3.
The Third Chapter
1.
The Discourse on One with Wrong View
70. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"I have seen, monks, beings endowed with bodily misconduct, endowed with verbal misconduct, endowed with mental misconduct, revilers of the noble ones, holding wrong views, undertaking actions based on wrong views. Upon the body's collapse at death, they have arisen in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell.
"But this, monks, I do not say having heard it from another ascetic or brahmin. I have seen, monks, beings endowed with bodily misconduct, endowed with verbal misconduct, endowed with mental misconduct, revilers of the noble ones, holding wrong views, undertaking actions based on wrong views. Upon the body's collapse at death, they have arisen in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell. But rather, monks, whatever I myself have known, myself have seen, myself have understood, that alone I say.
"I have seen, monks, beings endowed with bodily misconduct, endowed with verbal misconduct, endowed with mental misconduct, revilers of the noble ones, holding wrong views, undertaking actions based on wrong views. Upon the body's collapse at death, they have arisen in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Having done actions wrongly, with the body here, a person.
Upon the collapse of the body, the unwise one is reborn in hell."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The first.
2.
The Discourse on One with Right View
71. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"I have seen, monks, beings endowed with bodily good conduct, endowed with verbal good conduct, endowed with mental good conduct, not revilers of the noble ones, holding right views, undertaking actions based on right views. Upon the body's collapse at death, they have arisen in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world.
"But this, monks, I do not say having heard it from another ascetic or brahmin. I have seen, monks, beings endowed with bodily good conduct, endowed with verbal good conduct, endowed with mental good conduct, not revilers of the noble ones, holding right views, undertaking actions based on right views. Upon the body's collapse at death, they have arisen in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. But rather, monks, whatever I myself have known, myself have seen, myself have understood, that alone I say.
"I have seen, monks, beings endowed with bodily good conduct, endowed with verbal good conduct, endowed with mental good conduct, not revilers of the noble ones, holding right views, undertaking actions based on right views. Upon the body's collapse at death, they have arisen in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Having done actions rightly, with the body here, a person.
Upon the collapse of the body, the wise one is reborn in heaven."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The second.
3.
The Discourse on Escape
72. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"There are these three elements leading to escape, monks. Which three? The escape from sensual pleasures is this, namely renunciation; the escape from material form is this, namely the immaterial; but whatever has come to be, is conditioned, dependently arisen, cessation is its escape - these, monks, are the three elements leading to escape." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Touching the stilling of all activities, ardent always.
Peaceful, accomplished through direct knowledge, he indeed is a sage who has gone beyond the bonds."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The third.
4.
The Discourse on More Calmed
73. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"Monks, the immaterial states are more peaceful than material states, cessation is more peaceful than the immaterial states." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Not knowing cessation, they are ones who come to rebirth.
Those who become liberated in cessation, those people are conquerors of death.
Having realised the relinquishment of clinging, without mental corruptions;
The One Enlightened by himself teaches the sorrowless, stainless state."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The fourth.
5.
The Son Discourse
74. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"There are these three sons existing and found in the world, monks. Which three? One who surpasses, one who follows, and one who is lowborn.
"And how, monks, is a son one who surpasses? Here, monks, a son's mother and father have not gone for refuge to the Buddha, have not gone for refuge to the Teaching, have not gone for refuge to the Community; they do not abstain from killing living beings, do not abstain from taking what is not given, do not abstain from sexual misconduct, do not abstain from lying, do not abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, they are immoral, of bad character. But their son has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; he abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from lying, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, he is moral, of good character. Thus, monks, a son is one who surpasses.
"And how, monks, is a son one who follows? Here, monks, a son's mother and father have gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; they abstain from killing living beings, abstain from taking what is not given, abstain from sexual misconduct, abstain from lying, abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, they are moral, of good character. Their son too has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; he abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from lying, abstains from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, he is moral, of good character. Thus, monks, a son is one who follows.
"And how, monks, is a son lowborn? Here, monks, a son's mother and father have gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Teaching, gone for refuge to the Community; they abstain from killing living beings, abstain from taking what is not given, abstain from sexual misconduct, abstain from lying, abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, they are moral, of good character. But their son has not gone for refuge to the Buddha, has not gone for refuge to the Teaching, has not gone for refuge to the Community; he does not abstain from killing living beings, does not abstain from taking what is not given, does not abstain from sexual misconduct, does not abstain from lying, does not abstain from spirits, liquor and intoxicants that cause negligence, he is immoral, of bad character. Thus, monks, a son is lowborn. These, monks, are the three sons existing and found in the world." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
They do not wish for one who is lowborn, who is a destroyer of the family.
Accomplished in faith and morality, bountiful, free from avarice;
Like the moon released from a mass of clouds, they shine in assemblies."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The fifth.
