Majjhima Nikāya
III. Upari Paṇṇāsa
2. Anupada Vagga

Sutta 117

Mahā Cattārīsaka Suttaṃ

The Great forty

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][chlm][pts][than][ntbb][upal] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time, The Lucky man, Sāvatthi-town revisiting,
Jeta Grove,
Anathapiṇḍika's Park.

There then The Lucky Man addressed the beggars, saying:

"Beggars!"

And the beggars responding "Bhante!"
The Lucky Man said this to them:

"I will teach you, beggars,
about the Aristocratic Consummate Serenity
with its causal associations,
with its constituent parts.

Give ear!

Give your mind over to studious attention!

I will speak!"

And the beggars responding:
"Even so, Bhante!"
Bhagava said:

"And what, beggars,
is the Aristocratic Consummate Serenity
with its causal associations,
with its constituent parts?

It is just this:

[1] Consummate view,
[2] consummate principles,
[3] consummate speech,
[4] consummate works,
[5] consummate lifestyle,
[6] consummate self-control,
[7] consummate mind.

Now then, beggars,
whatsoever is whole-heartedly single-mindedness
accompanied by these seven dimensions
as constituent parts,
this is called, beggars,
'Aristocratic Consummate Serenity
with its causal associations,
with its constituent parts'.

In this case, beggars,
consummate view takes precedence.

And how, beggars,
does consummate view take precedence?

Misguided views,
he understands as:
'Misguided views.'

Consummate views,
he understands as:
'Consummate views.'

With this he has consummate view.

And what, beggars, is misguided view?

[1] There is no giving,
[2] there is no sacrifice,
[3] there is no offering,
[4] there is no fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
[5] there is no this world,
[6] there is no world beyond,
[7] there is no mother,
[8] there is no father,
[9] there are no spontaneously arising beings,
[10] there is no Shaman or Brahman
who has got the Highest,
who having attained the highest
can explain this world
and the world beyond
from personal experience of super-powers.'

This, beggars, is misguided view.

And what, beggars, is consummate view?

Now I, beggars, say that consummate view is two-fold:

[1] There is, beggars,
a consummate view still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action;
[2] there is, beggars,
a consummate view without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

■

And what, beggars, is the consummate view
still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action?

[1] There is giving,
[2] there is sacrifice,
[3] there is offering,
[4] there is fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
[5] there is this world,
[6] there is world beyond,
[7] there is mother,
[8] there is father,
[9] there are spontaneously arising beings,
[10] there are Shaman or Brahman
who have got the Highest,
who having attained the highest
can explain this world
and the world beyond
from personal experience of super-powers.'

This, beggars, is the consummate view
still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action.

And what, beggars,
is the consummate view without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly?

Whatever, beggars,
is of an Aristocratic heart,
a heart without corruption,
is possession of the Aristocratic Way,
is wisdom coming from the Aristocratic Way,
the force of wisdom,
the power of wisdom,
the Dhamma-research dimension of self-awakening,
is the consummate view dimension of the way.

This, beggars,
is the consummate view without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

He who makes effort to let go of misguided views,
allows for the self-arising of consummate views.

This is his consummate self-control.

He, minding,
ejects misguided views.

He, minding,
enters into and abides in consummate view.

Thus is had consummate minding.

Thus it is that these three Dhammas
run following around,
evolve following around,
consummate view.

That is to say:

[1] Consummate view,
[2] consummate self-control,
[3] consummate minding.

In this case, beggars,
consummate view takes precedence.

And how, beggars,
does consummate view take precedence?

Misguided principles,
he understands as:
'Misguided principles.'

Consummate principles,
he understands as:
'Consummate principles.'

With this he has consummate view.

And what, beggars,
are misguided principles?

Lustful principles,
deviant principles,
injurious principles.

These, beggars, are misguided principles.

And what, beggars, are consummate principles?

Now I, beggars, say that consummate principles are two-fold:

[1] There is, beggars,
the consummate principle still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action;
[2] There is, beggars,
the consummate principle without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

■

And what, beggars,
are the consummate principles still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action?

The principle of abandoning,
the principle of non-deviance,
the principle of non-violence.

These, beggars,
are the consummate principles
still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action.

And what, beggars,
are the consummate principles
without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly?

Whatever, beggars,
is of an Aristocratic heart,
a heart without corruption,
is possession of the Aristocratic Way,
is development of the Aristocratic Way —
the principles of thinking,
re-thinking,
focusing, by way of focusing the heart,
focusing down on the principles of speech.

