Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
8. Yodhājīva Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
VIII. The Warrior

Sutta 73

Paṭhama Dhamma-Viharin Suttaɱ

Living by Dhamma (a)

Translated by E. M. Hare

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[70]

[1][than][olds] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī

Now a certain monk visited the Exalted One, saluted him and sat down at one side.

So seated, he said to the Exalted [71] One:

'Lord, they say:

"Living by Dhamma,^[1] living by Dbamma!"

Lord, how does a monk live by Dhamma?'

■

'Monk, consider^[2] the monk who masters Dhamma:

the sayings,
psalms,
catechisms,
songs,
solemnities,
speeches,
birth-stories,
marvels
and runes^[3] -

he spends the day in that mastery;
he neglects to go apart^[4] (for meditation)
and devotes not himself
to calm of purpose of the self.

Monk, that monk is said to be swift^[5] to master,
but he lives not by Dhamma.

■

Again, consider the monk who teaches others Dhamma in detail,
as he has heard it,
as he has mastered it -
he spends the day in convincing^[6] others of Dhamma;
he neglects to go apart
and devotes not himself to calm of purpose of the self.

Monk, that monk is said to be swift to convince,
but he lives not by Dhamma.

■

Again, consider the monk who gives in full a repetition of Dhamma,
as he has heard it,
as he has learned it -
he spends the day in repeating it;
he neglects to go apart
and devotes not himself to calm of purpose of the self.

Monk, that monk is said to be swift to repeat,
but he lives not by Dhamma.

■

Then consider the monk who turns his mind to Dhamma,
ponders over it,
reflects on it,
as he has heard it,
as he has learned it -
he spends his day in thinking about Dhamma;
he neglects to go apart
and devotes not himself to calm of purpose of the self.

Monk, that monk is said to be swift to think,
but he lives not by Dhamma.

■

But, monk, take the case of the monk who masters Dhamma:

the sayings,
psalms,
catechisms,
songs,
solemnities,
speeches,
birth-stories,
marvels
and runes -

and spends not the day in that mastery,
neglects not to go apart
and devotes himself [72] to calm of purpose of the self.

Verily, monk, such a monk is one who lives by Dhamma.

 

§

 

Monk, thus, verily, have I declared one swift to master,
one swift to convince,
one swift to repeat,
one swift to think
and one who lives by Dhamma.

■

Monk,^[7] what should be done by a teacher for his disciples,
seeking their good,
from compassion and out of pity,
that has been done by me for you!^[8]

(Behold) these tree-roots,
tiese empty places, monk!

Meditate, monk,
and be not slothful;
reproach not yourself afterwards!^[9]

This is our command to you.'

 

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^[1] Dhamma-vihārī. I have not been able to find this compound elsewhere. 'By Dhamma' comes nearest to the parallel term dhammena, frequently met with. The other form is dhammaɱ: dhammaɱ cara, met with both in Upanishad and in Sutta.

^[2] Idha.

^[3] This list recurs at M. i, 133; A. ii, 7; Vin. iii, 8. See Expos. 33: DA, i, 23 ff. for explanation and examples; below V, § 155.

^[4] Comy. ekībhāvaɱ vissajjeti.

^[5] Bahulo, much, full of.

^[6] The text reads -paññattiyā, but S.e., and Comy. -saññattiyā, the latter observing: dhammassa saññāpanāya (v.l. paññāpanāya).

^[7] This is a stock paragraph; see M. i, 46; S. v, 157.

^[8] Both Comy. and S.e. read vo.

^[9] Comy. seems to consider this was addressed to a young monk and the B. exhorted him to strive in youth and not wait till old age came; cf. Ecclesiastes xii, 1 for the same sentiment.