Mahali Sutta
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To Mahali
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Vesali, in the Great Wood, at the Hall of the Gabled Pavilion. Then Mahali the Licchavi went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, "Purana Kassapa says this: 'There is no cause, no requisite condition, for the defilement of beings. Beings are defiled without cause, without requisite condition. There is no cause, no requisite condition, for the purification of beings. Beings are purified without cause, without requisite condition.'[1] What does the Blessed One say about this?"
"Mahali, there is cause, there is requisite condition, for the defilement of beings. Beings are defiled with cause, with requisite condition. There is cause, there is requisite condition, for the purification of beings. Beings are purified with cause, with requisite condition."
"And what, lord, is the cause, what the requisite condition, for the defilement of beings? How are beings defiled with cause, with requisite condition?"
"Mahali, if form were exclusively stressful followed by stress, infused with stress and not infused with pleasure beings would not be infatuated with form. But because form is also pleasurable followed by pleasure, infused with pleasure and not infused with stress beings are infatuated with form. Through infatuation, they are captivated. Through captivation, they are defiled. This is the cause, this the requisite condition, for the defilement of beings. And this is how beings are defiled with cause, with requisite condition.
"If feeling were exclusively stressful...
"If perception were exclusively stressful...
"If fabrications were exclusively stressful...
"If consciousness were exclusively stressful followed by stress, infused with stress and not infused with pleasure beings would not be infatuated with consciousness. But because consciousness is also pleasurable followed by pleasure, infused with pleasure and not infused with stress beings are infatuated with consciousness. Through infatuation, they are captivated. Through captivation, they are defiled. This is the cause, this the requisite condition, for the defilement of beings. And this is how beings are defiled with cause, with requisite condition."
"And what, lord, is the cause, what the requisite condition, for the purification of beings? How are beings purified with cause, with requisite condition?"
"Mahali, if form were exclusively pleasurable followed by pleasure, infused with pleasure and not infused with stress beings would not be disenchanted with form. But because form is also stressful followed by stress, infused with stress and not infused with pleasure beings are disenchanted with form. Through disenchantment, they grow dispassionate. Through dispassion, they are purified. This is the cause, this the requisite condition, for the purification of beings. And this is how beings are purified with cause, with requisite condition.
"If feeling were exclusively pleasurable...
"If perception were exclusively pleasurable...
"If fabrications were exclusively pleasurable...
"If consciousness were exclusively pleasurable followed by pleasure, infused with pleasure and not infused with stress beings would not be disenchanted with consciousness. But because consciousness is also stressful followed by stress, infused with stress and not infused with pleasure beings are disenchanted with consciousness. Through disenchantment, they grow dispassionate. Through dispassion, they are purified. This is the cause, this the requisite condition, for the purification of beings. And this is how beings are purified with cause, with requisite condition."
Note
1. DN 2 ascribes this view to Makkhali Gosala, and the view of non-action to Purana Kassapa.