6.
The Discourse on Rainless
75. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"Monks, there are these three persons existing and found in the world. Which three? One like a rainless cloud, one who rains locally, one who rains everywhere.
"And how, monks, is a person like a rainless cloud? Here, monks, a certain person is not a giver to anyone at all - to ascetics, brahmins, the poor, travellers, paupers, and beggars - of food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. Thus, monks, a person is like a rainless cloud.
"And how, monks, is a person one who rains locally? Here, monks, a certain person is a giver to some, not a giver to some - to ascetics, brahmins, the poor, travellers, paupers, and beggars - of food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. Thus, monks, a person is one who rains locally.
"And how, monks, is a person one who rains everywhere? Here, monks, a certain person gives to all - to ascetics, brahmins, the poor, travellers, paupers, and beggars - food, drink, cloth, vehicle, garlands, scents, cosmetics, sleeping place, public rest-house, and material for lighting. Thus, monks, a person is one who rains everywhere. These, monks, are the three persons existing and found in the world." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Having obtained, he does not share food, drink, and nourishment;
Him indeed they call like a rainless cloud, that lowest of men.
Him indeed the wise people call one who rains locally.
Rejoicing, he distributes, he says 'Give, give!'
It fills the high ground and the low, overflowing with water.
Having gathered righteously wealth obtained through effort;
He satisfies with food and drink the paupers who have rightly arrived."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The sixth.
7.
The Discourse on Longing for Happiness
76. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"Monks, a wise person desiring these three kinds of happiness should guard morality. What three? Thinking 'May praise come to me', a wise person should guard morality; thinking 'May wealth arise for me', a wise person should guard morality; thinking 'Upon the body's collapse at death, I will be reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world', a wise person should guard morality. These, monks, are the three kinds of happiness desiring which a wise person should guard morality." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Praise and gain of wealth, and after death, rejoicing in heaven.
One becomes suspected in evil, and disrepute grows regarding him.
One indeed becomes such, for such is living together.
Like a poisoned arrow in a quiver, it taints the untainted;
Fearing defilement, the wise one should never be a friend of the evil.
Even the kusa grass smells rotten, thus is association with fools.
Even the leaves smell fragrant, thus is association with the wise.
One should not associate with the bad, the wise one should associate with the good;
The bad lead to hell, the good bring one to a good destination."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The seventh.
8.
The Discourse on Fragile
77. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"This body, monks, is fragile, consciousness is subject to fading away, all clingings are impermanent, suffering, subject to change." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Having seen fear in clingings, he has gone beyond birth and death;
Having attained the supreme peace, one with a developed self awaits the time."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The eighth.
9.
The Discourse on Comparing Elements
78. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"According to element, monks, beings flow together and meet with beings. Beings of inferior disposition flow together and meet with beings of inferior disposition; beings of good disposition flow together and meet with beings of good disposition.
"In the past too, monks, according to element beings flowed together and met with beings. Beings of inferior disposition flowed together and met with beings of inferior disposition; beings of good disposition flowed together and met with beings of good disposition.
"In the future too, monks, according to element beings will flow together and meet with beings. Beings of inferior disposition will flow together and meet with beings of inferior disposition; beings of good disposition will flow together and meet with beings of good disposition.
"At present too, monks, in this present time, according to element beings flow together and meet with beings. Beings of inferior disposition flow together and meet with beings of inferior disposition; beings of good disposition flow together and meet with beings of good disposition." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Just as one might sink in the great ocean, having climbed onto a small piece of wood.
Therefore one should avoid him, the lazy one of inferior energy.
With those constantly putting forth strenuous energy, with the wise ones, one should live together."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on Decline
79. This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Worthy One, thus have I heard:
"There are these three things, monks, that lead to the decline of a monk who is a learner. Which three? Here, monks, a monk who is a learner delights in work, is devoted to work, is given to delight in work; delights in talk, is devoted to talk, is given to delight in talk; delights in sleep, is devoted to sleep, is given to delight in sleep. These, monks, are the three things that lead to the decline of a monk who is a learner.
"There are these three things, monks, that lead to the non-decline of a monk who is a learner. Which three? Here, monks, a monk who is a learner does not delight in work, is not devoted to work, is not given to delight in work; does not delight in talk, is not devoted to talk, is not given to delight in talk; does not delight in sleep, is not devoted to sleep, is not given to delight in sleep. These, monks, are the three things that lead to the non-decline of a monk who is a learner." The Blessed One said this meaning. Therein this is said:
Such a monk is incapable of touching the highest enlightenment.
Such a monk is capable of touching the highest enlightenment."
This meaning too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard. The tenth.
The third chapter is concluded.
Its summary:
Happiness, Brittle, Element, with Decline - these are ten.