{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn5/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn5","id":"suttacentral_mn5","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn5/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. There S\u0101riputta addressed the mendicants: \u201cReverends, mendicants!\u201d \u201cReverend,\u201d they replied. S\u0101riputta said this: \u201cReverends, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? One individual with a blemish doesn\u2019t truly understand: \u2018There is a blemish in me.\u2019 But another individual with a blemish does truly understand: \u2018There is a blemish in me.\u2019 One individual without a blemish doesn\u2019t truly understand: \u2018There is no blemish in me.\u2019 But another individual without a blemish does truly understand: \u2018There is no blemish in me.\u2019 In this case, of the two individuals with a blemish, the one who doesn\u2019t understand is said to be worse, while the one who does understand is better. And of the two individuals without a blemish, the one who doesn\u2019t understand is said to be worse, while the one who does understand is better.\u201d When he said this, Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na said to him: \u201cWhat is the cause, Reverend S\u0101riputta, what is the reason why, of the two individuals with a blemish, one is said to be worse and one better? And what is the cause, what is the reason why, of the two individuals without a blemish, one is said to be worse and one better?\u201d \u201cReverends, take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does not understand it. You can expect that they won\u2019t generate enthusiasm, make an effort, or rouse up energy to give up that blemish. And they will die with greed, hate, and delusion, blemished, with a corrupted mind. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy enveloped with dirt or stains. And the owners neither used it or had it cleaned, but kept it in a dirty place. Over time, wouldn\u2019t that bronze cup get even dirtier and more stained?\u201d \u201cYes, reverend.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does not understand it. You can expect that \u2026 they will die with a corrupted mind. Take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does understand it. You can expect that they will generate enthusiasm, make an effort, and rouse up energy to give up that blemish. And they will die without greed, hate, and delusion, unblemished, with an uncorrupted mind. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy enveloped with dirt or stains. But the owners used it and had it cleaned, and didn\u2019t keep it in a dirty place. Over time, wouldn\u2019t that bronze cup get cleaner and brighter?\u201d \u201cYes, reverend.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does understand it. You can expect that \u2026 they will die with an uncorrupted mind. Take the case of the individual who doesn\u2019t have a blemish but does not understand it. You can expect that they will focus on the feature of beauty, and because of that, lust will infect their mind. And they will die with greed, hate, and delusion, blemished, with a corrupted mind. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy clean and bright. And the owners neither used it or had it cleaned, but kept it in a dirty place. Over time, wouldn\u2019t that bronze cup get dirtier and more stained?\u201d \u201cYes, reverend.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, take the case of the individual who has no blemish and does not understand it. You can expect that \u2026 they will die with a corrupted mind. Take the case of the individual who doesn\u2019t have a blemish and does understand it. You can expect that they won\u2019t focus on the feature of beauty, and because of that, lust won\u2019t infect their mind. And they will die without greed, hate, and delusion, unblemished, with an uncorrupted mind. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy clean and bright. And the owners used it and had it cleaned, and didn\u2019t keep it in a dirty place. Over time, wouldn\u2019t that bronze cup get cleaner and brighter?\u201d \u201cYes, reverend.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, take the case of the individual who doesn\u2019t have a blemish and does understand it. You can expect that \u2026 they will die with an uncorrupted mind. This is the cause, this is the reason why, of the two individuals with a blemish, one is said to be worse and one better. And this is the cause, this is the reason why, of the two individuals without a blemish, one is said to be worse and one better.\u201d \u201cReverend, the word \u2018blemish\u2019 is spoken of. But what is \u2018blemish\u2019 a term for?\u201d \u201cReverend, \u2018blemish\u2019 is a term for the spheres of bad, unskillful wishes. It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018If I commit an offense, I hope the mendicants don\u2019t find out!\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that the mendicants do find out that that mendicant has committed an offense. Thinking, \u2018The mendicants have found out about my offense,\u2019 they get angry and bitter. And that anger and that bitterness are both blemishes. It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018If I commit an offense, I hope the mendicants accuse me in private, not in the middle of the Sa\u1e45gha.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that the mendicants do accuse that mendicant in the middle of the Sa\u1e45gha \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018If I commit an offense, I hope I\u2019m accused by a peer, not by someone who is not a peer.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that someone who is not a peer accuses that mendicant \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018Oh, I hope the Teacher will teach the mendicants by repeatedly questioning me alone, not some other mendicant.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that the Teacher will teach the mendicants by repeatedly questioning some other mendicant \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018Oh, I hope the mendicants will enter the village for the meal putting me at the very front, not some other mendicant.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that the mendicants will enter the village for the meal putting some other mendicant at the very front \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018Oh, I hope that I alone get the best seat, the best drink, and the best almsfood in the refectory, not some other mendicant.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that some other mendicant gets the best seat, the best drink, and the best almsfood in the refectory \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018I hope that I alone give the verses of appreciation after eating in the refectory, not some other mendicant.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that some other mendicant gives the verses of appreciation after eating in the refectory \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018Oh, I hope that I might teach the Dhamma to the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen in the monastery, not some other mendicant.