These, beggars,
are the consummate principles
without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

He who, beggars,
has an Aristocratic heart,
a heart without corruption,
possessed of the Aristocratic Way,
a developer of the Aristocratic Way —
who has the principles of thinking,
re-thinking,
focusing, by way of focusing the heart,
focusing down on the principles of speech
his, beggars,
are the consummate principles
without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

He who makes effort to let go of misguided principles,
allows for the self-arising of consummate principles.

This is his consummate self-control

He, minding,
ejects misguided principles.

He, minding,
enters into and abides in consummate principles.

Thus is had consummate minding.

Thus it is that these three Dhammas
run following around,
evolve following around,
consummate principles,
that is to say:

[1] Consummate view,
[2] consummate self-control,
[3] consummate minding.

In this case, beggars,
consummate view takes precedence.

And how, beggars,
does consummate view take precedence?

Misguided speech,
he understands as:
'Misguided speech.'

Consummate speech,
he understands as:
'Consummate speech'.

With this he has consummate view.

And what, beggars,
is misguided speech?

Lying speech,
slanderous speech,
harsh speech,
lip-flapping.

These, beggars, are misguided speech.

And what, beggars, is consummate speech?

Now I, beggars, say that consummate speech is two-fold:

[1] There is, beggars,
the consummate speech still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action;
[2] There is, beggars,
the consummate speech without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

■

And what, beggars, is the consummate speech
still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action?

Abstention from lying speech,
abstention from slanderous speech,
abstention from harsh speech,
abstention from lip-flapping.

This, beggars, is the consummate speech
still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action.

And what, beggars
is the consummate speech without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly?

Whatever, beggars,
is of an Aristocratic heart,
a heart without corruption,
is possession of the Aristocratic Way,
is development of the Aristocratic Way —
the abstention from
displeasure with
distaste for
just those four unfortunate ways of speaking.

This, beggars
is the consummate speech without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

He who makes effort to let go of misguided speech,
allows for the self-arising of consummate speech.

This is his consummate self-control

He, minding,
ejects misguided speech.

He, minding,
enters into and abides in consummate speech.

Thus is had consummate minding.

Thus it is that these three Dhammas
run following around,
evolve following around,
consummate speech,
that is to say:

[1] Consummate view,
[2] consummate self-control,
[3] consummate minding.

In this case, beggars,
consummate view takes precedence.

And how, beggars,
does consummate view take precedence?

Misguided works,
he understands as:
'Misguided works.'

Consummate works,
he understands as:
'Consummate works'.

With this he has consummate view.

And what, beggars,
is misguided works?

Killing breathing beings,
taking the ungiven,
misguided conduct in the pursuit of sense pleasures.

These beggars, are misguided works.

And what, beggars, are consummate works?

Now I, beggars, say that consummate works are two-fold:

[1] There are, beggars,
consummate works still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action;
[2] There are, beggars,
consummate works without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

■

And what, beggars,
are consummate works still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action?

Abstaining from killing breathing beings,
abstaining from taking the ungiven,
abstaining from misguided conduct in the pursuit of sense pleasures.

These, beggars,
are consummate works still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action.

And what, beggars,
are consummate works without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly?

These, beggars
are the consummate works without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

He who makes effort to let go of misguided works,
allows for the self-arising of consummate works.

This is his consummate self-control

He, minding,
ejects misguided works.

He, minding,
enters into and abides in consummate works.

Thus is had consummate minding.

Thus it is that these three Dhammas
run following around,
evolve following around,
consummate works,
that is to say:

[1] Consummate view,
[2] consummate self-control,
[3] consummate minding.

In this case, beggars,
consummate view takes precedence.

And how, beggars,
does consummate view take precedence?

Misguided lifestyle,
he understands as:
'Misguided lifestyle.'

Consummate lifestyle,
he understands as:
'Consummate lifestyle'.

With this he has consummate view.

And what, beggars,
is misguided lifestyle?

Deceit
mealy-mouthed muttering,
insinuation,
trickery
excessive desire to add gains upon gains.

This beggars, is misguided lifestyle.

And what, beggars, is consummate lifestyle?

Now I, beggars, say that consummate lifestyle is two-fold:

[1] There is, beggars,
the consummate lifestyle still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action;
[2] There is, beggars,
the consummate lifestyle without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

■

And what, beggars,
is consummate lifestyle still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action?

Here, beggars, a beggar,
lets go of misguided lifestyle
and takes up consummate lifestyle.

This, beggars,
is consummate lifestyle still accompanied by the corrupting influences,
connected to pursuit of the consequences of meritorious action.

