Itivuttaka (So It Was Said)

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, give up one thing and I guarantee you non-return. What one thing? Greed is the one thing. Give it up, and I guarantee you non-return.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by greed beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that greed, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, give up one thing and I guarantee you non-return. What one thing? Hate is the one thing. Give it up, and I guarantee you non-return.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by hate beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that hate, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, give up one thing and I guarantee you non-return. What one thing? Delusion is the one thing. Give it up, and I guarantee you non-return.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by delusion beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that delusion, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, give up one thing and I guarantee you non-return. What one thing? Anger is the one thing. Give it up, and I guarantee you non-return.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by anger beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that anger, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, give up one thing and I guarantee you non-return. What one thing? Disdain is the one thing. Give it up, and I guarantee you non-return.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by disdain beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that disdain, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, give up one thing and I guarantee you non-return. What one thing? Conceit is the one thing. Give it up, and I guarantee you non-return.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Drunk on conceit, beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that conceit, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding the all, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering. By directly knowing and completely understanding the all, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Those who know the all as all, are not attracted to anything. They completely understand all, and have risen above all suffering.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding conceit, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering. By directly knowing and completely understanding conceit, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“These folk are caught up in conceit, tied by conceit, delighting in existence. Not completely understanding conceit, they return in future lives.

Those who have given up conceit, freed with the ending of conceit, vanquishers of the tie of conceit, have risen above all suffering.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding greed, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering. By directly knowing and completely understanding greed, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by greed beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that greed, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding hate, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering. By directly knowing and completely understanding hate, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by hate beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that hate, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding delusion, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering. By directly knowing and completely understanding delusion, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by delusion beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that delusion, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding anger, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering. By directly knowing and completely understanding anger, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by anger beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that anger, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding disdain, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering. By directly knowing and completely understanding disdain, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“When overcome by disdain beings go to a bad place. Having rightly understood that disdain, the discerning give it up. Once they’ve given it up, they never return to this world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, I do not see a single shroud, shrouded by which people wander and transmigrate for a long time like the shroud of ignorance. Shrouded by ignorance, people wander and transmigrate for a long time.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“There is no other thing that shrouds people like ignorance. Veiled by delusion, they transmigrate day and night.

Those who have given up delusion, shattering the mass of darkness, wander no more, the root is not found in them.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, I do not see a single fetter, fettered by which people wander and transmigrate for a long time like the fetter of craving. Fettered by craving, people wander and transmigrate for a long time.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Craving is a person’s partner as they transmigrate on this long journey. They go from this state to another, but don’t escape transmigration.

Knowing this danger, that craving is the cause of suffering— rid of craving, free of grasping, a mendicant would wander mindful.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Taking into account interior factors, mendicants, I do not see a single one that is so very helpful as rational application of mind for a trainee mendicant who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire, but lives aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. A mendicant rationally applying the mind gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“There is nothing so helpful for a trainee mendicant aspiring for the ultimate goal as rational application of mind. Striving rationally, a mendicant attains the end of suffering.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Taking into account exterior factors, mendicants, I do not see a single one that is so very helpful as good friendship for a trainee mendicant who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire, but lives aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. A mendicant who has good friends gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“A mendicant with good friends is reverential and respectful when their friends are speaking, aware and mindful. Gradually they would attain the ending of all fetters.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“One thing, mendicants, arises in the world for the detriment and unhappiness of the people, against the people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of gods and humans. What one thing? Schism in the Saṅgha. When the Saṅgha is split, they argue, insult, block, and forsake each other. This doesn’t inspire confidence in those without it, and it causes some with confidence to change their minds.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“A schismatic remains for the eon in a place of loss, in hell. Taking a stand against the teaching, favoring factions, they ruin their sanctuary. After causing schism in a harmonious Saṅgha, they burn in hell for an eon.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“One thing, mendicants, arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. What one thing? Harmony in the Saṅgha. When the Saṅgha is in harmony, they don’t argue, insult, block, or forsake each other. This inspires confidence in those without it, and increases confidence in those who have it.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“A Saṅgha in harmony is happy, as is support for those in harmony. Taking a stand on the teaching, favoring harmony, they ruin no sanctuary. After creating harmony in the Saṅgha, they rejoice in heaven for an eon.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, when I’ve comprehended the mind of an individual whose mind is corrupted, I understand: ‘If this individual were to die right now, they would be placed in hell as if delivered there.’ Why is that? Because their mind is corrupted. Corruption of mind is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Knowing an individual’s corrupted mind, the Buddha explained this matter in the mendicants’ presence.

If that individual were to die at this time, they’d be reborn in hell, for their mind is corrupted.

That sort is cast down as surely as if they’d been carried off and put there. For corruption of mind is the reason sentient beings go to a bad place.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, when I’ve comprehended the mind of an individual whose mind is pure, I understand: ‘If this individual were to die right now, they would be placed in heaven as if delivered there.’ Why is that? Because their mind is pure. Purity of mind is the reason why some sentient beings, when their body breaks up, after death, are reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Knowing an individual’s pure mind, the Buddha explained this matter in the mendicants’ presence.

If that individual were to die at this time, they’d be reborn in heaven, for their mind is pure.

That sort is raised up as surely as if they’d been carried and put there. For purity of mind is the reason sentient beings go to a good place.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, don’t fear good deeds. For ‘good deeds’ is a term for happiness, for what is likable, desirable, and agreeable. I recall undergoing for a long time the likable, desirable, and agreeable results of good deeds performed over a long time. Having developed a mind of love for seven years, for seven eons of the cosmos contracting and expanding I didn’t return to this world again. As the eon contracted I went to the realm of sublime luminosity. As it expanded I was reborn in an empty mansion of divinity.

There I was the Divinity, the Great Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. I was Sakka, lord of gods, thirty-six times. Many hundreds of times I was a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. My dominion extended to all four sides, I achieved stability in the country, and I possessed the seven treasures. Not to mention regional kingship!

Then I thought, ‘Of what deed of mine is this the fruit and result, that I am now so mighty and powerful?’ Then I thought, ‘It is the fruit and result of three kinds of deeds: giving, self-control, and restraint.’” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“One should practice only good deeds, whose happy outcome stretches ahead. Giving and moral conduct, developing a mind of love:

having developed these three things yielding happiness, that astute one is reborn in a happy, pleasing world.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“This one thing, mendicants, when developed and cultivated, secures equal benefits for both this life and lives to come. What one thing? Diligence in skillful qualities. This is the one thing that, when developed and cultivated, secures equal benefits for both this life and lives to come.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said: