English
“Endowed with eight qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is fit to go as a messenger. With which eight? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is a listener, and a speaker, and a learner, and a rememberer, and an understander, and an explainer, and skilled in what is beneficial and unbeneficial, and not a quarrel-maker – endowed with these eight qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is fit to go as a messenger.” A qualified bhikkhu is fit to go on a mission. Endowed with eight qualities, bhikkhus, Sāriputta is fit to go on a mission. With which eight? Here, bhikkhus, Sāriputta is a listener, and an explainer, and a memorizer, and a retainer, and an understander, and an instructor, and skilled in what is beneficial and unbeneficial, and not a quarrel-maker. Endowed with these eight qualities, bhikkhus, Sāriputta is fit to go on a mission. Who indeed is not disturbed when he arrives, at an assembly of harsh speakers; And does not lose his word, And does not conceal the teaching. And speaks without doubt, When questioned, does not get angry; Such a bhikkhu indeed, is fit to go on a mission. The Sixth. 7. The First Discourse on Bonds 17. By eight ways, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man. By which eight? By weeping, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man; by laughter, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man; by speech, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man; by demeanor, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man; by adornment, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man; by scent, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man; by taste, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man; by touch, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man. By these eight ways, bhikkhus, a woman binds a man. Those beings, bhikkhus, are well-bound, who are bound by touch. The Seventh. 8. The Second Discourse on Bonds 18. By eight ways, bhikkhus, a man binds a woman. By which eight? By weeping, bhikkhus, a man binds a woman; by laughter, bhikkhus, a man binds a woman; by speech, bhik Monks, a man binds a woman with form; Monks, a man binds a woman with deportment; Monks, a man binds a woman with the breaking of a branch; Monks, a man binds a woman with scent; Monks, a man binds a woman with taste; Monks, a man binds a woman with touch. With these eight aspects, monks, a man binds a woman. Those beings, monks, are well-bound, who are bound by touch. The Eighth. 9. The Pahārāda Sutta 19. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Verañjā, at the root of a Naḷeru-pucimanda tree. Then Pahārāda, the lord of asuras, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. To Pahārāda, the lord of asuras, standing to one side, the Blessed One said this: “Do the asuras, Pahārāda, delight in the great ocean?” “They do delight, venerable sir, the asuras in the great ocean.” “How many, Pahārāda, are the wonderful and amazing things in the great ocean, which having seen, the asuras delight in the great ocean?” “There are eight, venerable sir, wonderful and amazing things in the great ocean, which having seen, the asuras delight in the great ocean. Which eight? The great ocean, venerable sir, gradually slopes, gradually inclines, gradually shelves, it does not have an abrupt drop. That, venerable sir, the great ocean gradually slopes, gradually inclines, gradually shelves, it does not have an abrupt drop. This, venerable sir, is the first wonderful and amazing thing in the great ocean, which having seen, the asuras delight in the great ocean. “Furthermore, venerable sir, the great ocean is constant in nature, it does not overflow its shore. That, venerable sir, the great ocean is constant in nature, it does not overflow its shore; this, venerable sir, is the second wonderful and amazing thing in the great ocean, which having seen, the asuras delight in the great ocean. “Furthermore, venerable sir, The great ocean does not dwell with a dead corpse. Whatever dead corpse is in the great ocean, that it quickly washes to the shore, it casts onto the land. And also, venerable sir, that the great ocean does not dwell with a dead corpse, whatever dead corpse is in the great ocean, that it quickly washes to the shore, it casts onto the land; this, venerable sir, is the third wonderful, astonishing quality in the great ocean, which, seeing again and again, the asuras delight in the great ocean. Furthermore, venerable sir, whatever great rivers there are, namely— the Ganga, Yamuna, Aciravati, Sarabhu, Mahi, they, having reached the great ocean, abandon their former names and lineages, and come to be reckoned as 'the great ocean' itself. And also, venerable sir, that whatever great rivers there are, namely— the Ganga, Yamuna, Aciravati, Sarabhu, Mahi, they, having reached the great ocean, abandon their former names and lineages, and come to be reckoned as 'the great ocean' itself; this, venerable sir, is the fourth wonderful, astonishing quality in the great ocean, which, seeing again and again, the