iti89:0.1So It Was Said 89
iti89:0.2The Book of the Threes
iti89:0.3Chapter Four
iti89:0.4About Devadatta
iti89:1.1This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
iti89:2.1“Mendicants, overcome and overwhelmed by three things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.
iti89:2.2What three?
iti89:2.3Corrupt wishes …
iti89:2.4Bad friendship …
iti89:2.5When there is still more to be done, stopping half-way after achieving some trifling distinction.
iti89:2.6Overcome and overwhelmed by these three things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.”
iti89:2.7The Buddha spoke this matter.
iti89:2.8On this it is said:
iti89:3.1“Let none of wicked desire
iti89:3.2ever be reborn into this world.
iti89:3.3And by this too you should know
iti89:3.4the place where those of corrupt wishes go.
iti89:4.1He once was considered astute,
iti89:4.2deemed to be evolved,
iti89:4.3his glory stood forth like a flame,
iti89:4.4the renowned Devadatta.
iti89:5.1Seduced by heedlessness,
iti89:5.2he attacked the Realized One.
iti89:5.3He has fallen to Avīci hell,
iti89:5.4four-doored and terrifying.
iti89:6.1When someone betrays the innocent,
iti89:6.2who have done no wrong,
iti89:6.3their bad deeds impact the one
iti89:6.4with corrupt heart, lacking regard for others.
iti89:7.1One might think to pollute
iti89:7.2the ocean with a pot of poison,
iti89:7.3but it wouldn’t work,
iti89:7.4for the sea is terribly large.
iti89:8.1So too when someone attacks
iti89:8.2with words the Realized One—
iti89:8.3rightly comported, of peaceful mind—
iti89:8.4the words don’t take.
iti89:9.1The astute would befriend one like this,
iti89:9.2and follow them around.
iti89:9.3A mendicant who walks the path
iti89:9.4attains the ending of suffering.”
iti89:10.1This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.