{"id":"sn35.243","title":"The Explanation on the Festering","languageCodes":["en","pi"],"languageNotes":{"en":"Bhikkhu Sujato · CC0","pi":"Mahāsaṅgīti edition · SuttaCentral"},"chapters":[{"id":"sn35.243","title":"The Explanation on the Festering","units":[{"id":"sn35.243:0","sourceIds":["sn35.243:0.1","sn35.243:0.2","sn35.243:0.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.243\n19. Āsīvisavagga\nAvassutapariyāyasutta","en":"Linked Discourses 35.243\n19. The Simile of the Vipers\nThe Explanation on the Festering"}},{"id":"sn35.243:1","sourceIds":["sn35.243:1.1","sn35.243:1.2","sn35.243:1.3","sn35.243:1.4","sn35.243:1.5","sn35.243:1.6","sn35.243:1.7","sn35.243:1.8"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.\nTena kho pana samayena kāpilavatthavānaṁ sakyānaṁ navaṁ santhāgāraṁ acirakāritaṁ hoti anajjhāvuṭṭhaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā kenaci vā manussabhūtena.\nAtha kho kāpilavatthavā sakyā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho kāpilavatthavā sakyā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:\n“idha, bhante, kāpilavatthavānaṁ sakyānaṁ navaṁ santhāgāraṁ acirakāritaṁ anajjhāvuṭṭhaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā kenaci vā manussabhūtena.\nTaṁ, bhante, bhagavā paṭhamaṁ paribhuñjatu.\nBhagavatā paṭhamaṁ paribhuttaṁ pacchā kāpilavatthavā sakyā paribhuñjissanti.\nTadassa kāpilavatthavānaṁ sakyānaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.\nAdhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.","en":"At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.\nNow at that time a new town hall had recently been constructed for the Sakyans of Kapilavatthu. It had not yet been occupied by an ascetic or brahmin or any human at all.\nThen the Sakyans of Kapilavatthu went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,\n“Sir, a new town hall has recently been constructed for the Sakyans of Kapilavatthu. It has not yet been occupied by an ascetic or brahmin or any human at all.\nMay the Buddha be the first to use it,\nand only then will the Sakyans of Kapilavatthu use it.\nThat would be for the lasting welfare and happiness of the Sakyans of Kapilavatthu.”\nThe Buddha consented with silence."}},{"id":"sn35.243:2","sourceIds":["sn35.243:2.1","sn35.243:2.2","sn35.243:2.3","sn35.243:2.4","sn35.243:2.5","sn35.243:2.6","sn35.243:2.7","sn35.243:2.8","sn35.243:2.9","sn35.243:2.10"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho kāpilavatthavā sakyā bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena navaṁ santhāgāraṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā sabbasanthariṁ santhāgāraṁ santharitvā āsanāni paññāpetvā udakamaṇikaṁ patiṭṭhāpetvā telappadīpaṁ āropetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:\n“sabbasantharisanthataṁ, bhante, santhāgāraṁ, āsanāni paññattāni, udakamaṇiko patiṭṭhāpito, telappadīpo āropito.\nYassadāni, bhante, bhagavā kālaṁ maññatī”ti.\nAtha kho bhagavā nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena yena navaṁ santhāgāraṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā pāde pakkhāletvā santhāgāraṁ pavisitvā majjhimaṁ thambhaṁ nissāya puratthābhimukho nisīdi.\nBhikkhusaṅghopi kho pāde pakkhāletvā santhāgāraṁ pavisitvā pacchimaṁ bhittiṁ nissāya puratthābhimukho nisīdi bhagavantaṁyeva purakkhatvā.\nKāpilavatthavā sakyā pāde pakkhāletvā santhāgāraṁ pavisitvā puratthimaṁ bhittiṁ nissāya pacchimābhimukhā nisīdiṁsu bhagavantaṁyeva purakkhatvā.\nAtha kho bhagavā kāpilavatthave sakye bahudeva rattiṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uyyojesi:\n“abhikkantā kho, gotamā, ratti.\nYassadāni kālaṁ maññathā”ti.