{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an3.65/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an3.65","id":"suttacentral_an3.65","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.65/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of mendicants when he arrived at a town of the K\u0101l\u0101mas named Kesamutta. The K\u0101l\u0101mas of Kesamutta heard: \u201cIt seems the ascetic Gotama\u2014a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family\u2014has arrived at Kesamutta. He has this good reputation: \u2018That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha \u2026\u2019 It\u2019s good to see such perfected ones.\u201d Then the K\u0101l\u0101mas went up to the Buddha. Before sitting down to one side, some bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. Seated to one side the K\u0101l\u0101mas said to the Buddha: \u201cThere are, sir, some ascetics and brahmins who come to Kesamutta. They explain and promote only their own doctrine, while they attack, badmouth, disparage, and smear the doctrines of others. Then some other ascetics and brahmins come to Kesamutta. They too explain and promote only their own doctrine, while they attack, badmouth, disparage, and smear the doctrines of others. So, sir, we\u2019re doubting and uncertain: \u2018I wonder who of these respected ascetics and brahmins speaks the truth, and who speaks falsehood?\u2019\u201d \u201cIt is enough, K\u0101l\u0101mas, for you to be doubting and uncertain. Doubt has come up in you about an uncertain matter. Please, K\u0101l\u0101mas, don\u2019t go by oral transmission, don\u2019t go by lineage, don\u2019t go by testament, don\u2019t go by canonical authority, don\u2019t rely on logic, don\u2019t rely on inference, don\u2019t go by reasoned train of thought, don\u2019t go by the acceptance of a view after deliberation, don\u2019t go by the appearance of competence, and don\u2019t think \u2018The ascetic is our respected teacher.\u2019 But when you know for yourselves: \u2018These things are unskillful, blameworthy, criticized by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to harm and suffering\u2019, then you should give them up. What do you think, K\u0101l\u0101mas? Does greed come up in a person for their welfare or harm?\u201d \u201cHarm, sir.\u201d \u201cA greedy individual, overcome by greed, kills living creatures, steals, commits adultery, lies, and encourages others to do the same. Is that for their lasting harm and suffering?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, K\u0101l\u0101mas? Does hate come up in a person for their welfare or harm?\u201d \u201cHarm, sir.\u201d \u201cA hateful individual, overcome by hate, kills living creatures, steals, commits adultery, lies, and encourages others to do the same. Is that for their lasting harm and suffering?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, K\u0101l\u0101mas? Does delusion come up in a person for their welfare or harm?\u201d \u201cHarm, sir.\u201d \u201cA deluded individual, overcome by delusion, kills living creatures, steals, commits adultery, lies, and encourages others to do the same. Is that for their lasting harm and suffering?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, K\u0101l\u0101mas, are these things skillful or unskillful?\u201d \u201cUnskillful, sir.\u201d \u201cBlameworthy or blameless?\u201d \u201cBlameworthy, sir.\u201d \u201cCriticized or praised by sensible people?\u201d \u201cCriticized by sensible people, sir.\u201d \u201cWhen you undertake them, do they lead to harm and suffering, or not? Or how do you see this?\u201d \u201cWhen you undertake them, they lead to harm and suffering. That\u2019s how we see it.\u201d \u201cSo, K\u0101l\u0101mas, when I said: \u2018Please, don\u2019t go by oral transmission, don\u2019t go by lineage, don\u2019t go by testament, don\u2019t go by canonical authority, don\u2019t rely on logic, don\u2019t rely on inference, don\u2019t go by reasoned train of thought, don\u2019t go by the acceptance of a view after deliberation, don\u2019t go by the appearance of competence, and don\u2019t think \u201cThe ascetic is our respected teacher.\u201d But when you know for yourselves: \u201cThese things are unskillful, blameworthy, criticized by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to harm and suffering\u201d, then you should give them up.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. Please, K\u0101l\u0101mas, don\u2019t go by oral transmission, don\u2019t go by lineage, don\u2019t go by testament, don\u2019t go by canonical authority, don\u2019t rely on logic, don\u2019t rely on inference, don\u2019t go by reasoned train of thought, don\u2019t go by the acceptance of a view after deliberation, don\u2019t go by the appearance of competence, and don\u2019t think \u2018The ascetic is our respected teacher.\u2019 But when you know for yourselves: \u2018These things are skillful, blameless, praised by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness\u2019, then you should acquire them and keep them. What do you think, K\u0101l\u0101mas? Does contentment come up in a person for their welfare or harm?\u201d \u201cWelfare, sir.\u201d \u201cAn individual who is content, not overcome by greed, doesn\u2019t kill living creatures, steal, commit adultery, lie, or encourage others to do the same. Is that for their lasting welfare and happiness?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, K\u0101l\u0101mas? Does love come up in a person for their welfare or harm? \u2026 Does understanding come up in a person for their welfare or harm? \u2026 Is that for their lasting welfare and happiness?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, K\u0101l\u0101mas, are these things skillful or unskillful?\u201d \u201cSkillful, sir.\u201d \u201cBlameworthy or blameless?\u201d \u201cBlameless, sir.\u201d \u201cCriticized or praised by sensible people?\u201d \u201cPraised by sensible people, sir.\u201d \u201cWhen you undertake them, do they lead to welfare and happiness, or not? Or how do you see this?\u201d \u201cWhen you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness. That\u2019s how we see it.\u201d \u201cSo, K\u0101l\u0101mas, when I said: \u2018Please, don\u2019t go by oral transmission, don\u2019t go by lineage, don\u2019t go by testament, don\u2019t go by canonical authority, don\u2019t rely on logic, don\u2019t rely on inference, don\u2019t go by reasoned train of thought, don\u2019t go by the acceptance of a view after deliberation, don\u2019t go by the appearance of competence, and don\u2019t think \u201cThe ascetic is our respected teacher.\u201d But when you know for yourselves: \u201cThese things are skillful, blameless, praised by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness\u201d, then you should acquire them and keep them.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. Then that noble disciple is rid of desire, rid of ill will, unconfused, aware, and mindful. They meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of compassion to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of rejoicing to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. When that noble disciple has a mind that\u2019s free of enmity and ill will, uncorrupted and purified, they\u2019ve won four consolations in this very life. \u2018If it turns out there is another world, and good and bad deeds have a result, then\u2014when the body breaks up, after death\u2014I\u2019ll be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.\u2019 This is the first consolation they\u2019ve won. \u2018If it turns out there is no other world, and good and bad deeds don\u2019t have a result, then in this very life I\u2019ll keep myself free of enmity and ill will, untroubled and happy.\u2019 This is the second consolation they\u2019ve won. \u2018If it turns out that bad things happen to people who do bad things, then since I have no bad intentions, and since I\u2019m not doing anything bad, how can suffering touch me?\u2019 This is the third consolation they\u2019ve won. \u2018If it turns out that bad things don\u2019t happen to people who do bad things, then I still see myself pure on both sides.\u2019 This is the fourth consolation they\u2019ve won. When that noble disciple has a mind that\u2019s free of enmity and ill will, uncorrupted and purified, they\u2019ve won these four consolations in this very life.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s so true, Blessed One! That\u2019s so true, Holy One! When that noble disciple has a mind that\u2019s free of enmity and ill will, uncorrupted and purified, they\u2019ve won these four consolations in this very life. \u2026 Excellent, sir! Excellent! \u2026 We go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"With the K\u0101l\u0101mas of Kesamutta","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1505}