{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn15/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn15","id":"suttacentral_mn15","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn15/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na was staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile\u2019s Bellow, in the deer park at Bhesaka\u1e37\u0101\u2019s Wood. There Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na addressed the mendicants: \u201cReverends, mendicants!\u201d \u201cReverend,\u201d they replied. Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na said this: \u201cSuppose a mendicant invites other mendicants to admonish them. But they\u2019re hard to admonish, having qualities that make them hard to admonish. They\u2019re impatient, and don\u2019t take instruction respectfully. So their spiritual companions don\u2019t think it\u2019s worth advising and instructing them, and that individual doesn\u2019t gain their trust. And what are the qualities that make them hard to admonish? Firstly, a mendicant has corrupt wishes, having fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. This is a quality that makes them difficult to admonish. Furthermore, a mendicant glorifies themselves and puts others down. \u2026 They\u2019re irritable, overcome by anger \u2026 They\u2019re irritable, and acrimonious due to anger \u2026 They\u2019re irritable, and stubborn due to anger \u2026 They\u2019re irritable, and blurt out words bordering on anger \u2026 When accused, they object to the accuser \u2026 When accused, they rebuke the accuser \u2026 When accused, they retort to the accuser \u2026 When accused, they dodge the issue, distract the discussion with irrelevant points, and display annoyance, hate, and bitterness \u2026 When accused, they are unable to account for the evidence \u2026 They are offensive and contemptuous \u2026 They\u2019re jealous and stingy \u2026 They\u2019re devious and deceitful \u2026 They\u2019re obstinate and arrogant \u2026 Furthermore, a mendicant is attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go. This too is a quality that makes them difficult to admonish. These are the qualities that make them hard to admonish. Suppose a mendicant doesn\u2019t invite other mendicants to admonish them. But they\u2019re easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They\u2019re accepting, and take instruction respectfully. So their spiritual companions think it\u2019s worth advising and instructing them, and that individual gains their trust. And what are the qualities that make them easy to admonish? Firstly, a mendicant doesn\u2019t have corrupt wishes \u2026 Furthermore, a mendicant isn\u2019t attached to their own views, not holding them tight, but letting them go easily. These are the qualities that make them easy to admonish. In such a case, a mendicant should measure themselves like this. \u2018This individual has corrupt wishes, having fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. And I don\u2019t like or approve of this individual. And if I were to fall under the sway of corrupt wishes, others wouldn\u2019t like or approve of me.\u2019 A mendicant who knows this should give rise to the thought: \u2018I will not fall under the sway of corrupt wishes.\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This individual is attached to their own views, holding them tight and refusing to let go. And I don\u2019t like or approve of this individual. And if I were to be attached to my own views, holding them tight and refusing to let go, others wouldn\u2019t like or approve of me.\u2019 A mendicant who knows this should give rise to the thought: \u2018I will not be attached to my own views, holding them tight, but will let them go easily.\u2019 In such a case, a mendicant should check themselves like this: \u2018Do I have corrupt wishes? Have I fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes?\u2019 Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they have fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. Then they should make an effort to give up those bad, unskillful qualities. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they haven\u2019t fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities. \u2026 Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they are attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go. Then they should make an effort to give up those bad, unskillful qualities. Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they\u2019re not attached to their own views, holding them tight, but let them go easily. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities. Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they haven\u2019t given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should make an effort to give them all up. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they have given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities. Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and they check their own reflection in a clean bright mirror or a clear bowl of water. If they see any dirt or blemish there, they\u2019d try to remove it. But if they don\u2019t see any dirt or blemish there, they\u2019re happy, thinking: \u2018How fortunate that I\u2019m clean!\u2019 In the same way, suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they haven\u2019t given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should make an effort to give them all up. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they have given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities.\u201d That is what Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na said.","title":"Measuring Up","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":891}