Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Parents are said to be ‘Divinity’ and ‘first tutors’. They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods <j>from their children, for they love their offspring.

Therefore an astute person would revere them and honor them with food and drink, clothes and bedding, by anointing and bathing, and by washing their feet.

Because they look after their parents like this, they’re praised in this life by the astute, and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What four? They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, and lie. Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Killing, stealing, telling lies, and visiting others’ wives: astute people don’t praise these things.”

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? There are those whose estimation of and confidence in others is based on their appearance, on their voice, on their mortification, and on principle. These are the four individuals found in the world.

Those who judge on appearance, and those swayed by a voice, are full of desire and greed; those people just don’t understand.

Not knowing what’s inside, nor seeing what’s outside, the fool shut in on every side, gets carried away by a voice.

Not knowing what’s inside, but discerning what’s outside, seeing the fruit outside, they’re also carried away by a voice.

Understanding what’s inside, and discerning what’s outside, seeing without hindrances, they don’t get carried away by a voice.”

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? The greedy, the hateful, the delusional, and the conceited. These are the four individuals found in the world.

Full of desire for desirable things, enjoying things that seem pleasant, beings veiled by delusion only tighten their bonds.

Born of greed, born of hate, born of delusion: the ignorant do unskillful deeds that afflict and produce pain.

If you act out of these qualities, <j>that’s what you become. But men shrouded by ignorance, are blind, with no eyes to see, and they never imagine that this could be so.”

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now, at that time a monk in Sāvatthī passed away due to a snake bite. Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, a monk in Sāvatthī has passed away due to a snake bite.”

“Mendicants, that monk mustn’t have spread a mind of love to the four royal snake families. If he had, he wouldn’t have died due to a snake bite.

What four? The royal snake families of Virūpakkha, Erāpatha, Chabyāputta, and Kaṇhāgotamaka. …

Mendicants, I urge you to spread a mind of love to the four royal snake families, for your own safety, security, and protection.

I love the Virūpakkhas, the Erāpathas I love, I love the Chabyāputtas, the Kaṇhāgotamakas I love.

I love the footless creatures, the two-footed I love, I love the four-footed, the many-footed I love.

May the footless not harm me! May I not be harmed by the two-footed! May the four-footed not harm me! May I not be harmed by the many-footed!

All sentient beings, all living things, all creatures, every one: may they see only nice things, may bad not come to anyone.

The Buddha is immeasurable, the teaching is immeasurable, the Saṅgha is immeasurable. But limited are reptiles,

snakes and scorpions, centipedes, spiders and lizards and mice. I’ve made this safeguard, I’ve made this protection: go away, creatures! And so I revere the Blessed One, I revere the seven perfectly awakened Buddhas.”

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left. There the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about Devadatta: “Possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

It’s like a banana plant …

or a bamboo …

or a reed, all of which bear fruit to their own ruin and downfall …

It’s like a mule, which becomes pregnant to its own ruin and downfall. In the same way, possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

The banana plant is destroyed by its own fruit, as are the bamboo and the reed. Honor destroys a reprobate, as pregnancy destroys a mule.”

“Mendicants, there are these four efforts. What four? The efforts to restrain, to give up, to develop, and to preserve. And what, mendicants, is the effort to restrain? It’s when you generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. This is called the effort to restrain.

And what, mendicants, is the effort to give up? It’s when you generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities are given up. This is called the effort to give up.

And what, mendicants, is the effort to develop? It’s when you generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise. This is called the effort to develop.

And what, mendicants, is the effort to preserve? It’s when you generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed. This is called the effort to preserve. These are the four efforts.

Restraint and giving up, development and preservation: these are the four efforts taught by the Kinsman of the Sun. Any mendicant who keenly applies these may attain the ending of suffering.”

“At a time when kings are unprincipled, royal officials become unprincipled. When royal officials are unprincipled, brahmins and householders become unprincipled. When brahmins and householders are unprincipled, the people of town and country become unprincipled. When the people of town and country are unprincipled, the courses of the moon and sun become erratic. … the courses of the stars and constellations … the days and nights … the months and fortnights … the seasons and years become erratic. … the blowing of the winds becomes erratic and chaotic. … the deities are angered. … the heavens don’t provide enough rain. … the crops ripen erratically. When people eat crops that have ripened erratically, they become short-lived, ugly, weak, and sickly.

