MN · mn29
The Greater Simile of the Heartwood
0.1Majjhima Nikāya 29
The Middle Length Discourses 29
0.2Mahāsāropamasutta
The Greater Simile of the Heartwood
1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
Thus have I heard—
1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte.
At one time the Bhagavā was dwelling at Rājagaha, on Vulture Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had gone away.
1.3Tatra kho bhagavā devadattaṁ ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Bhagavā, concerning Devadatta, addressed the bhikkhus:
2.1“Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
“Here, bhikkhus, a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
2.2‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
2.3appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
2.4So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
2.5So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and thinks his aim fulfilled.
2.6So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attānukkaṁseti paraṁ vambheti:
He exalts himself and disparages others because of those gains, honor, and praise:
2.7‘ahamasmi lābhasakkārasilokavā, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti.
‘I am one with gains, honor, and praise; but these other bhikkhus are obscure and insignificant.’
2.8So tena lābhasakkārasilokena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
2.9Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ atikkamma papaṭikaṁ, sākhāpalāsaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.
Just as, bhikkhus, a man wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, might pass right by the heartwood, pass by the sapwood, pass by the bark, pass by the outer bark of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off its branches and leaves, take them, and depart thinking, ‘Heartwood.’
2.10Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:
A clear-sighted person, seeing him, would say:
2.11‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.
‘This man surely did not understand heartwood, did not understand sapwood, did not understand bark, did not understand outer bark, did not understand branches and leaves.
2.12Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ atikkamma papaṭikaṁ, sākhāpalāsaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno.
And yet this man, wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, passed right by the heartwood, passed by the sapwood, passed by the bark, passed by the outer bark of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off its branches and leaves, took them, and departed thinking, “Heartwood.”
2.13Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
And he will not obtain the benefit to be obtained from heartwood.’
2.14Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
So too, bhikkhus, here a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
2.15‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
2.16appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
2.17So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
2.18So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and thinks his aim fulfilled.
2.19So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti ‘ahamasmi lābhasakkārasilokavā, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti.
He exalts himself and disparages others because of those gains, honor, and praise: ‘I am one with gains, honor, and praise; but these other bhikkhus are obscure and insignificant.’
2.20So tena lābhasakkārasilokena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
2.21Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sākhāpalāsaṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;
This is called, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who has seized the branches and leaves of the holy life;
2.22tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.
and with that he has come to a standstill.
3.1Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
But here, bhikkhus, a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
3.2‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
3.3appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
3.4So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
3.5So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
3.6So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
3.7So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence.
3.8Appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
3.9So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, and thinks his aim fulfilled.
3.10So tāya sīlasampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:
He exalts himself and disparages others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct:
3.11‘ahamasmi sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, ime panaññe bhikkhū dussīlā pāpadhammā’ti.
‘I am ethical, characterized by good dhammas [kalyāṇadhammo]; but these other bhikkhus are unethical, characterized by bad dhammas [pāpadhammā].’
3.12So tāya sīlasampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
3.13Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ, papaṭikaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.
Just as, bhikkhus, a man wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, might pass right by the heartwood, pass by the sapwood, pass by the bark of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off the outer bark, take it, and depart thinking, ‘Heartwood.’
3.14Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:
A clear-sighted person, seeing him, would say:
3.15‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.
‘This man surely did not understand heartwood, did not understand sapwood, did not understand bark, did not understand outer bark, did not understand branches and leaves.
3.16Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ, papaṭikaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno;
And yet this man, wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, passed right by the heartwood, passed by the sapwood, passed by the bark of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off the outer bark, took it, and departed thinking, “Heartwood.”
3.17yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
And he will not obtain the benefit to be obtained from heartwood.’
4.1Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
So too, bhikkhus, here a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
4.2‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
4.3appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
4.4So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
4.5So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
4.6So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
4.7So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence.
4.8Appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
4.9So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, and thinks his aim fulfilled.
4.10So tāya sīlasampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:
He exalts himself and disparages others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct:
4.11‘ahamasmi sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, ime panaññe bhikkhū dussīlā pāpadhammā’ti.
‘I am ethical, characterized by good dhammas [kalyāṇadhammo]; but these other bhikkhus are unethical, characterized by bad dhammas [pāpadhammā].’
4.12So tāya sīlasampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
4.13Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu papaṭikaṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;
This is called, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who has seized the outer bark of the holy life;
4.14tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.
and with that he has come to a standstill.
4.15Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
But here, bhikkhus, a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
4.16‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
4.17appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
4.18So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
4.19So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
4.20So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
4.21So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
4.22So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
4.23So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct.