\n“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho kāpilavatthavā sakyā bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkamiṁsu.","en":"Knowing that the Buddha had consented, the Sakyans rose from their seats, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right. Then they went to the new town hall, where they spread carpets all over, prepared seats, set up a water jar, and placed an oil lamp. Then they went back to the Buddha and told him of their preparations, saying,\n“Please, sir, come at your convenience.”\nThen the Buddha robed up and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the new town hall together with the Saṅgha of mendicants. Having washed his feet, he entered the town hall and sat against the central column facing east.\nThe Saṅgha of mendicants also washed their feet, entered the town hall, and sat against the west wall facing east, with the Buddha right in front of them.\nThe Sakyans of Kapilavatthu also washed their feet, entered the town hall, and sat against the east wall facing west, with the Buddha right in front of them.\nThe Buddha spent much of the night educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the Sakyans with a Dhamma talk. Then he sent them off, saying,\n“The night is getting late, Gotamas.\nPlease go at your convenience.”\n“Yes, sir,” replied the Sakyans. They got up from their seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right, before leaving."}},{"id":"sn35.243:3","sourceIds":["sn35.243:3.1","sn35.243:3.2","sn35.243:3.3","sn35.243:3.4","sn35.243:3.5","sn35.243:3.6","sn35.243:3.7","sn35.243:3.8","sn35.243:3.9","sn35.243:3.10","sn35.243:3.11","sn35.243:3.12","sn35.243:3.13","sn35.243:3.14","sn35.243:3.15"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkantesu kāpilavatthavesu sakyesu āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ āmantesi:\n“vigatathinamiddho kho, moggallāna, bhikkhusaṅgho.\nPaṭibhātu taṁ, moggallāna, bhikkhūnaṁ dhammī kathā.\nPiṭṭhi me āgilāyati;\ntamahaṁ āyamissāmī”ti.\n“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavato paccassosi.\nAtha kho bhagavā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññapetvā dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappesi, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā.\nTatra kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhikkhū āmantesi:\n“āvuso bhikkhave”ti.\n“Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa paccassosuṁ.\nĀyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca:\n“avassutapariyāyañca vo, āvuso, desessāmi, anavassutapariyāyañca.\nTaṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.\n“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa paccassosuṁ.\nĀyasmā mahāmoggallāno etadavoca:","en":"Then, not long after the Sakyans had left, the Buddha addressed Venerable Mahāmoggallāna,\n“Moggallāna, the Saṅgha of mendicants is rid of dullness and drowsiness.\nGive them some Dhamma talk as you feel inspired.\nMy back is sore,\nI’ll stretch it.”\n“Yes, sir,” Mahāmoggallāna replied.\nAnd then the Buddha spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.\nThere Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the mendicants:\n“Reverends, mendicants!”\n“Reverend,” they replied.\nVenerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:\n“I will teach you the explanation of the festering and the not festering.\nListen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”\n“Yes, reverend,” they replied.\nVenerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:"}},{"id":"sn35.243:4","sourceIds":["sn35.243:4.1","sn35.243:4.2","sn35.243:4.3","sn35.243:4.4","sn35.243:4.5","sn35.243:4.6","sn35.243:4.7","sn35.243:4.8","sn35.243:4.9","sn35.243:4.10","sn35.243:4.11","sn35.243:4.12"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Kathaṁ, āvuso, avassuto hoti?\nIdhāvuso, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā piyarūpe rūpe adhimuccati, appiyarūpe rūpe byāpajjati, anupaṭṭhitakāyassatī viharati parittacetaso,\ntañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti …pe…\njivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …pe…\nmanasā dhammaṁ viññāya piyarūpe dhamme adhimuccati, appiyarūpe dhamme byāpajjati, anupaṭṭhitakāyassatī ca viharati parittacetaso,\ntañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti.\nAyaṁ vuccati, āvuso, bhikkhu avassuto cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu …pe…\navassuto jivhāviññeyyesu rasesu …pe…\navassuto manoviññeyyesu dhammesu.\nEvaṁvihāriñcāvuso, bhikkhuṁ cakkhuto cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati labhateva māro otāraṁ, labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ …pe…\njivhāto cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, labhateva māro otāraṁ, labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ …pe…\nmanato cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, labhateva māro otāraṁ, labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.","en":"“And how is someone festering?\nTake a mendicant who sees a sight with their eyes. If it’s pleasant they hold on to it, but if it’s unpleasant they dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body unestablished and their heart stunted.\nAnd they don’t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without remainder.\nThey hear a sound … smell an odor … taste a flavor … feel a touch …\nknow an idea with their mind. If it’s pleasant they hold on to it, but if it’s unpleasant they dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body unestablished and their heart stunted.\nAnd they don’t truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without remainder.\nThis is called a mendicant who is festering when it comes to sights known by the eye,\nsounds … smells … tastes … touches …\nideas known by the mind.\nWhen a mendicant lives like this, if Māra comes at them through the eye he finds a vulnerability and gets an opportunity.\nIf Māra comes at them through the ear … nose … tongue … body …\nmind he finds a vulnerability and gets an opportunity."}},{"id":"sn35.243:5","sourceIds":["sn35.243:5.1","sn35.243:5.2","sn35.243:5.3","sn35.243:5.4","sn35.243:5.5","sn35.243:5.6","sn35.243:5.7","sn35.243:5.8","sn35.243:5.9","sn35.243:5.10","sn35.243:5.11","sn35.243:5.12","sn35.243:5.13","sn35.243:5.14","sn35.243:5.15","sn35.243:5.16","sn35.243:5.17","sn35.243:5.18","sn35.243:5.19"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Seyyathāpi, āvuso, naḷāgāraṁ vā tiṇāgāraṁ vā sukkhaṁ kolāpaṁ terovassikaṁ.\nPuratthimāya cepi naṁ disāya puriso ādittāya tiṇukkāya upasaṅkameyya, labhetheva aggi otāraṁ, labhetha aggi ārammaṇaṁ;\npacchimāya cepi naṁ disāya puriso ādittāya tiṇukkāya upasaṅkameyya …pe…\nuttarāya cepi naṁ disāya …pe…\ndakkhiṇāya cepi naṁ disāya …pe…\nheṭṭhimato cepi naṁ …pe…\nuparimato cepi naṁ …\nyato kutoci cepi naṁ puriso ādittāya tiṇukkāya upasaṅkameyya, labhetheva aggi otāraṁ labhetha aggi ārammaṇaṁ.\nEvameva kho, āvuso, evaṁvihāriṁ bhikkhuṁ cakkhuto cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, labhateva māro otāraṁ, labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ …pe…\njivhāto cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati …pe…\nmanato cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, labhateva māro otāraṁ, labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.\nEvaṁvihāriñcāvuso, bhikkhuṁ rūpā adhibhaṁsu, na bhikkhu rūpe adhibhosi;\nsaddā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu, na bhikkhu sadde adhibhosi;\ngandhā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu, na bhikkhu gandhe adhibhosi;\nrasā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu, na bhikkhu rase adhibhosi;\nphoṭṭhabbā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu, na bhikkhu phoṭṭhabbe adhibhosi;\ndhammā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu, na bhikkhu dhamme adhibhosi.\nAyaṁ vuccatāvuso, bhikkhu rūpādhibhūto, saddādhibhūto, gandhādhibhūto, rasādhibhūto, phoṭṭhabbādhibhūto, dhammādhibhūto, adhibhūto, anadhibhū, adhibhaṁsu naṁ pāpakā akusalā dhammā saṅkilesikā ponobhavikā sadarā dukkhavipākā āyatiṁ jātijarāmaraṇiyā.