{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an4.193/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an4.193","id":"suttacentral_an4.193","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an4.193/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near Ves\u0101l\u012b, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then Bhaddiya the Licchavi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cSir, I have heard this: \u2018The ascetic Gotama is deceitful. He knows a conversion trick, and uses it to convert the disciples of those of other religions.\u2019 I trust those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?\u201d \u201cPlease, Bhaddiya, 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, Bhaddiya? 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, Bhaddiya? Does hate \u2026 or delusion \u2026 or aggression come up in a person for their welfare or harm?\u201d \u201cHarm, sir.\u201d \u201cAn aggressive individual 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, Bhaddiya, 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, Bhaddiya, when we said: \u2018Please, Bhaddiya, 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, Bhaddiya, don\u2019t rely on oral transmission \u2026 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, Bhaddiya? Does contentment \u2026 love \u2026 understanding \u2026 benevolence come up in a person for their welfare or harm?\u201d \u201cWelfare, sir.\u201d \u201cAn individual who is benevolent\u2014not overcome by aggression\u2014doesn\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, Bhaddiya, 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, Bhaddiya, when we said: \u2018Please, Bhaddiya, 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. The good and true persons in the world encourage their disciples: \u2018Please, my man, live rid of greed. Then you won\u2019t act out of greed by way of body, speech, or mind. Live rid of hate \u2026 delusion \u2026 aggression. Then you won\u2019t act out of hate \u2026 delusion \u2026 aggression by way of body, speech, or mind.\u201d When he said this, Bhaddiya the Licchavi said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, sir! \u2026 From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d \u201cWell, Bhaddiya, did I say to you: \u2018Please, Bhaddiya, be my disciple, and I will be your teacher\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cThough I state and assert this, certain ascetics and brahmins misrepresent me with the incorrect, hollow, false, untruthful claim: \u2018The ascetic Gotama is deceitful. He knows a conversion trick, and uses it to convert the disciples of those of other religions.\u2019\u201d \u201cSir, this conversion trick is excellent. This conversion trick is lovely! If my loved ones\u2014relatives and kin\u2014were to be converted by this, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness. If all the aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials were to be converted by this, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s so true, Bhaddiya! That\u2019s so true, Bhaddiya! If all the aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials were to be converted by this, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness. If the whole world\u2014with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans\u2014were to be converted by this, for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness. If these great sal trees were to be converted by this, for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness\u2014if they were sentient. How much more then a human being!\u201d","title":"With Bhaddiya","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1061}