{"id":"mn21","title":"The Simile of the Saw","languageCodes":["en","pi"],"languageNotes":{"en":"Bhikkhu Sujato · CC0","pi":"Mahāsaṅgīti edition · SuttaCentral"},"chapters":[{"id":"mn21","title":"The Simile of the Saw","units":[{"id":"mn21:0","sourceIds":["mn21:0.1","mn21:0.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Majjhima Nikāya 21\nKakacūpamasutta","en":"Middle Discourses 21\nThe Simile of the Saw"}},{"id":"mn21:1","sourceIds":["mn21:1.1","mn21:1.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evaṁ me sutaṁ—\nekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.","en":"So I have heard.\nAt one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery."}},{"id":"mn21:2","sourceIds":["mn21:2.1","mn21:2.2","mn21:2.3","mn21:2.4","mn21:2.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā moḷiyaphagguno bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ ativelaṁ saṁsaṭṭho viharati.\nEvaṁ saṁsaṭṭho āyasmā moḷiyaphagguno bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ viharati—\nsace koci bhikkhu āyasmato moḷiyaphaggunassa sammukhā tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, tenāyasmā moḷiyaphagguno kupito anattamano adhikaraṇampi karoti.\nSace pana koci bhikkhu tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ sammukhā āyasmato moḷiyaphaggunassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, tena tā bhikkhuniyo kupitā anattamanā adhikaraṇampi karonti.\nEvaṁ saṁsaṭṭho āyasmā moḷiyaphagguno bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ viharati.","en":"Now at that time, Venerable Phagguna of the Top-Knot was spending too long mixing closely with some nuns.\nSo much so that\nif any mendicant criticized those nuns in his presence, Phagguna of the Top-Knot got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings.\nAnd if any mendicant criticized Phagguna of the Top-Knot in their presence, those nuns got angry and upset, and even instigated disciplinary proceedings.\nThat’s how close Phagguna of the Top-Knot was with those nuns."}},{"id":"mn21:3","sourceIds":["mn21:3.1","mn21:3.2","mn21:3.3","mn21:3.4","mn21:3.5","mn21:3.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:\n“āyasmā, bhante, moḷiyaphagguno bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ ativelaṁ saṁsaṭṭho viharati.\nEvaṁ saṁsaṭṭho, bhante, āyasmā moḷiyaphagguno bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ viharati—\nsace koci bhikkhu āyasmato moḷiyaphaggunassa sammukhā tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, tenāyasmā moḷiyaphagguno kupito anattamano adhikaraṇampi karoti.\nSace pana koci bhikkhu tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ sammukhā āyasmato moḷiyaphaggunassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, tena tā bhikkhuniyo kupitā anattamanā adhikaraṇampi karonti.\nEvaṁ saṁsaṭṭho, bhante, āyasmā moḷiyaphagguno bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ viharatī”ti.","en":"Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was going on."}},{"id":"mn21:4","sourceIds":["mn21:4.1","mn21:4.2","mn21:4.3","mn21:4.4","mn21:4.5","mn21:4.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:\n“ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena moḷiyaphaggunaṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantehi:\n‘satthā taṁ, āvuso phagguna, āmantetī’”ti.\n“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā moḷiyaphagguno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ moḷiyaphaggunaṁ etadavoca:\n“satthā taṁ, āvuso phagguna, āmantetī”ti.\n“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā moḷiyaphagguno tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ moḷiyaphaggunaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:","en":"So the Buddha addressed one of the monks,\n“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Phagguna of the Top-Knot that\nthe Teacher summons him.”\n“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Phagguna of the Top-Knot and said to him,\n“Reverend Phagguna, the Teacher summons you.”\n“Yes, reverend,” Phagguna replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:"}},{"id":"mn21:5","sourceIds":["mn21:5.1","mn21:5.2","mn21:5.3","mn21:5.4","mn21:5.5","mn21:5.6","mn21:5.7","mn21:5.8"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, phagguna, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ ativelaṁ saṁsaṭṭho viharasi?\nEvaṁ saṁsaṭṭho kira tvaṁ, phagguna, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ viharasi—\nsace koci bhikkhu tuyhaṁ sammukhā tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, tena tvaṁ kupito anattamano adhikaraṇampi karosi.