At a time when kings are principled, royal officials become principled. … brahmins and householders … people of town and country become principled. When the people of town and country are principled, the courses of the sun and moon become regular. … the stars and constellations … the days and nights … the months and fortnights … the seasons and years become regular. … the blowing of the winds becomes regular and orderly. … the deities are not angered. … the heavens provide plenty of rain. When the heavens provide plenty of rain, the crops ripen well. When people eat crops that have ripened well, they become long-lived, beautiful, strong, and healthy.

When cattle cross a river, if the bull goes off course, they all go off course, because their leader is off course.

So it is for humans: when the one deemed chief behaves badly, what do you expect the rest to do? The whole nation sleeps badly, when the king is unprincipled.

When cattle cross a river, if the bull goes straight, they all go straight, because their leader is straight.

So it is for humans: when the one deemed chief does the right thing, what do you expect the rest to do? The whole nation sleeps at ease, when the king is just.”

“Mendicants, when a mendicant has four things their practice is a sure bet, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements. What four? It’s when a mendicant is ethical, learned, energetic, and wise. When a mendicant possesses these four things their practice is a sure bet, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements.”

“Mendicants, when a mendicant has four things their practice is a sure bet, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements. What four? Thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness; and right view. When a mendicant possesses these four things their practice is a sure bet, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements.”

“Mendicants, an untrue person can be known by four qualities. What four? To start with, an untrue person speaks ill of another even when not asked, let alone when asked. But when summoned for questioning they speak ill of another in full detail, not leaving anything out. That’s how to know that this is an untrue person.

Furthermore, an untrue person doesn’t speak well of another even when asked, let alone when not asked. But when summoned for questioning they speak well of another without giving the full details, leaving many things out. That’s how to know that this is an untrue person.

Furthermore, an untrue person doesn’t speak ill of themselves even when asked, let alone when not asked. But when summoned for questioning they speak ill of themselves without giving the full details, leaving many things out. That’s how to know that this is an untrue person.

Furthermore, an untrue person speaks well of themselves even when not asked, let alone when asked. But when summoned for questioning they speak well of themselves in full detail, not leaving anything out. That’s how to know that this is an untrue person. An untrue person can be known by these four qualities.

A true person can be known by four qualities. What four? To start with, a true person doesn’t speak ill of another even when asked, let alone when not asked. But when summoned for questioning they speak ill of another without giving the full details, leaving many things out. That’s how to know that this is a true person.

Furthermore, a true person speaks well of another even when not asked, let alone when asked. But when summoned for questioning they speak well of another in full detail, not leaving anything out. That’s how to know that this is a true person.

Furthermore, a true person speaks ill of themselves even when not asked, let alone when asked. But when led on by questions they speak ill of themselves in full detail, not leaving anything out. That’s how to know that this is a true person.

Furthermore, a true person doesn’t speak well of themselves even when asked, let alone when not asked. But when summoned for questioning they speak well of themselves without giving the full details, leaving many things out. That’s how to know that this is a true person. A true person can be known by these four qualities.

It’s like a bride on the day or night she’s first brought to her husband’s home. Right away she sets up a keen sense of conscience and prudence for her mother and father in law, her husband, and even the bondservants, workers, and staff. But after some time, because of living together and familiarity, she’ll even say to her mother and father in law, or to her husband: ‘Go away! What would you know?’ In the same way, on the day or night a mendicant first goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, right away they set up a keen sense of conscience and prudence for the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, and even the monastery workers and novices. But after some time, because of living together and familiarity, they’ll even say to their tutor or mentor: ‘Go away! What would you know?’ So you should train like this: ‘We will live with hearts like that of a newly wedded bride.’ That’s how you should train.”

“Mendicants, these four things are the best. What four? The best ethics, immersion, wisdom, and freedom. These are the four things that are the best.”

“Mendicants, these four things are the best. What four? The best form, feeling, perception, and existence. These are the four things that are the best.”

