JutePotthakasutta

“Jute canvas is ugly, unpleasant to touch, and worthless whether it’s new, worn in, or worn out.“Navopi, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo ca hoti dukkhasamphasso ca appaggho ca; They use worn out jute canvas for scrubbing cauldrons, or else they just throw it away on the rubbish heap.Jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, potthakaṁ ukkhaliparimajjanaṁ vā karonti saṅkārakūṭe vā naṁ chaḍḍenti.

In the same way, if a junior mendicant is unethical, of bad character,Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, navo cepi bhikkhu hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo. this is how they’re ugly, I say.Idamassa dubbaṇṇatāya vadāmi. That individual is just as ugly as jute canvas.Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dubbaṇṇo tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. If you associate with, accompany, and attend to them, following their example, it’ll be for your lasting harm and suffering.Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya. This is how they’re unpleasant to touch, I say.Idamassa dukkhasamphassatāya vadāmi. That individual is just as unpleasant to touch as jute canvas.Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako dukkhasamphasso tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Any robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick that they receive are not very fruitful or beneficial for the donor.Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ na mahapphalaṁ hoti na mahānisaṁsaṁ. This is how they’re worthless, I say.Idamassa appagghatāya vadāmi. That individual is just as worthless as jute canvas.Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, potthako appaggho tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

If a middle mendicant is unethical, of bad character, this is how they’re ugly, I say. …Majjhimo cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe…

If a senior mendicant is unethical, of bad character, this is how they’re ugly, I say. …thero cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, idamassa dubbaṇṇatāya vadāmi. If you associate with, accompany, and attend to them, following their example, it’ll be for your lasting harm and suffering. …Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.

If such a senior mendicant speaks among the Saṅgha,Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, thero bhikkhu saṅghamajjhe bhaṇati. the mendicants say:Tamenaṁ bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu: ‘What’s an incompetent fool like you got to say?‘kiṁ nu kho tuyhaṁ bālassa abyattassa bhaṇitena, How on earth could you imagine you’ve got something worth saying!’tvampi nāma bhaṇitabbaṁ maññasī’ti. They become angry and upset, and blurt out things that make the Saṅgha throw them out, as if they were throwing jute canvas away on the rubbish heap.So kupito anattamano tathārūpiṁ vācaṁ nicchāreti yathārūpāya vācāya saṅgho taṁ ukkhipati, saṅkārakūṭeva naṁ potthakaṁ.

Cloth from Kāsi is beautiful, pleasant to touch, and valuable whether it’s new, worn in, or worn out.Navampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca; majjhimampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca; jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantañceva hoti sukhasamphassañca mahagghañca. They use worn out cloth from Kāsi for wrapping, or else they place it in a fragrant casket.Jiṇṇampi, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ ratanapaliveṭhanaṁ vā karoti gandhakaraṇḍake vā naṁ pakkhipanti.

In the same way, if a junior mendicant is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say.Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, navo cepi bhikkhu hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, idamassa suvaṇṇatāya vadāmi. That individual is just as beautiful as cloth from Kāsi.Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ vaṇṇavantaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. If you associate with, accompany, and attend to such an individual, following their example, it will be for your lasting welfare and happiness.Ye kho panassa sevanti bhajanti payirupāsanti diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjanti, tesaṁ taṁ hoti dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya. This is how they’re pleasant to touch, I say.Idamassa sukhasamphassatāya vadāmi. That individual is just as pleasant to touch as cloth from Kāsi.Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ sukhasamphassaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Any robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick that they receive are very fruitful and beneficial for the donor.Yesaṁ kho pana so paṭiggaṇhāti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ, tesaṁ taṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsaṁ. This is how they’re valuable, I say.Idamassa mahagghatāya vadāmi. That individual is just as valuable as cloth from Kāsi.Seyyathāpi taṁ, bhikkhave, kāsikaṁ vatthaṁ mahagghaṁ tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

If a middle mendicant is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say. …Majjhimo cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe…

If a senior mendicant is ethical, of good character, this is how they’re beautiful, I say. …thero cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti …pe… puggalaṁ vadāmi.

If such a senior mendicant speaks in the midst of the Saṅgha,Evarūpo cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, thero bhikkhu saṅghamajjhe bhaṇati. the mendicants say:Tamenaṁ bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu: ‘Venerables, be quiet! The senior mendicant is speaking on the teaching and training.’‘appasaddā āyasmanto hotha, thero bhikkhu dhammañca vinayañca bhaṇatī’ti.

So you should train like this:Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘We will be like cloth from Kāsi, not like jute canvas.’‘kāsikavatthūpamā bhavissāma, na potthakūpamā’ti. That’s how you should train.”Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.