an2.37:1 So I have heard. At one time Venerable Mahākaccāna was staying at Varaṇā, on the bank of the Kaddama Lake. Then the brahmin Ārāmadaṇḍa went up to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Mahākaccāna: “What is the cause, worthy Kaccāna, what is the reason why aristocrats fight with aristocrats, brahmins fight with brahmins, and householders fight with householders?” “It is because of their insistence on sensual desire, their shackles, avarice, and attachment, that aristocrats fight with aristocrats, brahmins fight with brahmins, and householders fight with householders.”

an2.37:2 “What is the cause, worthy Kaccāna, what is the reason why ascetics fight with ascetics?” “It is because of their insistence on views, their shackles, avarice, and attachment, that ascetics fight with ascetics.”

an2.37:3 “Worthy Kaccāna, is there anyone in the world who has gone beyond the insistence on sensual desire and the insistence on views?” “There is, brahmin.”

an2.37:4 “Who in the world has gone beyond the insistence on sensual desire and the insistence on views?” “In the eastern lands there is a city named Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One is now staying, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. He, brahmin, has gone beyond the insistence on sensual desire and the insistence on views.”

an2.37:5 When this was said, the brahmin Ārāmadaṇḍa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt on his right knee, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times:

an2.37:6 “Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

an2.37:7 Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

an2.37:8 Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

an2.37:9 He who has gone beyond the insistence on sensual desire and the insistence on views.

an2.37:10 Excellent, worthy Kaccāna! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, the worthy Kaccāna has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Kaccāna remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

38

an2.38:1 At one time Venerable Mahākaccāna was staying near Madhurā in the Nut Grass Grove. Then the brahmin Kandarāyana went up to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him … He sat down to one side and said to Mahākaccāna: “I have heard, worthy Kaccāna, that the ascetic Kaccāna doesn’t bow to old brahmins, the elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat. And this is indeed the case, for the ascetic Kaccāna does not bow to old brahmins, elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat. This is not appropriate, worthy Kaccāna.”

an2.38:2 “There is the stage of an elder and the stage of youth as explained by the Blessed One, who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. If an elder, though eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old, still dwells in the midst of sensual pleasures, enjoying them, consumed by thoughts of them, burning with fever for them, and eagerly seeking more, they are reckoned as a child, not a senior. If a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life, does not dwell in the midst of sensual pleasures, enjoying them, consumed by thoughts of them, burning with fever for them, and eagerly seeking more, they are reckoned as astute, a senior.”

an2.38:3 When this was said, the brahmin Kandarāyana got up from his seat, placed his robe over one shoulder, and bowed with his head to the feet of the young mendicants, saying, “The good fellows are elders, at the stage of the elder; we are youths, at the stage of youth.

an2.38:4 Excellent, worthy Kaccāna! … From this day forth, may the worthy Kaccāna remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

39

an2.39:1 “At a time when bandits are strong, kings are weak. Then the king is not at ease when going out or coming back or when touring the provinces. The brahmins and householders, likewise, are not at ease when going out or coming back, or when inspecting their external business activities. In the same way, at a time when bad mendicants are strong, good-hearted mendicants are weak. Then the good-hearted mendicants continually adhere to silence in the midst of the Saṅgha, or they stay in the borderlands. This is for the detriment and unhappiness of the people, against the people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of humankind.

an2.39:2 At a time when kings are strong, bandits are weak. Then the king is at ease when going out or coming back or when inspecting the provinces. The brahmins and householders, likewise, are at ease when going out or coming back, or when inspecting their external business activities. In the same way, at a time when good-hearted mendicants are strong, bad mendicants are weak. Then the bad mendicants continually adhere to silence in the midst of the Saṅgha, or they leave for some place or other. This is for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of humankind.”

40

an2.40:1 “Mendicants, I don’t praise wrong practice for these two, for laypeople and renunciates. Because of wrong practice, neither laypeople nor renunciates succeed in completing the system of the skillful teaching.

an2.40:2 I praise right practice for these two, for laypeople and renunciates. Because of right practice, both laypeople and renunciates succeed in completing the system of the skillful teaching.”

41

an2.41:1 “Mendicants, by memorizing the discourses incorrectly, taking only a semblance of the phrasing, some mendicants shut out the meaning and the teaching. They act for the detriment and unhappiness of the people, against the people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of humankind. They brim with much wickedness and make the true teaching disappear.

an2.41:2 But by memorizing the discourses well, not taking only a semblance of the phrasing, some mendicants conform to the meaning and the teaching. They act for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of humankind. They brim with much merit and make the true teaching continue.”

