Mahāsuññatasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 122

The Longer Discourse on Emptiness · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Kathañcānanda, brahmacārūpaddavo hoti?
Idhānanda, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā.
So vivittaṁ senāsanaṁ bhajati araññaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ pabbataṁ kandaraṁ giriguhaṁ susānaṁ vanapatthaṁ abbhokāsaṁ palālapuñjaṁ.
Tassa tathāvūpakaṭṭhassa viharato anvāvattanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca.
So anvāvattantesu brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca na mucchaṁ nikāmayati, na gedhaṁ āpajjati, na āvattati bāhullāya.
Tasseva kho panānanda, satthu sāvako tassa satthu vivekamanubrūhayamāno
vivittaṁ senāsanaṁ bhajati araññaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ pabbataṁ kandaraṁ giriguhaṁ susānaṁ vanapatthaṁ abbhokāsaṁ palālapuñjaṁ.
Tassa tathāvūpakaṭṭhassa viharato anvāvattanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca.
So anvāvattantesu brāhmaṇagahapatikesu negamesu ceva jānapadesu ca mucchaṁ nikāmayati, gedhaṁ āpajjati, āvattati bāhullāya.

And how is there a peril for a spiritual practitioner? It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. He frequents a secluded lodging—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw. While meditating withdrawn, he’s visited by a stream of brahmins and householders, and people of town and country. When this happens, he doesn’t enjoy infatuation, fall into greed, and return to indulgence. But a disciple of this teacher, emulating their teacher’s fostering of seclusion, frequents a secluded lodging—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw. While meditating withdrawn, they’re visited by a stream of brahmins and householders, and people of town and country. When this happens, they enjoy infatuation, fall into greed, and return to indulgence.

Ayaṁ vuccatānanda, upaddavo brahmacārī.
Brahmacārūpaddavena avadhiṁsu naṁ pāpakā akusalā dhammā saṅkilesikā ponobbhavikā sadarā dukkhavipākā āyatiṁ jātijarāmaraṇiyā.
Evaṁ kho, ānanda, brahmacārūpaddavo hoti.
Tatrānanda, yo cevāyaṁ ācariyūpaddavo, yo ca antevāsūpaddavo ayaṁ tehi brahmacārūpaddavo dukkhavipākataro ceva kaṭukavipākataro ca, api ca vinipātāya saṁvattati.

This is said to be the spiritual practitioner’s peril. They’re ruined by bad, unskillful qualities that are corrupting, leading to future lives, hurtful, resulting in suffering and future rebirth, old age, and death. That’s how there is a peril for the spiritual practitioner. And in this context, Ānanda, as compared to the peril of the tutor or the pupil, the peril of the spiritual practitioner has more painful, bitter results, and even leads to the underworld.

Tasmātiha maṁ, ānanda, mittavatāya samudācaratha, mā sapattavatāya.
Taṁ vo bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.
Kathañcānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā sapattavatāya samudācaranti, no mittavatāya?
Idhānanda, satthā sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ deseti anukampako hitesī anukampaṁ upādāya:
‘idaṁ vo hitāya, idaṁ vo sukhāyā’ti.
Tassa sāvakā na sussūsanti, na sotaṁ odahanti, na aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti, vokkamma ca satthusāsanā vattanti.
Evaṁ kho, ānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā sapattavatāya samudācaranti, no mittavatāya.

So, Ānanda, treat me as a friend, not as an enemy. That will be for your lasting welfare and happiness. And how do disciples treat their Teacher as an enemy, not a friend? It’s when the Teacher teaches Dhamma to his disciples out of kindness and sympathy: ‘This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.’ But their disciples don’t want to listen. They don’t actively listen or try to understand. They proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction. That’s how the disciples treat their Teacher as an enemy, not a friend.

Kathañcānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā mittavatāya samudācaranti, no sapattavatāya?
Idhānanda, satthā sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ deseti anukampako hitesī anukampaṁ upādāya:
‘idaṁ vo hitāya, idaṁ vo sukhāyā’ti.
Tassa sāvakā sussūsanti, sotaṁ odahanti, aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti, na ca vokkamma satthusāsanā vattanti.
Evaṁ kho, ānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā mittavatāya samudācaranti, no sapattavatāya.
Tasmātiha maṁ, ānanda, mittavatāya samudācaratha, mā sapattavatāya.
Taṁ vo bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

And how do disciples treat their Teacher as a friend, not an enemy? It’s when the Teacher teaches Dhamma to his disciples out of kindness and sympathy: ‘This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.’ And their disciples want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand. They don’t proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction. That’s how the disciples treat their Teacher as a friend, not an enemy. So, Ānanda, treat me as a friend, not as an enemy. That will be for your lasting welfare and happiness.

Na vo ahaṁ, ānanda, tathā parakkamissāmi yathā kumbhakāro āmake āmakamatte.
Niggayha niggayhāhaṁ, ānanda, vakkhāmi;
pavayha pavayha, ānanda, vakkhāmi.
Yo sāro so ṭhassatī”ti.
Idamavoca bhagavā.
Attamano āyasmā ānando bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.
Mahāsuññatasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dutiyaṁ.

I shall not mollycoddle you like a potter with their damp, unfired pots. I shall speak, curbing you again and again, pressing you again and again. The core will stand the test.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda approved what the Buddha said.

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