Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
II: Bala Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
II: The Powers
Sutta 17
Attahita Suttaɱ
For Whose Good? (a)
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.
Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, possessed of five things
a monk is set on his own good,
but not the good of another.
Of what five?
Herein, monks, a monk is perfect in virtue himself,
but does not strive to perfect virtue in another;
he is perfect in concentration himself,
but does not strive to perfect concentration in another;
his own release[1] is perfected,
but he does not strive that another's should be;
his own vision[2] and knowledge of release are perfected,
but he does not strive that another's should be.
Monks, possessed of these five things
a monk is set on his own good,
but not the good of another.'
[1] Comy. the fruit of arahantship.
[2] Comy. review (paccavekkhana) as in a mirror; cf. M. i, 415; UdA. 233.