4.24So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence.
4.25Appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.
Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadaṁ].
4.26So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], and thinks his aim fulfilled.
4.27So tāya samādhisampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:
He exalts himself and disparages others because of that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya]:
4.28‘ahamasmi samāhito ekaggacitto, ime panaññe bhikkhū asamāhitā vibbhantacittā’ti.
‘I am endowed with samādhi [samāhito], with my mind gathered [ekaggacitto]; but these other bhikkhus are not endowed with samādhi [asamāhitā], with scattered minds [vibbhantacittā].’
4.29So tāya samādhisampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
4.30Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ tacaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.
Just as, bhikkhus, a man wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, might pass right by the heartwood, pass by the sapwood of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off the bark, take it, and depart thinking, ‘Heartwood.’
4.31Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya ‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.
A clear-sighted person, seeing him, would say: ‘This man surely did not understand heartwood, did not understand sapwood, did not understand bark, did not understand outer bark, did not understand branches and leaves.
4.32Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ tacaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno.
And yet this man, wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, passed right by the heartwood, passed by the sapwood of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off the bark, took it, and departed thinking, “Heartwood.”
4.33Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
And he will not obtain the benefit to be obtained from heartwood.’
4.34Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
So too, bhikkhus, here a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
4.35‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
4.36appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
4.37So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
4.38So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
4.39So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
4.40So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
4.41So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
4.42So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct.
4.43So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadaṁ].
4.44So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], and thinks his aim fulfilled.
4.45So tāya samādhisampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:
He exalts himself and disparages others because of that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya]:
4.46‘ahamasmi samāhito ekaggacitto, ime panaññe bhikkhū asamāhitā vibbhantacittā’ti.
‘I am endowed with samādhi [samāhito], with my mind gathered [ekaggacitto]; but these other bhikkhus are not endowed with samādhi [asamāhitā], with scattered minds [vibbhantacittā].’
4.47So tāya samādhisampadāya majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
4.48Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tacaṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;
This is called, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who has seized the bark of the holy life;
4.49tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.
and with that he has come to a standstill.
5.1Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
But here, bhikkhus, a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
5.2‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
5.3appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
5.4So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
5.5So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
5.6So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
5.7So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence.
5.8Appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
5.9So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
5.10So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct.
5.11So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadaṁ].
5.12So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], but does not think his aim fulfilled.
5.13So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya].
5.14So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves knowledge and vision.
5.15So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that knowledge and vision, and thinks his aim fulfilled.
5.16So tena ñāṇadassanena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:
He exalts himself and disparages others because of that knowledge and vision:
5.17‘ahamasmi jānaṁ passaṁ viharāmi.
‘I dwell knowing and seeing.
5.18Ime panaññe bhikkhū ajānaṁ apassaṁ viharantī’ti.
But these other bhikkhus dwell not knowing and not seeing.’
5.19So tena ñāṇadassanena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by that knowledge and vision, becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
5.20Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ phegguṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno.
Just as, bhikkhus, a man wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, might pass right by the heartwood of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off the sapwood, take it, and depart thinking, ‘Heartwood.’
5.21Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:
A clear-sighted person, seeing him, would say:
5.22‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ na aññāsi phegguṁ na aññāsi tacaṁ na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.
‘This man surely did not understand heartwood, did not understand sapwood, did not understand bark, did not understand outer bark, did not understand branches and leaves.
5.23Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ phegguṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno.
And yet this man, wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, passed right by the heartwood of a great standing tree full of heartwood, cut off the sapwood, took it, and departed thinking, “Heartwood.”
5.24Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
And he will not obtain the benefit to be obtained from heartwood.’
5.25Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
So too, bhikkhus, here a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
5.26‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
5.27appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
5.28So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
5.29So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
5.30So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
5.31So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
5.32So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
5.33So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct.
5.34So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadaṁ].
5.35So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], but does not think his aim fulfilled.
5.36So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya].
5.37So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves knowledge and vision.
5.38So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that knowledge and vision, and thinks his aim fulfilled.
5.39So tena ñāṇadassanena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti:
He exalts himself and disparages others because of that knowledge and vision:
5.40‘ahamasmi jānaṁ passaṁ viharāmi, ime panaññe bhikkhū ajānaṁ apassaṁ viharantī’ti.
‘I dwell knowing and seeing, but these other bhikkhus dwell not knowing and not seeing.’
5.41So tena ñāṇadassanena majjati pamajjati pamādaṁ āpajjati, pamatto samāno dukkhaṁ viharati.
He becomes intoxicated by that knowledge and vision, becomes negligent, falls into negligence; and being negligent, he dwells in dukkha.
