Kakacūpamasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 21

The Simile of the Saw · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā near Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta’s Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa in the monasteryārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

at thatTena indeedkho nowpana timesamayena venerableāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ too longativelaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho was stayingviharati.
soEvaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho venerableāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ was stayingviharati—
ifsace anykoci monkbhikkhu of venerableāyasmato Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphaggunassa in the presencesammukhā of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ criticismavaṇṇaṁ speaksbhāsati, because of that the venerabletenāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno angrykupito upsetanattamano even disciplinary proceedingsadhikaraṇampi instigateskaroti.
ifSace butpana anykoci monkbhikkhu of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ in the presencesammukhā of venerableāyasmato Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphaggunassa criticismavaṇṇaṁ speaksbhāsati, because of thattena thosetā nunsbhikkhuniyo angrykupitā upsetanattamanā even disciplinary proceedingsadhikaraṇampi instigatekaronti.
soEvaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho venerableāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ was stayingviharati.

Now at that time, Venerable Phagguna of the Top-Knot was spending too long mixing closely with some nuns. So much so that if any mendicant criticized those nuns in his presence, Phagguna of the Top-Knot got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings. And if any mendicant criticized Phagguna of the Top-Knot in their presence, those nuns got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings. That’s how close Phagguna of the Top-Knot was with those nuns.

thenAtha indeedkho a certainaññataro monkbhikkhu whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā there approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowed toabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinno indeedkho thatso monkbhikkhu to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
the venerable“āyasmā, venerable sirbhante, Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ too longativelaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho is stayingviharati.
soEvaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho, venerable sirbhante, venerableāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ is stayingviharati—
ifsace anykoci monkbhikkhu of venerableāyasmato Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphaggunassa in the presencesammukhā of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ criticismavaṇṇaṁ speaksbhāsati, because of that the venerabletenāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno angrykupito upsetanattamano even disciplinary proceedingsadhikaraṇampi instigateskaroti.
ifSace butpana anykoci monkbhikkhu of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ in the presencesammukhā of venerableāyasmato Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphaggunassa criticismavaṇṇaṁ speaksbhāsati, because of thattena thosetā nunsbhikkhuniyo angrykupitā upsetanattamanā even disciplinary proceedingsadhikaraṇampi instigatekaronti.
soEvaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho, venerable sirbhante, venerableāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ is staying (quote)viharatī”ti.

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was going on.

thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā a certainaññataraṁ monkbhikkhuṁ addressedāmantesi:
come“ehi youtvaṁ, monkbhikkhu, in mymama namevacanena Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphaggunaṁ the monkbhikkhuṁ summonāmantehi:
the Teacher‘satthā youtaṁ, reverendāvuso Phaggunaphagguna, summons (quote)āmantetī’”ti.
yes“Evaṁ, venerable sir (quote)bhante”ti indeedkho thatso monkbhikkhu to the Blessed Onebhagavato having repliedpaṭissutvā where the venerableyenāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno there approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā to venerableāyasmantaṁ Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphaggunaṁ said thisetadavoca:
the Teacher“satthā youtaṁ, reverendāvuso Phaggunaphagguna, summons (quote)āmantetī”ti.
yes, reverend (quote)“Evamāvuso”ti indeedkho venerableāyasmā Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphagguno to thattassa monkbhikkhuno having repliedpaṭissutvā whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā there approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowed toabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinnaṁ indeedkho to venerableāyasmantaṁ Moliyaphaggunamoḷiyaphaggunaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā said thisetadavoca:

So the Buddha addressed one of the monks, “Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Phagguna of the Top-Knot that the Teacher summons him.” “Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Phagguna of the Top-Knot and said to him, “Reverend Phagguna, the Teacher summons you.” “Yes, reverend,” Phagguna replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

is it true“Saccaṁ reallykira youtvaṁ, Phaggunaphagguna, with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ too longativelaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho are staying?viharasi?
soEvaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho reallykira youtvaṁ, Phaggunaphagguna, with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ are stayingviharasi—
ifsace anykoci monkbhikkhu in yourtuyhaṁ presencesammukhā of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ criticismavaṇṇaṁ speaksbhāsati, because of thattena youtvaṁ angrykupito upsetanattamano even disciplinary proceedingsadhikaraṇampi instigatekarosi.
ifSace butpana anykoci monkbhikkhu of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ in the presencesammukhā of youtuyhaṁ criticismavaṇṇaṁ speaksbhāsati, because of thattena thosetā nunsbhikkhuniyo angrykupitā upsetanattamanā even disciplinary proceedingsadhikaraṇampi instigatekaronti.
soEvaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho reallykira youtvaṁ, Phaggunaphagguna, with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ are staying? (quote)viharasī”ti?
yes“Evaṁ, venerable sir (quote)bhante”ti.
are you not“Nanu youtvaṁ, Phaggunaphagguna, a gentlemankulaputto out of faithsaddhā from the homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forth? (quote)pabbajito”ti?
yes“Evaṁ, venerable sir (quote)bhante”ti.

“Is it really true, Phagguna, that you’ve been spending too long mixing closely with some nuns? So much so that if any mendicant criticizes those nuns in your presence, you get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings? And if any mendicant criticizes you in those nuns’ presence, they get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings? Is that how close you’ve become with those nuns?” “Yes, sir.” “Phagguna, are you not a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness?” “Yes, sir.”

not“Na indeedkho for youte thisetaṁ, Phaggunaphagguna, appropriatepatirūpaṁ for a gentlemankulaputtassa out of faithsaddhā from the homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajitassa, thatyaṁ youtvaṁ with the nunsbhikkhunīhi togethersaddhiṁ too longativelaṁ mixing closelysaṁsaṭṭho should stayvihareyyāsi.
thereforeTasmātiha, Phaggunaphagguna, yourtava even ifcepi anyonekoci in the presencesammukhā of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ criticismavaṇṇaṁ should speakbhāseyya, even thentatrāpi youtvaṁ, Phaggunaphagguna, whateverye domesticgehasitā desireschandā whateverye domesticgehasitā thoughtsvitakkā thosete should give uppajaheyyāsi.
even thenTatrāpi by youte, Phaggunaphagguna, thusevaṁ should be trainedsikkhitabbaṁ:
not‘na andceva myme mindcittaṁ degeneratevipariṇataṁ will becomebhavissati, notna andca badpāpikaṁ speechvācaṁ I will blurt outnicchāressāmi, full of sympathyhitānukampī andca I will remainviharissāmi with a heart of lovemettacitto, notna with secret hate (quote)dosantaro’ti.
thus indeedEvañhi by youte, Phaggunaphagguna, should be trainedsikkhitabbaṁ.
thereforeTasmātiha, Phaggunaphagguna, yourtava even ifcepi anyonekoci in the presencesammukhā of thosetāsaṁ nunsbhikkhunīnaṁ with a fistpāṇinā a blowpahāraṁ should givedadeyya, with a stoneleḍḍunā a blowpahāraṁ should givedadeyya, with a roddaṇḍena a blowpahāraṁ should givedadeyya, with a swordsatthena a blowpahāraṁ should givedadeyya. even thenTatrāpi youtvaṁ, Phaggunaphagguna, whateverye domesticgehasitā desireschandā whateverye domesticgehasitā thoughtsvitakkā thosete should give uppajaheyyāsi.

“As such, it’s not appropriate for you to mix so closely with those nuns. So if anyone criticizes those nuns in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life. If that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’ That’s how you should train. So even if someone strikes those nuns with fists, stones, rods, and swords in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.

If that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’ That’s how you should train. So if anyone criticizes you in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life. If that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’ That’s how you should train. So Phagguna, even if someone strikes you with fists, stones, rods, and swords, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.

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