English
They would enter that lake, pull up lotus stalks with their trunks, wash them thoroughly, and eat them without mud. That was for their complexion and strength, and they did not experience death or suffering unto death because of it. But, bhikkhus, young elephant calves, imitating those great elephants, would enter that lake, pull up lotus stalks with their trunks, wash them not thoroughly, and eat them with mud. That was neither for their complexion nor for their strength. Because of that, they experienced death or suffering unto death. “Even so, bhikkhus, here elder bhikkhus, having dressed in the morning, taking their bowls and robes, enter a village or town for alms. There they teach the Dhamma. The householders show signs of faith in them. They partake of that gain without greed, without infatuation, without being engrossed, seeing the danger, with wisdom of escape, They consume it. For them, it is for beauty and for strength, and because of it, they do not come to death, nor to suffering like death. But, monks, new monks, imitating those elder monks, having dressed in the morning, taking their bowl and robe, enter a village or town for alms. There they speak the Dhamma. The laypeople show them signs of faith. They, greedy, infatuated, obsessed with that gain, not seeing the danger, without wisdom of escape, consume it. For them, that is neither for beauty nor for strength, and because of it, they come to death, or to suffering like death. Therefore, monks, thus should you train: ‘Not greedy, not infatuated, not obsessed, seeing the danger, with wisdom of escape, we will consume that gain.’ For thus, monks, should you train. The Ninth. 10. The Discourse on the Cat 232. (The Blessed One) was staying at Sāvatthī. Now at that time, a certain monk was excessively frequenting families. The monks said to him thus: “Venerable sir, do not excessively frequent families.” But that monk, though spoken to by the monks, did not desist. Then many monks approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said to the Blessed One: “Here, venerable sir, a certain monk excessively frequents families. The monks said to him thus: ‘Venerable sir, do not excessively frequent families.’ But that monk, though spoken to by the monks, does not desist.” “Formerly, monks, a cat stood by a drain, a refuse heap, seeking a soft mouse – ‘When this soft mouse goes out to forage, right there I will seize it and eat it.’ Then, monks, that soft mouse went out to forage. The cat, having seized it, quickly devoured it. ate it. That soft mouse ate its intestines, ate its intestinal fat. From that cause, it met death, or suffering like death. "Just so, monks, some monk here, in the forenoon, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, enters a village or town for alms, with an unguarded body, with unguarded speech, with an unguarded mind, with unestablished mindfulness, with unrestrained faculties. There he sees a woman ill-dressed or ill-covered. Seeing that woman ill-dressed or ill-covered, lust assails his mind. With a mind assailed by lust, he meets death or suffering like death. This, monks, is death in the discipline of the Noble Ones: one who renounces the training and reverts to a lower state. This, monks, is suffering like death: that one incurs some defiling offense from which an emergence is known. Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves thus: 'With a guarded body, with guarded speech, with a guarded mind, with established mindfulness, with restrained faculties, we will enter a village or town for alms.' Thus, monks, you should train yourselves." The Tenth. 11. The Jackal Sutta 233. Dwelling at Sāvatthī... "Did you hear, monks, at night, at dawn, the old jackal howling?" "Yes, venerable sir." "That old jackal, monks, is afflicted with a disease called 'itchy scab.' Wherever it wants, it goes; wherever it wants, it stands; wherever it wants, it sits; wherever it wants, it lies down; even a cold wind blows upon it. It would be good for him, monks, if someone who professes to be a Sakyan son were to obtain such a body, you should experience it intensely. Therefore, bhikkhus, thus should you train: 'We will dwell heedfully.' For thus, bhikkhus, should you train. The Eleventh. 12. The Second Jackal Discourse 234. He was dwelling at Savatthi... "Did you hear, bhikkhus, in the night, at dawn, the old jackal howling?" "Yes, venerable sir." "It might be, bhikkhus, that in that old jackal there is some gratitude, some sense of obligation, but not in some here who profess to be sons of the Sakyan, is there any gratitude, any sense of obligation. Therefore, bhikkhus, thus should you train: 'We will be grateful, mindful of what has been done; and not even a little of what has been done for us will perish.' For thus, bhikkhus, should you train." The Twelfth. The Connected Discourses on Similes is finished. The Summary of That: Peak, Fingernail, Family, Pot, Spear, Archer; Peg, Log, Elephant, Cat, two Jackals.