The Chapter on Assemblies

42

an2.42:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? A shallow assembly and a deep assembly. And what is a shallow assembly? An assembly where the mendicants are haughty, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties. This is called a shallow assembly.

an2.42:2 And what is a deep assembly? An assembly where the mendicants are not haughty, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, or loose-tongued, but have established mindfulness, situational awareness, immersion, unified minds, and restrained faculties. This is called a deep assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the deep assembly.”

43

an2.43:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? A divided assembly and a harmonious assembly. And what is a divided assembly? An assembly where the mendicants fight, quarrel, and dispute, continually wounding each other with barbed words. This is called a divided assembly.

an2.43:2 And what is a harmonious assembly? An assembly where the mendicants live in harmony, appreciating each other, without dispute, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes. This is called a harmonious assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the harmonious assembly.”

44

an2.44:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly of the worst and an assembly of the best. And what is an assembly of the worst? An assembly where the senior mendicants are indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion, not rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized. Those who come after follow their example. They too become indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion, not rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized. This is called an assembly of the worst.

an2.44:2 And what is an assembly of the best? An assembly where the senior mendicants are not indulgent or slack, nor are they backsliders; instead, they take the lead in seclusion, rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized. Those who come after follow their example. They too are not indulgent or slack, nor are they backsliders; instead, they take the lead in seclusion, rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized. This is called an assembly of the best. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly of the best.”

45

an2.45:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An ignoble assembly and a noble assembly. And what is an ignoble assembly? An assembly where the mendicants don’t truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is called an ignoble assembly.

an2.45:2 And what is a noble assembly? An assembly where the mendicants truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. This is called a noble assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the noble assembly.”

46

an2.46:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly of the dregs and an assembly of the cream. And what is an assembly of the dregs? An assembly where the mendicants make decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice. This is called an assembly of the dregs.

an2.46:2 And what is an assembly of the cream? An assembly where the mendicants make decisions unprejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice. This is called an assembly of the cream. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly of the cream.”

47

an2.47:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly educated in fancy talk, not in questioning, and an assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk. And what is an assembly educated in fancy talk, not in questioning? It is an assembly where, when discourses spoken by the Realized One—deep, profound, transcendent, dealing with emptiness—are being recited the mendicants do not want to listen. They don’t actively listen or try to understand, nor do they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing. But when discourses composed by poets—poetry, with fancy words and phrases, composed by outsiders or spoken by disciples—are being recited the mendicants do want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand, and they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing. But when they’ve memorized those teachings they don’t question or examine each other, saying: ‘Why does it say this? What does that mean?’ So they don’t reveal what is hidden or clarify what is unclear, or dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters. This is called an assembly educated in fancy talk, not in questioning.

an2.47:2 And what is an assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk? It is an assembly where, when discourses composed by poets—poetry, with fancy words and phrases, composed by outsiders or spoken by disciples—are being recited the mendicants do not want to listen. They don’t actively listen or try to understand, nor do they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing. But when discourses spoken by the Realized One—deep, profound, transcendent, dealing with emptiness—are being recited the mendicants do want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand, and they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing. And when they’ve memorized those teachings they question and examine each other, saying: ‘Why does it say this? What does that mean?’ So they reveal what is hidden, clarify what is unclear, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters. This is called an assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk.”

48

an2.48:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly that values things of the flesh, not the true teaching, and an assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh. And what is an assembly that values things of the flesh, not the true teaching? It is an assembly where the mendicants praise each other in front of the white-clothed laypeople, saying: ‘The mendicant so-and-so is freed both ways; so-and-so is freed by wisdom; so-and-so is a direct witness; so-and-so is attained to view; so-and-so is freed by faith; so-and-so is a follower of teachings; so-and-so is a follower by faith; so-and-so is ethical, of good character; so-and-so is unethical, of bad character.’ They thereby acquire material things. And when they get these things, they use them tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. This is called an assembly that values things of the flesh, not the true teaching.

an2.48:2 And what is an assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh? It is an assembly where the mendicants don’t praise each other in front of the white-clothed laypeople, saying: ‘The mendicant so-and-so is freed both ways; so-and-so is freed by wisdom; so-and-so is a direct witness; so-and-so is attained to view; so-and-so is freed by faith; so-and-so is a follower of teachings; so-and-so is a follower by faith; so-and-so is ethical, of good character; so-and-so is unethical, of bad character.’ They thereby acquire material things. And when they get these things, they use them untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape. This is called an assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh.”

