Sevitabbāsevitabbasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 114

Sevitabbāsevitabbasutta

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

Parallels & more translations on SuttaCentral

Glosses: Fluent · Literal · Off
Translation: Hide · Show

Tap any word for its dictionary entry.

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, venerableāyasmā Sāriputtasāriputto to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
of this“imassa indeedkho Iahaṁ, sirbhante, by the Blessed Onebhagavatā 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.

eye-cognizable‘Cakkhuviññeyyaṁ form too, Irūpampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
to be cultivated toosevitabbampi, to be not cultivated too, quotation markerasevitabbampī’ti—
thusiti indeedkho but thispanetaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā.
why was thisKiñcetaṁ with reference topaṭicca said?vuttaṁ?
the kind ofYathārūpaṁ, venerable sirbhante, eye-cognizablecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ for one cultivatingsevato unskillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā declineparihāyanti such a kind ofevarūpaṁ eye-cognizablecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ notna to be cultivated;sevitabbaṁ;
and the kind ofyathārūpañca indeed,kho, venerable sir,bhante, eye-cognizablecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ for one cultivatingsevato unskillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā decline,parihāyanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti such a kind ofevarūpaṁ eye-cognizablecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ to be cultivated.sevitabbaṁ.
eye-cognizable‘Cakkhuviññeyyaṁ form too, I,rūpampāhaṁ, Sāriputta,sāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
to be cultivated too,sevitabbampi, to be not cultivated too, quotation marker—asevitabbampī’ti—
thusiti whichyaṁ thattaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā this isidametaṁ with reference topaṭicca said.vuttaṁ.

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

to be known by the earSotaviññeyyaṁ sound, I saysaddampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta …pe……pe…
suchevarūpo to be known by the earsotaviññeyyo soundsaddo notna should be cultivatedsevitabbo ……
suchevarūpo to be known by the earsotaviññeyyo soundsaddo should be cultivatedsevitabbo ……

‘I say that there are two kinds of sound known by the ear …

such a kind ofevarūpo known by the noseghānaviññeyyo smellgandho notna should be cultivatedsevitabbo ……
such a kind ofevarūpo known by the noseghānaviññeyyo smellgandho should be cultivatedsevitabbo ……

two kinds of smell known by the nose …

such aevarūpo to be known by the tonguejivhāviññeyyo tasteraso notna should be cultivatedsevitabbo ……
such aevarūpo to be known by the tonguejivhāviññeyyo tasteraso should be cultivatedsevitabbo ……
to be known by the bodykāyaviññeyyaṁ touch; I sayphoṭṭhabbampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta ……

two kinds of taste known by the tongue … two kinds of touch known by the body …

of such kindevarūpo to be cognized by the bodykāyaviññeyyo tangible objectphoṭṭhabbo notna to be cultivatedsevitabbo ……
of such kindevarūpo to be cognized by the bodykāyaviññeyyo tangible objectphoṭṭhabbo to be cultivated.sevitabbo.

Such a tangible object cognizable by the body should not be cultivated … such a tangible object cognizable by the body should be cultivated.

knowable by the mind‘Manoviññeyyaṁ ideas, I saydhammampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
to be cultivatedsevitabbampi, not to be cultivatedasevitabbampī’ti—
thusiti indeedkho but thispanetaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā.
but why was thisKiñcetaṁ in dependence onpaṭicca saidvuttaṁ?

two kinds of idea known by the mind: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate.’ That’s what the Buddha said, but why did he say it?

such kindYathārūpaṁ, sirbhante, cognizable by mindmanoviññeyyaṁ ideadhammaṁ for one cultivatingsevato unskillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā declineparihāyanti such kindevarūpo cognizable by mindmanoviññeyyo ideadhammo notna should be cultivatedsevitabbo;
and such kindyathārūpañca indeedkho, sirbhante, cognizable by mindmanoviññeyyaṁ ideadhammaṁ for one cultivatingsevato unskillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā declineparihāyanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti such kindevarūpo cognizable by mindmanoviññeyyo ideadhammo should be cultivatedsevitabbo.
idea known by mind‘Manoviññeyyaṁ and an ideadhammampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, as twofoldduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
and should be cultivatedsevitabbampi, and should not be cultivatedasevitabbampī’ti—
thusiti whichyaṁ thattaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā thisidametaṁ because ofpaṭicca was saidvuttaṁ.
of thisImassa indeedkho Iahaṁ, sirbhante, by the Blessed Onebhagavatā brieflysaṅkhittena of the statementbhāsitassa, in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ of the unanalyzedavibhattassa, thusevaṁ in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ I understandājānāmī”ti.

