{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an10.75/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an10.75","id":"suttacentral_an10.75","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an10.75/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Then Venerable \u0100nanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the laywoman Migas\u0101l\u0101, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then the laywoman Migas\u0101l\u0101 went up to \u0100nanda, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cHonorable \u0100nanda, how on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life? My father Pur\u0101\u1e47a was chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex. When he passed away the Buddha declared that, since he was a once-returner, he was reborn in the host of joyful gods. But my uncle Isidatta was not chaste; he lived content with his wife. When he passed away the Buddha declared that, since he too was a once-returner, he was reborn in the host of joyful gods. How on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re right, sister, but that\u2019s how the Buddha declared it.\u201d Then \u0100nanda, after receiving almsfood at Migas\u0101l\u0101\u2019s home, rose from his seat and left. Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, \u0100nanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. \u201c\u0100nanda, who is this laywoman Migas\u0101l\u0101, a foolish incompetent aunty, with an aunty\u2019s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individual persons? These ten individuals are found in the world. What ten? Take a certain individual who is unethical. And they don\u2019t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that unethical conduct ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They\u2019re going to a lower place, not a higher. Take a certain individual who is unethical. But they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that unethical conduct ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found at least temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They\u2019re going to a higher place, not a lower. Judgmental people compare them, saying: \u2018This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?\u2019 This will be for their lasting harm and suffering. In this case, the individual who is unethical, but truly understands the freedom of heart \u2026 and has listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found at least temporary freedom is better and finer than the other individual. Why is that? Because the stream of the teaching carries them along. But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One? So, \u0100nanda, don\u2019t be judgmental about individuals. Don\u2019t pass judgment on individuals. Those who pass judgment on individuals harm themselves. I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on people. Take a certain individual who is ethical. But they don\u2019t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that ethical conduct ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They\u2019re going to a lower place, not a higher. Take a certain individual who is ethical. And they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that ethical conduct ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found at least temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They\u2019re going to a higher place, not a lower. Judgmental people compare them \u2026 I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals. Take a certain individual who is very lustful. And they don\u2019t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that lust ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They\u2019re going to a lower place, not a higher. Take a certain individual who is very lustful. But they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that lust ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found at least temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They\u2019re going to a higher place, not a lower. Judgmental people compare them \u2026 I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals. Take a certain individual who is irritable. And they don\u2019t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that anger ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They\u2019re going to a lower place, not a higher. Take a certain individual who is irritable. But they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that anger ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found at least temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They\u2019re going to a higher place, not a lower. Judgmental people compare them \u2026 I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals. Take a certain individual who is restless. And they don\u2019t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that restlessness ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They\u2019re going to a lower place, not a higher. Take a certain individual who is restless. But they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where that restlessness ceases without remainder. And they\u2019ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found at least temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They\u2019re going to a higher place, not a lower. Judgmental people compare them, saying: \u2018This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?\u2019 This will be for their lasting harm and suffering. In this case, the individual who is restless, but truly understands the freedom of heart \u2026 and has listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found at least temporary freedom is better and finer than the other individual. Why is that? Because the stream of the teaching carries them along. But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One? So, \u0100nanda, don\u2019t be judgmental about individuals. Don\u2019t pass judgment on individuals. Those who pass judgment on individuals harm themselves. I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals. Who is this laywoman Migas\u0101l\u0101, a foolish incompetent aunty, with an aunty\u2019s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individual persons? These ten individuals are found in the world. If Isidatta had achieved Pur\u0101\u1e47a\u2019s level of ethical conduct, Pur\u0101\u1e47a could not have even known Isidatta\u2019s destination. And if Pur\u0101\u1e47a had achieved Isidatta\u2019s level of wisdom, Isidatta could not have even known Pur\u0101\u1e47a\u2019s destination. So both individuals were lacking in one respect.\u201d","title":"With Migas\u0101l\u0101","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1302}