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Majjhima Nikāya 114

Sevitabbāsevitabbasutta

What Should and Should Not Be Cultivated · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Buddhabhagavā near Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa monasteryārāme.
thereTatra indeedkho the Buddhabhagavā the mendicantsbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
Mendicants“bhikkhavo”ti.
Venerable sir“Bhadante”ti theyte mendicantsbhikkhū to the Buddhabhagavato repliedpaccassosuṁ.
the BuddhaBhagavā this·sayetadavoca:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

what should and should not be cultivated“sevitabbāsevitabbaṁ to youvo, mendicantsbhikkhave, teaching·expositiondhammapariyāyaṁ I will teachdesessāmi.
thatTaṁ listensuṇātha, wellsādhukaṁ mindmanasi applykarotha, I will speakbhāsissāmī”ti.
yes“Evaṁ, sirbhante”ti indeedkho thosete mendicantsbhikkhū to the Buddhabhagavato they repliedpaccassosuṁ.
the BuddhaBhagavā said thisetadavoca:

“Mendicants, I will teach you an exposition of the teaching on what should and should not be cultivated. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

bodily behavior, I say,“Kāyasamācārampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
should be cultivated·alsosevitabbampi, not·should be cultivated·alsoasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca eachaññamaññaṁ bodily behavior.kāyasamācāraṁ.
verbal behavior, I say,Vacīsamācārampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
should be cultivated·alsosevitabbampi, not·should be cultivated·alsoasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca eachaññamaññaṁ verbal behavior.vacīsamācāraṁ.
mental behavior, I say,Manosamācārampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
should be cultivated·alsosevitabbampi, not·should be cultivated·alsoasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca eachaññamaññaṁ mental behavior.manosamācāraṁ.
arising of thought, I say,Cittuppādampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
should be cultivated·alsosevitabbampi, not·should be cultivated·alsoasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca eachaññamaññaṁ arising of thought.cittuppādaṁ.
acquisition of perception, I say,Saññāpaṭilābhampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
should be cultivated·alsosevitabbampi, not·should be cultivated·alsoasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca eachaññamaññaṁ acquisition of perception.saññāpaṭilābhaṁ.
acquisition of views, I say,Diṭṭhipaṭilābhampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
should be cultivated·alsosevitabbampi, not·should be cultivated·alsoasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca eachaññamaññaṁ acquisition of views.diṭṭhipaṭilābhaṁ.
incarnation, I say,Attabhāvapaṭilābhampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
should be cultivated·alsosevitabbampi, not·should be cultivated·alsoasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca eachaññamaññaṁ incarnation.”attabhāvapaṭilābhan”ti.

“I say that there are two kinds of bodily behavior: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is a kind of bodily behavior. I say that there are two kinds of verbal behavior: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is a kind of verbal behavior. I say that there are two kinds of mental behavior: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is a kind of mental behavior. I say that there are two arisings of thought: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is an arising of thought. I say that there are two acquisitions of perception: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is an acquisition of perception. I say that there are two acquisitions of views: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is an acquisition of views. I say that there are two kinds of incarnation: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And these are equally incarnation.”

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte venerableāyasmā Sāriputtasāriputto to the Buddhabhagavantaṁ this·sayetadavoca:
of this“imassa indeedkho Iahaṁ, sirbhante, by the Buddhabhagavatā brieflysaṅkhittena of the statementbhāsitassa, in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ of the unanalyzedavibhattassa, thusevaṁ in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ I understandājānāmi.

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Buddha, “Sir, this is how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.

bodily conduct, I say,‘Kāyasamācārampāhaṁ, monks,bhikkhave, two·kindduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
to be cultivated,sevitabbampi, not to be cultivated;asevitabbampi;
that·andtañca each otheraññamaññaṁ bodily conduct.'kāyasamācāran’ti—
thusiti indeedkho and thispanetaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by the Blessed One.bhagavatā.
why·thisKiñcetaṁ with reference topaṭicca was said?vuttaṁ?
of such kind,Yathārūpaṁ, venerable sir,bhante, bodily conductkāyasamācāraṁ practicingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā increase,abhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā decline,parihāyanti, suchevarūpo bodily conductkāyasamācāro notna is to be cultivated;sevitabbo;
of such kind·andyathārūpañca indeed,kho, venerable sir,bhante, bodily conductkāyasamācāraṁ practicingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā decline,parihāyanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā increase,abhivaḍḍhanti, suchevarūpo bodily conductkāyasamācāro is to be cultivated.sevitabbo.
of what kind,Kathaṁrūpaṁ, venerable sir,bhante, bodily conductkāyasamācāraṁ practicingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā increase,abhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā decline?parihāyanti?
here,Idha, venerable sir,bhante, some personekacco is a killer of living beings,pāṇātipātī ishoti violent,luddo blood·handlohitapāṇi striking·killinghatappahate establishedniviṭṭho not·mercifuladayāpanno towards living beings;pāṇabhūtesu;
not·taker of what is givenadinnādāyī indeedkho andpana is,hoti, whateveryaṁ thattaṁ of anotherparassa another·wealth and belongingsparavittūpakaraṇaṁ in villagegāmagataṁ orvā in wildernessaraññagataṁ orvā thattaṁ not·givenadinnaṁ theft·reckonedtheyyasaṅkhātaṁ takerādātā is;hoti;

