{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn40/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn40","id":"suttacentral_mn40","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn40/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the A\u1e45gas, near the A\u1e45gan town named Assapura. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, \u201cMendicants!\u201d \u201cVenerable sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cMendicants, people label you as ascetics. And when they ask you what you are, you claim to be ascetics. Given this label and this claim, you should train like this: \u2018We will practice in the way that is proper for an ascetic. That way our label will be accurate and our claim correct. The services of those whose robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick we enjoy shall be very fruitful and beneficial for them. And our going forth will not be barren, but will be fruitful and fertile.\u2019 And how does a mendicant not practice in the way that is proper for an ascetic? Any mendicant who has not given up covetousness, ill will, irritability, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, stinginess, deviousness, deceit, corrupt wishes, and wrong view is not practicing in the way that is proper for an ascetic, I say. And that is due to not giving up these stains, defects, and dregs of an ascetic, these grounds for rebirth in places of loss, to be experienced in bad places. I say that such a mendicant\u2019s going forth may be compared to the kind of weapon called \u2018deadborn\u2019\u2014double-edged, whetted with yellow arsenic\u2014that has been covered and wrapped in an outer robe. I say that you don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018outer robe wearer\u2019 just because you wear an outer robe. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018naked ascetic\u2019 just because you go naked. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018dust and dirt wearer\u2019 just because you\u2019re caked in dust and dirt. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018water immerser\u2019 just because you immerse yourself in water. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018tree root dweller\u2019 just because you stay at the root of a tree. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018open air dweller\u2019 just because you stay in the open air. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018stander\u2019 just because you continually stand. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018interval eater\u2019 just because you eat food at set intervals. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018reciter\u2019 just because you recite hymns. You don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018matted-hair ascetic\u2019 just because you have matted hair. Imagine that just by wearing an outer robe someone with covetousness, ill will, irritability, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, stinginess, deviousness, deceit, corrupt wishes, and wrong view could give up these things. If that were the case, your friends and colleagues, relatives and kin would make you an outer robe wearer as soon as you were born. They\u2019d encourage you: \u2018Please, dearest, wear an outer robe! By doing so you will give up covetousness, ill will, irritability, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, stinginess, deviousness, deceit, corrupt wishes, and wrong view.\u2019 But sometimes I see someone with these bad qualities who is an outer robe wearer. That\u2019s why I say that you don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018outer robe wearer\u2019 just because you wear an outer robe. Imagine that just by going naked \u2026 wearing dust and dirt \u2026 immersing in water \u2026 staying at the root of a tree \u2026 staying in the open air \u2026 standing continually \u2026 eating at set intervals \u2026 reciting hymns \u2026 having matted hair someone with covetousness, ill will, irritability, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, stinginess, deviousness, deceit, corrupt wishes, and wrong view could give up these things. If that were the case, your friends and colleagues, relatives and kin would make you a matted-hair ascetic as soon as you were born. They\u2019d encourage you: \u2018Please, dearest, become a matted-hair ascetic! By doing so you will give up covetousness, ill will, irritability, hostility, disdain, contempt, jealousy, stinginess, deviousness, deceit, corrupt wishes, and wrong view.\u2019 But sometimes I see someone with these bad qualities who is a matted-hair ascetic. That\u2019s why I say that you don\u2019t deserve the label \u2018matted-hair ascetic\u2019 just because you have matted hair. And how does a mendicant practice in the way that is proper for an ascetic? Any mendicant who has given up covetousness, ill will, irritability, acrimony, disdain, contempt, jealousy, stinginess, deviousness, deceit, corrupt wishes, and wrong view is practicing in the way that is proper for an ascetic, I say. And that is due to giving up these stains, defects, and dregs of an ascetic, these grounds for rebirth in places of loss, to be experienced in bad places. They see themselves purified from all these bad, unskillful qualities. Seeing this, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, they feel bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in sam\u0101dhi. 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 \u2026 They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing \u2026 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. Suppose there was a lotus pond with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful. Then along comes a person\u2014whether from the east, west, north, or south\u2014struggling in the oppressive heat, weary, thirsty, and parched. No matter what direction they come from, when they arrive at that lotus pond they would alleviate their thirst and heat exhaustion. In the same way, suppose someone has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness\u2014whether from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, or menials\u2014and has arrived at the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One. Having developed love, compassion, rejoicing, and equanimity in this way they find inner peace. Because of that inner peace they are practicing the way proper for an ascetic, I say. And suppose someone has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness\u2014whether from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, or workers\u2014 and they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. They\u2019re an ascetic because of the ending of defilements.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.","title":"The Shorter Discourse at Assapura","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1116}