Fetter

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

[1] Thus have I heard:

Once a number of elder brethren were staying at Macchikasaṇḍa^[1]
in Wild Mango Grove.

Now on that occasion,
as this number of elder Brethren,
after going their rounds
and eating their meal,
were sitting together in conclave at the pavilion,^[2]
the following chance talk arose: -

"Fetters and things that tend to fetter, friend, -
are these two things different in spirit
and in letter,^[3]
or are-they one and the same spirit,
but different in letter?"

Thereupon the matter was expounded
by divers brethren
in divers ways
thus: -

"Friend, a fetter and things that tend to fetter, -
both of them are different in spirit
and different in letter."

While others expounded the matter thus:

"Friend, a fetter and things that tend to fetter, -
both of these are one and the same in spirit,
but different in letter." -

Now at that time Citta,^[4] the housefather,
had arrived at Migapathaka^[5]
on some business or other.

And Citta, the [191] housefather, heard it said
that a number of elder Brethren,
after going their rounds
and eating their meal,
were sitting together in conclave at the pavilion,
and that the following chance talk had arisen: -

"Fetters and things that tend to fetter, friend, -
are these two things different in spirit
and in letter,
or are-they one and the same spirit,
but different in letter?"

And that thereupon the matter was expounded
by divers brethren
in divers ways
thus: -

"Friend, a fetter and things that tend to fetter, -
both of them are different in spirit
and different in letter."

While others expounded the matter thus:

"Friend, a fetter and things that tend to fetter, -
both of these are one and the same in spirit,
but different in letter." -

So Citta, the housefather, went to visit those elder Brethren,
and on coming to them
he saluted them
and sat down at one side.

So seated, Citta the housefather said to those elder brethren: -

"I heard, my lords, the rumour
that a number of elder brethren,
after going their rounds
and eating their meal,
were sitting together in conclave at the pavilion,
and that the following chance talk had arisen: -

'Fetters and things that tend to fetter, friend, -
are these two things different in spirit
and in letter,
or are-they one and the same spirit,
but different in letter?'

And that thereupon the matter was expounded
by divers brethren
in divers ways
thus: -

'Friend, a fetter and things that tend to fetter, -
both of them are different in spirit
and different in letter.'

While others expounded the matter thus:

'Friend, a fetter and things that tend to fetter, -
both of these are one and the same in spirit,
but different in letter.' -

Is it so?"

"It is so, housefather."

"Now, my lords, these two things,
the fetter
and the things that tend to fetter,
are different both in spirit
and in letter.

Now, my lords, I will make you a comparison.

Maybe some wise ones here will know the meaning of what I say.

Suppose, my lords, a black steer
and a white steer
are yoked together
by one rope
or one yoke.

Now he who should say
that the black steer is the fetter to the white one,
or the white one to the black one, -
would he in so saying
be saying rightly?"

"Not so, housefather.

The black steer is not a fetter to the white one,
nor is the white one a fetter to the black one.

But the fact of their being yoked
by one rope
or yoke, -
that is a fetter."

"Well, my lords, just so
the eye is not a fetter of objects,
nor objects a fetter to the eye.