\nSace pana koci bhikkhu tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ sammukhā tuyhaṁ avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, tena tā bhikkhuniyo kupitā anattamanā adhikaraṇampi karonti.\nEvaṁ saṁsaṭṭho kira tvaṁ, phagguna, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ viharasī”ti?\n“Evaṁ, bhante”ti.\n“Nanu tvaṁ, phagguna, kulaputto saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito”ti?\n“Evaṁ, bhante”ti.","en":"“Is it really true, Phagguna, that you’ve been spending too long mixing closely with some nuns?\nSo much so that\nif any mendicant criticizes those nuns in your presence, you get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings?\nAnd if any mendicant criticizes you in those nuns’ presence, they get angry and upset, and even instigate disciplinary proceedings?\nIs that how close you’ve become with those nuns?”\n“Yes, sir.”\n“Phagguna, are you not a gentleman who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness?”\n“Yes, sir.”"}},{"id":"mn21:6","sourceIds":["mn21:6.1","mn21:6.2","mn21:6.3","mn21:6.4","mn21:6.5","mn21:6.6","mn21:6.7","mn21:6.8","mn21:6.9","mn21:6.10","mn21:6.11","mn21:6.12","mn21:6.13","mn21:6.14","mn21:6.15"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Na kho te etaṁ, phagguna, patirūpaṁ kulaputtassa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitassa, yaṁ tvaṁ bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ ativelaṁ saṁsaṭṭho vihareyyāsi.\nTasmātiha, phagguna, tava cepi koci sammukhā tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ avaṇṇaṁ bhāseyya, tatrāpi tvaṁ, phagguna, ye gehasitā chandā ye gehasitā vitakkā te pajaheyyāsi.\nTatrāpi te, phagguna, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:\n‘na ceva me cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāmi, hitānukampī ca viharissāmi mettacitto, na dosantaro’ti.\nEvañhi te, phagguna, sikkhitabbaṁ.\nTasmātiha, phagguna, tava cepi koci sammukhā tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ pāṇinā pahāraṁ dadeyya, leḍḍunā pahāraṁ dadeyya, daṇḍena pahāraṁ dadeyya, satthena pahāraṁ dadeyya. Tatrāpi tvaṁ, phagguna, ye gehasitā chandā ye gehasitā vitakkā te pajaheyyāsi.\nTatrāpi te, phagguna, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ\n‘na ceva me cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāmi, hitānukampī ca viharissāmi mettacitto, na dosantaro’ti.\nEvañhi te, phagguna, sikkhitabbaṁ.\nTasmātiha, phagguna, tava cepi koci sammukhā avaṇṇaṁ bhāseyya, tatrāpi tvaṁ, phagguna, ye gehasitā chandā ye gehasitā vitakkā te pajaheyyāsi.\nTatrāpi te, phagguna, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ ‘na ceva me cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāmi, hitānukampī ca viharissāmi mettacitto, na dosantaro’ti.\nEvañhi te, phagguna, sikkhitabbaṁ.\nTasmātiha, phagguna, tava cepi koci pāṇinā pahāraṁ dadeyya, leḍḍunā pahāraṁ dadeyya, daṇḍena pahāraṁ dadeyya, satthena pahāraṁ dadeyya, tatrāpi tvaṁ, phagguna, ye gehasitā chandā ye gehasitā vitakkā te pajaheyyāsi.\nTatrāpi te, phagguna, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ ‘na ceva me cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāmi, hitānukampī ca viharissāmi mettacitto, na dosantaro’ti.\nEvañhi te, phagguna, sikkhitabban”ti.","en":"“As such, it’s not appropriate for you to mix so closely with those nuns.\nSo if anyone criticizes those nuns in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.\nIf that happens, you should train like this:\n‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’\nThat’s how you should train.\nSo even if someone strikes those nuns with fists, stones, rods, and swords in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.\nIf that happens, you should train like this:\n‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’\nThat’s how you should train.\nSo if anyone criticizes you in your presence, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.\nIf that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’\nThat’s how you should train.\nSo Phagguna, even if someone strikes you with fists, stones, rods, and swords, you should give up any desires or thoughts of domestic life.\nIf that happens, you should train like this: ‘My mind will not degenerate. I will blurt out no bad words. I will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.’\nThat’s how you should train.”"}},{"id":"mn21:7","sourceIds":["mn21:7.1","mn21:7.2","mn21:7.3","mn21:7.4","mn21:7.5","mn21:7.6","mn21:7.7","mn21:7.8","mn21:7.9","mn21:7.10","mn21:7.11","mn21:7.12","mn21:7.13","mn21:7.14","mn21:7.15"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:\n“ārādhayiṁsu vata me, bhikkhave, bhikkhū ekaṁ samayaṁ cittaṁ.\nIdhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū āmantesiṁ—\nahaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekāsanabhojanaṁ bhuñjāmi.\nEkāsanabhojanaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, bhuñjamāno appābādhatañca sañjānāmi appātaṅkatañca lahuṭṭhānañca balañca phāsuvihārañca.\nEtha tumhepi, bhikkhave, ekāsanabhojanaṁ bhuñjatha.\nEkāsanabhojanaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tumhepi bhuñjamānā appābādhatañca sañjānissatha appātaṅkatañca lahuṭṭhānañca balañca phāsuvihārañcāti.\nNa me, bhikkhave, tesu bhikkhūsu anusāsanī karaṇīyā ahosi;\nsatuppādakaraṇīyameva me, bhikkhave, tesu bhikkhūsu ahosi.\nSeyyathāpi, bhikkhave, subhūmiyaṁ catumahāpathe ājaññaratho yutto assa ṭhito odhastapatodo.\nTamenaṁ dakkho yoggācariyo assadammasārathi abhiruhitvā, vāmena hatthena rasmiyo gahetvā, dakkhiṇena hatthena patodaṁ gahetvā, yenicchakaṁ yadicchakaṁ sāreyyapi paccāsāreyyapi.\nEvameva kho, bhikkhave, na me tesu bhikkhūsu anusāsanī karaṇīyā ahosi,\nsatuppādakaraṇīyameva me, bhikkhave, tesu bhikkhūsu ahosi.\nTasmātiha, bhikkhave, tumhepi akusalaṁ pajahatha, kusalesu dhammesu āyogaṁ karotha.\nEvañhi tumhepi imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatha.","en":"Then the Buddha said to the mendicants:\n“Mendicants, I used to be satisfied with the mendicants.\nOnce, I addressed them:\n‘I eat my food in one sitting per day.\nDoing so, I find that I’m healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.\nYou too should eat your food in one sitting per day.\nDoing so, you’ll find that you’re healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.’\nI didn’t have to keep on instructing those mendicants;\nI just had to prompt their mindfulness.\nSuppose a chariot stood harnessed to thoroughbreds at a level crossroads, with a goad ready.\nA deft horse trainer, a master charioteer, might mount the chariot, taking the reins in his right hand and goad in the left. He’d drive out and back wherever he wishes, whenever he wishes.\nIn the same way, I didn’t have to keep on instructing those mendicants;\nI just had to prompt their mindfulness.\nSo, mendicants, you too should give up what’s unskillful and devote yourselves to skillful qualities.\nIn this way you’ll achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training."}},{"id":"mn21:8","sourceIds":["mn21:8.1","mn21:8.2","mn21:8.3","mn21:8.4","mn21:8.5","mn21:8.6","mn21:8.7","mn21:8.8"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre mahantaṁ sālavanaṁ.\nTañcassa eḷaṇḍehi sañchannaṁ.\nTassa kocideva puriso uppajjeyya atthakāmo hitakāmo yogakkhemakāmo.\nSo yā tā sālalaṭṭhiyo kuṭilā ojāpaharaṇiyo tā chetvā bahiddhā nīhareyya, antovanaṁ suvisodhitaṁ visodheyya.\nYā pana tā sālalaṭṭhiyo ujukā sujātā tā sammā parihareyya.\nEvañhetaṁ, bhikkhave, sālavanaṁ aparena samayena vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyya.\nEvameva kho, bhikkhave, tumhepi akusalaṁ pajahatha, kusalesu dhammesu āyogaṁ karotha.\nEvañhi tumhepi imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatha.","en":"Suppose that not far from a town or village there was a large grove of sal trees\nthat was choked with castor-oil weeds.\nThen along comes a person who wants to help protect and nurture that grove.\nThey’d cut down the crooked sal saplings that were robbing the sap, and throw them out. They’d clean up the interior of the grove,\nand properly care for the straight, well-formed sal saplings.\nIn this way, in due course, that sal grove would grow, increase, and mature.\nIn the same way, mendicants, you too should give up what’s unskillful and devote yourselves to skillful qualities.\nIn this way you’ll achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training."}},{"id":"mn21:9","sourceIds":["mn21:9.1","mn21:9.2","mn21:9.3","mn21:9.4","mn21:9.5","mn21:9.6","mn21:9.7","mn21:9.8","mn21:9.9","mn21:9.10","mn21:9.11","mn21:9.12","mn21:9.13","mn21:9.14","mn21:9.15","mn21:9.16","mn21:9.17","mn21:9.18","mn21:9.19","mn21:9.20","mn21:9.21","mn21:9.22","mn21:9.23","mn21:9.24","mn21:9.25","mn21:9.26","mn21:9.27","mn21:9.28","mn21:9.29","mn21:9.30","mn21:9.31","mn21:9.32","mn21:9.33","mn21:9.34","mn21:9.35","mn21:9.36","mn21:9.37","mn21:9.38","mn21:9.39","mn21:9.40","mn21:9.41","mn21:9.42","mn21:9.43","mn21:9.44","mn21:9.45"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā vedehikā nāma gahapatānī ahosi.\nVedehikāya, bhikkhave, gahapatāniyā evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato:\n‘soratā vedehikā gahapatānī, nivātā vedehikā gahapatānī, upasantā vedehikā gahapatānī’ti.\nVedehikāya kho pana, bhikkhave, gahapatāniyā kāḷī nāma dāsī ahosi dakkhā analasā susaṁvihitakammantā.