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the obstructive things spoken of by the Blessed One, when indulged in, are not an obstruction.” Then those monks approached the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the Vulture-killers. Having approached, they said to the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the Vulture-killers: “Is it true, friend Ariṭṭha, that such a wicked view has arisen in you: ‘I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One in such a way that those obstructive things spoken of by the Blessed One, when indulged in, are not an obstruction’?” “Indeed, friends, I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One in such a way that those obstructive things spoken of by the Blessed One, when indulged in, are not an obstruction.” Then those monks, wishing to dissuade the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the Vulture-killers, from that wicked view, questioned him, pressed him, and admonished him: “Do not speak thus, friend Ariṭṭha! Do not misrepresent the Blessed One! It is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One! The Blessed One would not speak thus! In many ways, friend Ariṭṭha, the obstructive things have been declared by the Blessed One to be obstructive, and indeed, when indulged in, they are an obstruction. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to be of little satisfaction, full of suffering, full of vexation, with more peril therein. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to be like a skeleton… (and so on)… sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to be like a piece of flesh… like a grass torch… like a pit of glowing coals… like a dream… like borrowed goods… like fruits on a tree… like a butcher’s knife… like a stake… like the head of a snake, full of suffering, full of vexation, with more peril therein.” Even though the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the Vulture-killers, was thus questioned by those monks, s Even when admonished, even when rebuked, he grasps firmly, clings to, and speaks out that very evil view: "Indeed, friends, I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One thus: that those things declared by the Blessed One to be obstacles are not sufficient to be obstacles for one who practices them." 235. When those bhikkhus were unable to dissuade the bhikkhu Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, from that evil view, then those bhikkhus approached the Blessed One; having approached, they saluted the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said to the Blessed One this: "Venerable sir, such an evil view has arisen in the bhikkhu named Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer: 'I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One thus: that those things declared by the Blessed One to be obstacles are not sufficient to be obstacles for one who practices them.' We heard, Venerable sir, that such an evil view had arisen in the bhikkhu named Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer: 'I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One thus: that those things declared by the Blessed One to be obstacles are not sufficient to be obstacles for one who practices them.' Then, Venerable sir, we approached the bhikkhu Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer; having approached, we said to the bhikkhu Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, this: 'Is it true, friend Ariṭṭha, that such an evil view has arisen in you: "I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One thus: that those things declared by the Blessed One to be obstacles are not sufficient to be obstacles for one who practices them"?'" "When this was said, Venerable sir, the bhikkhu Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, said to us this: 'Indeed, friends, I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One thus: that those things declared by the Blessed One to be obstacles are not sufficient to be obstacles for one who practices them.' Then Indeed, we, venerable sir, wishing to dissuade the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, from this evil view, questioned him, admonished him, discussed with him – ‘Do not speak thus, friend Ariṭṭha, do not misrepresent the Blessed One; for it is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One, the Blessed One would not speak thus. In many ways, friend Ariṭṭha, the Blessed One has declared obstructive things to be obstructive, and they are enough to cause obstruction for one who practices them. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to have little enjoyment, much suffering, much despair, the danger in them is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to be like a skeleton… …like a snake’s head, with much suffering, much despair, the danger in them is greater.’ Even so, venerable sir, the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, though questioned by us, admonished by us, discussed with by us, stubbornly, tenaciously, and firmly adheres to that evil view and declares – ‘Indeed, friends, I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One in such a way that those things declared by the Blessed One to be obstructive are not enough to cause obstruction for one who practices them.’ Since we, venerable sir, could not dissuade the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, from that evil view, we have reported this matter to the Blessed One.” 236. Then the Blessed One addressed a certain monk – “Come, monk, in my name, summon the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer – ‘The Teacher, friend Ariṭṭha, calls you.’” “Yes, venerable sir,” that monk replied to the Blessed One, and went to where the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, was; having approached, he said to the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer – “The Teacher, friend Ariṭṭha, calls you.” “Yes, friend,” the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, replied to that monk, and went to where the Blessed One was; having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. He sat down. The Blessed One then said to the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the vulture-killers, who was sitting to one side: "Is it true, Ariṭṭha, that such a wicked view has arisen in you – 'I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One in such a way that those things called 'obstacles' by the Blessed One are not obstacles when indulged in'?" "Indeed, venerable sir, I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One – 'that those things called 'obstacles' by the Blessed One are not obstacles when indulged in'." "From whom, foolish man, do you understand the Dhamma taught by me in this way? Have I not, foolish man, in many ways declared things that are obstacles to be obstacles? And that they are sufficient to be an obstacle when indulged in. Sensual pleasures, I have declared, have little satisfaction, much suffering, much despair, with even greater danger. Sensual pleasures, I have declared, are like a skeleton… like a piece of meat… like a torch of grass… like a pit of glowing coals… like a dream… like borrowed goods… like fruits on a tree… like a slaughter-knife… like a spear and stake… like a snake's head, much suffering, much despair, with even greater danger. Yet you, foolish man, by your wrong grasping, both slander us, and dig your own grave, and produce much demerit. That, foolish man, will be for your harm and suffering for a long time." Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: "What do you think, monks? Is this monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the vulture-killers, even a little bit warmed up in this Dhamma and Discipline?" "How could that be, venerable sir? No, venerable sir." When this was said, the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the vulture-killers, became silent, embarrassed, his shoulders drooping, his face downcast, brooding, unable to reply, he sat. Then the Blessed One, to the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly of the vulture- Having seen the monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, silent, dismayed, with drooping shoulders, downcast face, brooding, speechless, he said to him: "You will surely be known, foolish man, by this your own evil view. Here, I will question the monks." 237. Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Do you also understand the Dhamma taught by me in such a way, monks, that this monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, by his own wrongly grasped view, both slanders us, and digs his own grave, and produces much demerit?" "No, venerable sir. Indeed, venerable sir, in many ways have the obstructive things been declared obstructive by the Blessed One; and they are sufficient to cause obstruction to one who indulges in them. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to have little enjoyment, much suffering, much despair, with more danger in them. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to be like a skeleton... sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One to be like a snake's head, with much suffering, much despair, with more danger in them." "Good, good, monks! It is good that you, monks, understand the Dhamma taught by me in this way. Indeed, monks, in many ways have the obstructive things been declared by me, and they are sufficient to cause obstruction to one who indulges in them. Sensual pleasures have been declared by me to have little enjoyment, much suffering, much despair, with more danger in them. Sensual pleasures have been declared by me to be like a skeleton... sensual pleasures have been declared by me to be like a snake's head, with much suffering, much despair, with more danger in them. Yet this monk Ariṭṭha, formerly a vulture-trainer, by his own wrongly grasped view, both slanders us, and digs his own grave, and produces much demerit. That will indeed be for the harm and suffering of that foolish man for a long time. It is not possible, monks, that he will indulge in sensual pleasures apart from sensual objects, apart from sensual perceptions, apart from sensual thoughts." 238. Here, monks, some foolish men learn the Dhamma. – discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, 'thus-saids', birth stories, wonderful phenomena, and question-and-answer. Having learned that Dhamma,