‘I say that there are two kinds of bodily behavior: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is a kind of bodily behavior.’ That’s what the Buddha said, but why did he say it? You should not cultivate the kind of bodily behavior which causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline. And you should cultivate the kind of bodily behavior which causes unskillful qualities to decline while skillful qualities grow. And what kind of bodily behavior causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline? It’s when someone kills living creatures. They’re violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. They steal. With the intention to commit theft, they take the wealth or belongings of others from village or wilderness.

sensual pleasures·wrong·one who actskāmesumicchācārī indeedkho furthermorepana ishoti, whateveryā thosetā mother·protectedmāturakkhitā father·protectedpiturakkhitā mother-father·protectedmātāpiturakkhitā brother·protectedbhāturakkhitā sister·protectedbhaginirakkhitā relatives·protectedñātirakkhitā clan·protectedgottarakkhitā principle·protecteddhammarakkhitā with a husbandsassāmikā with·punishmentsaparidaṇḍā evenantamaso garland·token·betrothedmālāguḷaparikkhittāpi such·kindtathārūpāsu conductcārittaṁ one who has fallen intoāpajjitā ishoti—
suchevarūpaṁ, venerable sirbhante, body·conductkāyasamācāraṁ for one practicingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā declineparihāyanti.
what kindKathaṁrūpaṁ, venerable sirbhante, body·conductkāyasamācāraṁ for one practicingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā declineparihāyanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti?
hereIdha, venerable sirbhante, someoneekacco killing living creaturespāṇātipātaṁ having given uppahāya from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā against·restrainedpaṭivirato ishoti laid down·rodnihitadaṇḍo sword laid downnihitasattho, scrupulouslajjī compassion·endowed withdayāpanno sympathetic to all living beingssabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī dwellsviharati;
not given·takingadinnādānaṁ having given uppahāya not given·takingadinnādānā against·restrainedpaṭivirato ishoti, whateveryaṁ thattaṁ of anotherparassa another·wealth·belongingparavittūpakaraṇaṁ village·situatedgāmagataṁ orvā forest·situatedaraññagataṁ orvā thattaṁ not givennādinnaṁ theft·reckonedtheyyasaṅkhātaṁ one who takesādātā ishoti;
sensual pleasures·wrong·conductkāmesumicchācāraṁ having given uppahāya sensual pleasures·wrong·conductkāmesumicchācārā against·restrainedpaṭivirato ishoti, whateveryā thosetā mother·protectedmāturakkhitā father·protectedpiturakkhitā mother-father·protectedmātāpiturakkhitā brother·protectedbhāturakkhitā sister·protectedbhaginirakkhitā relatives·protectedñātirakkhitā clan·protectedgottarakkhitā principle·protecteddhammarakkhitā with a husbandsassāmikā with·punishmentsaparidaṇḍā evenantamaso garland·token·betrothedmālāguḷaparikkhittāpi such·kindtathārūpāsu notna conductcārittaṁ one who has fallen intoāpajjitā ishoti—

They commit sexual misconduct. They have relations with women who have their mother, father, both mother and father, brother, sister, relatives, or clan as guardian. They have relations with a woman who is protected on principle, or who has a husband, or whose violation is punishable by law, or even one who has been garlanded as a token of betrothal. That kind of bodily behavior causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline. And what kind of bodily behavior causes unskillful qualities to decline while skillful qualities grow? It’s when someone gives up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They’re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings. They give up stealing. They don’t, with the intention to commit theft, take the wealth or belongings of others from village or wilderness. They give up sexual misconduct. They don’t have relations with women who have their mother, father, both mother and father, brother, sister, relatives, or clan as guardian. They don’t have relations with a woman who is protected on principle, or who has a husband, or whose violation is punishable by law, or even one who has been garlanded as a token of betrothal.

of such kindevarūpaṁ, venerable sirbhante, body·conductkāyasamācāraṁ for one practicingsevato un-·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā around·declineparihāyanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā towards·growabhivaḍḍhanti.
bodily conduct too, I‘Kāyasamācārampāhaṁ, monksbhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
to-be-cultivated·toosevitabbampi, not·to-be-cultivated·tooasevitabbampi;
that·andtañca each otheraññamaññaṁ bodily conductkāyasamācāran’ti—
thusiti whatyaṁ thattaṁ saidvuttaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā this·indeedidametaṁ with reference topaṭicca saidvuttaṁ.