asuras delight in the great ocean. Furthermore, venerable sir, whatever streams in the world flow into the great ocean, and whatever rain showers fall from the sky, by that, no deficiency or fullness of the great ocean is perceived. And also, venerable sir, that whatever streams in the world flow into the great ocean, and whatever rain showers fall from the sky, by that, no deficiency or fullness of the great ocean is perceived; this, venerable sir, is the fifth wonderful, astonishing quality in the great ocean, which, seeing again and again, the asuras delight in the great ocean. Furthermore, venerable sir, the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt. And also, venerable sir, that the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt; this, venerable sir, is the sixth wonderful, astonishing quality in the great ocean, which, seeing again and again, the asuras delight in the great ocean. “Furthermore, venerable sir, the great ocean is full of many jewels, of countless jewels. Therein are these jewels: pearl, gem, lapis lazuli, conch, rock, coral, silver, gold, ruby, and cat's-eye. That the great ocean, venerable sir, is full of many jewels, of countless jewels; therein are these jewels: pearl, gem, lapis lazuli, conch, rock, coral, silver, gold, ruby, and cat's-eye. This, venerable sir, is the seventh wonderful and amazing quality in the great ocean, which, seeing again and again, the Asuras delight in the great ocean. “Furthermore, venerable sir, the great ocean is the abode of mighty beings. Therein are these beings: Timi, Timingala, Timirapingala, Asuras, Nagas, Gandharvas. There are in the great ocean bodies a hundred leagues long, bodies two hundred leagues long, bodies three hundred leagues long, bodies four hundred leagues long, bodies five hundred leagues long. That the great ocean, venerable sir, is the abode of mighty beings; therein are these beings: Timi, Timingala, Timirapingala, Asuras, Nagas, Gandharvas; there are in the great ocean bodies a hundred leagues long… …two hundred… …three hundred… …four hundred… …five hundred leagues long. This, venerable sir, is the eighth wonderful and amazing quality in the great ocean, which, seeing again and again, the Asuras delight in the great ocean. These, venerable sir, are the eight wonderful and amazing qualities in the great ocean, which, seeing again and again, the Asuras delight in the great ocean.” “But, venerable sir, do the bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline?” “They delight, Pahārāda, the bhikkhus in this Dhamma and Discipline.” “How many, venerable sir, are the wonderful and amazing qualities in this Dhamma and Discipline, which, seeing again and again, the bhikkhus delight in this Dhamma and Discipline?” “There are eight, Pahārāda, wonderful and amazing qualities in this Dhamma and Discipline, , seeing which again and again, monks delight in this Dhamma and Discipline. Which are the eight? Just as, Pahārāda, the great ocean gradually slopes, gradually inclines, gradually shelves, it does not plunge abruptly; even so, Pahārāda, in this Dhamma and Discipline there is gradual training, gradual practice, gradual progress, there is no abrupt penetration of knowledge. That, Pahārāda, in this Dhamma and Discipline there is gradual training, gradual practice, gradual progress, there is no abrupt penetration of knowledge. This, Pahārāda, is the first wondrous, astonishing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again, monks delight in this Dhamma and Discipline. Just as, Pahārāda, the great ocean remains within its bounds, it does not overflow its shore; even so, Pahārāda, whatever training rule I have laid down for my disciples, my disciples do not transgress it even for the sake of life. That, Pahārāda, whatever training rule I have laid down for my disciples, my disciples do not transgress it even for the sake of life. This, Pahārāda, is the second wondrous, astonishing quality in this Dhamma and Discipline, seeing which again and again, monks delight in this Dhamma and Discipline. Just as, Pahārāda, the great ocean does not tolerate a dead corpse. Whatever dead corpse is in the great ocean, it quickly casts it ashore, it pushes it onto the land; even so, Pahārāda, that person who is immoral, of evil nature, impure in conduct, suspicious in behavior, secret in deeds, not a recluse, though claiming to be a recluse, not a celibate, though claiming to be a celibate, rotten within, leaking, a refuse heap, the Sangha does not tolerate him; they quickly gather and expel him. Even if he is sitting in the midst of the assembly of monks, yet he is far from the Sangha, and the Sangha from him. That, Pahārāda, that person who is immoral, of evil nature, impure in conduct, suspicious in behavior, secret in deeds, not a recluse, though claiming to be a recluse, not a celibate, though claiming to be a celibate, rotten within, A defiled, putrid thing, the Sangha does not dwell with him. Quickly they gather and cast him out. Even if he is seated in the midst of the community of bhikkhus, yet he is far from the Sangha, and the Sangha from him.