6: The Book of the Sixes
V. About Dhammika — AN 6.44: With Migasālā
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the laywoman Migasālā, where he sat on the seat spread out.
Then the laywoman Migasālā went up to Ānanda, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
2“Sir, Ānanda, how on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life?
My father Purāṇa was celibate, set apart, avoiding the common practice of sex. When he passed away the Buddha declared that he was a once-returner, who was reborn in the host of Joyful Gods.
But my uncle Isidatta was not celibate; he lived content with his wife. When he passed away the Buddha declared that he was also a once-returner, who was reborn in the host of Joyful Gods.
How on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life?”
“You’re right, sister, but that’s how the Buddha declared it.”
3-4Then Ānanda, after receiving almsfood at Migasālā’s house, rose from his seat and left. Then after the meal, on his return from alms-round, Ānanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.
5“Ānanda, who is this laywoman Migasālā, a foolish incompetent matron, with an matron’s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individuals?
These six people are found in the world.
6What six? Take a certain person who is sweet-natured and pleasant to be with. And spiritual companions enjoy living together with them. And they’ve not listened or learned or comprehended theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re headed for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.
7Take another person who is sweet-natured and pleasant to be with. And spiritual companions enjoy living together with them. And they’ve listened and learned and comprehended theoretically and found temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re headed for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.
8Judgmental people compare them, saying: ‘This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?’ This will be for their lasting harm and suffering.
9In this case, the person who is sweet-natured … and has listened, learned, comprehended theoretically, and found temporary freedom is better and finer than the other person. Why is that? Because the stream of the teaching carries them along. But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One?
So, Ānanda, don’t be judgmental about people. Don’t pass judgment on people. Those who pass judgment on people harm themselves. I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on people.
10Take another person who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has greedy thoughts. And they’ve not listened or learned or comprehended theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re headed for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.
11Take another person who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has greedy thoughts. … Because the stream of the teaching carries them along. … When their body breaks up, after death, they’re headed for a better place, not a worse. They’re going to a better place, not a worse.
12Judgmental people compare them … I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on people.
13Take another person who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has the impulse to speak inappropriately. And they’ve not listened or learned or comprehended theoretically or found even temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re headed for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.
14Take another person who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has the impulse to speak inappropriately. But they’ve listened and learned and comprehended theoretically and found temporary freedom. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re headed for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.
15Judgmental people compare them, saying: ‘This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?’ This will be for their lasting harm and suffering.
16In this case, the person who is angry and conceited, but has listened, learned, comprehended theoretically, and found temporary freedom is better and finer than the other person. Why is that? Because the stream of the teaching carries them along. But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One?
So, Ānanda, don’t be judgmental about people. Don’t pass judgment on people. Those who pass judgment on people harm themselves. I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on people.
17Who is this laywoman Migasālā, a foolish incompetent matron, with a matron’s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individuals?
These six people are found in the world.
18If Isidatta had achieved Purāṇa’s level of ethical conduct, Purāṇa could not have even known Isidatta’s destination. And if Purāṇa had achieved Isidatta’s level of wisdom, Isidatta could not have even known Purāṇa’s destination. So both individuals were lacking in one respect.”
1Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena migasālāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Atha kho migasālā upāsikā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho migasālā upāsikā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:
2"Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyaṁ?
Pitā me, bhante, purāṇo brahmacārī ahosi ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā. So kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmī satto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.
Petteyyopi me, bhante, isidatto abrahmacārī ahosi sadārasantuṭṭho. Sopi kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.
Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyan"ti?
"Evaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhagini, bhagavatā byākatan"ti.
3Atha kho āyasmā ānando migasālāya upāsikāya nivesane piṇḍapātaṁ gahetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. Atha kho āyasmā ānando pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
4"Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena migasālāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ. Atha kho, bhante, migasālā upāsikā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho, bhante, migasālā upāsikā maṁ etadavoca: ‘kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyaṁ. Pitā me, bhante, purāṇo brahmacārī ahosi ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā. So kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti. Petteyyopi me, bhante, isidatto abrahmacārī ahosi sadārasantuṭṭho. Sopi kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti. Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyan’ti? Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, migasālaṁ upāsikaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘evaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhagini, bhagavatā byākatan’"ti.
5"Kā cānanda, migasālā upāsikā bālā abyattā ammakā ammakapaññā, ke ca purisapuggalaparopariyañāṇe?
Chayime, ānanda, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
6Katame cha? Idhānanda, ekacco puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena. Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi akataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi appaṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī. (1)
7Idha panānanda, ekacco puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena. Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā visesāya pareti no hānāya, visesagāmīyeva hoti no hānagāmī. (2)
8Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti: ‘imassapi teva dhammā aparassapi teva dhammā, kasmā tesaṁ eko hīno eko paṇīto’ti. Tañhi tesaṁ, ānanda, hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.
9Tatrānanda, yvāyaṁ puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena, tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, puggalo amunā purimena puggalena abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. Taṁ kissa hetu? Imaṁ hānanda, puggalaṁ dhammasoto nibbahati, tadantaraṁ ko jāneyya aññatra tathāgatena.
Tasmātihānanda, mā puggalesu pamāṇikā ahuvattha; mā puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhittha. Khaññati hānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhanto. Ahaṁ vā, ānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇheyyaṁ, yo vā panassa mādiso.
10Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa lobhadhammā uppajjanti. Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi akataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi appaṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī. (3)
11Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa lobhadhammā uppajjanti. Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti … pe … no hānagāmī. (4)
12Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti … pe … yo vā panassa mādiso.
13Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti. Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti … pe … sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī. (5)
14Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti. Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā visesāya pareti no hānāya, visesagāmīyeva hoti no hānagāmī. (6)
15Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti: ‘imassapi teva dhammā, aparassapi teva dhammā. Kasmā tesaṁ eko hīno, eko paṇīto’ti? Tañhi tesaṁ, ānanda, hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.
16Tatrānanda, yassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti, tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati. Ayaṁ, ānanda, puggalo amunā purimena puggalena abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. Taṁ kissa hetu? Imaṁ hānanda, puggalaṁ dhammasoto nibbahati. Tadantaraṁ ko jāneyya aññatra tathāgatena.
Tasmātihānanda, mā puggalesu pamāṇikā ahuvattha; mā puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhittha. Khaññati hānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhanto. Ahaṁ vā, ānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇheyyaṁ, yo vā panassa mādiso.
17Kā cānanda, migasālā upāsikā bālā abyattā ammakā ammakapaññā, ke ca purisapuggalaparopariyañāṇe.
Ime kho, ānanda, cha puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
18Yathārūpena, ānanda, sīlena purāṇo samannāgato ahosi, tathārūpena sīlena isidatto samannāgato abhavissa. Nayidha purāṇo isidattassa gatimpi aññassa. Yathārūpāya ca, ānanda, paññāya isidatto samannāgato ahosi, tathārūpāya paññāya purāṇo samannāgato abhavissa. Nayidha isidatto purāṇassa gatimpi aññassa. Iti kho, ānanda, ime puggalā ubho ekaṅgahīnā"ti.
Dutiyaṁ.