4.
The Chapter on a Warrior
1.
The Discourse on the Warrior
134. "Monks, a warrior possessed of three factors is worthy of a king, fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a factor of the king himself. With which three? Here, monks, a warrior is one who shoots far, one who shoots as quickly as lightning, and one who breaks open a great body. Monks, a warrior possessed of these three factors is worthy of a king, fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a factor of the king himself. Just so, monks, a monk possessed of three factors is worthy of offerings, etc. an unsurpassed field of merit for the world. With which three? Here, monks, a monk is one who shoots far, one who shoots as quickly as lightning, and one who breaks open a great body.
"And how, monks, is a monk one who shoots far? Here, monks, a monk, whatever materiality, past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, whether far or near, all materiality - 'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self' - thus he sees this as it really is with right wisdom. Whatever feeling, past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, whether far or near, all feeling - 'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self' - thus he sees this as it really is with right wisdom. Whatever perception, past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, whether far or near, all perception - 'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self' - thus he sees this as it really is with right wisdom. Whatever activities, past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, whether far or near, all activities - 'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self' - thus he sees this as it really is with right wisdom. Whatever consciousness, past, future, or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, whether far or near, all consciousness - 'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self' - thus he sees this as it really is with right wisdom. Thus, monks, a monk is one who shoots far.
"And how, monks, is a monk one who shoots as quickly as lightning? Here, monks, a monk understands as it really is: 'This is suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the origin of suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the cessation of suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' Thus, monks, a monk is one who shoots as quickly as lightning.
"And how, monks, is a monk one who breaks open a great body? Here, monks, a monk breaks open the great mass of ignorance. Thus, monks, a monk is one who breaks open a great body. Monks, a monk possessed of these three qualities is worthy of offerings, etc. an unsurpassed field of merit for the world." The first.
2.
The Discourse on the Assembly
135. "There are these three assemblies, monks. Which three? An assembly disciplined by rote, an assembly disciplined by counter-questioning, an assembly disciplined by measure - these, monks, are the three assemblies." The second.
3.
The Discourse on a Friend
136. "Monks, a friend possessed of three factors should be associated with. With which three? He gives what is hard to give, he does what is hard to do, he endures what is hard to endure - monks, a friend possessed of these three factors should be associated with." The third.
4.
The Discourse on Arising
137. "Whether there is an arising of Truth-finders or whether there is no arising of Truth-finders, monks, that element still stands - the principle of the causal relationship of phenomena, the cosmic law of phenomena. All activities are impermanent. The Truth-finder awakens to that, fully realises that. Having awakened to it, having fully realised it, he tells, teaches, makes known, establishes, reveals, analyses, and makes clear - 'All activities are impermanent.' Whether there is an arising of Truth-finders or whether there is no arising of Truth-finders, monks, that element still stands - the principle of the causal relationship of phenomena, the cosmic law of phenomena. All activities are suffering. The Truth-finder awakens to that, fully realises that. Having awakened to it, having fully realised it, he tells, teaches, makes known, establishes, reveals, analyses, and makes clear - 'All activities are suffering.' Whether there is an arising of Truth-finders or whether there is no arising of Truth-finders, monks, that element still stands - the principle of the causal relationship of phenomena, the cosmic law of phenomena. All phenomena are non-self. The Truth-finder awakens to that, fully realises that. Having awakened to it, having fully realised it, he tells, teaches, makes known, establishes, reveals, analyses, and makes clear - 'All phenomena are non-self.' The fourth.
5.
The Discourse on the Hair Blanket
138. "Just as, monks, whatever woven cloths there are, a hair blanket is declared the worst among them. A hair blanket, monks, is cold in the cold, hot in the heat, ugly, foul-smelling, of unpleasant contact. Just so, monks, whatever doctrines of various ascetics and brahmins there are, Makkhali's doctrine is declared the worst among them.
"Makkhali, monks, the foolish man, holds such a doctrine and view - 'There is no action, there is no deed, there is no energy.' Those who were Worthy Ones, Fully Enlightened by themselves in the past period of time, monks, those Blessed Ones too were proponents of the efficacy of action, proponents of the efficacy of deeds, and proponents of the efficacy of energy. Them too, monks, Makkhali the foolish man obstructs - 'There is no action, there is no deed, there is no energy.' Those who will be Worthy Ones, Fully Enlightened by themselves in the future period of time, monks, those Blessed Ones too will be proponents of the efficacy of action, proponents of the efficacy of deeds, and proponents of the efficacy of energy. Them too, monks, Makkhali the foolish man obstructs - 'There is no action, there is no deed, there is no energy.' I too, monks, at present, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself, am a proponent of the efficacy of action, a proponent of the efficacy of deeds, and a proponent of the efficacy of energy. Me too, monks, Makkhali the foolish man obstructs - 'There is no action, there is no deed, there is no energy.'
"Just as, monks, a fish-trap set up at the mouth of a river would be for the harm, for the suffering, for the calamity, for the disaster of many fish; just so, monks, Makkhali the foolish man has arisen in the world as, I think, a human fish-trap, for the harm, for the suffering, for the calamity, for the disaster of many beings." The fifth.
6.
The Discourse on Accomplishment
139. "There are these three accomplishments, monks. Which three? Accomplishment in faith, accomplishment in morality, accomplishment in wisdom - these, monks, are the three accomplishments." The sixth.
