A True PersonSappurisasutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. 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 qualities of a true person and the qualities of an untrue person.“sappurisadhammañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi asappurisadhammañca. 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:

“And what is a quality of an untrue person?“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo? Take an untrue person who has gone forth from an eminent family.Idha, bhikkhave, asappuriso uccākulā pabbajito hoti. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I have gone forth from an eminent family, unlike these other mendicants.’‘ahaṁ khomhi uccākulā pabbajito, ime panaññe bhikkhū na uccākulā pabbajitā’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tāya uccākulīnatāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This is a quality of an untrue person.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘It’s not because of one’s eminent family that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end.‘na kho uccākulīnatāya lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. Even if someone has not gone forth from an eminent family,No cepi uccākulā pabbajito hoti; if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their eminent family.So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya uccākulīnatāya nevattānukkaṁseti na paraṁ vambheti. This is a quality of a true person.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who has gone forth from a great family …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso mahākulā pabbajito hoti …pe… from a wealthy family …mahābhogakulā pabbajito hoti …pe… from an exceptionally wealthy family.uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito hoti. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I have gone forth from an exceptionally wealthy family, unlike these other mendicants.’‘ahaṁ khomhi uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito, ime panaññe bhikkhū na uḷārabhogakulā pabbajitā’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tāya uḷārabhogatāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of an untrue person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘It’s not because of one’s exceptionally wealthy family that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end.‘na kho uḷārabhogatāya lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. Even if someone has not gone forth from an exceptionally wealthy family,No cepi uḷārabhogakulā pabbajito hoti; if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their exceptionally wealthy family.So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya uḷārabhogatāya nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of a true person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who is well-known and famous.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso ñāto hoti yasassī. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I’m well-known and famous. These other mendicants are obscure and insignificant.’‘ahaṁ khomhi ñāto yasassī, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tena ñattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of an untrue person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘It’s not because of one’s fame that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end.‘na kho ñattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. Even if someone is not well-known and famous,No cepi ñāto hoti yasassī; if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their fame.So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena ñattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of a true person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who receives robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick, unlike these other mendicants.’‘ahaṁ khomhi lābhī cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ, ime panaññe bhikkhū na lābhino cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tena lābhena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of an untrue person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘It’s not because of one’s material things that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end.‘na kho lābhena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. Even if someone doesn’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick,No cepi lābhī hoti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ; if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their material things.So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena lābhena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of a true person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who is very learned …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso bahussuto hoti. who is an expert in the monastic law …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vinayadharo hoti. who is a Dhamma teacher …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso dhammakathiko hoti. who dwells in the wilderness …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso āraññiko hoti. who is a rag robe wearer …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso paṁsukūliko hoti. who eats only almsfood …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso piṇḍapātiko hoti. who stays at the root of a tree …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso rukkhamūliko hoti. who stays in a charnel ground …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sosāniko hoti …pe… who stays in the open air …abbhokāsiko hoti … who never lies down …nesajjiko hoti …pe… who sleeps wherever they lay their mat …yathāsanthatiko hoti …pe… who eats in one sitting per day.ekāsaniko hoti. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I eat in one sitting per day, unlike these other mendicants.’‘ahaṁ khomhi ekāsaniko, ime panaññe bhikkhū na ekāsanikā’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tena ekāsanikattena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of an untrue person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘It’s not because of eating in one sitting per day that thoughts of greed, hate, or delusion come to an end.‘na kho ekāsanikattena lobhadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, dosadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, mohadhammā vā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti. Even if someone eats in more than one sitting per day,No cepi ekāsaniko hoti; if they practice in line with the teaching, practice properly, and live in line with the teaching, they are worthy of honor and praise for that.’so ca hoti dhammānudhammappaṭipanno sāmīcippaṭipanno anudhammacārī, so tattha pujjo, so tattha pāsaṁso’ti. Keeping the practice to themselves, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their eating in one sitting per day.So paṭipadaṁyeva antaraṁ karitvā tena ekāsanikattena nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of a true person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I have attained the first absorption, unlike these other mendicants.’‘ahaṁ khomhi paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tāya paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of an untrue person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘The Buddha has spoken of not being determined even by the attainment of the first absorption.‘paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. For however they imagine it, it turns out to be something else.’Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. Keeping to themselves the fact that they are not determined by that, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their attainment of the first absorption.So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya paṭhamajjhānasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of a true person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… third absorption …tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ … fourth absorption.catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I have attained the fourth absorption, unlike these other mendicants.’‘ahaṁ khomhi catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tāya catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of an untrue person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘The Buddha has spoken of not being determined even by the attainment of the fourth absorption.‘catutthajjhānasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. For however they imagine it, it turns out to be something else.’Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. Keeping to themselves the fact that they are not determined by that, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their attainment of the fourth absorption.So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya catutthajjhānasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of a true person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take an untrue person who, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. the dimension of infinite consciousness …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. the dimension of nothingness …Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. They reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘I have attained the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, unlike these other mendicants.’‘ahaṁ khomhi nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that.So tāya nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of an untrue person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, asappurisadhammo. A true person reflects:Sappuriso ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘The Buddha has spoken of not being determined even by the attainment of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.‘nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. For however they imagine it, it turns out to be something else.’Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṁ hoti aññathā’ti. Keeping to themselves the fact that they are not determined by that, they don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of their attainment of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. This too is a quality of a true person.Ayampi, bhikkhave, sappurisadhammo.

Furthermore, take a true person who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sappuriso sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati. Paññāya cassa disvā āsavā parikkhīṇā honti. This is a mendicant who does not conceive with anything, does not conceive regarding anything, does not conceive through anything.”Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na kiñci maññati, na kuhiñci maññati, na kenaci maññatī”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.Idamavoca bhagavā. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.