That kind of bodily behavior causes unskillful qualities to decline while skillful qualities grow. ‘I say that there are two kinds of bodily behavior: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is a kind of bodily behavior.’ That’s what the Buddha said, and this is why he said it.

verbal behavior, I say‘Vacīsamācārampāhaṁ, monksbhikkhave, as twofoldduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
to be cultivated + toosevitabbampi, not·to be cultivated + tooasevitabbampi;
that + andtañca each otheraññamaññaṁ verbal behaviorvacīsamācāran’ti—
thusiti indeedkho and·thispanetaṁ saidvuttaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā.
why + and·thisKiñcetaṁ with reference topaṭicca saidvuttaṁ?
such·kindYathārūpaṁ, sirbhante, speech·behaviorvacīsamācāraṁ for one cultivatingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā forth·growabhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā away·declineparihāyanti, of such a kindevarūpo speech·behaviorvacīsamācāro notna to be cultivatedsevitabbo;
such·kind + andyathārūpañca indeedkho, sirbhante, speech·behaviorvacīsamācāraṁ for one cultivatingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā away·declineparihāyanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā forth·growabhivaḍḍhanti of such a kindevarūpo speech·behaviorvacīsamācāro to be cultivatedsevitabbo.
what·kindKathaṁrūpaṁ, sirbhante, speech·behaviorvacīsamācāraṁ for one cultivatingsevato not·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā forth·growabhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā away·declineparihāyanti?

‘I say that there are two kinds of verbal behavior: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. And each of these is a kind of verbal behavior.’ That’s what the Buddha said, but why did he say it? You should not cultivate the kind of verbal behavior which causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline. And you should cultivate the kind of verbal behavior which causes unskillful qualities to decline while skillful qualities grow. And what kind of verbal behavior causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline?

hereIdha, venerable sirbhante, someoneekacco falsehood·speakermusāvādī ishoti. to the councilSabhāgato orvā assembly·goneparisāgato orvā family·middle·goneñātimajjhagato orvā guild·middle·gonepūgamajjhagato orvā king·clan·middle·gonerājakulamajjhagato orvā towards·ledabhinīto asked to bear witnesssakkhipuṭṭho: please, my man‘ehambho manpurisa, whatyaṁ you knowjānāsi thattaṁ sayvadehī’ti heso not·knowingajānaṁ orvā saysāha: I know‘jānāmī’ti, knowingjānaṁ orvā saysāha: not‘na I knowjānāmī’ti; not·seeingapassaṁ orvā saysāha: I see‘passāmī’ti, seeingpassaṁ orvā saysāha: not‘na I see — thuspassāmī’ti—iti self·reasonattahetu orvā other·reasonparahetu orvā worldly·trivial·reasonāmisakiñcikkhahetu orvā deliberate·falsehoodsampajānamusā spokenbhāsitā ishoti;
backbiting·speechpisuṇavāco indeedkho thenpana ishoti, from hereito having heardsutvā elsewhereamutra a repeaterakkhātā of theseimesaṁ for divisionbhedāya, elsewhereamutra orvā having heardsutvā to theseimesaṁ a repeaterakkhātā of thoseamūsaṁ for division — thusbhedāya—iti of the harmonioussamaggānaṁ orvā a dividerbhettā, of the dividedbhinnānaṁ orvā a supporteranuppadātā, delighting in divisionvaggārāmo, fond of divisionvaggarato, loving divisionvagganandī, division·promotingvaggakaraṇiṁ speechvācaṁ spokenbhāsitā ishoti;
harsh·speechpharusavāco indeedkho thenpana ishoti, whichyā thatsā speechvācā cruelkaṇḍakā nastykakkasā hurtfulpharusā offensiveparakaṭukā offending othersparābhisajjanī anger·borderingkodhasāmantā not leading to immersionasamādhisaṁvattanikā, such·kindtathārūpiṁ speechvācaṁ spokenbhāsitā ishoti;

It’s when someone lies. They’re summoned to a council, an assembly, a family meeting, a guild, or to the royal court, and asked to bear witness: ‘Please, my man, say what you know.’ Not knowing, they say ‘I know.’ Knowing, they say ‘I don’t know.’ Not seeing, they say ‘I see.’ And seeing, they say ‘I don’t see.’ So they deliberately lie for the sake of themselves or another, or for some trivial worldly reason. They backbite. They repeat in one place what they heard in another so as to divide people against each other. And so they divide those who are harmonious, supporting division, delighting in division, loving division, speaking words that promote division. They speak harshly. They use the kinds of words that are cruel, nasty, hurtful, offensive, bordering on anger, not leading to immersion.

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