Dhammapada Verses 271 and 272
Sambahulasiladisampannabhikkhu Vatthu
Na silabbatamattena
bahusaccena va pana
atha va samadhilabhena
vivittasayanena va.
Phusami nekkhammasukham1
aputhujjanasevitam
bhikkhu vissasamapadi
appatto asavakkhayam.
Verses 271 & 272: Not only by mere moral practice, nor by much learning,
nor by acquiring concentration, nor by dwelling in seclusion, nor by assuring
oneself, "I enjoy the bliss of Anagami Fruition that is not enjoyed by
common worldlings (puthujjanas)," should the bhikkhu, rest content without
attaining the extinction of moral intoxicants (asavas) [i.e., without attaining
arahatship].
1. nekkhammasukham: In this context, Anagamisukham. i.e., Anagami Fruition,
the fruition that follows the attainment ot Anagami Magga.
The Story of Some Bhikkhus
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (271) and
(272) of this book, with reference to some bhikkhus.
Once, there were some bhikkhus who were endowed with virtue; some of them had
strictly observed the austere practices (dhutanga), some had wide knowledge of'
the Dhamma, some had achieved mental absorption (jhana), some had achieved
Anagami Phala, etc. All of them thought that since they had achieved that much,
it would be quite easy for them to attain Arahatta Phala. With this thought they
went to the Buddha.
The Buddha asked them, "Bhikkhus, have you attained Arahatta
Phala?" Then they replied that they were in such a condition that it
would not be difficult for them to attain Arahatta Phala at any time. To them
the Buddha said, "Bhikkhus! Just because you are endowed with morality
(sila), just because you have attained Anagami Phala, you should not be
complacent and think that there is just a little more to be done; unless you
have eradicated all moral intoxicants (asavas), you must not think that you have
realized perfect bliss of Arahatta Fruition."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verses 271 & 272: Not only by mere moral practice,
nor by much learning, nor by acquiring concentration, nor by dwelling
in seclusion, nor by assuring oneself, "I enjoy the bliss of
Anagami Fruition that is not enjoyed by common worldlings
(puthujjanas)," should the bhikkhu, rest content without
attaining the extinction of moral intoxicants (asavas) [i.e., without
attaining arahatship].
|
At the end of the discourse all those bhikkhus attained arahatship.
End of Chapter Nineteen: The Just or the Righteous