{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an3.66/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an3.66","id":"suttacentral_an3.66","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.66/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. Now at that time Venerable Nandaka was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in the stilt longhouse of Mig\u0101ra\u2019s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Then S\u0101\u1e37ha, Mig\u0101ra\u2019s grandson, and Roha\u1e47a, Pekhu\u1e47iya\u2019s grandson went up to Venerable Nandaka, bowed, and sat down to one side. Then Venerable Nandaka said to S\u0101\u1e37ha: \u201cPlease, S\u0101\u1e37ha and friend, 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha? Is greed real?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201c\u2018Covetousness\u2019 is what I mean by this. A person who is greedy and covetous 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha? Is hate real?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201c\u2018Malice\u2019 is what I mean by this. A hateful and malicious person 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha? Is delusion real?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201c\u2018Ignorance\u2019 is what I mean by this. A person who is deluded and ignorant 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha, 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha and friend, 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha and friend, 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? Is contentment real?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201c\u2018Satisfaction\u2019 is what I mean by this. A person who is content and satisfied 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? Is love real?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201c\u2018Kindness\u2019 is what I mean by this. A loving and kind-hearted person 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha? Is understanding real?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201c\u2018Knowledge\u2019 is what I mean by this. A person who understands and knows 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha, 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, S\u0101\u1e37ha and friend, 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 \u2026 compassion \u2026 rejoicing \u2026 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. They understand: \u2018There is this, there is what is worse than this, there is what is better than this, and there is an escape beyond the scope of perception.\u2019 Knowing and seeing like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When they\u2019re freed, they know they\u2019re freed. They understand: \u2018Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 They understand: \u2018Formerly there was greed, which was unskillful. Now there is none, so that\u2019s skillful. Formerly there was hate, which was unskillful. Now there is none, so that\u2019s skillful. Formerly there was delusion, which was unskillful. Now there is none, so that\u2019s skillful.\u2019 So they live without wishes in this very life, quenched, cooled, experiencing bliss, with self become divine.\u201d","title":"With S\u0101\u1e37ha and His Friend","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1092}