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, kāḷiyā dāsiyā etadahosi:\n‘mayhaṁ kho ayyāya evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato:\n“soratā vedehikā gahapatānī, nivātā vedehikā gahapatānī, upasantā vedehikā gahapatānī”ti.\nKiṁ nu kho me ayyā santaṁyeva nu kho ajjhattaṁ kopaṁ na pātukaroti udāhu asantaṁ\nudāhu mayhamevete kammantā susaṁvihitā yena me ayyā santaṁyeva ajjhattaṁ kopaṁ na pātukaroti, no asantaṁ?\nYannūnāhaṁ ayyaṁ vīmaṁseyyan’ti.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, kāḷī dāsī divā uṭṭhāsi.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, vedehikā gahapatānī kāḷiṁ dāsiṁ etadavoca:\n‘he je kāḷī’ti.\n‘Kiṁ, ayye’ti?\n‘Kiṁ, je, divā uṭṭhāsī’ti?\n‘Na khvayye, kiñcī’ti.\n‘No vata re kiñci, pāpi dāsi, divā uṭṭhāsī’ti kupitā anattamanā bhākuṭiṁ akāsi.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, kāḷiyā dāsiyā etadahosi:\n‘santaṁyeva kho me ayyā ajjhattaṁ kopaṁ na pātukaroti, no asantaṁ;\nmayhamevete kammantā susaṁvihitā, yena me ayyā santaṁyeva ajjhattaṁ kopaṁ na pātukaroti, no asantaṁ.\nYannūnāhaṁ bhiyyoso mattāya ayyaṁ vīmaṁseyyan’ti.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, kāḷī dāsī divātaraṁyeva uṭṭhāsi.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, vedehikā gahapatānī kāḷiṁ dāsiṁ etadavoca:\n‘he je kāḷī’ti.\n‘Kiṁ, ayye’ti?\n‘Kiṁ, je, divātaraṁ uṭṭhāsī’ti?\n‘Na khvayye, kiñcī’ti.\n‘No vata re kiñci, pāpi dāsi, divātaraṁ uṭṭhāsī’ti kupitā anattamanā anattamanavācaṁ nicchāresi.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, kāḷiyā dāsiyā etadahosi:\n‘santaṁyeva kho me ayyā ajjhattaṁ kopaṁ na pātukaroti, no asantaṁ.\nMayhamevete kammantā susaṁvihitā, yena me ayyā santaṁyeva ajjhattaṁ kopaṁ na pātukaroti, no asantaṁ.\nYannūnāhaṁ bhiyyoso mattāya ayyaṁ vīmaṁseyyan’ti.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, kāḷī dāsī divātaraṁyeva uṭṭhāsi.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, vedehikā gahapatānī kāḷiṁ dāsiṁ etadavoca:\n‘he je kāḷī’ti.\n‘Kiṁ, ayye’ti?\n‘Kiṁ, je, divā uṭṭhāsī’ti?\n‘Na khvayye, kiñcī’ti.\n‘No vata re kiñci, pāpi dāsi, divā uṭṭhāsī’ti kupitā anattamanā aggaḷasūciṁ gahetvā sīse pahāraṁ adāsi, sīsaṁ vobhindi.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, kāḷī dāsī bhinnena sīsena lohitena galantena paṭivissakānaṁ ujjhāpesi:\n‘passathayye, soratāya kammaṁ;\npassathayye, nivātāya kammaṁ, passathayye, upasantāya kammaṁ.\nKathañhi nāma ekadāsikāya divā uṭṭhāsīti kupitā anattamanā aggaḷasūciṁ gahetvā sīse pahāraṁ dassati, sīsaṁ vobhindissatī’ti.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, vedehikāya gahapatāniyā aparena samayena evaṁ pāpako kittisaddo abbhuggacchi:\n‘caṇḍī vedehikā gahapatānī, anivātā vedehikā gahapatānī, anupasantā vedehikā gahapatānī’ti.","en":"Once upon a time, mendicants, right here in Sāvatthī there was a housewife named Vedehikā.\nShe had this good reputation:\n‘The housewife Vedehikā is gentle, placid, and calm.’\nNow, Vedehikā had a bonded maid named Kāḷī who was deft, tireless, and well-organized in her work.\nThen Kāḷī thought,\n‘My mistress has a good reputation as being\ngentle, placid, and calm.\nBut does she actually have anger in her and just not show it? Or does she have no anger?\nOr is it just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside?\nWhy don’t I test my mistress?’\nSo Kāḷī got up during the day.\nVedehikā said to her,\n‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’\n‘What is it, ma’am?’\n‘You’re getting up in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’\n‘Nothing, ma’am.’\n‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up in the day!’ Angry and upset, she scowled.\nThen Kāḷī thought,\n‘My mistress actually has anger in her and just doesn’t show it; it’s not that she has no anger.\nIt’s just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside.\nWhy don’t I test my mistress further?’\nSo Kāḷī got up later in the day.\nVedehikā said to her,\n‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’\n‘What is it, ma’am?’\n‘You’re getting up later in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’\n‘Nothing, ma’am.’\n‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up later in the day!’ Angry and upset, she blurted out angry words.\nThen Kāḷī thought,\n‘My mistress actually has anger in her and just doesn’t show it; it’s not that she has no anger.\nIt’s just because my work is well-organized that she doesn’t show anger, even though she still has it inside.\nWhy don’t I test my mistress further?’\nSo Kāḷī got up even later in the day.\nVedehikā said to her,\n‘Oi wench, Kāḷī!’\n‘What is it, ma’am?’\n‘You’re getting up even later in the day—what’s up with you, wench?’\n‘Nothing, ma’am.’\n‘Oh, so nothing’s up, you naughty maid, but you get up even later in the day!’ Angry and upset, she grabbed a door-pin and hit Kāḷī on the head, cracking it open.\nThen Kāḷī, with blood pouring from her cracked skull, denounced her mistress to the neighbors,\n‘See, ladies, what the gentle one did!\nSee what the placid one did! See what the calm one did!\nHow on earth can she grab a door-pin and hit her only maid on the head, cracking it open, just for getting up late?’\nThen after some time the housewife Vedehikā got this bad reputation:\n‘The housewife Vedehikā is fierce, ill-tempered, and not calm at all.’"}},{"id":"mn21:10","sourceIds":["mn21:10.1","mn21:10.2","mn21:10.3","mn21:10.4","mn21:10.5","mn21:10.6","mn21:10.7","mn21:10.8"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco bhikkhu tāvadeva soratasorato hoti nivātanivāto hoti upasantūpasanto hoti yāva na amanāpā vacanapathā phusanti.\nYato ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ amanāpā vacanapathā phusanti, atha bhikkhu ‘sorato’ti veditabbo, ‘nivāto’ti veditabbo, ‘upasanto’ti veditabbo.\nNāhaṁ taṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ ‘suvaco’ti vadāmi yo cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu suvaco hoti, sovacassataṁ āpajjati.\nTaṁ kissa hetu?\nTañhi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ alabhamāno na suvaco hoti, na sovacassataṁ āpajjati.\nYo ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁyeva sakkaronto, dhammaṁ garuṁ karonto, dhammaṁ mānento, dhammaṁ pūjento, dhammaṁ apacāyamāno suvaco hoti, sovacassataṁ āpajjati, tamahaṁ ‘suvaco’ti vadāmi.\nTasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘dhammaṁyeva sakkarontā, dhammaṁ garuṁ karontā, dhammaṁ mānentā, dhammaṁ pūjentā, dhammaṁ apacāyamānā suvacā bhavissāma, sovacassataṁ āpajjissāmā’ti.\nEvañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.","en":"In the same way, a mendicant may be the gentlest of the gentle, the most placid of the placid, the calmest of the calm, so long as they don’t encounter any disagreeable criticism.\nBut it’s when they encounter disagreeable criticism that you’ll know whether they’re really gentle, placid, and calm.\nI don’t say that a mendicant is easy to admonish if they make themselves easy to admonish only for the sake of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.\nWhy is that?\nBecause when they don’t get robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick, they’re no longer easy to admonish.\nBut when a mendicant is easy to admonish purely because they honor, respect, revere, worship, and venerate the teaching, then I say that they’re easy to admonish.\nSo, mendicants, you should train yourselves: ‘We will be easy to admonish purely because we honor, respect, revere, worship, and venerate the teaching.’\nThat’s how you should train."}},{"id":"mn21:11","sourceIds":["mn21:11.1","mn21:11.2","mn21:11.3","mn21:11.4","mn21:11.5","mn21:11.6","mn21:11.7","mn21:11.8","mn21:11.9","mn21:11.10","mn21:11.11","mn21:11.12","mn21:11.13","mn21:11.14","mn21:11.15"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Pañcime, bhikkhave, vacanapathā yehi vo pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ—\nkālena vā akālena vā;\nbhūtena vā abhūtena vā;\nsaṇhena vā pharusena vā;\natthasaṁhitena vā anatthasaṁhitena vā;\nmettacittā vā dosantarā vā.\nKālena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ akālena vā;\nbhūtena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ abhūtena vā;\nsaṇhena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ pharusena vā;\natthasaṁhitena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ anatthasaṁhitena vā;\nmettacittā vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ dosantarā vā.\nTatrāpi vo, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:\n‘na ceva no cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāma, hitānukampī ca viharissāma mettacittā, na dosantarā.\nTañca puggalaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā pharitvā viharissāma, tadārammaṇañca sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cittena vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharissāmā’ti.\nEvañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.","en":"Mendicants, there are these five ways in which others might criticize you.\nTheir speech may be timely or untimely,\ntrue or false,\ngentle or harsh,\nbeneficial or harmful,\nfrom a heart of love or from secret hate.\nWhen others criticize you, they may do so in any of these ways.\nIf that happens, you should train like this:\n‘Our minds will not degenerate. We will blurt out no bad words. We will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.