\nEvaṁ kho, āvuso, avassuto hoti.","en":"Suppose there was a house made of reeds or straw that was dried up, withered, and decrepit.\nIf a person came to it with a burning grass torch from the east,\nwest,\nnorth,\nsouth,\nbelow,\nabove,\nor from anywhere, the fire would find a vulnerability, it would get an opportunity.\nIn the same way, when a mendicant lives like this, if Māra comes at them through the eye he finds a vulnerability and gets an opportunity.\nIf Māra comes at them through the ear … nose … tongue … body …\nmind he finds a vulnerability and gets an opportunity.\nWhen a mendicant lives like this, they’re mastered by sights,\nsounds,\nsmells,\ntastes,\ntouches,\nand ideas, they don’t master these things.\nThis is called a mendicant who has been mastered by sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. They’re mastered, not a master. Bad, unskillful qualities have mastered them, which are corrupting, leading to future lives, hurtful, and resulting in suffering and future rebirth, old age, and death.\nThat’s how someone is festering."}},{"id":"sn35.243:6","sourceIds":["sn35.243:6.1","sn35.243:6.2","sn35.243:6.3","sn35.243:6.4","sn35.243:6.5","sn35.243:6.6","sn35.243:6.7","sn35.243:6.8","sn35.243:6.9","sn35.243:6.10","sn35.243:6.11"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kathañcāvuso, anavassuto hoti?\nIdhāvuso, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā piyarūpe rūpe nādhimuccati, appiyarūpe rūpe na byāpajjati, upaṭṭhitakāyassati ca viharati appamāṇacetaso,\ntañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti …pe…\njivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …pe…\nmanasā dhammaṁ viññāya piyarūpe dhamme nādhimuccati, appiyarūpe dhamme na byāpajjati, upaṭṭhitakāyassati ca viharati appamāṇacetaso,\ntañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti yatthassa te uppannā pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhanti.\nAyaṁ vuccatāvuso, bhikkhu anavassuto cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu …pe…\nanavassuto manoviññeyyesu dhammesu.\nEvaṁvihāriñcāvuso, bhikkhuṁ cakkhuto cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, neva labhati māro otāraṁ, na labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ …pe…\njivhāto cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati …pe…\nmanato cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, neva labhati māro otāraṁ, na labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.","en":"And how is someone not festering?\nTake a mendicant who sees a sight with their eyes. If it’s pleasant they don’t hold on to it, and if it’s unpleasant they don’t dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body established and a limitless heart.\nAnd they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without remainder.\nThey hear a sound … smell an odor … taste a flavor … feel a touch …\nknow an idea with their mind. If it’s pleasant they don’t hold on to it, and if it’s unpleasant they don’t dislike it. They live with mindfulness of the body established and a limitless heart.\nAnd they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where those arisen bad, unskillful qualities cease without remainder.\nThis is called a mendicant who is not festering when it comes to sights known by the eye,\nsounds … smells … tastes … touches … ideas known by the mind.\nWhen a mendicant lives like this, if Māra comes at them through the eye he doesn’t find a vulnerability or get an opportunity.\nIf Māra comes at them through the ear … nose … tongue … body …\nmind he doesn’t find a vulnerability or get an opportunity."}},{"id":"sn35.243:7","sourceIds":["sn35.243:7.1","sn35.243:7.2","sn35.243:7.3","sn35.243:7.4","sn35.243:7.5","sn35.243:7.6","sn35.243:7.7","sn35.243:7.8","sn35.243:7.9","sn35.243:7.10","sn35.243:7.11","sn35.243:7.12","sn35.243:7.13","sn35.243:7.14","sn35.243:7.15","sn35.243:7.16","sn35.243:7.17","sn35.243:7.18"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Seyyathāpi, āvuso, kūṭāgāraṁ vā sālā vā bahalamattikā addāvalepanā.