English
" Just as the measure of the great ocean is difficult to take, so too is the measure of one endowed with these good qualities difficult to take. He becomes one who can be asked, "Is he a non-returner, or is he a perfected one?" Therefore, he is called "difficultly measurable." 120. Impossible to measure is "immeasurable." Just as it is impossible to take the measure of the sky, so it is with a perfected one. Therefore, he is called "immeasurable." 121. Among "not to be associated with" and the like – "not to be associated with" means not to be approached. "Not to be cultivated" means not to be clung to. "Not to be attended upon" means not to be repeatedly attended upon by sitting nearby. Among "inferior in virtue" and the like, inferiority should be understood by taking up and taking up. For he who keeps the five precepts is not to be associated with by one who keeps the ten precepts. But he who keeps the ten precepts is not to be associated with by one who keeps the fourfold purity of virtue. Except for compassion, except for sympathy, setting aside compassion and sympathy. Indeed, such a person is not to be associated with for one's own sake. But it is fitting to approach him out of compassion and sympathy. 122. "Is similar" means is equal. "Of beings who have attained similarity in virtue" means of the lineage of beings who have attained equality in virtue. "And there will be a discussion of virtue for us" means for us who are equal in virtue, there will be a discussion focusing on virtue itself. "And that will be comfortable for us" means that discussion of virtue will be a comfortable dwelling, a happy dwelling for us. "And that will be continuous for us" means that discussion of ours will be continuous even if we speak for a day, not pa. He will be disgraced. For when two virtuous people discuss the virtues of morality, one speaks of morality's qualities, and the other approves; therefore, their discussion is both easy and continuous. But if there is one immoral person, the talk of morality is bad talk, so there is no talk of morality, it is not easy, and it is not continuous. The same method applies to discussions of concentration and wisdom. Indeed, two who have attained concentration, discussing concentration, and the wise discussing wisdom, do not even know when night or day has passed. 123. By honoring and respecting means by doing honor and respect. Adhiko hoti means he is superior. Sīlakkhandhaṃ means the mass of morality. Paripūressāmīti means, relying on that person of superior morality, I will fill my own incomplete mass of morality to completion. Tattha tattha paññāya anuggahessāmīti means, here, avoiding things that are unsuitable and unhelpful to morality and cultivating things that are suitable and helpful, in that place, he supports the mass of morality with wisdom. The same method applies to the aggregates of concentration and wisdom. 124. Among jigucchitabba, etc. – jigucchitabbo means to be shunned like excrement. Atha kho nanti means then indeed. Kittisaddo means the sound of talk. Evamevanti means here, immorality should be seen like a pit of excrement. A person of immorality is like a snake fallen into a pit of excrement. Just as the body of a man is not bitten even when a snake being lifted from a pit of excrement crawls upon it, so too, the fact that the action of one who cultivates immorality is not the cause [of harm]. Just as the time when the snake has gone after smearing the body with excrement, so too should be understood the time of the rise of the sound of bad reputation of one who cultivates immorality. 125. Tindukālātaṃ means a firebrand of a Tinduka tree. Bhiyyoso mattāya cicciṭāyatīti means that, while burning, naturally emits sparks and makes a cicciṭāyati, a ciṭiciṭā sound. But when rubbed, it does so excessively, is the meaning. Evamevanti means just so, an angry person, by his very nature, behaves arrogantly and fiercely. But even a small "This person, at the time of speaking, excessively arrogant and fierce, behaves as if saying, 'It is I who am so-and-so who speaks thus.'" A cesspool means a pit full of excrement, or simply a heap of excrement. The comparison here should be understood in the same way as before. Therefore, such a person should be ignored, not associated with, because even if a wrathful person is excessively served or approached, he becomes angry; even if one withdraws, thinking, "What is the use of this?", he becomes angry. Therefore, like a straw fire, he should be ignored, not associated with. What is meant? Whoever approaches a straw fire too closely gets burned. Whoever withdraws too far from it does not get warm. But whoever warms himself by neither approaching nor withdrawing, but maintaining a middle course, gets warm and his body is not burned. Therefore, like a straw fire, a wrathful person should be ignored with a middle attitude, not associated with, not cultivated, not waited upon. 126. A good friend means a true friend. A good