Majjhima Nikāya 78

The Middle-Length Suttas Collection 78

Samaṇamuṇḍikasutta

With Uggāhamāna Samaṇamuṇḍika

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena uggāhamāno paribbājako samaṇamuṇḍikāputto samayappavādake tindukācīre ekasālake mallikāya ārāme paṭivasati mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ pañcamattehi paribbājakasatehi.

Now at that time the wanderer Uggāhamāna Samaṇamuṇḍikāputta was residing together with around three hundred wanderers in Mallikā’s single-halled monastery for philosophical debates, hedged by pale-moon ebony trees.

Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati sāvatthiyā nikkhami divā divassa bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Atha kho pañcakaṅgassa thapatissa etadahosi: “akālo kho tāva bhagavantaṁ dassanāya; paṭisallīno bhagavā. Manobhāvaniyānampi bhikkhūnaṁ asamayo dassanāya; paṭisallīnā manobhāvaniyā bhikkhū. Yannūnāhaṁ yena samayappavādako tindukācīro ekasālako mallikāya ārāmo yena uggāhamāno paribbājako samaṇamuṇḍikāputto tenupasaṅkameyyan”ti. Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati yena samayappavādako tindukācīro ekasālako mallikāya ārāmo yena uggāhamāno paribbājako samaṇamuṇḍikāputto tenupasaṅkami.

Then the master builder Pañcakaṅga left Sāvatthī in the middle of the day to see the Buddha. It occurred to him, “It’s the wrong time to see the Buddha, as he’s in retreat. And it’s the wrong time to see the esteemed bhikkhus, as they’re in retreat. Why don’t I go to Mallikā’s monastery to visit the wanderer Uggāhamāna?” So that’s what he did.

Tena kho pana samayena uggāhamāno paribbājako samaṇamuṇḍikāputto mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ nisinno hoti unnādiniyā uccāsaddamahāsaddāya anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentiyā, seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ mahāmattakathaṁ senākathaṁ bhayakathaṁ yuddhakathaṁ annakathaṁ pānakathaṁ vatthakathaṁ sayanakathaṁ mālākathaṁ gandhakathaṁ ñātikathaṁ yānakathaṁ gāmakathaṁ nigamakathaṁ nagarakathaṁ janapadakathaṁ itthikathaṁ sūrakathaṁ visikhākathaṁ kumbhaṭṭhānakathaṁ pubbapetakathaṁ nānattakathaṁ lokakkhāyikaṁ samuddakkhāyikaṁ itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā.

Now at that time, Uggāhamāna was sitting together with a large assembly of wanderers making an uproar, a dreadful racket. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; street talk and well talk; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that state of existence.

Addasā kho uggāhamāno paribbājako samaṇamuṇḍikāputto pañcakaṅgaṁ thapatiṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna sakaṁ parisaṁ saṇṭhāpesi: “appasaddā bhonto hontu, mā bhonto saddamakattha; ayaṁ samaṇassa gotamassa sāvako āgacchati pañcakaṅgo thapati. Yāvatā kho pana samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakā gihī odātavasanā sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasanti ayaṁ tesaṁ aññataro pañcakaṅgo thapati. Appasaddakāmā kho pana te āyasmanto appasaddavinītā appasaddassa vaṇṇavādino; appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti. Atha kho te paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.

Uggāhamāna saw Pañcakaṅga coming off in the distance, and hushed his own assembly, “Be quiet, good sirs, don’t make a sound. Here comes Pañcakaṅga, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama. He is included among the white-clothed lay disciples of the ascetic Gotama, who is residing in Sāvatthī. Such venerables like the quiet, are educated to be quiet, and praise the quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.” Then those wanderers fell silent.

Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati yena uggāhamāno paribbājako samaṇamuṇḍikāputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā uggāhamānena paribbājakena samaṇamuṇḍikāputtena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho pañcakaṅgaṁ thapatiṁ uggāhamāno paribbājako samaṇamuṇḍikāputto etadavoca:

Then Pañcakaṅga approached Uggāhamāna, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. Uggāhamāna said to him:

“catūhi kho ahaṁ, gahapati, dhammehi samannāgataṁ purisapuggalaṁ paññapemi sampannakusalaṁ paramakusalaṁ uttamapattipattaṁ samaṇaṁ ayojjhaṁ. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, gahapati, na kāyena pāpakammaṁ karoti, na pāpakaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati, na pāpakaṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti, na pāpakaṁ ājīvaṁ ājīvati—imehi kho ahaṁ, gahapati, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ purisapuggalaṁ paññapemi sampannakusalaṁ paramakusalaṁ uttamapattipattaṁ samaṇaṁ ayojjhan”ti.

“Householder, when an individual has four qualities I describe them as an invincible ascetic—accomplished in the skillful, excelling in the skillful, attained to the highest attainment. What four? It’s when they do no bad deeds with their body; speak no bad words; think no bad thoughts; and don’t earn a living by bad livelihood. When an individual has these four qualities I describe them as an invincible ascetic.”

Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati uggāhamānassa paribbājakassa samaṇamuṇḍikāputtassa bhāsitaṁ neva abhinandi nappaṭikkosi. Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi: “bhagavato santike etassa bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānissāmī”ti.

Then Pañcakaṅga neither approved nor dismissed that bhikkhu’s statement. He got up from his seat, thinking, “I will learn the meaning of this statement from the Buddha himself.”

Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho pañcakaṅgo thapati yāvatako ahosi uggāhamānena paribbājakena samaṇamuṇḍikāputtena saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.

Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all that had been discussed.

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā pañcakaṅgaṁ thapatiṁ etadavoca: “evaṁ sante kho, thapati, daharo kumāro mando uttānaseyyako sampannakusalo bhavissati paramakusalo uttamapattipatto samaṇo ayojjho, yathā uggāhamānassa paribbājakassa samaṇamuṇḍikāputtassa vacanaṁ. Daharassa hi, thapati, kumārassa mandassa uttānaseyyakassa kāyotipi na hoti, kuto pana kāyena pāpakammaṁ karissati, aññatra phanditamattā. Daharassa hi, thapati, kumārassa mandassa uttānaseyyakassa vācātipi na hoti, kuto pana pāpakaṁ vācaṁ bhāsissati, aññatra roditamattā. Daharassa hi, thapati, kumārassa mandassa uttānaseyyakassa saṅkappotipi na hoti, kuto pana pāpakaṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappissati, aññatra vikūjitamattā. Daharassa hi, thapati, kumārassa mandassa uttānaseyyakassa ājīvotipi na hoti, kuto pana pāpakaṁ ājīvaṁ ājīvissati, aññatra mātuthaññā. Evaṁ sante kho, thapati, daharo kumāro mando uttānaseyyako sampannakusalo bhavissati paramakusalo uttamapattipatto samaṇo ayojjho, yathā uggāhamānassa paribbājakassa samaṇamuṇḍikāputtassa vacanaṁ.

When he had spoken, the Buddha said to him, “Master builder, if what Uggāhamāna says is true, a little baby boy is an invincible ascetic—accomplished in the skillful, excelling in the skillful, attained to the highest attainment. For a little baby doesn’t even have a concept of ‘a body’, so how could they possibly do a bad deed with their body, apart from just wriggling? And a little baby doesn’t even have a concept of ‘speech’, so how could they possibly speak bad words, apart from just crying? And a little baby doesn’t even have a concept of ‘thought’, so how could they possibly think bad thoughts, apart from just whimpering? And a little baby doesn’t even have a concept of ‘livelihood’, so how could they possibly earn a living by bad livelihood, apart from their mother’s breast? If what Uggāhamāna says is true, a little baby boy is an invincible ascetic—accomplished in the skillful, excelling in the skillful, attained to the highest attainment.

Catūhi kho ahaṁ, thapati, dhammehi samannāgataṁ purisapuggalaṁ paññapemi na ceva sampannakusalaṁ na paramakusalaṁ na uttamapattipattaṁ samaṇaṁ ayojjhaṁ, api cimaṁ daharaṁ kumāraṁ mandaṁ uttānaseyyakaṁ samadhigayha tiṭṭhati. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, thapati, na kāyena pāpakammaṁ karoti, na pāpakaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati, na pāpakaṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti, na pāpakaṁ ājīvaṁ ājīvati—imehi kho ahaṁ, thapati, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ purisapuggalaṁ paññapemi na ceva sampannakusalaṁ na paramakusalaṁ na uttamapattipattaṁ samaṇaṁ ayojjhaṁ, api cimaṁ daharaṁ kumāraṁ mandaṁ uttānaseyyakaṁ samadhigayha tiṭṭhati.

When an individual has four qualities I describe them, not as an invincible ascetic—accomplished in the skillful, excelling in the skillful, attained to the highest attainment—but as having achieved the same level as a little baby. What four? It’s when they do no bad deeds with their body; speak no bad words; think no bad thoughts; and don’t earn a living by bad livelihood. When an individual has these four qualities I describe them, not as an invincible ascetic, but as having achieved the same level as a little baby.

Dasahi kho ahaṁ, thapati, dhammehi samannāgataṁ purisapuggalaṁ paññapemi sampannakusalaṁ paramakusalaṁ uttamapattipattaṁ samaṇaṁ ayojjhaṁ.

When an individual has ten qualities, master builder, I describe them as an invincible ascetic—accomplished in the skillful, excelling in the skillful, attained to the highest attainment.

Ime akusalā sīlā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Itosamuṭṭhānā akusalā sīlā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Idha akusalā sīlā aparisesā nirujjhanti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Evaṁ paṭipanno akusalānaṁ sīlānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi.

But certain things must first be understood, I say. ‘These are unskillful behaviors.’ ‘Unskillful behaviors stem from this.’ ‘Here unskillful behaviors cease without anything left over.’ ‘Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of unskillful behaviors.’

Ime kusalā sīlā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Itosamuṭṭhānā kusalā sīlā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Idha kusalā sīlā aparisesā nirujjhanti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Evaṁ paṭipanno kusalānaṁ sīlānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi.