\nWe will meditate spreading a heart of love to that individual. And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart full of love to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’\nThat’s how you should train."}},{"id":"mn21:12","sourceIds":["mn21:12.1","mn21:12.2","mn21:12.3","mn21:12.4","mn21:12.5","mn21:12.6","mn21:12.7","mn21:12.8","mn21:12.9","mn21:12.10","mn21:12.11","mn21:12.12"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso āgaccheyya kudālapiṭakaṁ ādāya.\nSo evaṁ vadeyya:\n‘ahaṁ imaṁ mahāpathaviṁ apathaviṁ karissāmī’ti.\nSo tatra tatra vikhaṇeyya, tatra tatra vikireyya, tatra tatra oṭṭhubheyya, tatra tatra omutteyya:\n‘apathavī bhavasi, apathavī bhavasī’ti.\nTaṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,\napi nu so puriso imaṁ mahāpathaviṁ apathaviṁ kareyyā”ti?\n“No hetaṁ, bhante”.\n“Taṁ kissa hetu”?\n“Ayañhi, bhante, mahāpathavī gambhīrā appameyyā.\nSā na sukarā apathavī kātuṁ;\nyāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.","en":"Suppose a person was to come along carrying a spade and basket\nand say,\n‘I shall make this great earth be without earth!’\nAnd they’d dig all over, scatter all over, spit all over, and urinate all over, saying,\n‘Be without earth! Be without earth!’\nWhat do you think, mendicants?\nCould that person make this great earth be without earth?”\n“No, sir.\nWhy is that?\nBecause this great earth is deep and limitless.\nIt’s not easy to make it be without earth.\nThat person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”"}},{"id":"mn21:13","sourceIds":["mn21:13.1","mn21:13.2","mn21:13.3","mn21:13.4","mn21:13.5","mn21:13.6","mn21:13.7","mn21:13.8","mn21:13.9","mn21:13.10","mn21:13.11","mn21:13.12","mn21:13.13","mn21:13.14","mn21:13.15"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, pañcime vacanapathā yehi vo pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ—\nkālena vā akālena vā;\nbhūtena vā abhūtena vā;\nsaṇhena vā pharusena vā;\natthasaṁhitena vā anatthasaṁhitena vā;\nmettacittā vā dosantarā vā.\nKālena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ akālena vā;\nbhūtena vā bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ abhūtena vā;\nsaṇhena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ pharusena vā;\natthasaṁhitena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ anatthasaṁhitena vā;\nmettacittā vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ dosantarā vā.\nTatrāpi vo, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:\n‘na ceva no cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāma, hitānukampī ca viharissāma mettacittā na dosantarā.\nTañca puggalaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā pharitvā viharissāma, tadārammaṇañca sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ pathavisamena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharissāmā’ti.\nEvañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.","en":"“In the same way, there are these five ways in which others might criticize you.\nTheir speech may be timely or untimely,\ntrue or false,\ngentle or harsh,\nbeneficial or harmful,\nfrom a heart of love or from secret hate.\nWhen others criticize you, they may do so in any of these ways.\nIf that happens, you should train like this:\n‘Our minds will not degenerate. We will blurt out no bad words. We will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.\nWe will meditate spreading a heart of love to that individual. And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart like the earth to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’\nThat’s how you should train."}},{"id":"mn21:14","sourceIds":["mn21:14.1","mn21:14.2","mn21:14.3","mn21:14.4","mn21:14.5","mn21:14.6","mn21:14.7","mn21:14.8","mn21:14.9","mn21:14.10"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso āgaccheyya lākhaṁ vā haliddiṁ vā nīlaṁ vā mañjiṭṭhaṁ vā ādāya.\nSo evaṁ vadeyya:\n‘ahaṁ imasmiṁ ākāse rūpaṁ likhissāmi, rūpapātubhāvaṁ karissāmī’ti.\nTaṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,\napi nu so puriso imasmiṁ ākāse rūpaṁ likheyya, rūpapātubhāvaṁ kareyyā”ti?\n“No hetaṁ, bhante”.\n“Taṁ kissa hetu”?\n“Ayañhi, bhante, ākāso arūpī anidassano.\nTattha na sukaraṁ rūpaṁ likhituṁ, rūpapātubhāvaṁ kātuṁ;\nyāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.","en":"Suppose a person was to come along with dye such as red lac, turmeric, indigo, or rose madder,\nand say,\n‘I shall draw pictures in space, making pictures appear there.’\nWhat do you think, mendicants?\nCould that person draw pictures in space?”\n“No, sir.\nWhy is that?\nBecause space has no form or appearance.\nIt’s not easy to draw pictures there.\nThat person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”"}},{"id":"mn21:15","sourceIds":["mn21:15.1","mn21:15.2","mn21:15.