\nPuratthimāya cepi naṁ disāya puriso ādittāya tiṇukkāya upasaṅkameyya, neva labhetha aggi otāraṁ, na labhetha aggi ārammaṇaṁ …pe…\npacchimāya cepi naṁ …\nuttarāya cepi naṁ …\ndakkhiṇāya cepi naṁ …\nheṭṭhimato cepi naṁ …\nuparimato cepi naṁ …\nyato kutoci cepi naṁ puriso ādittāya tiṇukkāya upasaṅkameyya, neva labhetha aggi otāraṁ, na labhetha aggi ārammaṇaṁ.\nEvameva kho, āvuso, evaṁvihāriṁ bhikkhuṁ cakkhuto cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, neva labhati māro otāraṁ, na labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ …pe…\nmanato cepi naṁ māro upasaṅkamati, neva labhati māro otāraṁ, na labhati māro ārammaṇaṁ.\nEvaṁvihārī cāvuso, bhikkhu rūpe adhibhosi, na rūpā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu;\nsadde bhikkhu adhibhosi, na saddā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu;\ngandhe bhikkhu adhibhosi, na gandhā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu;\nrase bhikkhu adhibhosi, na rasā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu;\nphoṭṭhabbe bhikkhu adhibhosi, na phoṭṭhabbā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu;\ndhamme bhikkhu adhibhosi, na dhammā bhikkhuṁ adhibhaṁsu.\nAyaṁ vuccatāvuso, bhikkhu rūpādhibhū, saddādhibhū, gandhādhibhū, rasādhibhū, phoṭṭhabbādhibhū, dhammādhibhū, adhibhū, anadhibhūto, adhibhosi te pāpake akusale dhamme saṅkilesike ponobhavike sadare dukkhavipāke āyatiṁ jātijarāmaraṇiye.\nEvaṁ kho, āvuso, anavassuto hotī”ti.","en":"Suppose there was a bungalow or hall made of thick clay with its plaster still wet.\nIf a person came to it with a burning grass torch from the east,\nwest,\nnorth,\nsouth,\nbelow,\nabove,\nor from anywhere, the fire wouldn’t find a vulnerability, it would get no opportunity.\nIn the same way, when a mendicant lives like this, if Māra comes at them through the eye he doesn’t find a vulnerability or get an opportunity.\nIf Māra comes at them through the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind he doesn’t find a vulnerability or get an opportunity.\nWhen a mendicant lives like this, they master sights,\nsounds,\nsmells,\ntastes,\ntouches,\nand ideas, they’re not mastered by these things.\nThis is called a mendicant who has mastered sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. They’re a master, not mastered. Bad, unskillful qualities have been mastered by them, which are corrupting, leading to future lives, hurtful, and resulting in suffering and future rebirth, old age, and death.\nThat’s how someone is not festering.”"}},{"id":"sn35.243:8","sourceIds":["sn35.243:8.1","sn35.243:8.2","sn35.243:8.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho bhagavā uṭṭhahitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ āmantesi:\n“sādhu sādhu, moggallāna.\nSādhu kho tvaṁ, moggallāna, bhikkhūnaṁ avassutapariyāyañca anavassutapariyāyañca abhāsī”ti.","en":"Then the Buddha got up and said to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna:\n“Good, good, Moggallāna!\nIt’s good that you’ve taught this explanation of the festering and the not festering.”"}},{"id":"sn35.243:9","sourceIds":["sn35.243:9.1","sn35.243:9.2","sn35.243:9.3","sn35.243:9.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Idamavoca āyasmā mahāmoggallāno.\nSamanuñño satthā ahosi.\nAttamanā te bhikkhū āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.\nChaṭṭhaṁ.","en":"That is what Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said,\nand the Teacher concurred.\nSatisfied, the mendicants approved what Mahāmoggallāna said."}}]}],"sourceRevision":"afdafa92450cfe7573b280da50382888323666d2","sourceUrl":"https://suttacentral.net/sn35.243/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."}