the intoxication of youth, a monk leaves the training and returns to the lower life. Drunk with the intoxication of health, a monk leaves the training and returns to the lower life. Drunk with the intoxication of life, a monk leaves the training and returns to the lower life."
- 'Subject to birth, subject to aging,
- subject to death,
- run-of-the-mill people
- are repelled by those who suffer
- from that to which they are subject.
- And if I were to be repelled
- by beings subject to these things,
- it would not be fitting for me,
- living as they do.'
- As I maintained this attitude —
- knowing the Dhamma
- without acquisitions —
- I overcame all intoxication
- with health, youth, & life
- as one who sees
- renunciation as rest.
- For me, energy arose,
- Unbinding was clearly seen.
- There's now no way
- I could partake of sensual pleasures.
- Having followed the holy life,
- I will not return.
Source
"Sukhamala Sutta: Refinement" (AN 3.38), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition), 1 December 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.038.than.html .