companion means a true companion. A companion means one who goes together, who travels together. Good inclination means inclination towards good, towards pure individuals, meaning one whose mind is inclined, bent, and leaning towards them. 127. Regarding "perfecting in virtue," etc. - "Perfecting in virtue" means these noble disciples, those four great precepts of morality, which are the origin of the path of the holy life, the initial holy life, known as the pārājikas, by not transgressing them, and by rising from the minor and trivial offenses that occur, whatever is to be done in virtue, they do it completely and perfectly, therefore they are called "perfecting in virtue." However, because the sensual desire and ill-will that obstruct concentration, and the delusion that conceals the truth and obstructs wisdom, have not been eradicated, even though they cultivate concentration and wisdom, they only do a little, a measure, a portion of what is to be done in concentration and wisdom, therefore they are called "doing a little in concentration and wisdom." In this way, the others... In these two methods, the meaning should be understood. Here is another method from the suttas: "Here, monks, a bhikkhu is fully accomplished in virtue, moderate in concentration, moderate in wisdom. He may commit minor offenses, and recover from them. Why is that? Because, monks, inability is not declared here. But those precepts that are fundamental to the holy life, that are the essence of the holy life, therein he is steadfast in virtue, firm in virtue, and trains himself in the precepts. He, by the destruction of three fetters, is a stream-enterer, not subject to falling, assured, destined for enlightenment. Here, monks, a bhikkhu is… He, by the destruction of three fetters, and the attenuation of greed, hatred, and delusion, is a once-returner; having returned to this world only once, he makes an end of suffering. Here, monks, a bhikkhu is fully accomplished in virtue, fully accomplished in concentration, moderate in wisdom. He… trains himself in the precepts. He, by the destruction of the five lower fetters… not subject to returning from that world. Here, monks, a bhikkhu is fully accomplished in virtue, fully accomplished in concentration, fully accomplished in wisdom. He… trains himself in the precepts. He, by the destruction of the defilements… attains and dwells." 130. In the designation of a teacher: "Declares complete understanding" means declares abandonment, transcendence. There, among those three people. "Should be seen by him" means by that declaration, that teacher is seen as an attainer of the form-realm attainments. The same method applies in the second instance. The Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, the teacher, should be seen by that declaration, unique to him, this third teacher, the All-Knowing Buddha, should be seen. For the sectarians, declaring complete understanding of desires, will describe the form realm. Declaring complete understanding of forms, will describe the formless realm. Declaring complete understanding of feelings, Asserting non-comprehension, they declare an unconscious existence. Asserting correctly, 'thus should they assert,' but they cannot assert correctly. But the Perfectly Enlightened One declares the full comprehension and abandonment of desires through the path of the Non-Returner. He declares the full comprehension and abandonment of forms and feelings through the path of Arahantship. These three are teachers - these two people are external, one is the Perfectly Enlightened One - in this world, there are three teachers. 131. In the second section on teachers - "in what is seen and in the Dhamma" means in this existence. "He asserts himself as true and steadfast" means he asserts, as truly and firmly existing, "there is a self, permanent, stable, eternal." "And in the next world" means in another existence, he asserts in the same way. The rest here should be understood in the same way as stated before. Explanation of the Section on Threes. 4. Explanation of the Section on Fours 132. In the section on fours - "an inferior person" means a base person. "He takes life" means he is a taker of life. "He takes what is not given" means he is a taker of what is not given. "He engages in misconduct in sensual pleasures" means he is one who engages in misconduct in sensual pleasures. "He speaks falsely" means he is a liar. "He stands in intoxication and negligence from liquor, wine, and intoxicants" means he is one who stands in intoxication and negligence from liquor, wine, and intoxicants. 133. "He incites to the taking of life" means just as he takes life, so he causes another to take it. The same method applies to the rest. "This one is called" means this kind of person, because he is endowed with his own unwholesome conduct and also what he has caused another to do, is heir to half of it, therefore he is called an inferior person, more inferior than an inferior person.