A Horn BlowerSaṅkhadhamasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Nāḷandā in Pāvārika’s Mango Grove.Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā nāḷandāyaṁ viharati pāvārikambavane.

Then Asibandhaka’s son the chief, who was a disciple of the Jains, went up to the Buddha, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,Atha kho asibandhakaputto gāmaṇi nigaṇṭhasāvako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho asibandhakaputtaṁ gāmaṇiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “Chief, how does the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan teach his disciples?”“kathaṁ nu kho, gāmaṇi, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ desetī”ti?

“Sir, this is how the Jain Ñātika teaches his disciples:“Evaṁ kho, bhante, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ deseti: ‘Everyone who kills a living creature, steals, commits sexual misconduct, or lies goes to a place of loss, to hell.‘yo koci pāṇaṁ atipāteti, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci adinnaṁ ādiyati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci kāmesu micchā carati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci musā bhaṇati sabbo, so āpāyiko nerayiko. You’re led on by what you frequently live by.’Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulaṁ viharati, tena tena nīyatī’ti. This is how the Jain Ñātika teaches his disciples.”Evaṁ kho, bhante, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ desetī”ti.

“‘You’re led on by what you usually live by’: if this were true, then, according to what the Jain Ñātika says, no one would go to a place of loss, to hell.“‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati, tena tena nīyati’, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

What do you think, chief?Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, Take a person who kills living creatures. If we compare periods of time during the day and night, which is more frequent: the occasions when they’re killing or when they’re not killing?”yo so puriso pāṇātipātī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so pāṇamatipāteti, yaṁ vā so pāṇaṁ nātipātetī”ti?

“The occasions when they’re killing are less frequent, while the occasions when they’re not killing are more frequent.”“Yo so, bhante, puriso pāṇātipātī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, appataro so samayo yaṁ so pāṇamatipāteti, atha kho sveva bahutaro samayo yaṁ so pāṇaṁ nātipātetī”ti.

“‘You’re led on by what you usually live by’: if this were true, then, according to what the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan says, no one would go to a place of loss, to hell.“‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati tena tena nīyatī’ti, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

What do you think, chief?Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, Take a person who steals …yo so puriso adinnādāyī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so adinnaṁ ādiyati, yaṁ vā so adinnaṁ nādiyatī”ti.

Take a person who commits sexual misconduct …Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, yo so puriso kāmesumicchācārī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so kāmesu micchā carati, yaṁ vā so kāmesu micchā na caratī”ti?

Take a person who lies. If we compare periods of time during the day and night, which is more frequent: the occasions when they’re lying or when they’re not lying?”Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, yo so puriso musāvādī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, katamo bahutaro samayo, yaṁ vā so musā bhaṇati, yaṁ vā so musā na bhaṇatī”ti?

“The occasions when they’re lying are less frequent, while the occasions when they’re not lying are more frequent.”“Yo so, bhante, puriso musāvādī rattiyā vā divasassa vā samayāsamayaṁ upādāya, appataro so samayo, yaṁ so musā bhaṇati, atha kho sveva bahutaro samayo, yaṁ so musā na bhaṇatī”ti.

“‘You’re led on by what you usually live by’: if this were true, then, according to what the Jain Ñātika says, no one would go to a place of loss, to hell.“‘Yaṁbahulaṁ yaṁbahulañca, gāmaṇi, viharati tena tena nīyatī’ti, evaṁ sante na koci āpāyiko nerayiko bhavissati, yathā nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa vacanaṁ.

Take some teacher who has this doctrine and view:Idha, gāmaṇi, ekacco satthā evaṁvādī hoti evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘Everyone who kills a living creature, steals, commits sexual misconduct, or lies goes to a place of loss, to hell.’‘yo koci pāṇamatipāteti, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci adinnaṁ ādiyati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci kāmesu micchā carati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko, yo koci musā bhaṇati, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayiko’ti. And there’s a disciple who is devoted to that teacher.Tasmiṁ kho pana, gāmaṇi, satthari sāvako abhippasanno hoti. They think:Tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘My teacher has this doctrine and view:‘mayhaṁ kho satthā evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi— “Everyone who kills a living creature, steals, commits sexual misconduct, or lies goes to a place of loss, to hell.”yo koci pāṇamatipāteti, sabbo so āpāyiko nerayikoti. But I’ve killed living creatures …Atthi kho pana mayā pāṇo atipātito, ahampamhi āpāyiko nerayikoti diṭṭhiṁ paṭilabhati. stolen …Atthi kho pana mayā adinnaṁ ādinnaṁ ahampamhi āpāyiko nerayikoti diṭṭhiṁ paṭilabhati. committed sexual misconduct …Atthi kho pana mayā kāmesu micchā ciṇṇaṁ. or lied.’Atthi kho pana mayā musā bhaṇitaṁ. They get the view: ‘I too am going to a place of loss, to hell.’‘Ahampamhi āpāyiko nerayiko’ti diṭṭhiṁ paṭilabhati. Unless they give up that speech and that thought, and let go of that view, they will be placed in hell as if delivered there.Taṁ, gāmaṇi, vācaṁ appahāya taṁ cittaṁ appahāya taṁ diṭṭhiṁ appaṭinissajjitvā yathābhataṁ nikkhitto evaṁ niraye.

