The Four Great ReferencesMahāpadesasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near the Bhoga City, at the Ānanda Shrine.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bhoganagare viharati ānandacetiye.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!”“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca: “Mendicants, I will teach you the four great references.“cattārome, bhikkhave, mahāpadese desessāmi, Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mendicants, what are the four great references?“Katame, bhikkhave, cattāro mahāpadesā?

Take a mendicant who says:Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘Reverend, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:‘sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been incorrectly memorized by that mendicant.’imassa ca bhikkhuno duggahitan’ti. And so you should discard it.Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

Take another mendicant who says:Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘Reverend, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:‘sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been correctly memorized by that mendicant.’imassa ca bhikkhuno suggahitan’ti. You should remember it. This is the first great reference.Idaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

Take another mendicant who says:Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘In such-and-such monastery lives a Saṅgha with seniors and leaders.‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse saṅgho viharati sathero sapāmokkho. I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that Saṅgha:Tassa me saṅghassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been incorrectly memorized by that Saṅgha.’tassa ca saṅghassa duggahitan’ti. And so you should discard it.Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

Take another mendicant who says:Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘In such-and-such monastery lives a Saṅgha with seniors and leaders.‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse saṅgho viharati sathero sapāmokkho. I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that Saṅgha:Tassa me saṅghassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni, vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been correctly memorized by that Saṅgha.’tassa ca saṅghassa suggahitan’ti. You should remember it. This is the second great reference.Idaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

Take another mendicant who says:Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘In such-and-such monastery there are several senior mendicants who are very learned, inheritors of the heritage, who remember the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse sambahulā therā bhikkhū viharanti bahussutā āgatāgamā dhammadharā vinayadharā mātikādharā. I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of those senior mendicants:Tesaṁ me therānaṁ sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been incorrectly memorized by those senior mendicants.’tesañca therānaṁ duggahitan’ti. And so you should discard it.Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

Take another mendicant who says:Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘In such-and-such monastery there are several senior mendicants who are very learned, inheritors of the heritage, who remember the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse sambahulā therā bhikkhū viharanti bahussutā āgatāgamā dhammadharā vinayadharā mātikādharā. I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of those senior mendicants:Tesaṁ me therānaṁ sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been correctly memorized by those senior mendicants.’tesañca therānaṁ suggahitan’ti. You should remember it. This is the third great reference.Idaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

Take another mendicant who says:Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘In such-and-such monastery there is a single senior mendicant who is very learned, an inheritor of the heritage, who has memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse eko thero bhikkhu viharati bahussuto āgatāgamo dhammadharo vinayadharo mātikādharo. I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that senior mendicant:Tassa me therassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they do not fit in the discourse and are not exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been incorrectly memorized by that senior mendicant.’tassa ca therassa duggahitan’ti. And so you should discard it.Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

Take another mendicant who says:Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘In such-and-such monastery there is a single senior mendicant who is very learned, an inheritor of the heritage, who has memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse eko thero bhikkhu viharati bahussuto āgatāgamo dhammadharo vinayadharo mātikādharo. I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that senior mendicant:Tassa me therassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— this is the teaching, this is the training, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti. You should neither approve nor reject that mendicant’s statement.Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ. Instead, having carefully memorized those words and phrases, you should make sure they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training.Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni. If they fit in the discourse and are exhibited in the training, you should draw the conclusion:Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa; It has been correctly memorized by that senior mendicant.’tassa ca therassa suggahitan’ti. You should remember it. This is the fourth great reference.Idaṁ, bhikkhave, catutthaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

These are the four great references.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro mahāpadesā”ti.