Subhasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 99

With Subha · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, māṇava,
yaṁ vā tiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ paṭicca aggiṁ jāleyya yaṁ vā nissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ aggiṁ jāleyya, katamo nu khvāssa aggi accimā ceva vaṇṇavā ca pabhassaro cā”ti?
“Sace taṁ, bho gotama, ṭhānaṁ nissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ aggiṁ jāletuṁ, svāssa aggi accimā ceva vaṇṇavā ca pabhassaro cā”ti.
“Aṭṭhānaṁ kho etaṁ, māṇava, anavakāso yaṁ nissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ aggiṁ jāleyya aññatra iddhimatā.
Seyyathāpi, māṇava, tiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ paṭicca aggi jalati tathūpamāhaṁ, māṇava, imaṁ pītiṁ vadāmi yāyaṁ pīti pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca.
Seyyathāpi, māṇava, nissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādāno aggi jalati tathūpamāhaṁ, māṇava, imaṁ pītiṁ vadāmi yāyaṁ pīti aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehi.
Katamā ca, māṇava, pīti aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehi?

What do you think, student? Which would have better flames, color, and radiance: a fire that depends on grass and logs as fuel, or one that does not?” “If it were possible for a fire to burn without depending on grass and logs as fuel, that would have better flames, color, and radiance.” “But it isn’t possible, except by psychic power. Rapture that depends on the five kinds of sensual stimulation is like a fire that depends on grass and logs as fuel. Rapture that’s apart from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities is like a fire that doesn’t depend on grass and logs as fuel. And what is rapture that’s apart from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities?

Idha, māṇava, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.
Ayampi kho, māṇava, pīti aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehi.
Puna caparaṁ, māṇava, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā … dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.
Ayampi kho, māṇava, pīti aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehi.

It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is rapture that’s apart from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities. Furthermore, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. This too is rapture that’s apart from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities.

Ye te, māṇava, brāhmaṇā pañca dhamme paññapenti puññassa kiriyāya kusalassa ārādhanāya, katamettha brāhmaṇā dhammaṁ mahapphalataraṁ paññapenti puññassa kiriyāya kusalassa ārādhanāyā”ti?
“Yeme, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā pañca dhamme paññapenti puññassa kiriyāya kusalassa ārādhanāya, cāgamettha brāhmaṇā dhammaṁ mahapphalataraṁ paññapenti puññassa kiriyāya kusalassa ārādhanāyā”ti.

Of the five things that the brahmins prescribe for making merit and succeeding in the skillful, which do they say is the most fruitful?” “Generosity.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, māṇava,
idha aññatarassa brāhmaṇassa mahāyañño paccupaṭṭhito assa.
Atha dve brāhmaṇā āgaccheyyuṁ:
‘itthannāmassa brāhmaṇassa mahāyaññaṁ anubhavissāmā’ti.
Tatrekassa brāhmaṇassa evamassa:
‘aho vata ahameva labheyyaṁ bhattagge aggāsanaṁ aggodakaṁ aggapiṇḍaṁ, na añño brāhmaṇo labheyya bhattagge aggāsanaṁ aggodakaṁ aggapiṇḍan’ti.
Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, māṇava, vijjati yaṁ añño brāhmaṇo labheyya bhattagge aggāsanaṁ aggodakaṁ aggapiṇḍaṁ, na so brāhmaṇo labheyya bhattagge aggāsanaṁ aggodakaṁ aggapiṇḍaṁ.
‘Añño brāhmaṇo labhati bhattagge aggāsanaṁ aggodakaṁ aggapiṇḍaṁ, nāhaṁ labhāmi bhattagge aggāsanaṁ aggodakaṁ aggapiṇḍan’ti—
iti so kupito hoti anattamano.
Imassa pana, māṇava, brāhmaṇā kiṁ vipākaṁ paññapentī”ti?
“Na khvettha, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā evaṁ dānaṁ denti:
‘iminā paro kupito hotu anattamano’ti.

“What do you think, student? Suppose a brahmin was setting up a grand sacrifice. Then two brahmins came along, thinking, ‘We shall participate in the grand sacrifice of the brahmin named so-and-so.’ Then one of those brahmins thought: ‘Oh, I hope that I alone get the best seat, the best drink, and the best almsfood in the refectory, not some other brahmin.’ But it’s possible that some other brahmin gets the best seat, the best drink, and the best almsfood in the refectory. Thinking, ‘Some other brahmin has got the best seat, the best drink, the best almsfood,’ they get angry and upset. What do the brahmins say is the result of this?” “Worthy Gotama, brahmins don’t give gifts so that others will get angry and upset.

Atha khvettha brāhmaṇā anukampājātikaṁyeva dānaṁ dentī”ti.
“Evaṁ sante kho, māṇava, brāhmaṇānaṁ idaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ puññakiriyavatthu hoti—
yadidaṁ anukampājātikan”ti.
“Evaṁ sante, bho gotama, brāhmaṇānaṁ idaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ puññakiriyavatthu hoti—
yadidaṁ anukampājātikan”ti.

Rather, they only give gifts that are born from sympathy.” “In that case, isn’t this a sixth ground for making merit, namely, being born from sympathy?” “In that case, this is a sixth ground for making merit, namely, being born from sympathy.”

“Ye te, māṇava, brāhmaṇā pañca dhamme paññapenti puññassa kiriyāya kusalassa ārādhanāya, ime tvaṁ pañca dhamme kattha bahulaṁ samanupassasi—
gahaṭṭhesu vā pabbajitesu vā”ti?
“Yeme, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā pañca dhamme paññapenti puññassa kiriyāya kusalassa ārādhanāya, imāhaṁ pañca dhamme pabbajitesu bahulaṁ samanupassāmi appaṁ gahaṭṭhesu.
Gahaṭṭho hi, bho gotama, mahaṭṭho mahākicco mahādhikaraṇo mahāsamārambho, na satataṁ samitaṁ saccavādī hoti;
pabbajito kho pana, bho gotama, appaṭṭho appakicco appādhikaraṇo appasamārambho, satataṁ samitaṁ saccavādī hoti.
Gahaṭṭho hi, bho gotama, mahaṭṭho mahākicco mahādhikaraṇo mahāsamārambho na satataṁ samitaṁ tapassī hoti …
brahmacārī hoti …
sajjhāyabahulo hoti …
cāgabahulo hoti;

“Of the five things that the brahmins prescribe for making merit and succeeding in the skillful, where do you usually find them: among laypeople or renunciates?” “Mostly among renunciates, and less so among lay people. For a layperson has many obligations, duties, issues, and undertakings, and they can’t always tell the truth, be fervent, be chaste, rehearse a lot, or be very generous.

pabbajito kho pana, bho gotama, appaṭṭho appakicco appādhikaraṇo appasamārambho satataṁ samitaṁ tapassī hoti …
brahmacārī hoti …
sajjhāyabahulo hoti …
cāgabahulo hoti.
Yeme, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā pañca dhamme paññapenti puññassa kiriyāya kusalassa ārādhanāya, imāhaṁ pañca dhamme pabbajitesu bahulaṁ samanupassāmi appaṁ gahaṭṭhesū”ti.

But a renunciate has few obligations, duties, issues, and undertakings, and they can always tell the truth, be fervent, be chaste, rehearse a lot, and be very generous. Of the five things that the brahmins prescribe for making merit and succeeding in the skillful, I usually find them among renunciates, and less so among laypeople.”

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