{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an3.50/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an3.50","id":"suttacentral_an3.50","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.50/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cMendicants, a master thief with three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery. What three? A master thief relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful. And how does a master thief rely on uneven ground? It\u2019s when a master thief relies on inaccessible riverlands or rugged mountains. That\u2019s how a master thief relies on uneven ground. And how does a master thief rely on thick cover? It\u2019s when a master thief relies on thick grass, thick trees, a blind spot, or a large forest grove. That\u2019s how a master thief relies on thick cover. And how does a master thief rely on the powerful? It\u2019s when a master thief relies on rulers or their chief ministers. They think: \u2018If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.\u2019 And that\u2019s exactly what happens. That\u2019s how a master thief relies on the powerful. A master thief with these three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery. In the same way, when a bad mendicant has three factors, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness. What three? A bad mendicant relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful. And how does a bad mendicant rely on uneven ground? It\u2019s when a bad mendicant has unethical conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. That\u2019s how a bad mendicant relies on uneven ground. And how does a bad mendicant rely on thick cover? It\u2019s when a bad mendicant has wrong view, he\u2019s attached to an extremist view. That\u2019s how a bad mendicant relies on thick cover. And how does a bad mendicant rely on the powerful? It\u2019s when a bad mendicant relies on rulers or their chief ministers. They think: \u2018If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.\u2019 And that\u2019s exactly what happens. That\u2019s how a bad mendicant relies on the powerful. When a bad mendicant has these three qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.\u201d","title":"A Master Thief","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":387}