Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
III. Puggala Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
III. On Persons
Sutta 22
Gilāna Suttaṃ
The Sick Man[1]
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1][than][bodh][upal] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthi at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
"Monks, there are these three types of sick men to be found in the world.
What three?
Herein, monks, a sick man,
whether he obtain proper diet or not,
whether he obtain proper medicines or not,
whether he obtain proper nursing or not,
does not recover from that sickness of his.
Then again, monks, maybe a sick man,
whether he obtain [103] all these things or not,
does nevertheless recover from that sickness.
Yet again, monks, maybe a sick man,
though he receive not any of these things,
yet recovers from that sickness.
Now monks, as to the sick man who gets proper diet or proper medicines or proper nursing and recovers from that sickness (but not in case he fails to get them),
— with respect to this particular sick man,
proper diet, medicines and nursing have been prescribed,
and it is on his particular account
(owing to his having recovered)
that other sick men ought to be attended to.
[2] So then these are the three types of sick men ...
§
Now, monks, there are three types of men to be found in the world who may be compared to these three types of sick men.
What three?
In this connexion, monks, a certain person,
whether he get or do not get the chance of seeing the Tathāgata;
whether he get or do not get the chance of hearing Dhamma-Discipline set forth by the Tathāgata
— does not enter on the assurance of perfection in conditions that are good.[3]
Herein again, monks, a certain person,
whether or no he get the chance of seeing the Tathāgata ...
does enter on the assurance of perfection in conditions that are good.
Herein yet again, monks a certain person gets,
does not fail to get,
the chance of seeing the Tathāgata
of hearing the Dhamma-Discipline set forth by the Tathāgata
and does enter on the assurance of perfection in conditions that are good.
Now, monks,it is on account of this last one
that Dhamma-teaching is proclaimed,
and it is on his account
that Dhamma is to be taught to others.
These are the three types of men to be found in the world
who may be compared to these three types of sick men."
[1] Cf. Pugg., p. 28; Human Types, p. 41
[2] The others ought to have medical attendance, on the chance of their recovery.
[3] Niyāmaṇ kusalesu dhammesu sammattaṇ. Cf. K.S. iii, 177 n.3; Pts. of Contr. 177, 185.