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, pañcime vacanapathā yehi vo pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ kālena vā akālena vā …pe…\ntadārammaṇañca sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ ākāsasamena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharissāmā’ti.\nEvañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.","en":"“In the same way, if others criticize you in any of these five ways … you should train like this:\n‘… We will meditate spreading a heart of love to that person. And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart like space to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’\nThat’s how you should train."}},{"id":"mn21:16","sourceIds":["mn21:16.1","mn21:16.2","mn21:16.3","mn21:16.4","mn21:16.5","mn21:16.6","mn21:16.7","mn21:16.8","mn21:16.9","mn21:16.10"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso āgaccheyya ādittaṁ tiṇukkaṁ ādāya.\nSo evaṁ vadeyya:\n‘ahaṁ imāya ādittāya tiṇukkāya gaṅgaṁ nadiṁ santāpessāmi samparitāpessāmī’ti.\nTaṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,\napi nu so puriso ādittāya tiṇukkāya gaṅgaṁ nadiṁ santāpeyya samparitāpeyyā”ti?\n“No hetaṁ, bhante”.\n“Taṁ kissa hetu”?\n“Gaṅgā hi, bhante, nadī gambhīrā appameyyā.\nSā na sukarā ādittāya tiṇukkāya santāpetuṁ samparitāpetuṁ;\nyāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.","en":"Suppose a person was to come along carrying a blazing grass torch,\nand say,\n‘I shall burn and scorch the Ganges River with this blazing grass torch.’\nWhat do you think, mendicants?\nCould that person burn and scorch the Ganges River with a blazing grass torch?”\n“No, sir.\nWhy is that?\nBecause the Ganges River is deep and limitless.\nIt’s not easy to burn and scorch it with a blazing grass torch.\nThat person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”"}},{"id":"mn21:17","sourceIds":["mn21:17.1","mn21:17.2","mn21:17.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, pañcime vacanapathā yehi vo pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ kālena vā akālena vā …pe…\ntadārammaṇañca sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ gaṅgāsamena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharissāmā’ti.\nEvañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.","en":"“In the same way, if others criticize you in any of these five ways … you should train like this:\n‘… We will meditate spreading a heart of love to that individual. And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart like the Ganges to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’\nThat’s how you should train."}},{"id":"mn21:18","sourceIds":["mn21:18.1","mn21:18.2","mn21:18.3","mn21:18.4","mn21:18.5","mn21:18.6","mn21:18.7","mn21:18.8","mn21:18.9","mn21:18.10","mn21:18.11"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, biḷārabhastā madditā sumadditā suparimadditā, mudukā tūlinī chinnasassarā chinnabhabbharā.\nAtha puriso āgaccheyya kaṭṭhaṁ vā kathalaṁ vā ādāya.\nSo evaṁ vadeyya:\n‘ahaṁ imaṁ biḷārabhastaṁ madditaṁ sumadditaṁ suparimadditaṁ, mudukaṁ tūliniṁ, chinnasassaraṁ chinnabhabbharaṁ kaṭṭhena vā kathalena vā sarasaraṁ karissāmi bharabharaṁ karissāmī’ti.\nTaṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,\napi nu so puriso amuṁ biḷārabhastaṁ madditaṁ sumadditaṁ suparimadditaṁ, mudukaṁ tūliniṁ, chinnasassaraṁ chinnabhabbharaṁ kaṭṭhena vā kathalena vā sarasaraṁ kareyya, bharabharaṁ kareyyā”ti?\n“No hetaṁ, bhante”.\n“Taṁ kissa hetu”?\n“Amu hi, bhante, biḷārabhastā madditā sumadditā suparimadditā, mudukā tūlinī, chinnasassarā chinnabhabbharā.\nSā na sukarā kaṭṭhena vā kathalena vā sarasaraṁ kātuṁ bharabharaṁ kātuṁ;\nyāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.","en":"Suppose there was a catskin bag that was rubbed, well-rubbed, very well-rubbed, soft, silky, rid of rustling and crackling.\nThen a person comes along carrying a stick or a stone,\nand says,\n‘I shall make this soft catskin bag rustle and crackle with this stick or stone.’\nWhat do you think, mendicants?\nCould that person make that soft catskin bag rustle and crackle with that stick or stone?”\n“No, sir.\nWhy is that?\nBecause that catskin bag is rubbed, well-rubbed, very well-rubbed, soft, silky, rid of rustling and crackling.\nIt’s not easy to make it rustle or crackle with a stick or stone.\nThat person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”"}},{"id":"mn21:19","sourceIds":["mn21:19.1","mn21:19.2","mn21:19.3","mn21:19.4","mn21:19.5","mn21:19.6","mn21:19.7","mn21:19.8","mn21:19.9","mn21:19.10","mn21:19.11","mn21:19.12","mn21:19.13","mn21:19.14","mn21:19.15"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, pañcime vacanapathā yehi vo pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ\nkālena vā akālena vā;\nbhūtena vā abhūtena vā;\nsaṇhena vā pharusena vā;\natthasaṁhitena vā anatthasaṁhitena vā;\nmettacittā vā dosantarā vā.