mn61:0.1Middle Discourses 61
mn61:0.2Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhika
mn61:1.1So I have heard.
mn61:1.2At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
mn61:2.1Now at that time Venerable Rāhula was staying at Ambalaṭṭhikā.
mn61:2.2Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to Ambalaṭṭhika to see Venerable Rāhula.
mn61:2.3Rāhula saw the Buddha coming off in the distance.
mn61:2.4He spread out a seat and placed water for washing the feet.
mn61:2.5The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out,
mn61:2.6and washed his feet.
mn61:2.7Rāhula bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side.
mn61:3.1Then the Buddha, leaving a little water in the pot, addressed Rāhula,
mn61:3.2“Rāhula, do you see this little bit of water left in the pot?”
mn61:3.3“Yes, sir.”
mn61:3.4“That’s how little of the ascetic’s nature is left in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.”
mn61:4.1Then the Buddha, discarding what little water was left in the pot, said to Rāhula,
mn61:4.2“Do you see this little bit of water that was discarded?”
mn61:4.3“Yes, sir.”
mn61:4.4“That’s how the ascetic’s nature is discarded in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.”
mn61:5.1Then the Buddha, turning the pot upside down, said to Rāhula,
mn61:5.2“Do you see how this pot is turned upside down?”
mn61:5.3“Yes, sir.”
mn61:5.4“That’s how the ascetic’s nature is turned upside down in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.”
mn61:6.1Then the Buddha, turning the pot right side up, said to Rāhula,
mn61:6.2“Do you see how this pot is vacant and hollow?”
mn61:6.3“Yes, sir.”
mn61:6.4“That’s how vacant and hollow the ascetic’s nature is in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.
mn61:7.1Suppose there was a royal bull elephant with tusks like draft-poles, able to draw a heavy load, pedigree and battle-hardened. In battle it uses its fore-feet and hind-feet, its fore-quarters and hind-quarters, its head, ears, tusks, and tail, but it still protects its trunk.
mn61:7.2So its rider thinks:
mn61:7.3‘This royal bull elephant still protects its trunk.
mn61:7.4It has not yet given its life.’
mn61:7.5But when that royal bull elephant … in battle uses its fore-feet and hind-feet, its fore-quarters and hind-quarters, its head, ears, tusks, and tail, and its trunk, its rider thinks:
mn61:7.6‘This royal bull elephant … in battle uses its fore-feet and hind-feet, its fore-quarters and hind-quarters, its head, ears, tusks, and tail, and its trunk.
mn61:7.7It has given its life.
mn61:7.8Now there is nothing that royal bull elephant would not do.’
mn61:7.9In the same way, when someone is not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie, there is no bad deed they would not do, I say.
mn61:7.10So you should train like this: ‘I will not tell a lie, even for a joke.’
mn61:8.1What do you think, Rāhula?
mn61:8.2What is the purpose of a mirror?”
mn61:8.3“It’s for checking your reflection, sir.”
mn61:8.4“In the same way, deeds of body, speech, and mind should be done only after repeated checking.
mn61:9.1When you want to act with the body, you should check on that same deed:
mn61:9.2‘Does this act with the body that I want to do lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both?
mn61:9.3Is it unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result?’
mn61:9.4If, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:9.5‘This act with the body that I want to do leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:9.6It’s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.’ To the best of your ability, Rāhula, you should not do such a deed.
mn61:9.7But if, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:9.8‘This act with the body that I want to do doesn’t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:9.9It’s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should do such a deed.
mn61:10.1While you are acting with the body, you should check on that same act:
mn61:10.2‘Does this act with the body that I am doing lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both?
mn61:10.3Is it unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result?’
mn61:10.4If, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:10.5‘This act with the body that I am doing leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:10.6It’s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should desist from such a deed.
mn61:10.7But if, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:10.8‘This act with the body that I am doing doesn’t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:10.9It’s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should continue doing such a deed.
mn61:11.1After you have acted with the body, you should check on that same act:
mn61:11.2‘Does this act with the body that I have done lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both?
mn61:11.3Is it unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result?’
mn61:11.4If, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:11.5‘This act with the body that I have done leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:11.6It’s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should confess, reveal, and clarify such a deed to the Teacher or a sensible spiritual companion.
mn61:11.7And having revealed it you should restrain yourself in future.
mn61:11.8But if, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:11.9‘This act with the body that I have done doesn’t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:11.10It’s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should live in rapture and joy because of this, training day and night in skillful qualities.
mn61:12.1When you want to act with speech, you should check on that same deed:
mn61:12.2‘Does this act of speech that I want to do lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both? …’ …
mn61:14.4If, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:14.5‘This act of speech that I have done leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:14.6It’s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should confess, reveal, and clarify such a deed to the Teacher or a sensible spiritual companion.
mn61:14.7And having revealed it you should restrain yourself in future.
mn61:14.8But if, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:14.9‘This act of speech that I have done doesn’t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:14.10It’s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should live in rapture and joy because of this, training day and night in skillful qualities.
mn61:15.1When you want to act with the mind, you should check on that same deed:
mn61:15.2‘Does this act of mind that I want to do lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both? …’ …
mn61:17.4If, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:17.5‘This act of mind that I have done leads to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:17.6It’s unskillful, with suffering as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should be horrified, repelled, and disgusted by that deed.
mn61:17.7And being repelled, you should restrain yourself in future.
mn61:17.8But if, while checking in this way, you know:
mn61:17.9‘This act with the mind that I have done doesn’t lead to hurting myself, hurting others, or hurting both.
mn61:17.10It’s skillful, with happiness as its outcome and result.’ Then, Rāhula, you should live in rapture and joy because of this, training day and night in skillful qualities.
mn61:18.1All the ascetics and brahmins of the past, future, and present who purify their physical, verbal, and mental actions do so after repeatedly checking.
mn61:18.4So Rāhula, you should train yourself like this: ‘I will purify my physical, verbal, and mental actions after repeatedly checking.’”
mn61:18.6That is what the Buddha said.
mn61:18.7Satisfied, Venerable Rāhula approved what the Buddha said.