{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn61/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn61","id":"suttacentral_mn61","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn61/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. Now at that time Venerable R\u0101hula was staying at Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhika to see Venerable R\u0101hula. R\u0101hula saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. He spread out a seat and placed water for washing the feet. The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out, and washed his feet. R\u0101hula bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side. Then the Buddha, leaving a little water in the pot, addressed R\u0101hula, \u201cR\u0101hula, do you see this little bit of water left in the pot?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s how little of the ascetic\u2019s nature is left in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.\u201d Then the Buddha, discarding what little water was left in the pot, said to R\u0101hula, \u201cDo you see this little bit of water that was discarded?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s how the ascetic\u2019s nature is discarded in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.\u201d Then the Buddha, turning the pot upside down, said to R\u0101hula, \u201cDo you see how this pot is turned upside down?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s how the ascetic\u2019s nature is turned upside down in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.\u201d Then the Buddha, turning the pot right side up, said to R\u0101hula, \u201cDo you see how this pot is vacant and hollow?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s how vacant and hollow the ascetic\u2019s nature is in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie. Suppose there was a royal bull elephant with tusks like draft-poles, able to draw a heavy load, pedigree and battle-hardened. In battle it uses its fore-feet and hind-feet, its fore-quarters and hind-quarters, its head, ears, tusks, and tail, but it still protects its trunk. So its rider thinks: \u2018This royal bull elephant still protects its trunk. It has not yet given its life.\u2019 But when that royal bull elephant \u2026 in battle uses its fore-feet and hind-feet, its fore-quarters and hind-quarters, its head, ears, tusks, and tail, and its trunk, its rider thinks: \u2018This royal bull elephant \u2026 in battle uses its fore-feet and hind-feet, its fore-quarters and hind-quarters, its head, ears, tusks, and tail, and its trunk. It has given its life. Now there is nothing that royal bull elephant would not do.\u2019 In the same way, when someone is not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie, there is no bad deed they would not do, I say. So you should train like this: \u2018I will not tell a lie, even for a joke.\u2019 What do you think, R\u0101hula? What is the purpose of a mirror?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s for checking your reflection, sir.\u201d \u201cIn the same way, deeds of body, speech, and mind should be done only after repeated checking. When you want to act with the body, you should check on that same deed: \u2018Does this act with the body that I want to do lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both? Is it unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result?\u2019 If, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act with the body that I want to do leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.\u2019 To the best of your ability, R\u0101hula, you should not do such a deed. But if, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act with the body that I want to do doesn\u2019t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should do such a deed. While you are acting with the body, you should check on that same act: \u2018Does this act with the body that I am doing lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both? Is it unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result?\u2019 If, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act with the body that I am doing leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should desist from such a deed. But if, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act with the body that I am doing doesn\u2019t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should continue doing such a deed. After you have acted with the body, you should check on that same act: \u2018Does this act with the body that I have done lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both? Is it unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result?\u2019 If, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act with the body that I have done leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should confess, reveal, and clarify such a deed to the Teacher or a sensible spiritual companion. And having revealed it you should restrain yourself in future. But if, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act with the body that I have done doesn\u2019t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should live in rapture and joy because of this, training day and night in skillful qualities. When you want to act with speech, you should check on that same deed: \u2018Does this act of speech that I want to do lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both? \u2026\u2019 \u2026 If, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act of speech that I have done leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should confess, reveal, and clarify such a deed to the Teacher or a sensible spiritual companion. And having revealed it you should restrain yourself in future. But if, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act of speech that I have done doesn\u2019t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should live in rapture and joy because of this, training day and night in skillful qualities. When you want to act with the mind, you should check on that same deed: \u2018Does this act of mind that I want to do lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both? \u2026\u2019 \u2026 If, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act of mind that I have done leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should be horrified, repelled, and disgusted by that deed. And being repelled, you should restrain yourself in future. But if, while checking in this way, you know: \u2018This act with the mind that I have done doesn\u2019t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both. It\u2019s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.\u2019 Then, R\u0101hula, you should live in rapture and joy because of this, training day and night in skillful qualities. All the ascetics and brahmins of the past, future, and present who purify their physical, verbal, and mental actions do so after repeatedly checking. So R\u0101hula, you should train yourself like this: \u2018I will purify my physical, verbal, and mental actions after repeatedly checking.\u2019\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable R\u0101hula approved what the Buddha said.","title":"Advice to R\u0101hula at Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhika","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1280}