MAJJHIMA NIKAAYA III
II. 3. 5. Maagandiyasutta.m
III.
4. 6. Mahaakammavibhangasutta.m- The detailed classification of actions-(136)
I
heard thus.At one time the Blessed One was living in the squirrels’ sanctuary
in the bamboo grove in Raajagaha. At that time venerable Samaddhi lived
in a remote dwelling. The wandering ascetic Potaliyaputta wandering and
walking for exercise approached venerable Samiddhi, exchanged friendly
greetings and sat on a side. Then the wandering ascetic Potaliyaputta said.’Friend
Samiddhi, this I heard from the recluse Gotama and he acknowledged it.
Bodily actions are valueless, so too verbal actions, only mental actions
are valuable. Is there an abiding attained to which someone does not feel
anything?’
‘Friend,
Potaliyaputta, do not talk like that, do not abuse the Blessed One, it
is not good to abuse the Blessed One. The Blessed One did not say that
bodily actions and verbal actions are valueless and that only mental actions
are valuable There is an abiding attained to which someone does not feel
anything.’
‘Friend,
Samiddhi, how longis it since you
have gone forth?’
‘Friend,
not very long, only three rains.’
‘Now,
what shall we think of the elder bhikkhus, when the novices protect their
Teacher thus? Friend, Samiddhi, doing intentional actions by body, speech
and mind how does one feel?’
‘Friend,
doing intentional actions by body, speech and mind, one feels unpleasant’
The
wandering ascetic Potaliyaputta neither pleased nor scorning the words
of venerable Samiddhi got up from his seat and went away.
Soon
after the wandering ascetic Potaliyaputta had gone away, venerable Samiddhi
approached venerable Aananda, exchanged frienly greetings, sat on a side
and informed venerable Aananda all that conversation that took place between
him and the wandering ascetic. Venerable Aananda, then said, friend, we
have to see the Blessed One on account of this conversation. Let us approach
the Blessed One, inform about this and as the Blessed One explains it,
we will bear it in our minds.
Then
venerable Samiddhi agreed and venerables Aananda and Samiddhi approached
the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side, and venerable Aananda informed
the Blessed Oneall that conversation
that took place between venerable Samiddhi and the wandering ascetic Potaliyaputta.
The
Blessed One said to venerable Aananda: ‘Aananda, I cannot recall even seeing
the wandering ascetic potaliyaputta, so how could such a conversation have
taken place. This foolish man Samiddhi has given a one sided reply, to
a question that needed an explanatory reply.’
When
this was said, venerable Udaayi intrudingly said to the Blessed One: ‘Venerable
sir, if venerable Samiddhi had said, whatever is felt is unpleasant on
account of this.’
Then
the Blessed One addressed venerable Aananda: ‘Aananda, do you see the side
track of this foolish man Udaayi? From the beginning I knew that foolish
Udaayi would intrude unwisely. Aananda, the wandering ascetic Potaliyaputta
had earlier asked about the three feelings. If this foolish man Samiddhi
had explained to the wandering ascetic thus. Friend Potaliyaputta, doing
intentional actions with pleasant feelings, by body, speech and mind, he
feels pleasant. Doing intentional actions with unpleasant feelings, by
body, speech and mind, he feels unpleasant. Doing intentional actions with
neither unpleasant nor pleasant feelings, by body, speech and mind, he
feels neither unpleasant nor pleasant. If he had explained it thus, he
would have explained it correctly. Yet Aananda, how are these foolish wandering
ascetics of other sects to understand the Thus Gone One’s detailed classification
of actions. If you would listen to it I will explain.’
‘Venerable
sir, this is the right time to explain the Detailed classification of actions,
the bhikkhus hearing it from the Blessed One would bear it in their minds.’
‘Then
Aananda listen and attend carefully I will tell. Aananda, there are four
kinds of people evident in the world. What are the four? Aananda, a certain
person destroys living things, takes the not given, misbehaves sexually,
tells lies and malicious things, talks roughly and frivolously, covets,
is with angry mind and wrong view, at the break up of the body, after death,
he goes to decrease, is born in hell. .