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that some other mendicant teaches the Dhamma \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018Oh, I hope that the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen will honor, respect, revere, and venerate me alone, not some other mendicant.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that some other mendicant is honored, respected, revered, and venerated \u2026 It\u2019s possible that some mendicant might wish: \u2018I hope I get the nicest robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick, not some other mendicant.\u2019 But it\u2019s possible that some other mendicant gets the nicest robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick \u2026 Thinking, \u2018Some other mendicant has got the nicest robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick\u2019, they get angry and bitter. And that anger and that bitterness are both blemishes. \u2018Blemish\u2019 is a term for these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes. Suppose these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be not given up by a mendicant. Even though they dwell in the wilderness, in remote lodgings, eat only almsfood, wander indiscriminately for almsfood, wear rag robes, and wear shabby robes, their spiritual companions don\u2019t honor, respect, revere, and venerate them. Why is that? It\u2019s because these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be not given up by that venerable. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy clean and bright. The owners were to prepare it with the carcass of a snake, a dog, or a human, cover it with a bronze lid, and parade it through the market-place. When people saw it they\u2019d say: \u2018Oh my, what is it that you\u2019re carrying like a precious treasure?\u2019 So they\u2019d open up the lid for people to look inside. But as soon as they saw it they were filled with loathing, revulsion, and disgust. Not even those who were hungry wanted to eat it, let alone those who were replete. In the same way, when these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be not given up by a mendicant \u2026 their spiritual companions don\u2019t honor, respect, revere, and venerate them. Why is that? It\u2019s because these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be not given up by that venerable. Suppose these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be given up by a mendicant. Even though they dwell within a village, accept invitations to a meal, and wear robes offered by householders, their spiritual companions honor, respect, revere, and venerate them. Why is that? It\u2019s because these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be given up by that venerable. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy clean and bright. The owners were to prepare it with boiled fine rice with the dark grains picked out and served with many soups and sauces, cover it with a bronze lid, and parade it through the market-place. When people saw it they\u2019d say: \u2018Oh my, what is it that you\u2019re carrying like a precious treasure?\u2019 So they\u2019d open up the lid for people to look inside. And as soon as they saw it they were filled with liking, attraction, and relish. Even those who were replete wanted to eat it, let alone those who were hungry. In the same way, when these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be given up by a mendicant \u2026 their spiritual companions honor, respect, revere, and venerate them. Why is that? It\u2019s because these spheres of bad, unskillful wishes are seen and heard to be given up by that venerable.\u201d When he said this, Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na said to him, \u201cReverend S\u0101riputta, a simile strikes me.\u201d \u201cThen speak as you feel inspired,\u201d said S\u0101riputta. \u201cReverend, this one time I was staying right here in R\u0101jagaha, the Mountainfold. Then I robed up in the morning and, taking my bowl and robe, entered R\u0101jagaha for alms. Now at that time Sam\u012bti of the wainwrights was planing the rim of a chariot wheel. The \u0100j\u012bvaka ascetic Pa\u1e47\u1e0duputta, who was formerly of the wainwrights, was standing by, and this thought came to his mind: \u2018Oh, I hope Sam\u012bti the wainwright planes out the crooks, bends, and flaws in this rim. Then the rim will be rid of crooks, bends, and flaws, pure, and consolidated in the core.\u2019 And Sam\u012bti planed out the flaws in the rim just as Pa\u1e47\u1e0duputta thought. Then Pa\u1e47\u1e0duputta expressed his gladness: \u2018He planes like he knows my heart with his heart!\u2019 In the same way, there are those faithless individuals who went forth from the lay life to homelessness not out of faith but to earn a livelihood. They\u2019re devious, deceitful, and sneaky. They\u2019re haughty, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, and loose-tongued. They do not guard their sense doors or eat in moderation, and they are not dedicated to wakefulness. They don\u2019t care about the ascetic life, and don\u2019t keenly respect the training. They\u2019re indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion, lazy, and lacking energy. They\u2019re unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds, witless and idiotic. Venerable S\u0101riputta planes their faults with this exposition of the teaching as if he knows my heart with his heart! But there are those gentlemen who went forth from the lay life to homelessness out of faith. They\u2019re not devious, deceitful, and sneaky. They\u2019re not haughty, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, and loose-tongued. They guard their sense doors and eat in moderation, and they are dedicated to wakefulness. They care about the ascetic life, and keenly respect the training. They\u2019re not indulgent or slack, nor are they leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion. They\u2019re energetic and determined. They\u2019re mindful, with situational awareness, immersion, and unified minds; wise and clever. Hearing this exposition of the teaching from Venerable S\u0101riputta, they drink it up and devour it, as it were. And in speech and thought they say: \u2018It\u2019s good, sir, that he draws his spiritual companions away from the unskillful and establishes them in the skillful.\u2019 Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and had bathed their head. Presented with a garland of lotuses, jasmine, or liana flowers, they would take them in both hands and place them on the crown of the head. In the same way, those gentlemen who went forth from the lay life to homelessness out of faith \u2026 say: \u2018It\u2019s good, sir, that he draws his spiritual companions away from the unskillful and establishes them in the skillful.\u2019\u201d And so these two spiritual giants agreed with each other\u2019s fine words.","title":"Unblemished","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":2261}