\nKālena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ akālena vā;\nbhūtena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ abhūtena vā;\nsaṇhena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ pharusena vā;\natthasaṁhitena vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ anatthasaṁhitena vā;\nmettacittā vā, bhikkhave, pare vadamānā vadeyyuṁ dosantarā vā.\nTatrāpi vo, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:\n‘na ceva no cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāma hitānukampī ca viharissāma mettacittā na dosantarā.\nTañca puggalaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā pharitvā viharissāma, tadārammaṇañca sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ biḷārabhastāsamena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharissāmā’ti.\nEvañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.","en":"“In the same way, there are these five ways in which others might criticize you.\nTheir speech may be timely or untimely,\ntrue or false,\ngentle or harsh,\nbeneficial or harmful,\nfrom a heart of love or from secret hate.\nWhen others criticize you, they may do so in any of these ways.\nIf that happens, you should train like this:\n‘Our minds will not degenerate. We will blurt out no bad words. We will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.\nWe will meditate spreading a heart of love to that individual. And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart like a catskin bag to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’\nThat’s how you should train."}},{"id":"mn21:20","sourceIds":["mn21:20.1","mn21:20.2","mn21:20.3","mn21:20.4","mn21:20.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Ubhatodaṇḍakena cepi, bhikkhave, kakacena corā ocarakā aṅgamaṅgāni okanteyyuṁ, tatrāpi yo mano padūseyya, na me so tena sāsanakaro.\nTatrāpi vo, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:\n‘na ceva no cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ bhavissati, na ca pāpikaṁ vācaṁ nicchāressāma, hitānukampī ca viharissāma mettacittā na dosantarā.\nTañca puggalaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā pharitvā viharissāma tadārammaṇañca sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharissāmā’ti.\nEvañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.","en":"Even if low-down bandits were to sever you limb from limb with a two-handed saw, anyone who had a malevolent thought on that account would not be following my instructions.\nIf that happens, you should train like this:\n‘Our minds will not degenerate. We will blurt out no bad words. We will remain full of sympathy, with a heart of love and no secret hate.\nWe will meditate spreading a heart of love to that individual. And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart full of love to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’\nThat’s how you should train."}},{"id":"mn21:21","sourceIds":["mn21:21.1","mn21:21.2","mn21:21.3","mn21:21.4","mn21:21.5","mn21:21.6","mn21:21.7","mn21:21.8"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Imañca tumhe, bhikkhave, kakacūpamaṁ ovādaṁ abhikkhaṇaṁ manasi kareyyātha.\nPassatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, taṁ vacanapathaṁ, aṇuṁ vā thūlaṁ vā, yaṁ tumhe nādhivāseyyāthā”ti?\n“No hetaṁ, bhante”.\n“Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, imaṁ kakacūpamaṁ ovādaṁ abhikkhaṇaṁ manasikarotha.\nTaṁ vo bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.\nIdamavoca bhagavā.\nAttamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.\nKakacūpamasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.","en":"If you frequently reflect on this advice on the simile of the saw,\ndo you see any criticism, large or small, that you could not endure?”\n“No, sir.”\n“So, mendicants, you should frequently reflect on this advice on the simile of the saw.\nThis will be for your lasting welfare and happiness.”\nThat is what the Buddha said.\nSatisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said."}}]}],"sourceRevision":"afdafa92450cfe7573b280da50382888323666d2","sourceUrl":"https://suttacentral.net/mn21/en/sujato","licence":"CC0 1.0","licenceUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","editionNote":"Full supplied source file; inherited abbreviations are preserved. Not a reconstructed expansion of every repetition. No Malay or Mandarin translation is implied."}