Aananda,
a certain person destroys living things, takes the not given, misbehavessexually,
tells lies and malicious things, talks roughly and frivolously, covets,
is with angry mind and wrong view, at the break up of the body, after death,
he increases, is born in heaven.
Aananda,
a certain person abstains from, destroying living things, takingthe
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Does not covet, is without an angry mind and has
right view, at the break up of the body, after death, he increases, is
born in heaven.
Aananda,
a certain person abstains from, destroying living things, takingthe
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Does not covet, is without an angry mind and has
right view, at the break up of the body, after death, he decreases, is
born in hell.
Aananda,
a certain recluse or brahmin through exertion, making endeavour, yoking
diligence and right attention attains to a certain concentration of mind
through which he purifies the heavenly eye beyond human. Then he sees this
person that destroyed living things, took the not given, misbehaved sexually,
told lies and malicious things, talked roughly and frivolously, coveted,
was with angry mind and wrong views at the break up of the body, after
death, decreased, born in hell. .He says, indeed there is demerit, there
are results for misconduct. I saw this person who destroyed living things,
took the not given, misbehaved sexually, told lies and malicious things,
talked roughly and frivolously, coveted, was with angry mind and wrong
views at the break up of the body, after death, gone to decrease, born
in hell. Then he says, all thosewho
destroyed living things, took the not given, misbehaved sexually, told
lies and malicious things, talked roughly and frivolously, coveted, was
with angry mind and wrong views at the break up of the body, after death,
decrease are born in hell. Those who know this, know it rightly, those
who know it in another way have wrong knowledge. Thus, he tenaciously holds
to what he himself has known, seen and experienced, and defines it as,
this only is the truth, all else is false.
Aananda,
a certain recluse or brahmin through exertion, making endeavour, yoking,
diligence and right attention attains to a certain concentration of mind
through which he purifies the heavenly eye beyond human. Then he sees this
person that destroyed living things, took the not given, misbehaved sexually,
told lies and malicious things, talked roughly and frivolously, coveted,
was with angry mind and wrong views at the break up of the body, after
death, increased, born in heaven. .He says, indeed there is no demerit,
there are no results for misconduct. I saw this person who destroyed living
things, took the not given, misbehaved sexually, told lies and malicious
things, talked roughly and frivolously, coveted, was with angry mind and
wrong views at the break up of the body, after death, increased, born in
heaven. Then he says, all thosewho
destroyed living things, took the not given, misbehaved sexually, told
lies and malicious things, talked roughly and frivolously, coveted, was
with angry mind and wrong views at the break up of the body, after death,
increase, are born in heavenThose
who know this, know it rightly, those who know it in another way have wrong
knowledge. Thus, he tenaciously holds to what he himself has known, seen
and experienced, and defines it as, this only is the truth, all else is
false.
Aananda,
a certain recluse or brahmin through
exertion, making endeavour, yoking,
diligence and right attention attains to a certain concentration of mind
through which he purifies the heavenly eye beyond human. Then he sees this
person that
abstained
from, destroying living things, taking the
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Did not covet, and bear an angry mind and had
right view at the break up of the body, after death, increased, born in
heaven.He says, indeed there is merit, there are results for good conduct
I saw this person who abstained from, destroying living things, takingthe
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Did not covet, and bear an angry mind and had
right view at the break up of the body, after death, increased, born in
heaven. Then he says, all those who abstained from, destroying living things,
takingthe not given, misbehaving
sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking roughly and frivolously.
Did not covet, and bear an angry mind and had right view at the break up
of the body, after death, increase, are born in heaven.Those who know this,
know it rightly, those who know it in another way have wrong knowledge.
Thus, he tenaciously holds to what he himself has known, seen and experienced,
and defines it as, this only is the truth, all else is false.