But consider when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.Idha pana, gāmaṇi, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. In many ways he criticizes and denounces killing living creatures, saying: ‘Stop killing living creatures!’So anekapariyāyena pāṇātipātaṁ garahati vigarahati, ‘pāṇātipātā viramathā’ti cāha. He criticizes and denounces stealing …Adinnādānaṁ garahati vigarahati, ‘adinnādānā viramathā’ti cāha. sexual misconduct …Kāmesumicchācāraṁ garahati, vigarahati ‘kāmesumicchācārā viramathā’ti cāha. lying, saying: ‘Stop lying!’Musāvādaṁ garahati vigarahati ‘musāvādā viramathā’ti cāha. And there’s a disciple who is devoted to that teacher.Tasmiṁ kho pana, gāmaṇi, satthari sāvako abhippasanno hoti. Then they reflect:So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces killing living creatures, saying: “Stop killing living creatures!”‘bhagavā kho anekapariyāyena pāṇātipātaṁ garahati vigarahati, pāṇātipātā viramathāti cāha. But I have killed living creatures to a certain extent.Atthi kho pana mayā pāṇo atipātito yāvatako vā tāvatako vā. That’s not right, it’s not good,Yo kho pana mayā pāṇo atipātito yāvatako vā tāvatako vā, taṁ na suṭṭhu, taṁ na sādhu. and I feel remorseful because of it.Ahañceva kho pana tappaccayā vippaṭisārī assaṁ. But I can’t undo what I have done.’Na metaṁ pāpaṁ kammaṁ akataṁ bhavissatī’ti. Reflecting like this, they give up killing living creatures,So iti paṭisaṅkhāya tañceva pāṇātipātaṁ pajahati. and in future they don’t kill living creatures.Āyatiñca pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti. That’s how to give up this bad deedEvametassa pāpassa kammassa pahānaṁ hoti. and get past it.Evametassa pāpassa kammassa samatikkamo hoti.

‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces stealing …’‘Bhagavā kho anekapariyāyena adinnādānaṁ garahati vigarahati, adinnādānā viramathāti cāha.

‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces sexual misconduct …’‘Bhagavā kho pana anekapariyāyena kāmesumicchācāraṁ garahati vigarahati, kāmesumicchācārā viramathāti cāha.

‘In many ways the Buddha criticizes and denounces lying, saying: “Stop lying!”‘Bhagavā kho pana anekapariyāyena musāvādaṁ garahati vigarahati, musāvādā viramathāti cāha. But I have lied to a certain extent.Atthi kho pana mayā musā bhaṇitaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā. That’s not right, it’s not good, and I feel remorseful because of it. But I can’t undo what I have done.’Yaṁ kho pana mayā musā bhaṇitaṁ yāvatakaṁ vā tāvatakaṁ vā taṁ na suṭṭhu, taṁ na sādhu. Ahañceva kho pana tappaccayā vippaṭisārī assaṁ, na metaṁ pāpaṁ kammaṁ akataṁ bhavissatī’ti. Reflecting like this, they give up lying, and in future they refrain from lying.So iti paṭisaṅkhāya tañceva musāvādaṁ pajahati, āyatiñca musāvādā paṭivirato hoti. That’s how to give up this bad deed and get past it.Evametassa pāpassa kammassa pahānaṁ hoti. Evametassa pāpassa kammassa samatikkamo hoti.

They give up killing living creatures.So pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti. They give up stealing.Adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti. They give up sexual misconduct.Kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti. They give up lying.Musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato hoti. They give up backbiting.Pisuṇaṁ vācaṁ pahāya pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti. They give up harsh speech.Pharusaṁ vācaṁ pahāya pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti. They give up talking nonsense.Samphappalāpaṁ pahāya samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti. They give up covetousness.Abhijjhaṁ pahāya anabhijjhālu hoti. They give up ill will and malevolence.Byāpādappadosaṁ pahāya abyāpannacitto hoti. They give up wrong view and have right view.Micchādiṭṭhiṁ pahāya sammādiṭṭhiko hoti.

That noble disciple is rid of desire, rid of ill will, unconfused, aware, and mindful. They meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.Sa kho so, gāmaṇi, ariyasāvako evaṁ vigatābhijjho vigatabyāpādo asammūḷho sampajāno paṭissato mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters.Seyyathāpi, gāmaṇi, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; In the same way, when the heart’s release by love has been developed and cultivated like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there.evameva kho, gāmaṇi, evaṁ bhāvitāya mettāya cetovimuttiyā evaṁ bahulīkatāya yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ, na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhati.

Then that noble disciple is rid of desire, rid of ill will, unconfused, aware, and mindful. They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion …Sa kho so, gāmaṇi, ariyasāvako evaṁ vigatābhijjho vigatabyāpādo asammūḷho sampajāno paṭissato karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe… They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing …muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe…. They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.Upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters.Seyyathāpi, gāmaṇi, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; In the same way, when the heart’s release by equanimity has been developed and cultivated like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there.”evameva kho, gāmaṇi, evaṁ bhāvitāya upekkhāya cetovimuttiyā evaṁ bahulīkatāya yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhatī”ti.

When he said this, Asibandhaka’s son the chief said to the Buddha,Evaṁ vutte, asibandhakaputto gāmaṇi bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Excellent, sir! Excellent! …“abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante …pe… From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”upāsakaṁ maṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.