5.42Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu phegguṁ aggahesi brahmacariyassa;
This is called, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who has seized the sapwood of the holy life;
5.43tena ca vosānaṁ āpādi.
and with that he has come to a standstill.
6.1Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
But here, bhikkhus, a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
6.2‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
6.3appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
6.4So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
6.5So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti, na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.6So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
6.7So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
6.8So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.9So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct.
6.10So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadaṁ].
6.11So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], but does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.12So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya].
6.13So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves knowledge and vision.
6.14So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that knowledge and vision, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.15So tena ñāṇadassanena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that knowledge and vision.
6.16So tena ñāṇadassanena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno asamayavimokkhaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that knowledge and vision, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves non-temporary liberation.
6.17Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu tāya asamayavimuttiyā parihāyetha.
This is impossible, bhikkhus, there is no chance of it, that that bhikkhu would fall away from that non-temporary liberation.
6.18Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāraññeva chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti jānamāno.
Just as, bhikkhus, a man wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, might cut out just the heartwood from a great standing tree full of heartwood, take it, and depart knowing, ‘Heartwood.’
6.19Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya:
A clear-sighted person, seeing him, would say:
6.20‘aññāsi vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāraṁ, aññāsi phegguṁ, aññāsi tacaṁ, aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ.
‘This man has understood heartwood, has understood sapwood, has understood bark, has understood outer bark, has understood branches and leaves.
6.21Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāraññeva chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti jānamāno.
And indeed this man, wanting heartwood, seeking heartwood, going about in search of heartwood, cut out just the heartwood from a great standing tree full of heartwood, took it, and departed knowing, “Heartwood.”
6.22Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ anubhavissatī’ti.
And he will obtain the benefit to be obtained from heartwood.’
6.23Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti:
So too, bhikkhus, here a certain son of a good family, out of faith, has gone forth from the household life into homelessness:
6.24‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto,
‘I am beset by birth, aging, and death, by sorrows, lamentations, dukkha, distress, and despair, overcome by dukkha [dukkhotiṇṇo], overwhelmed by dukkha [dukkhapareto].
6.25appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.
Perhaps an ending of this whole mass of dukkha might be found.’
6.26So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti.
Having gone forth in this way, he acquires gains, honor, and praise.
6.27So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti, na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is not pleased with those gains, honor, and praise, and does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.28So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of those gains, honor, and praise.
6.29So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by those gains, honor, and praise, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in ethical conduct.
6.30So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in ethical conduct, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.31So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in ethical conduct.
6.32So tāya sīlasampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in ethical conduct, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadaṁ].
6.33So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], but does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.34So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya].
6.35So tāya samādhisampadāya na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadāya], does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves knowledge and vision.
6.36So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo.
He is pleased with that knowledge and vision, but does not think his aim fulfilled.
6.37So tena ñāṇadassanena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
He does not exalt himself or disparage others because of that knowledge and vision.
6.38So tena ñāṇadassanena na majjati nappamajjati na pamādaṁ āpajjati, appamatto samāno asamayavimokkhaṁ ārādheti.
He does not become intoxicated by that knowledge and vision, does not become negligent, does not fall into negligence. Being non-negligent, he achieves non-temporary liberation.
6.39Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ so bhikkhu tāya asamayavimuttiyā parihāyetha.
This is impossible, bhikkhus, there is no chance of it, that that bhikkhu would fall away from that non-temporary liberation.
7.1Iti kho, bhikkhave, nayidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ lābhasakkārasilokānisaṁsaṁ, na sīlasampadānisaṁsaṁ, na samādhisampadānisaṁsaṁ, na ñāṇadassanānisaṁsaṁ.
So, bhikkhus, this holy life is not for the benefit of gains, honor, and praise, nor for the benefit of accomplishment in ethical conduct, nor for the benefit of accomplishment in samādhi [samādhisampadānisaṁsaṁ], nor for the benefit of knowledge and vision.
7.2Yā ca kho ayaṁ, bhikkhave, akuppā cetovimutti—
And whatever is this unshakable liberation of mind—
7.3etadatthamidaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaṁ, etaṁ sāraṁ etaṁ pariyosānan”ti.
it is for the sake of this, bhikkhus, that this holy life is lived; this is the heartwood, this is the culmination.”
7.4Idamavoca bhagavā.
This is what the Bhagavā said.
7.5Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.
Those bhikkhus, pleased, delighted in what was said by the Bhagavā.
7.6Mahāsāropamasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.
The Greater Simile of the Heartwood is finished, the ninth.