Mahādhammasamādānasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 46

Mahādhammasamādānasutta

The Great Discourse on Taking Up Practices · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannadukkhaṁ āyatiṁ sukhavipākaṁ, taṁ avidvā avijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti:
‘idaṁ kho dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannadukkhaṁ āyatiṁ sukhavipākan’ti.
Taṁ avidvā avijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ appajānanto taṁ na sevati, taṁ parivajjeti.
Tassa taṁ asevato, taṁ parivajjayato, aniṭṭhā akantā amanāpā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dhammā parihāyanti.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ aviddasuno.

When it comes to the way of taking up practices that is painful now and results in future pleasure, an ignoramus … doesn’t cultivate it … and disagreeable things increase …

Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannasukhañceva āyatiñca sukhavipākaṁ, taṁ avidvā avijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti:
‘idaṁ kho dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannasukhañceva āyatiñca sukhavipākan’ti.
Taṁ avidvā avijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ appajānanto taṁ na sevati, taṁ parivajjeti.
Tassa taṁ asevato, taṁ parivajjayato, aniṭṭhā akantā amanāpā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dhammā parihāyanti.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ aviddasuno.

When it comes to the way of taking up practices that is pleasant now and results in future pleasure, an ignoramus … doesn’t cultivate it … and disagreeable things increase … Why is that? Because that’s what it’s like for the ignorant.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannadukkhañceva āyatiñca dukkhavipākaṁ taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti:
‘idaṁ kho dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannadukkhañceva āyatiñca dukkhavipākan’ti.
Taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānanto taṁ na sevati, taṁ parivajjeti.
Tassa taṁ asevato, taṁ parivajjayato, aniṭṭhā akantā amanāpā dhammā parihāyanti, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ viddasuno.

When it comes to the way of taking up practices that is painful now and results in future pain, a wise person, knowing this, truly understands: ‘This is the way of taking up practices that is painful now and results in future pain.’ So instead of cultivating that practice, they avoid it. When they do so, unlikable, undesirable, and disagreeable things decrease, and likable, desirable, and agreeable things increase. Why is that? Because that’s what it’s like for the knowledgable.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannasukhaṁ āyatiṁ dukkhavipākaṁ taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti:
‘idaṁ kho dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannasukhaṁ āyatiṁ dukkhavipākan’ti.
Taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānanto taṁ na sevati, taṁ parivajjeti.
Tassa taṁ asevato, taṁ parivajjayato, aniṭṭhā akantā amanāpā dhammā parihāyanti, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ viddasuno.

When it comes to the way of taking up practices that is pleasant now and results in future pain, a wise person … doesn’t cultivate it … and agreeable things increase …

Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannadukkhaṁ āyatiṁ sukhavipākaṁ taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti:
‘idaṁ kho dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannadukkhaṁ āyatiṁ sukhavipākan’ti.
Taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānanto taṁ sevati, taṁ na parivajjeti.
Tassa taṁ sevato, taṁ aparivajjayato, aniṭṭhā akantā amanāpā dhammā parihāyanti, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ viddasuno.

When it comes to the way of taking up practices that is painful now and results in future pleasure, a wise person … cultivates it … and agreeable things increase …

Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannasukhañceva āyatiñca sukhavipākaṁ taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti:
‘idaṁ kho dhammasamādānaṁ paccuppannasukhañceva āyatiñca sukhavipākan’ti.
Taṁ vidvā vijjāgato yathābhūtaṁ pajānanto taṁ sevati, taṁ na parivajjeti.
Tassa taṁ sevato, taṁ aparivajjayato, aniṭṭhā akantā amanāpā dhammā parihāyanti, iṭṭhā kantā manāpā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Evañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yathā taṁ viddasuno.

When it comes to the way of taking up practices that is pleasant now and results in future pleasure, a wise person, knowing this, truly understands: ‘This is the way of taking up practices that is pleasant now and results in future pleasure.’ So instead of avoiding that practice, they cultivate it. When they do so, unlikable, undesirable, and disagreeable things decrease, and likable, desirable, and agreeable things increase. Why is that? Because that’s what it’s like for the knowledgable.

And what is the way of taking up practices that is painful now and results in future pain? It’s when someone in pain and sadness kills living creatures, steals, and commits sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. Because of these things they experience pain and sadness.

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