Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XXV: Āppatti-bhaya Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XXV: Fear of Offence[1]
Sutta 241
Saṇgha-Bhedaka Suttaṃ
Offence (a)
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Kosambī in Ghosita Park.
Now the venerable Ānanda came to visit the Exalted One.
On reaching him
he greeted him courteously
and took a seat to one side.
As he sat at one side
the Exalted One said this
to the venerable Ānanda:
'Pray, Ānanda, is that dispute settled?'
'How can that dispute be settled, lord?
Bahiya,[2] lord,
[244] who lives along with the venerable Anuruddha,
stands in every way
for dissension in the Order.
Things being so,
the venerable Anuruddha thinks it not worth while
to utter a single word.'
'But, Ānanda, when did Anuruddha ever interfere
in disputes amid the Order?
Is it not yourself, Ānanda,
and Sāriputta
and Moggallāna
who settle[3] whatsoever disputes may arise?
§
Now, Ānanda,
there are these four probable results,[4]
seeing which
a wicked monk delights
in a dissension of the Order.
What are the four?
In this case, Ānanda,
a wicked monk is immoral,
of a wicked nature,
impure,
of suspicious behaviour,
of covert deeds.[5]
He is no recluse,
though claiming to be such,
he is no liver of the good life,
though claiming to be such,
he is rotten within,
full of lusts,
a rubbish-heap of filth.
It occurs to him:
"Now if the monks know me to be immoral,
of a wicked nature,
impure,
of suspicious behaviour,
of covert deeds,
no recluse,
though claiming to be such,
no liver of the good life,
though claiming to be such,
rotten within,
full of lusts,
a rubbish-heap of filth,
united they will do me harm,
but if at variance[6]
they will do me no harm."
Seeing this first probable result, Ānanda,
a wicked monk takes delight
in a dissension of the Order.
■
Then again, Ānanda,
a wicked monk has wrong view,
he holds an extreme view.[7]
It occurs to him thus:
"If the monks know me to be of wrong view,
a holder of extreme view,
united they will do me harm,
but if at variance
they will do me no harm."
Seeing this second probable result, Ānanda,
a wicked monk takes delight
in a dissension of the Order
■
Then again, Ānanda,
a wicked monk is a wrong-liver,
he gets his living
by a wrong way of living.
It occurs to him [245] thus:
If the monks know me to be a wrong-liver,
getting my living
by a wrong way of living,
united they will do me harm,
but if at variance
they will do me no harm.
Seeing this third probable result, Ānanda,
a wicked monk takes delight
in a dissension of the Order.
■
Then again, Ānanda,
a wicked monk is desirous
of gain and honour,
and longs not to be despised.
It occurs to him:
If the monks know me to be desirous of gain and honour,
and that I long not to be despised,
united tbey will do me no honour,
they will show me no respect,
they will pay me no regard nor reverence:
but if at variance
they will will do me honour,
they will show me respect,
they will pay me regard and reverence.
Seeing this fourth probable result, Ānanda,
a wicked monk takes delight
in a dissension of the Order.
So these are the four probable results
seeing which
a wicked monk delights
in a dissension of the Order.'
[1] Text omits -bhaya in title. Āpatti, cf. A. i, 84, 87, etc.
[2] This can hardly he the elder so called (or Bāhika), KhpA. 115 of S. iv, 63, v, 165; A. i, 24 ('best of those of quick comprehension'); Ud. i, 10, who is also called Dārucīriya ('bark-dress').
[3] Text vo yuñjati (reconciles you); but Sinh. text and Comy. and my MSS. voyuñjati = anuyuñjati, anuyogaṃ āpajjati (makes an effort, interferes). So also Comy. on S. iii, 11, and S. iv, 80 (voyogaṃ). Anuruddha, the clairvoyant, was apparently of a very retiring nature, 'a confirmed recluse' (Sakya, 183, 342; Gotama the Man, 256).
[4] Atthavase = kāraṇa-vase. Comy.
[5] Cf. Udāna, 52; UdA. 297; S. iv, 181; K.S. iv, 114.
[6] Vaggā, opp. to samaggā. cf. A. i, 70.
[7] Anta-gahika, as at A. i, 154; G.S. i, 138 n. - 'e.g. of the annihilationiats.' Comy.