At one time the Buddha was staying between a pair of sal trees in the sal forest of the Mallas at Upavattana near Kusinārā at the time of his full extinguishment. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Perhaps even a single mendicant has doubt or uncertainty regarding the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the path, or the practice. So ask, mendicants! Don’t regret it later, thinking: ‘We were in the Teacher’s presence and we weren’t able to ask the Buddha a question.’” When this was said, the mendicants kept silent.

For a second time the Buddha addressed the mendicants: … For a second time, the mendicants kept silent.

For a third time the Buddha addressed the mendicants: … For a third time, the mendicants kept silent.

Then the Buddha said to the mendicants: “Mendicants, perhaps you don’t ask out of respect for the Teacher. So let a friend tell a friend.” When this was said, the mendicants kept silent. Then Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha: “It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! I am quite confident that there’s not even a single mendicant in this Saṅgha who has doubt or uncertainty regarding the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the path, or the practice.”

“Ānanda, you speak from faith. But the Realized One knows that there’s not even a single mendicant in this Saṅgha who has doubt or uncertainty regarding the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the path, or the practice. Even the last of these five hundred mendicants is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

“Mendicants, these four things are unthinkable. They should not be thought about, and anyone who tries to think about them will go mad or get frustrated. What four? The domain of the Buddhas … The domain of one in absorption … The results of deeds … Speculation about the world … These are the four unthinkable things. They should not be thought about, and anyone who tries to think about them will go mad or get frustrated.”

“Mendicants, there are these four ways of purifying a religious donation. What four? There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the giver, not the recipient. There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the recipient, not the giver. There’s a religious donation that’s purified by neither the giver nor the recipient. There’s a religious donation that’s purified by both the giver and the recipient.

And how is a religious donation purified by the giver, not the recipient? It’s when the giver is ethical, of good character, but the recipient is unethical, of bad character.

And how is a religious donation purified by the recipient, not the giver? It’s when the giver is unethical, of bad character, but the recipient is ethical, of good character.

And how is a religious donation purified by neither the giver nor the recipient? It’s when both the giver and the recipient are unethical, of bad character.

And how is a religious donation purified by both the giver and the recipient? It’s when both the giver and the recipient are ethical, of good character. These are the four ways of purifying a religious donation.”

Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why for different people the same kind of business undertaking might fail, while another doesn’t meet expectations, another meets expectations, and another exceeds expectations?”

“Sāriputta, take a case where someone goes to an ascetic or brahmin and invites them to ask for what they need. But they fail to give what’s requested. When they’ve passed away from that life, if they’re reborn in this place, whatever business they undertake fails.

Take a case where someone goes to an ascetic or brahmin and invites them to ask for what they need. They give what’s requested, but don’t meet expectations. When they’ve passed away from that life, if they’re reborn in this place, whatever business they undertake doesn’t meet expectations.

Take a case where someone goes to an ascetic or brahmin and invites them to ask for what they need. They give what’s requested, meeting expectations. When they’ve passed away from that life, if they’re reborn in this place, whatever business they undertake meets expectations.

Take a case where someone goes to an ascetic or brahmin and invites them to ask for what they need. They give what’s requested, exceeding expectations. When they’ve passed away from that life, if they’re reborn in this place, whatever business they undertake exceeds expectations.

This is the cause, this is the reason why for different people the same kind of business undertaking might fail, while another doesn’t meet expectations, another meets expectations, and another exceeds expectations.”

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī in Ghosita’s monastery. Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why ladies don’t attend council meetings, work for a living, or travel to Persia?” “Ānanda, ladies are irritable, jealous, stingy, and unintelligent. This is the cause, this is the reason why ladies don’t attend council meetings, work for a living, or travel to Persia.”

“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What four? They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, and lie. Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Someone with four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What four? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, or lie. Someone with these four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What four? They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Someone with four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What four? They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. Someone with these four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What four? Without examining or scrutinizing, they praise those deserving of criticism, and they criticize those deserving of praise. They arouse faith in things that are dubious, and they don’t arouse faith in things that are inspiring. Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Someone with four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What four? After examining and scrutinizing, they criticize those deserving of criticism, and they praise those deserving of praise. They don’t arouse faith in things that are dubious, and they do arouse faith in things that are inspiring. Someone with these four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there. What four? They value anger, or denigration, or material things, or honor rather than the true teaching. Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Someone with four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there. What four? They value the true teaching rather than anger, or denigration, or material things, or honor. Someone with these four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? The dark bound for darkness, the dark bound for light, the light bound for darkness, and the light bound for light.

