Dhammapada Verse 117
Seyyasakatthera Vatthu
Pipance puriso kayira
na nam kayira punappunam
na tamhi chandam kayiratha
dukkho papassa uccayo.
Verse 117: If a man does evil, he should not do it again and again; he should
not take delight in it; the accumulation of evil leads to dukkha.
The Story of Thera Seyyasaka
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (117) of
this book, with reference to Thera Seyyasaka.
Once there was a thera by the name of Seyyasaka, who was in the habit of
masturbating. When the Buddha heard about this, he rebuked the thera for doing
something that would lead one farther away from the attainment of Magga and
Phala. At the same time, the Buddha laid down the discipline prohibiting such
indulgence in sexual pleasures, i.e., Samghadisesa Apatti, offences which
require penance and suspension from the Order. Then, the Buddha added, "This
kind of offence can only lead to evil results in this world as well as in the
next."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 117: If a man does evil, he should not do it
again and again; he should not take delight in it; the accumulation of
evil leads to dukkha.
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