You should not cultivate the kind of idea known by the mind which causes unskillful qualities to grow while skillful qualities decline. And you should cultivate the kind of idea known by the mind which causes unskillful qualities to decline while skillful qualities grow. ‘I say that there are two kinds of idea known by the mind: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate.’ That’s what the Buddha said, and this is why he said it. Sir, that’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.”

good“Sādhu goodsādhu, Sāriputtasāriputta.
goodSādhu indeedkho youtvaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, of thisimassa by memayā in briefsaṅkhittena spokenbhāsitassa, in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ unanalyzedavibhattassa, thusevaṁ in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ you understandājānāsi.

“Good, good, Sāriputta! It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of my brief statement in this way.”

form cognizable by the eye‘Cakkhuviññeyyaṁ as to form, Irūpampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
to be cultivated, toosevitabbampi, and not to be cultivatedasevitabbampī’ti—
thusiti indeedkho but thispanetaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by memayā.
now why was thisKiñcetaṁ in dependence onpaṭicca saidvuttaṁ?
of such a kindYathārūpaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, form cognizable by the eyecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ for one cultivatingsevato unwholesomeakusalā statesdhammā increaseabhivaḍḍhanti, wholesomekusalā statesdhammā diminishparihāyanti such a formevarūpaṁ form cognizable by the eyecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ notna is to be cultivatedsevitabbaṁ;
but of such a kindyathārūpañca indeedkho, Sāriputtasāriputta, form cognizable by the eyecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ for one cultivatingsevato unwholesomeakusalā statesdhammā diminishparihāyanti, wholesomekusalā statesdhammā increaseabhivaḍḍhanti such a formevarūpaṁ form cognizable by the eyecakkhuviññeyyaṁ formrūpaṁ is to be cultivatedsevitabbaṁ.
form cognizable by the eye‘Cakkhuviññeyyaṁ as to form, Irūpampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I sayvadāmi—
to be cultivated, toosevitabbampi, and not to be cultivatedasevitabbampī’ti—
thusiti whichyaṁ thattaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by memayā thisidametaṁ in dependence onpaṭicca was saidvuttaṁ.

And the Buddha went on to repeat and endorse Venerable Sāriputta’s explanation in full. Then he went on to explain further:

A sound cognizable by the ear, Sāriputta, … such an ear-cognizable sound is not to be cultivated. … such an ear-cognizable sound is to be cultivated. … such a nose-cognizable odor is not to be cultivated. … such a nose-cognizable odor is to be cultivated. … such a tongue-cognizable taste is not to be cultivated. … such a tongue-cognizable taste is to be cultivated. … such a body-cognizable tangible object is not to be cultivated. … such a body-cognizable tangible object is to be cultivated.

cognizable by the mindManoviññeyyaṁ a mental phenomenon too, I saydhammampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta …pe……pe…
suchevarūpo cognizable by the mindmanoviññeyyo phenomenondhammo notna should be cultivatedsevitabbo ……
suchevarūpo cognizable by the mindmanoviññeyyo phenomenondhammo should be cultivatedsevitabbo.
cognizable by the mind‘Manoviññeyyaṁ a mental phenomenon too, I saydhammampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I declarevadāmi—
to be cultivated toosevitabbampi, not to be cultivated tooasevitabbampī’ti—
thusiti whatyaṁ thattaṁ was saidvuttaṁ by memayā thisidametaṁ with reference topaṭicca was saidvuttaṁ.
of thisImassa indeedkho, Sāriputtasāriputta, by memayā brieflysaṅkhittena spokenbhāsitassa thusevaṁ in detailvitthārena the meaningattho should be seendaṭṭhabbo.

A mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind too, Sāriputta, I say …pe… such a mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind should not be cultivated … such a mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind should be cultivated. ‘A mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind too, Sāriputta, I declare in two ways—as to be cultivated and as not to be cultivated’—this is what was said by me with reference to this. The meaning of this statement spoken briefly by me, Sāriputta, should be seen in detail in this way.

robes, I say,Cīvaraṁpāhaṁ, Sāriputta,sāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
that which should be cultivated, too,sevitabbampi, and that which should not be cultivated,asevitabbampi …pe……pe…
almsfood, I say,piṇḍapātaṁpāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta ……
lodging, I say,senāsanaṁpāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta ……
village, I say,gāmampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta ……
town, I say,nigamampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta ……
city, I say,nagarampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta ……
country, I say,janapadampāhaṁ, Sāriputtasāriputta ……
individual, I say,puggalaṁpāhaṁ, Sāriputta,sāriputta, in two waysduvidhena I say—vadāmi—
that which should be cultivated, too,sevitabbampi, and that which should not be cultivated.”asevitabbampī”ti.

“I say that there are two kinds of robes: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate. I say that there are two kinds of almsfood … lodging … village … town … city … country … individual: that which you should cultivate, and that which you should not cultivate.”

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version