Aananda,
a certain recluse or brahmin through exertion, making endeavour, yoking,
diligence and right attention attains to a certain concentration of mind
through which he purifies the heavenly eye beyond human. Then he sees this
person that
abstained
from, destroying living things, takingthe
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Did not covet, and bear an angry mind and had
right view at the break up of the body, after death, decreased, born in
hell..He says, indeed there is no merit, there are no results for good
conduct I saw this person who abstained from, destroying living things,
takingthe not given, misbehaving
sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking roughly and frivolously.
Did not covet, and bear an angry mind and had right view at the break up
of the body, after death, decrease, born in hell. Then he says, all those
who abstained from, destroying living things, takingthe
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Did not covet, and bear an angry mind and had
right view at the break up of the body, after death, decrease, are born
in hell..Those who know this, know it rightly, those who know it in another
way have wrong knowledge. Thus, he tenaciously holds to what he himself
has known, seen and experienced, and defines it as, this only is the truth,
all else is false.
There
Aananda, if a recluse or brahmin was to say, ‘Indeed there is demerit,
there are results for misconduct’. I allow him that.’If he says I too saw
this person who destroyed living things, took the not given, misbehaved
sexually, told lies and malicious things, talked roughly and frivolously,
coveted, was with angry mind and wrong views at the break up of the body,
after death, decrease, born in hell’. I allow him that too.If he says,
‘All thosewho destroyed living things,
took the not given, misbehaved sexually, told lies and malicious things,
talked roughly and frivolously, coveted, was with angry mind and wrong
views at the break up of the body, after death decrease, are born in hell.’.
I do not allow him that. If he says, ‘They who know this, know it rightly,
those who know it in another way have wrong knowledge.’ I do not allow
him that too. If he tenaciously holds to what he himself has known, seen
and experienced, and defines it as, ‘This only is the truth, all else is
false.’ I do not allow him that either. What is the reason? Aananda, the
Thus Gone One’s knowledge of the Detailed classification of actions is
different.
There
Aananda, if a recluse or brahmin was to say, ‘Indeed there is no demerit,
there are no results for misconduct.’I do not allow him that.’If he says
I too saw this person who destroyed living things, took the not given,
misbehaved sexually, told lies and malicious things, talked roughly and
frivolously, coveted, was with angry mind and wrong views at the break
up of the body, after death, increased, born in heaven’. I allow him that.
If he says, ‘All thosewho destroyed
living things, took the not given, misbehaved sexually, told lies and malicious
things, talked roughly and frivolously, coveted, was with angry mind and
wrong views at the break up of the body, after death, increase, are born
in heaven.’. I do not allow him that either. If he says, ‘They who know
this, know it rightly, those who know it in another way have wrong knowledge.’
I do not allow him that too. If he tenaciously holds to what he himself
has known, seen and experienced, and defines it as, ‘This only is the truth,
all else is false.’ I do not allow him that either. What is the reason?
Aananda, the Thus Gone One’s knowledge of the Detailed classification of
actions is different.
There
Aananda, if a recluse or brahmin was to say, ‘Indeed there is no merit,
there are no results for good conduct’. I do not allow him that.’If he
says I too saw this person who abstained from, destroying living things,
taking the not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious
things, talking roughly and frivolously. Did not covet, was without an
angry mind and with right view at the break up of the body, after death,
decrease, born in hell’. I allow him that. If he says, ‘All those who abstained
from destroying living things, taking the not given, misbehaving sexually,
telling lies and malicious things, talking roughly and frivolously, did
not covet, was without angry mind and with right view at the break up of
the body, after death, decrease, are born in hell’. I do not allow him
that. If he says, ‘They who know this, know it rightly, those who know
it in another way have wrong knowledge.’ I do not allow him that too. If
he tenaciously holds to what he himself has known, seen and experienced,
and defines it as, ‘This only is the truth, all else is false.’ I do not
allow him that either. What is the reason? Aananda, the Thus Gone One’s
knowledge of the Detailed classification of actions is different.
