English
‘‘Here, one thrives with faith and with virtue, With wisdom, with generosity, and with learning, both; Such a good person, discerning, Thrives in both ways in this very life.’’ The fourth. 5. The Migasālā Sutta 75. At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then, in the forenoon, the venerable Ānanda dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, went to the dwelling of the lay follower Migasālā; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then the lay follower Migasālā approached the venerable Ānanda; having approached, and having saluted the venerable Ānanda, she sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the lay follower Migasālā said to the venerable Ānanda: ‘‘How, venerable Ānanda, is this Dhamma taught by the Blessed One to be understood, where a celibate and a non-celibate both have the same destination in the future life? My father, venerable sir, Purāṇa, was a celibate, far removed [from misconduct], abstaining from sexual, village-life conduct. He, having passed away, was declared by the Blessed One: ‘A once-returner being, reborn in the Tusita realm.’ My grandfather, venerable sir, Isidatta, was a non-celibate, content with his own wife. He too, having passed away, was declared by the Blessed One: ‘A once-returner being, reborn in the Tusita realm.’ ‘‘How, venerable Ānanda, is this Dhamma taught by the Blessed One to be understood, where a celibate and a non-celibate both have the same destination in the future life?’’ ‘‘Indeed, sister, it has been declared thus by the Blessed One.’’ Then the venerable Ānanda, having received alms food at the dwelling of the lay follower Migasālā, rose from his seat and departed. Then the venerable Ā Then Ananda, after his meal, returning from his alms round, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, Venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: "Here, venerable sir, in the morning, having dressed, and taken my bowl and robe, I approached the dwelling of the lay follower Migasala. Having approached, I sat down on the seat prepared. Then, venerable sir, the lay follower Migasala approached me. Having approached, she bowed to me and sat down to one side. As she sat to one side, venerable sir, the lay follower Migasala said to me: 'How, venerable Ananda, is this Dhamma taught by the Blessed One to be understood, when a celibate and a non-celibate both have the same destination in the next world? My father, venerable sir, was formerly a celibate, one who kept aloof, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the village-dhamma. When he died, the Blessed One declared him to be a once-returner, reborn in the Tusita realm. My grandfather, venerable sir, Isidatta, was not celibate, content with his own wife. When he died, the Blessed One also declared him to be a once-returner, reborn in the Tusita realm. How, venerable Ananda, is this Dhamma taught by the Blessed One to be understood, when a celibate and a non-celibate both have the same destination in the next world?' When this was said, venerable sir, I said to the lay follower Migasala: 'Indeed, sister, this is what the Blessed One has declared.'" "What, Ananda, is the lay follower Migasala? She is foolish, unskilled, an ignorant one, with ignorant wisdom. And what is her knowledge of the dispositions of persons? These ten persons, Ananda, exist, are found in the world. Which ten? Here, Ananda, a certain person is immoral. And he does not understand as it actually is that liberation of mind, that liberation through wisdom, where his immorality... completely ceases. For him, by hearing, it is not done, by much learning, it is not done, by view, it is not penetrated, nor does he attain temporary liberation. He, at the breaking up of the body, after death, goes to decline, not to distinction; he is one who goes to decline, not one who goes to distinction. Here, Ananda, some person is immoral. But he truly understands that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom where his immorality completely ceases. For him, by hearing, it is done, by much learning, it is done, by view, it is penetrated, and he attains temporary liberation. He, at the breaking up of the body, after death, goes to distinction, not to decline; he is one who goes to distinction, not one who goes to decline. There, Ananda, those who measure, measure thus: ‘For this one, these same qualities; for the other, these same qualities. Why is one of them inferior, and one superior?’ That, Ananda, is for their long-term harm and suffering. There, Ananda, this person who is immoral, but truly understands that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom where his immorality completely ceases. For him, by hearing, it is done, by much learning, it is done, by view, it is penetrated, and he attains temporary liberation. This person, Ananda, is more excellent and more superior than that former person. And why is that? Because, Ananda, the stream of Dhamma carries this person along. Who could know the difference, apart from the Tathagata! Therefore, Ananda, do not be those who measure persons, do not take measure of persons. For, Ananda, one who measures persons is harmed. Either I, Ananda, should measure persons, or one who is like me. Here, Ananda, some person is virtuous. But he does not truly understand that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom where his His virtue completely ceases. For him, by hearing, it is not done. By much learning, it is not done. By view, it is not penetrated. He does not gain temporary liberation. He, at the breaking up of the body, after death, goes to decline, not to distinction. He is one going to decline, not one going to distinction. Here, Ananda, some person is virtuous. And he truly understands that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, where his virtue completely ceases. For him, by hearing, it is done. By much learning, it is done. By view, it is penetrated. He gains temporary liberation. He, at the breaking up of the body, after death, goes to distinction, not to decline. He is one going to distinction, not one going to decline. There, Ananda, measurers measure... Or I, Ananda, would take the measure of persons, or one who is like me. Here, Ananda, some person has strong passion. And he does not truly understand that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, where his passion completely ceases. For him, by hearing, it is not done. By much learning, it is not done. By view, it is not penetrated. He does not gain temporary liberation. He, at the breaking up of the body, after death, goes to decline, not to distinction. He is one going to decline, not one going to distinction. Here, Ananda, some person has strong passion. And he truly understands that liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, where his passion completely ceases. For him, by hearing, it is done. By much learning, it is done. By view, it is penetrated. He gains temporary liberation. He, at the breaking up of the body, after death, goes to distinction, not to decline. He is one going to distinction, not one going to decline. There, Ananda, measurers measure... Or I, Ananda, would take the measure of persons, or one who is like me. Here, Ananda, some person is angry. And that liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, as He does not know truly where his anger ceases without remainder. For him, by hearing, it is not done. By much learning, it is not done. By view, it is not penetrated. Even temporary liberation he does not obtain. After the body's breaking, after death, he goes to decline, not to distinction. He is one going to decline, not one going to distinction. Here, Ananda, some person is angry. And that liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, he knows truly where his anger ceases without remainder. For him, by hearing, it is done. By much learning, it is done. By view, it is penetrated. Even temporary liberation he obtains. After the body's breaking, after death, he goes to distinction, not to decline. He is one going to distinction, not one going to decline. There, Ananda, measurers measure... Or I, Ananda, might take a measure of persons, or one who is like me. Here, Ananda, some person is restless. And that liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, he does not know truly where his restlessness ceases without remainder. For him, by hearing, it is not done. By much learning, it is not done. By view, it is not penetrated. Even temporary liberation he does not obtain. After the body's breaking, after death, he goes to decline, not to distinction. He is one going to decline, not one going to distinction. Here, Ananda, some person is restless. And that liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, he knows truly where his restlessness ceases without remainder. For him, by hearing, it is done. By much learning, it is done. By view, it is penetrated. Even temporary liberation he obtains. After the body's breaking, after death, he goes to distinction, not to decline. He is one going to distinction, not one going to decline. There, Ananda, measurers measure – ‘For this one, these same qualities; for that one, these same qualities. Why is one of them inferior, and one superior?’ Indeed, Ananda, that for them is long-lasting... that is for harm, for suffering. “Ananda, there is this person who is agitated, and he truly understands mental liberation and wisdom liberation, where his agitation ceases without remainder. For him, it is done by listening, it is done by much learning, it is penetrated by view, and he attains temporary liberation. This person, Ananda, is more excellent and more refined than that former person. For what reason? Because, Ananda, the stream of Dhamma carries this person along. Who would know the difference, other than the Tathagata! Therefore, Ananda, do not be one who measures persons; do not take measure of persons. One who measures persons, Ananda, is crippled.