And what, beggars,
is consummate lifestyle without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly?

This, beggars
are the consummate lifestyle without corrupting influences,
a dimension of the Way beyond the worldly.

He who makes effort to let go of misguided lifestyle,
allows for the self-arising of consummate lifestyle.

This is his consummate self-control

He, minding,
ejects misguided lifestyle.

He, minding,
enters into and abides in consummate lifestyle.

Thus is had consummate minding.

Thus it is that these three Dhammas
run following around,
evolve following around,
consummate lifestyle,
that is to say:

[1] Consummate view,
[2] consummate self-control,
[3] consummate minding.

In this case, beggars,
consummate view takes precedence.

And how, beggars,
does consummate view take precedence?

Consummate principles, beggars
proceeds from consummate view.

Consummate speech
proceeds from consummate principles.

Consummate works
proceeds from consummate speech.

Consummate lifestyle
proceeds from consummate works.

Consummate self-control
proceeds from consummate lifestyle.

Consummate minding
proceeds from consummate self-control.

Consummate serenity
proceeds from consummate minding.

Consummate knowledge
proceeds from consummate serenity.

Consummate freedom
proceeds from consummate knowledge.

So then, beggars,
the seeker possesses eight factors,
the arahant possesses ten factors.

In this case, beggars,
consummate view takes precedence.

And how, beggars,
does consummate view take precedence?

Consummate view, beggars,
kills off misguided view.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided views —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate views —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate principles, beggars,
kills off misguided principles.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided principles —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate principles —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate speech, beggars,
kills off misguided speech.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided speech —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate speech —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate works, beggars,
kills off misguided works.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided works —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate works —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate lifestyle, beggars,
kills off misguided lifestyle.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided lifestyle —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate lifestyle —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate self-control, beggars,
kills off misguided self-control.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided self-control —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate self-control —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate mind, beggars,
kills off misguided mind.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided mind —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate mind —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate serenity, beggars,
kills off misguided serenity.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided serenity —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate serenity —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate knowledge, beggars,
kills off misguided knowledge.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided knowledge —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate knowledge —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

Consummate freedom, beggars,
kills off misguided freedom.

And whatever is produced
resulting from misguided freedom —
many a bad unskillful thing —
those too are killed off.

And whatever is produced
resulting from consummate freedom —
many a skillful thing —
comes to be fully developed.

■

So then, beggars,
twenty are on the side of the skillful,
twenty on the side of the unskillful.

'This rolled out Dhamma curriculum,
cannot be rolled back
by shaman or Brahmin
by gods
or Māra,
or Brahmā
or by anyone in this world.'

Any shaman or Brahmin, beggars
who should find fault
with this great forty Dhamma curriculum
who should think it blameable,
these themselves come to blame on ten grounds right here
by those whose speech
is in agreement with this Dhamma:

[1] If these worthies blame consummate view,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided views
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[2] If these worthies blame consummate principles,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided principles
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[3] If these worthies blame consummate speech,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided speech
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[4] If these worthies blame consummate works,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided works
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[5] If these worthies blame consummate lifestyle,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided lifestyle
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[6] If these worthies blame consummate self-control,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided self-control
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[7] If these worthies blame consummate mind,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided mind
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[8] If these worthies blame consummate serenity,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided serenity
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[9] If these worthies blame consummate knowledge,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided knowledge
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

[10] If these worthies blame consummate freedom,
then it is those shamans and Brahmans
of misguided freedom
that these worthies honor,
that these worthies praise.

Any shaman or Brahmin, beggars
who should find fault
with this great forty Dhamma curriculum
who should think it blameable,
these themselves come to blame on these ten grounds right here
by those whose speech
is in agreement with this Dhamma.

Why beggars, even Vassa and Bhaññā of Ukkalā,
'without driving force'-advocates,
'inaction'-advocates,
'there-is-nothing'-advocates,
even these would not find fault
with this great forty Dhamma curriculum
would not think it blameable.

How come?

For fear of blame
anger
reproof."

So spoke the Lucky Man.

Pleased in mind,
these bhikkhus said:

"Wonderful!"

The Great forty

Majjhima Nikāya III. Upari Paṇṇāsa 2. Anupada Vagga

Sutta 117

Mahā Cattārīsaka Suttaṃ

The Great forty

Majjhima Nikāya
III. Upari Paṇṇāsa
2. Anupada Vagga