49

an2.49:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An unjust assembly and a just assembly. And what is an unjust assembly? An assembly where legal acts against the teaching proceed, while legal acts following the teaching don’t proceed. Legal acts against the training proceed, while legal acts following the training don’t proceed. Legal acts against the teaching are explained, while legal acts following the teaching aren’t explained. Legal acts against the training are explained, while legal acts following the training aren’t explained. This is called an unjust assembly.

an2.49:2 And what is a just assembly? An assembly where legal acts following the teaching proceed, while legal acts against the teaching don’t proceed. Legal acts following the training proceed, while legal acts against the training don’t proceed. Legal acts following the teaching are explained, while legal acts against the teaching aren’t explained. Legal acts in line with the training are explained, while legal acts following training aren’t explained. This is called a just assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the just assembly.”

50

an2.50:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An unprincipled assembly and a principled assembly … The better of these two assemblies is the principled assembly.”

51

an2.51:1 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly with unprincipled speech, and an assembly with principled speech. And what is an assembly with unprincipled speech? It is an assembly where the mendicants take up disciplinary issues, whether legitimate or not. But they don’t persuade each other or allow themselves to be persuaded, nor do they convince each other or allow themselves to be convinced. Unable to persuade or convince each other, they can’t let go of their opinions. They obstinately stick to that disciplinary issue, insisting that: ‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’ This is called an assembly with unprincipled speech.

an2.51:2 And what is an assembly with principled speech? It is an assembly where the mendicants take up disciplinary issues, whether legitimate or not. Then they persuade each other or allow themselves to be persuaded, and they convince each other or allow themselves to be convinced. Since they are able to persuade and convince each other, they let go of their opinions. They don’t obstinately stick to that disciplinary issue or insist that: ‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’ This is called an assembly with principled speech. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly with principled speech.”

The Chapter on Individuals

52

an2.52:1 “These two individuals, mendicants, arise in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of humankind. What two? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha; and the wheel-turning monarch. These are the two individuals who arise in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, for the people, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of humankind.”

53

an2.53:1 “These two individuals, mendicants, arise in the world who are incredible human beings. What two? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha; and the wheel-turning monarch. These are the two individuals who arise in the world who are incredible human beings.”

54

an2.54:1 “There are two individuals, mendicants, whose death is regretted by many people. What two? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha; and the wheel-turning monarch. These are the two individuals, mendicants, whose death is regretted by many people.”

55

an2.55:1 “Mendicants, these two are worthy of a monument. What two? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha; and the wheel-turning monarch. These are the two who are worthy of a monument.”

56

an2.56:1 “Mendicants, there are two kinds of Buddhas. What two? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha; and an independent Buddha. These are the two kinds of Buddhas.”

57

an2.57:1 “These two, mendicants, are not startled by a crack of thunder. What two? A mendicant who has ended defilements; and a thoroughbred elephant. These are the two who are not startled by a crack of thunder.”

58

an2.58:1 “These two, mendicants, are not startled by a crack of thunder. What two? A mendicant who has ended defilements; and a thoroughbred horse. These are the two who are not startled by a crack of thunder.”

59

an2.59:1 “These two, mendicants, are not startled by a crack of thunder. What two? A mendicant who has ended defilements; and a lion, king of beasts. These are the two who are not startled by a crack of thunder.”

60

an2.60:1 “Mystery men see two reasons not to use regular speech. What two? Thinking: ‘May we not lie, and may we not misrepresent others with falsehoods.’ Mystery men see these two reasons not to use regular speech.”

61

an2.61:1 “Mendicants, ladies die without getting enough of two things. What two? Sexual intercourse and giving birth. Ladies die without getting enough of these two things.”

