Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
16. Kassapa Saṃyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
16. Kindred Sayings on Kassapa
Sutta 3
Cand'Ūpama Suttaṃ
Comparable to the Moon
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward
Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain
[1][wrrn][bodh] Thus have I heard:
The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren!"
"Master!" responded those brethren.
The Exalted One said:
"Be ye comparable to the moon, brethren,
when ye go among the families,[1]
drawing back
in both heart and demeanour,
ever as new-comers
unobtrusive among the families.[2]
Just as a man would contemplate a decayed well,
or a precipice,
or a river-swamp,
drawing back
in both heart and demeanour,
even so be ye among the families.
Kassapa, brethren,
is comparable to the moon
when he goes among the families,
drawing back
in both heart and demeanour,
ever as a new-comer
unobtrusive among the families.
What think ye, brethren, as to that?
What manner of brother
is worthy to go among the families?"
"For us, lord, things have the Exalted One as their root,
their guide,
their resort.
Well indeed were it
if the meaning of this that he has spoken
were to manifest itself in the Exalted One.
Hearing it from him
the brethren will bear it in mind."[3]
Then the Exalted One waved his hand in space.
"Just as this hand, brethren,
does not sink down in space,
nor is seized,
nor bound,
even so that brother, whose heart
when he [134] goes among the families
does not sink down,
or get seized
or bound,
but thinks:
'Let them who desire gains,
gain!
Let them who desire merit,
work merit!'
Let a man be pleased and joyous,
at the gains of others,
even as he is pleased and joyous
at his own gains!
This manner of brother
is worthy to go among the families.
Kassapa, brethren,
when he goes among the families
does not let his heart sink down,
or get seized,
or bound.
He thinks:
'Let them who desire gains,
gain!
Let them who desire merit,
work merit!'
Let a man be pleased and joyous
at the gains of others,
even as he is pleased and joyous
at his own gains!'
Such a brother, brethren,
is worthy to go among the families.
§
What think ye, brethren,
as to this?
Of what manner of brother
is the teaching of doctrine impure?
Of what manner of brother
is the teaching of the doctrine pure?"
"For us, lord,
things have the Exalted One as their root,
their guide,
their resort.
Well, indeed, were it
if the meaning of this that he has spoken
were to manifest itself in the Exalted One.
Hearing it from him
the brethren will bear it in mind."
"Well then, brethren, listen,
give your mind thoroughly,
I will speak."
"Even so, lord,"
they responded.
The Exalted One said this:
Any brother, brethren,
who teaches doctrine with such a mind:
'0 that they may hear my doctrine,
and hearing it may be satisfied,
and being satisfied
may give expression to their satisfaction!'
of this manner of brother
the teaching of doctrine is impure.
But that brother who teaches doctrine to others
with such a mind:
'0 that they may hear my doctrine, -
for it is the doctrine
which the Exalted One hath so well declared,
relating to the present,
not a matter of time;
the doctrine that says:
"Come, see!"
that leads on,
that is to be understood by the wise
each man for himself, -
and hearing it,
may acknowledge the doctrine,
and acknowledging it,
may practise
that they may so attain!'
he thus teaches doctrine to others
because of the fair order of the Norm,
he teaches doctrine to others
out of pity,
out of caring for them,
[135] because of his compassion for them.
Of such manner of brother
the teaching of doctrine is very pure.
Kassapa, brethren, teaches the doctrine
with such a mind:
'0 that they may hear my doctrine, -
for it is the doctrine
which the Exalted One hath so well declared,
relating to the present,
not a matter of time;
the doctrine that says:
"Come, see!"
that leads on,
that is to be understood by the wise
each man for himself, -
and hearing it,
may acknowledge the doctrine,
and acknowledging it,
may practise
that they may so attain!'
he thus teaches doctrine to others
because of the fair order of the Norm,
he teaches doctrine to others
out of pity,
out of caring for them,
because of his compassion for them.
Of such manner of brother
the teaching of doctrine is very pure.
Verily by Kassapa, brethren,
will I exhort you,
or by one like Kassapa.
By them exhorted
ye are to practise
that ye may so attain."
[1] Or clans (kula).
[2] Quoted in the Milinda, ii, 319. On the conduct prescribed see also Pss. of the Brethren, verses 124, 494, 495; Ps. ccxxxviii. On that of Kassapa, verse 1051 f.; Uddāna, p. 4.
[3] Cf. above, p. 19.
