{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn16.3/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn16.3","id":"suttacentral_sn16.3","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn16.3/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. \u201cMendicants, you should approach families like the moon: withdrawn in body and mind, ever the newcomer, and never rude. Suppose a person were to look down at an old well, a rugged cliff, or an inaccessible riverland. They\u2019d withdraw their body and mind. In the same way, you should approach families like the moon: withdrawn in body and mind, always the newcomer, and never rude. Kassapa approaches families like the moon: withdrawn in body and mind, ever the newcomer, and never rude. What do you think, mendicants? What kind of mendicant is worthy of approaching families?\u201d \u201cOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.\u201d Then the Buddha waved his hand in space. \u201cMendicants, this hand is not stuck or held or caught in space. In the same way, when approaching families, a mendicant\u2019s mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking: \u2018May those who want material things get them, and may those who want merit make merits!\u2019 They\u2019re just as pleased and happy when others get something as they are when they get something. This kind of mendicant is worthy of approaching families. When Kassapa approaches families, his mind is not stuck or held or caught, thinking: \u2018May those who want material things get them, and may those who want merit make merits!\u2019 He\u2019s just as pleased and happy when others get something as he is when he gets something. What do you think, mendicants? What kind of mendicant\u2019s teaching is pure, and what kind is impure?\u201d \u201cOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.\u201d \u201cWell then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cWhoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought: \u2018Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they\u2019ve heard it, may they gain confidence in the teaching and demonstrate their confidence to me.\u2019 Such a mendicant\u2019s teaching is impure. Whoever teaches Dhamma to others with the thought: \u2018The teaching is well explained by the Buddha\u2014apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves. Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they\u2019ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.\u2019 So they teach others because of the clear rightness of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy. Such a mendicant\u2019s teaching is pure. Kassapa teaches Dhamma to others with the thought: \u2018The teaching is well explained by the Buddha\u2014apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves. Oh! May they listen to the teaching from me. When they\u2019ve heard it, may they understand the teaching and practice accordingly.\u2019 Thus he teaches others because of the clear rightness of the teaching, out of compassion, kindness, and sympathy. I will exhort you with the example of Kassapa or someone like him. You should practice accordingly.\u201d","title":"Like the Moon","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":535}