62

an2.62:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you about living with bad people and living with good people. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

an2.62:2 “What is it like living with bad people? How do bad people live together? It’s when a senior mendicant thinks: ‘No mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior, should admonish me; and I shouldn’t admonish any mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior. If a mendicant—whether senior, middle, or junior—were to admonish me, they wouldn’t be sympathetic, and I’d bother them by saying “No!” And anyway I wouldn’t deal with it even if I saw what I did wrong.’ And a middle or a junior mendicant also thinks: ‘No mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior, should admonish me; and I shouldn’t admonish any mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior. If a mendicant—whether senior, middle, or junior—were to admonish me, they wouldn’t be sympathetic, and I’d bother them by saying “No!” And anyway I wouldn’t deal with it even if I saw what I did wrong.’ That’s what it’s like living with bad people; that’s how bad people live together.

an2.62:3 What is it like living with good people? How do good people live together? It’s when a senior mendicant thinks: ‘Any mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior, should admonish me; and I should admonish any mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior. If a mendicant—whether senior, middle, or junior—were to admonish me, they’d be sympathetic, so I wouldn’t bother them, but say “Thank you!” And I’d deal with it when I saw what I did wrong.’ And a middle or a junior mendicant also thinks: ‘Any mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior, may admonish me; and I’ll admonish any mendicant, whether senior, middle, or junior. If a mendicant—whether senior, middle, or junior—were to admonish me, they’d be sympathetic, so I wouldn’t bother them, but say “Thank you!” And I’d deal with it when I saw what I did wrong.’ That’s what it’s like living with good people; that’s how good people live together.”

63

an2.63:1 “In any disciplinary issue where on both sides the endless talk, contempt for each other’s views, resentment, bitterness, and exasperation is not settled, you can expect that this disciplinary issue will lead to lasting acrimony and enmity, and the mendicants will not live comfortably.

an2.63:2 In any disciplinary issue where on both sides the endless talk, contempt for each other’s views, resentment, bitterness, and exasperation is well settled, you can expect that this disciplinary issue won’t lead to lasting acrimony and enmity, and the mendicants will live comfortably.”

The Chapter on Happiness

64

an2.64:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? The happiness of laypeople, and the happiness of renunciates. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is the happiness of renunciates.”

65

an2.65:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Sensual happiness and the happiness of renunciation. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is the happiness of renunciation.”

66

an2.66:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? The happiness of attachments, and the happiness of no attachments. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is the happiness of no attachments.”

67

an2.67:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Defiled happiness and undefiled happiness. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is the happiness of no defilements.”

68

an2.68:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Happiness of the flesh and happiness not of the flesh. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is happiness not of the flesh.”

69

an2.69:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Noble happiness and ignoble happiness. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is noble happiness.”

70

an2.70:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Physical happiness and mental happiness. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is mental happiness.”

71

an2.71:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Happiness with rapture and happiness free of rapture. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is happiness free of rapture.”

72

an2.72:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Happiness with pleasure and happiness with equanimity. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is happiness with equanimity.”

73

an2.73:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? The happiness of immersion and the happiness without immersion. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is the happiness of immersion.”

74

an2.74:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Happiness that relies on rapture and happiness that relies on freedom from rapture. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is happiness that relies on freedom from rapture.”

75

an2.75:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Happiness that relies on pleasure and happiness that relies on equanimity. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is happiness that relies on equanimity.”

76

an2.76:1 “There are, mendicants, these two kinds of happiness. What two? Happiness that relies on form and happiness that relies on the formless. These are the two kinds of happiness. The better of these two kinds of happiness is happiness that relies on the formless.”

The Chapter with a Basis

77

an2.77:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a basis, not without a basis. By giving up that basis, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

78

an2.78:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a source, not without a source. By giving up that source, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

79

an2.79:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a cause, not without a cause. By giving up that cause, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

80

an2.80:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with conditions, not without conditions. By giving up those conditions, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

81

an2.81:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a reason, not without a reason. By giving up that reason, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

82

an2.82:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with form, not without form. By giving up that form, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

83

an2.83:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with feeling, not without feeling. By giving up that feeling, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

84

an2.84:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with perception, not without perception. By giving up that perception, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

85

an2.85:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with consciousness, not without consciousness. By giving up that consciousness, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

86

an2.86:1 “Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise with a conditioned basis, not without a conditioned basis. By giving up that conditioned basis, those bad, unskillful qualities do not occur.”

The Chapter on Two Things

87

an2.87:1 “There are, mendicants, these two things. What two? Freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. These are the two things.”

88

an2.88:1 “There are, mendicants, these two things. What two? Exertion, and not being scattered. These are the two things.”

89