11: The Book of the Elevens
I. Dependence — AN 11.1: What’s the Purpose?
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, what’s the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics?”
“Ānanda, having no regrets is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics.”
2“But what’s the purpose and benefit of having no regrets?”
“Joy is the purpose and benefit of having no regrets.”
3“But what’s the purpose and benefit of joy?”
“Rapture …”
4“But what’s the purpose and benefit of rapture?”
“Tranquility …”
5“But what’s the purpose and benefit of tranquility?”
“Bliss …”
6“But what’s the purpose and benefit of bliss?”
“Immersion …”
7“But what’s the purpose and benefit of immersion?”
“Truly knowing and seeing …”
8“But what’s the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing?”
“Disillusionment …”
9“But what’s the purpose and benefit of disillusionment?”
“Dispassion …”
10“But what’s the purpose and benefit of dispassion?”
“Knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of dispassion.
11So, Ānanda, the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics is not having regrets. Joy is the purpose and benefit of not having regrets. Rapture is the purpose and benefit of joy. Tranquility is the purpose and benefit of rapture. Bliss is the purpose and benefit of tranquility. Immersion is the purpose and benefit of bliss. Truly knowing and seeing is the purpose and benefit of immersion. Disillusionment is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing. Dispassion is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment. And knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of dispassion. So, Ānanda, skillful ethics progressively lead up to the highest.”
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
"Kimatthiyāni, bhante, kusalāni sīlāni kimānisaṁsānī"ti?
"Avippaṭisāratthāni kho, ānanda, kusalāni sīlāni avippaṭisārānisaṁsānī"ti.
2"Avippaṭisāro pana, bhante, kimatthiyo kimānisaṁso"?
"Avippaṭisāro kho, ānanda, pāmojjattho pāmojjānisaṁso".
3"Pāmojjaṁ pana, bhante, kimatthiyaṁ kimānisaṁsaṁ"?
"Pāmojjaṁ kho, ānanda, pītatthaṁ pītānisaṁsaṁ".
4"Pīti pana, bhante, kimatthiyā kimānisaṁsā"?
"Pīti kho, ānanda, passaddhatthā passaddhānisaṁsā".
5"Passaddhi pana, bhante, kimatthiyā kimānisaṁsā"?
"Passaddhi kho, ānanda, sukhatthā sukhānisaṁsā".
6"Sukhaṁ pana, bhante, kimatthiyaṁ kimānisaṁsaṁ"?
"Sukhaṁ kho, ānanda, samādhatthaṁ samādhānisaṁsaṁ".
7"Samādhi pana, bhante, kimatthiyo kimānisaṁso"?
"Samādhi kho, ānanda, yathābhūtañāṇadassanattho yathābhūtañāṇadassanānisaṁso".
8"Yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ pana, bhante, kimatthiyaṁ kimānisaṁsaṁ"?
"Yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ kho, ānanda, nibbidatthaṁ nibbidānisaṁsaṁ".
9"Nibbidā pana, bhante, kimatthiyā kimānisaṁsā"?
"Nibbidā kho, ānanda, virāgatthā virāgānisaṁsā".
10"Virāgo pana, bhante, kimatthiyo kimānisaṁso"?
"Virāgo kho, ānanda, vimuttiñāṇadassanattho vimuttiñāṇadassanānisaṁso.
11Iti kho, ānanda, kusalāni sīlāni avippaṭisāratthāni avippaṭisārānisaṁsāni, avippaṭisāro pāmojjattho pāmojjānisaṁso, pāmojjaṁ pītatthaṁ pītānisaṁsaṁ, pīti passaddhatthā passaddhānisaṁsā, passaddhi sukhatthā sukhānisaṁsā, sukhaṁ samādhatthaṁ samādhānisaṁsaṁ, samādhi yathābhūtañāṇadassanattho yathābhūtañāṇadassanānisaṁso, yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ nibbidatthaṁ nibbidānisaṁsaṁ, nibbidā virāgatthā virāgānisaṁsā, virāgo vimuttiñāṇadassanattho vimuttiñāṇadassanānisaṁso. Iti kho, ānanda, kusalāni sīlāni anupubbena aggāya parentī"ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.