Subhasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 99

With Subha · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thatTaṁ whatkiṁ you thinkmaññasi, studentmāṇava,
whichyaṁ orvā depending on grass and sticks as fueltiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ depending onpaṭicca fireaggiṁ one might kindlejāleyya whichyaṁ orvā not depending on grass and sticks as fuelnissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ fireaggiṁ one might kindlejāleyya, whichkatamo thennu would be for itkhvāssa fireaggi with flamesaccimā andceva with colorvaṇṇavā andca with radiancepabhassaro and?cā”ti?
If“Sace thattaṁ, sirbho Gotamagotama, thingṭhānaṁ not depending on grass and sticks as fuelnissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ fireaggiṁ to kindlejāletuṁ, would be for itsvāssa fireaggi with flamesaccimā andceva with colorvaṇṇavā andca with radiancepabhassaro and.cā”ti.
impossible“Aṭṭhānaṁ indeedkho thisetaṁ, studentmāṇava, not a possibilityanavakāso thatyaṁ not depending on grass and sticks as fuelnissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ fireaggiṁ one might kindlejāleyya exceptaññatra by one with psychic poweriddhimatā.
just asSeyyathāpi, studentmāṇava, depending on grass and sticks as fueltiṇakaṭṭhupādānaṁ depending onpaṭicca fireaggi burnsjalati such is the simile; I saytathūpamāhaṁ, studentmāṇava, thisimaṁ rapturepītiṁ I speak ofvadāmi whichyāyaṁ rapturepīti fivepañca strands of sensual pleasurekāmaguṇe depending onpaṭicca.
just asSeyyathāpi, studentmāṇava, not depending on grass and sticks as fuelnissaṭṭhatiṇakaṭṭhupādāno fireaggi burnsjalati such is the simile; I saytathūpamāhaṁ, studentmāṇava, thisimaṁ rapturepītiṁ I speak ofvadāmi whichyāyaṁ rapturepīti apart onlyaññatreva from sensual pleasureskāmehi apartaññatra from unskillfulakusalehi qualitiesdhammehi.
whichKatamā andca, studentmāṇava, rapturepīti apart onlyaññatreva from sensual pleasureskāmehi apartaññatra from unskillfulakusalehi qualities?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?

here,Idha, young brahmin,māṇava, a mendicantbhikkhu quite secludedvivicceva from sensual pleasureskāmehi ……pe… firstpaṭhamaṁ absorption,jhānaṁ having entered,upasampajja remains.viharati.
This tooAyampi indeed,kho, young brahmin,māṇava, rapturepīti apart only fromaññatreva from sensual pleasureskāmehi apart fromaññatra unskillfulakusalehi qualities.dhammehi.
Furthermore,Puna and moreover,caparaṁ, young brahmin,māṇava, a mendicantbhikkhu of placing the mind and keeping it connectedvitakkavicārānaṁ by the stillingvūpasamā …… seconddutiyaṁ absorption,jhānaṁ having entered,upasampajja remains.viharati.
This tooAyampi indeed,kho, young brahmin,māṇava, rapturepīti apart only fromaññatreva from sensual pleasureskāmehi apart fromaññatra unskillfulakusalehi qualities.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.

whichYe thosete, studentmāṇava, brahminsbrāhmaṇā fivepañca thingsdhamme prescribepaññapenti of meritpuññassa for makingkiriyāya skillfulkusalassa for succeeding inārādhanāya, which herekatamettha brahminsbrāhmaṇā thingdhammaṁ most fruitfulmahapphalataraṁ prescribepaññapenti of meritpuññassa for makingkiriyāya skillfulkusalassa for succeeding in?'ārādhanāyā”ti?
those“Yeme, sirbho Gotamagotama, brahminsbrāhmaṇā fivepañca thingsdhamme prescribepaññapenti of meritpuññassa for makingkiriyāya skillfulkusalassa for succeeding inārādhanāya, generosity herecāgamettha brahminsbrāhmaṇā thingdhammaṁ most fruitfulmahapphalataraṁ prescribepaññapenti of meritpuññassa for makingkiriyāya skillfulkusalassa for succeeding in.'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.”