Aananda,
that person who destroys living things, takes the not given, misbehaves
sexually, tells lies and malicious things, talks roughly and frivolously,
covets, is with angry mind and wrong view.and at the break up of the body,
after death, decreases, is born in hell. Either earlier he would have done
evil actions with unpleasant feelings, or later he would have done evil
actions with unpleasant feelings, or else at the time of death he would
have got completely convinced of wrong view, as a result of thatat
the break up of the body, after death, he decreases, is born in hell. If
he had destroyed living things,....re...... wrong view, he experiences
the results here and now, in the next birth or in a consequent birth.
Aananda,
that person who destroys living things, takes the not given, misbehavessexually,
tells lies and malicious things, talks roughly and frivolously, covets,
is with angry mind and wrong view and at the break up of the body, after
death, increases, is born in heaven. Either earlier he would have done
good actions with pleasant feelings, or later he would have done good actions
with pleasant feelings, or else at the time of death he would have got
completely convinced of right view, as a result of thatat
the break up of the body, after death, he increases, is born in heaven.
If he had destroyed living things,....re...... wrong view, he experiences
the results here and now, in the next birth or in a consequent birth.
Aananda,
that person who abstains from, destroying living things, takingthe
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Does not covet, is without an angry mind and has
right view.at the break up of the body, after death, increases, is born
in heaven.Either earlier he would have done good actions with pleasant
feelings, or later he would have done good actions with pleasant feelings,
or else at the time of death he would have got completely convinced of
right view, as a result of thatat
the break up of the body, after death, he increases, is born in heaven.
If he had abstained from destroyingliving
things,....re...... right view, he experiences the results here and now,
in the next birth or in a consequent birth.
Aananda,
that person who abstains from, destroying living things, takingthe
not given, misbehaving sexually, telling lies and malicious things, talking
roughly and frivolously. Does not covet, is without an angry mind and has
right view and at the break up of the body, after death,decreases, is born
in hell. Either earlier he would have done evil actions with unpleasant
feelings, or later he would have done evil actions with unpleasant feelings,
or else at the time of death he would have got completely convinced of
wrong view, as a result of thatat
the break up of the body, after death, he decreases, is born in hell.If
he had abstained from destroyingliving
things,....re...... right view, he experiences the results here and now,
in the next birth or in a consequent birth.
Thus
Aananda, there is impossible action, impossible to shine forth,there
is impossible action, possible to shine forth,there
is possible action, possible to shine forth andthere
is possible action, impossible to shine forth*1)
The
Blessed One said thus and venerable Aananda delighted in the words of the
Blessed One
Notes.
1. Thus Aananda, there is impossible action, impossible to shine forth,there
is impossible action, possible to shine forth,there
is possible action, possible to shine forth andthere
is possible action, impossible to shine forth ‘Iti kho Aananda, atthi kamma.m
abhabba.m abhabbaabhaasa.m; atthi kamma.m abhabba.m bhabbaabhaasa.m; atthi
kamma.m bhabba.mc’eva bhabbaabhaasa.m;
atthi kamma.m bhabba.m abhabbaabhaasa.m ti’ The most important point in
the Detailed Classification of actions is, that intention matters everything
to one’s actions, and much of the results of actions are experienced here
and now, or in the next birth or in a subsequent birthSince
intention is so very important, we should know that mere intending would
not carry us across.eg We may aspire extinction, but without that effort
and endeavour and without turning our foot steps towards it, it is not
possible. These are impossible actions, impossible to shine forth. There
are times when these impossible actions shine forth, when the necessary
effort and endeavour are put into it. Then there are actions that begin
at the six doors of mental contact, which we could.handle efficiently and
arrive at the results here and now. Thus there are possible actions, possible
to shine forth. These same are sometimes unable to shine forth, as it happened
to venerable Angulimaala. He did not experience the results of his evil
actions, as he over rode them, and extinguished.