And how is an individual dark and bound for darkness? It’s when an individual is reborn in a low family—a family of corpse-workers, bamboo-workers, hunters, chariot-makers, or scavengers—poor, with little to eat or drink, where life is tough, and food and shelter are hard to find. And they’re ugly, unsightly, deformed, sickly—one-eyed, crippled, lame, or half-paralyzed. They don’t get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; or bed, house, and lighting. And they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. That’s how an individual is dark and bound for darkness.

And how is an individual dark and bound for light? It’s when an individual is reborn in a low family … But they do good things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. That’s how an individual is dark and bound for light.

And how is an individual light and bound for darkness? It’s when an individual is reborn in an eminent family—a well-to-do family of aristocrats, brahmins, or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain. And they’re attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. They get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrance, and makeup; and bed, house, and lighting. But they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. That’s how an individual is light and bound for darkness.

And how is an individual light and bound for light? It’s when an individual is reborn in an eminent family … And they do good things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. That’s how an individual is light and bound for light. These are the four individuals found in the world.”

“These four individuals are found in the world. What four? One sunk low who sinks lower, one sunk low who rises high, one risen high who sinks low, and one risen high who rises higher. … These are the four individuals found in the world.”

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? The confirmed ascetic, the white lotus ascetic, the pink lotus ascetic, and the delicate ascetic of ascetics.

And how is an individual a confirmed ascetic? It’s when a mendicant is a practicing trainee, who lives aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. It’s like the eldest son of an anointed aristocratic king. He has not yet been anointed, but is eligible, and has been confirmed in the succession. In the same way, a mendicant is a practicing trainee, who lives aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. That’s how an individual is a confirmed ascetic.

And how is an individual a white lotus ascetic? It’s when a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. But they don’t have direct meditative experience of the eight liberations. That’s how an individual is a white lotus ascetic.

And how is an individual a pink lotus ascetic? It’s when a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom … in this very life … And they have direct meditative experience of the eight liberations. That’s how an individual is a pink lotus ascetic.

And how is an individual a delicate ascetic of ascetics? It’s when a mendicant usually uses only what they’ve been invited to accept—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—rarely using them without invitation. When living with other spiritual practitioners, they usually find themselves treated agreeably by them by way of body, speech, and mind, and rarely disagreeably. And they are usually presented with agreeable things by them, rarely with disagreeable ones. They’re healthy, so the various unpleasant feelings—stemming from disorders of bile, phlegm, wind, or their conjunction; or caused by change in weather, by not taking care of yourself, by exertion, or as the result of past deeds—usually don’t come up. They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. And they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom … in this very life … That’s how an individual is a delicate ascetic of ascetics.

And if anyone should be rightly called a delicate ascetic of ascetics, it’s me. For I usually use only what I’ve been invited to accept … When living with other mendicants, I am usually treated agreeably by them. … I’m healthy … I get the four absorptions when I want, without trouble or difficulty. And I’ve realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom … in this very life …

So if anyone should be rightly called a delicate ascetic of ascetics, it’s me. These are the four individuals found in the world.”

“Mendicants, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? The confirmed ascetic, the white lotus ascetic, the pink lotus ascetic, and the delicate ascetic of ascetics.

And how is an individual a confirmed ascetic? It’s when a mendicant—with the ending of three fetters—is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. That’s how an individual is a confirmed ascetic.

And how is an individual a white lotus ascetic? It’s when a mendicant—with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion—is a once-returner. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. That’s how an individual is a white lotus ascetic.

And how is an individual a pink lotus ascetic? It’s when a mendicant—with the ending of the five lower fetters—is reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. That’s how an individual is a pink lotus ascetic.

And how is an individual a delicate ascetic of ascetics? It’s when a mendicant realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. That’s how an individual is a delicate ascetic of ascetics. These are the four individuals found in the world.”