7.
The Discourse on Growth
140. "There are these three kinds of growth, monks. Which three? Growth of faith, growth of morality, growth of wisdom - these, monks, are the three kinds of growth." The seventh.
8.
The Discourse on the Inferior Horse
141. "I will teach you, monks, three inferior horses and three inferior persons. Listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"And which, monks, are the three inferior horses? Here, monks, a certain inferior horse is endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain inferior horse is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty; not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain inferior horse is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three inferior horses.
"And which, monks, are the three inferior persons? Here, monks, a certain inferior person is endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain inferior person is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty; not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain inferior person is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is an inferior person endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk understands as it really is: 'This is suffering', etc. he understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he evades and does not answer. This I say is not his beauty. And he is not an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is not his height and girth. Thus, monks, an inferior person is endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is a man-colt endowed with speed and endowed with beauty, but not endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk understands as it really is: 'This is suffering', etc. he understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he answers and does not evade. This I say is his beauty. But he is not an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is not his height and girth. Thus, monks, a man-colt is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is a man-colt endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk understands as it really is: 'This is suffering', etc. he understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he answers and does not evade. This I say is his beauty. And he is an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is his height and girth. Thus, monks, a man-colt is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three man-colts." The eighth.
9.
The Discourse on the Middling Horse
142. "I will teach you, monks, three thoroughbred horses and three thoroughbred persons. Listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"And which, monks, are the three thoroughbred horses? Here, monks, a certain thoroughbred horse is endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain thoroughbred horse is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty; not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain thoroughbred horse is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three thoroughbred horses.
"And which, monks, are the three thoroughbred persons? Here, monks, a certain thoroughbred person is endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain thoroughbred person is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty; not endowed with height and girth. Here again, monks, a certain thoroughbred person is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is a thoroughbred person endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk, with the utter elimination of the five lower mental fetters, becomes one of spontaneous birth, attaining final nibbāna there, not subject to return from that world. This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he evades and does not answer. This I say is not his beauty. And he is not an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is not his height and girth. Thus, monks, a thoroughbred person is endowed with speed; not endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is a thoroughbred person endowed with speed and endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk, with the utter elimination of the five lower mental fetters, becomes one of spontaneous birth, attaining final nibbāna there, not subject to return from that world. This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he answers and does not evade. This I say is his beauty. And he is not an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is not his height and girth. Thus, monks, a thoroughbred person is endowed with speed; endowed with beauty, not endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is a man-thoroughbred endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk, with the utter elimination of the five lower mental fetters, becomes one of spontaneous birth, attaining final nibbāna there, not subject to return from that world. This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he answers and does not evade. This I say is his beauty. And he is an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is his height and girth. Thus, monks, a man-thoroughbred is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three man-thoroughbreds." The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on the Thoroughbred Horse
143. "I will teach you, monks, three good thoroughbred horses and three good thoroughbred persons. Listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"And which, monks, are the three good thoroughbred horses? Here, monks, a certain good thoroughbred horse... etc. is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three good thoroughbred horses.
"And which, monks, are the three good thoroughbred persons? Here, monks, a certain good thoroughbred person... etc. is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth.
"And how, monks, is a good thoroughbred person... etc. endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth? Here, monks, a monk, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, dwells in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions. This I say is his speed. But when asked a question about the higher teaching and higher discipline, he answers and does not evade. This I say is his beauty. And he is an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. This I say is his height and girth. Thus, monks, a good thoroughbred person is endowed with speed and endowed with beauty and endowed with height and girth. These, monks, are the three good thoroughbred persons." The tenth.
11.
The First Discourse on the Peacock's Feeding Ground
144. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Peacocks' Feeding Ground in the wandering ascetics' park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "Monks." "Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"Monks, a monk possessed of three qualities is of absolute goal, of absolute security from bondage, of absolute holy life, of absolute final end, foremost among gods and humans. With which three? With the aggregate of morality of one beyond training, with the aggregate of concentration of one beyond training, with the aggregate of wisdom of one beyond training. Monks, a monk possessed of these three qualities is of absolute goal, of absolute security from bondage, of absolute holy life, of absolute final end, foremost among gods and humans." The eleventh.
12.
The Second Discourse on the Peacock's Feeding Ground
145. "Monks, a monk possessed of three qualities is of absolute goal, of absolute security from bondage, of absolute holy life, of absolute final end, foremost among gods and humans. With which three? With the wonder of supernormal power, with the wonder of mind-reading, with the wonder of instruction - Monks, a monk possessed of these three qualities is of absolute goal, of absolute security from bondage, of absolute holy life, of absolute final end, foremost among gods and humans." The twelfth.
13.
The Third Discourse on the Peacock's Feeding Ground
146. "Monks, a monk possessed of three qualities is of absolute goal, of absolute security from bondage, of absolute holy life, of absolute final end, foremost among gods and humans. With which three? With right view, with right knowledge, with right liberation - Monks, a monk possessed of these three qualities is of absolute goal, of absolute security from bondage, of absolute holy life, of absolute final end, foremost among gods and humans." The thirteenth.
The Chapter on Warriors is fourteenth.
Its summary:
Accomplishment, growth, three, horses, three, peacock-feeding-ground.