that“Taṁ whatkiṁ you thinkmaññasi, studentmāṇava,
hereidha of someaññatarassa of a brahminbrāhmaṇassa a grand sacrificemahāyañño was setting uppaccupaṭṭhito it would beassa.
thenAtha twodve brahminsbrāhmaṇā would comeāgaccheyyuṁ:
named so-and-so‘itthannāmassa of the brahminbrāhmaṇassa the grand sacrificemahāyaññaṁ we shall participate inanubhavissāmā’ti.
Then of oneTatrekassa of a brahminbrāhmaṇassa it would be thusevamassa:
oh‘aho indeedvata I aloneahameva I might getlabheyyaṁ in the refectorybhattagge the best seataggāsanaṁ the best drinkaggodakaṁ the best almsfoodaggapiṇḍaṁ, notna otherañño brahminbrāhmaṇo might getlabheyya in the refectorybhattagge the best seataggāsanaṁ the best drinkaggodakaṁ the best almsfoodaggapiṇḍan’ti.
it is possibleṬhānaṁ indeedkho that thispanetaṁ, studentmāṇava, existsvijjati thatyaṁ otherañño brahminbrāhmaṇo might getlabheyya in the refectorybhattagge the best seataggāsanaṁ the best drinkaggodakaṁ the best almsfoodaggapiṇḍaṁ, notna thatso brahminbrāhmaṇo might getlabheyya in the refectorybhattagge the best seataggāsanaṁ the best drinkaggodakaṁ the best almsfoodaggapiṇḍaṁ.
Other‘Añño brahminbrāhmaṇo getslabhati in the refectorybhattagge the best seataggāsanaṁ the best drinkaggodakaṁ the best almsfoodaggapiṇḍaṁ, but not Ināhaṁ I getlabhāmi in the refectorybhattagge the best seataggāsanaṁ the best drinkaggodakaṁ the best almsfoodaggapiṇḍan’ti—
thusiti thatso angrykupito he ishoti upsetanattamano.
of thisImassa butpana, studentmāṇava, brahminsbrāhmaṇā whatkiṁ resultvipākaṁ do they declarepaññapentī”ti?
No“Na indeed herekhvettha, worthybho Gotamagotama, brahminsbrāhmaṇā thusevaṁ a giftdānaṁ they givedenti:
by this‘iminā anotherparo angrykupito may he behotu upsetanattamano’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.

thenAtha indeed herekhvettha brahminsbrāhmaṇā only born from sympathyanukampājātikaṁyeva giftdānaṁ they give, quotation enddentī”ti.
quotation marker thus“Evaṁ being sosante indeedkho, studentmāṇava, of brahminsbrāhmaṇānaṁ thisidaṁ sixthchaṭṭhaṁ ground for making meritpuññakiriyavatthu ishoti—
that isyadidaṁ born from sympathy, quotation endanukampājātikan”ti.
quotation marker thus“Evaṁ being sosante, sirbho Gotamagotama, of brahminsbrāhmaṇānaṁ thisidaṁ sixthchaṭṭhaṁ ground for making meritpuññakiriyavatthu ishoti—
that isyadidaṁ born from sympathy, quotation endanukampājātikan”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.”

which“Ye thesete, studentmāṇava, brahminsbrāhmaṇā fivepañca thingsdhamme prescribepaññapenti of meritpuññassa for the makingkiriyāya of the skillfulkusalassa for succeedingārādhanāya, theseime youtvaṁ fivepañca thingsdhamme wherekattha usuallybahulaṁ do you seesamanupassasi—
among laypeoplegahaṭṭhesu orvā among renunciatespabbajitesu orvā”ti?
which“Yeme, sirbho Gotamagotama, brahminsbrāhmaṇā fivepañca thingsdhamme prescribepaññapenti of meritpuññassa for the makingkiriyāya of the skillfulkusalassa for succeedingārādhanāya, theseimāhaṁ fivepañca thingsdhamme among renunciatespabbajitesu usuallybahulaṁ I seesamanupassāmi lessappaṁ among laypeoplegahaṭṭhesu.
a laypersonGahaṭṭho forhi, sirbho Gotamagotama, with many obligationsmahaṭṭho with many dutiesmahākicco with many issuesmahādhikaraṇo with many undertakingsmahāsamārambho, notna alwayssatataṁ constantlysamitaṁ a truth-speakersaccavādī ishoti;
a renunciatepabbajito indeedkho butpana, sirbho Gotamagotama, with few obligationsappaṭṭho with few dutiesappakicco with few issuesappādhikaraṇo with few undertakingsappasamārambho, alwayssatataṁ constantlysamitaṁ a truth-speakersaccavādī ishoti.
a laypersonGahaṭṭho forhi, sirbho Gotamagotama, with many obligationsmahaṭṭho with many dutiesmahākicco with many issuesmahādhikaraṇo with many undertakingsmahāsamārambho notna alwayssatataṁ constantlysamitaṁ ferventtapassī ishoti ……
chastebrahmacārī ishoti ……
rehearsing a lotsajjhāyabahulo ishoti ……
very generouscāgabahulo ishoti;

“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.

a renunciatepabbajito indeedkho butpana, sirbho Gotamagotama, of few obligationsappaṭṭho of few dutiesappakicco of few issuesappādhikaraṇo of few undertakingsappasamārambho alwayssatataṁ constantlysamitaṁ ferventtapassī ishoti ……
chastebrahmacārī ishoti ……
rehearsing a lotsajjhāyabahulo ishoti ……
very generouscāgabahulo ishoti.
theseYeme, sirbho Gotamagotama, brahminsbrāhmaṇā fivepañca thingsdhamme prescribepaññapenti of meritpuññassa for makingkiriyāya skillfulkusalassa for succeeding inārādhanāya, these Iimāhaṁ fivepañca thingsdhamme among renunciatespabbajitesu usuallybahulaṁ I findsamanupassāmi lessappaṁ among laypeoplegahaṭṭhesū”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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