‘These are skillful behaviors.’ ‘Skillful behaviors stem from this.’ ‘Here skillful behaviors cease without anything left over.’ ‘Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of skillful behaviors.’

Ime akusalā saṅkappā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Itosamuṭṭhānā akusalā saṅkappā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Idha akusalā saṅkappā aparisesā nirujjhanti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Evaṁ paṭipanno akusalānaṁ saṅkappānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi.

‘These are unskillful thoughts.’ ‘Unskillful thoughts stem from this.’ ‘Here unskillful thoughts cease without anything left over.’ ‘Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of unskillful thoughts.’

Ime kusalā saṅkappā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Itosamuṭṭhānā kusalā saṅkappā; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Idha kusalā saṅkappā aparisesā nirujjhanti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi. Evaṁ paṭipanno kusalānaṁ saṅkappānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti; tamahaṁ, thapati, veditabbanti vadāmi.

‘These are skillful thoughts.’ ‘Skillful thoughts stem from this.’ ‘Here skillful thoughts cease without anything left over.’ ‘Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of skillful thoughts.’

Katame ca, thapati, akusalā sīlā? Akusalaṁ kāyakammaṁ, akusalaṁ vacīkammaṁ, pāpako ājīvo—ime vuccanti, thapati, akusalā sīlā.

And what, master builder, are unskillful behaviors? Unskillful deeds by way of body and speech, and bad livelihood. These are called unskillful behaviors.

Ime ca, thapati, akusalā sīlā kiṁsamuṭṭhānā? Samuṭṭhānampi nesaṁ vuttaṁ. ‘Cittasamuṭṭhānā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Katamaṁ cittaṁ? Cittampi hi bahuṁ anekavidhaṁ nānappakārakaṁ. Yaṁ cittaṁ sarāgaṁ sadosaṁ samohaṁ, itosamuṭṭhānā akusalā sīlā.

And where do these unskillful behaviors stem from? Where they stem from has been stated. You should say that they stem from the mind. What mind? The mind takes many and diverse forms. But unskillful behaviors stem from a mind that has greed, hate, and delusion.

Ime ca, thapati, akusalā sīlā kuhiṁ aparisesā nirujjhanti? Nirodhopi nesaṁ vutto. Idha, thapati, bhikkhu kāyaduccaritaṁ pahāya kāyasucaritaṁ bhāveti, vacīduccaritaṁ pahāya vacīsucaritaṁ bhāveti, manoduccaritaṁ pahāya manosucaritaṁ bhāveti, micchājīvaṁ pahāya sammājīvena jīvitaṁ kappeti—etthete akusalā sīlā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

And where do these unskillful behaviors cease without anything left over? Their cessation has also been stated. It’s when a bhikkhu gives up bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and develops good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind; they give up wrong livelihood and earn a living by right livelihood. This is where these unskillful behaviors cease without anything left over.

Kathaṁ paṭipanno, thapati, akusalānaṁ sīlānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti? Idha, thapati, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Evaṁ paṭipanno kho, thapati, akusalānaṁ sīlānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.

And how is someone practicing for the cessation of unskillful behaviors? It’s when a bhikkhu generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise. They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are completed by development. Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of unskillful behaviors.

Katame ca, thapati, kusalā sīlā? Kusalaṁ kāyakammaṁ, kusalaṁ vacīkammaṁ, ājīvaparisuddhampi kho ahaṁ, thapati, sīlasmiṁ vadāmi. Ime vuccanti, thapati, kusalā sīlā.

And what are skillful behaviors? Skillful deeds by way of body and speech, and purified livelihood are included in behavior, I say. These are called skillful behaviors.

Ime ca, thapati, kusalā sīlā kiṁsamuṭṭhānā? Samuṭṭhānampi nesaṁ vuttaṁ. ‘Cittasamuṭṭhānā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Katamaṁ cittaṁ? Cittampi hi bahuṁ anekavidhaṁ nānappakārakaṁ. Yaṁ cittaṁ vītarāgaṁ vītadosaṁ vītamohaṁ, itosamuṭṭhānā kusalā sīlā.

And where do these skillful behaviors stem from? Where they stem from has been stated. You should say that they stem from the mind. What mind? The mind takes many and diverse forms. But skillful behaviors stem from a mind that is free from greed, hate, and delusion.

Ime ca, thapati, kusalā sīlā kuhiṁ aparisesā nirujjhanti? Nirodhopi nesaṁ vutto. Idha, thapati, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti no ca sīlamayo, tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; yatthassa te kusalā sīlā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

And where do these skillful behaviors cease without anything left over? Their cessation has also been stated. It’s when a bhikkhu behaves ethically, but they don’t identify with their ethical behavior. And they truly understand the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where these skillful behaviors cease without anything left over.

Kathaṁ paṭipanno ca, thapati, kusalānaṁ sīlānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti? Idha, thapati, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya …pe… anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya …pe… uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Evaṁ paṭipanno kho, thapati, kusalānaṁ sīlānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.

And how is someone practicing for the cessation of skillful behaviors? It’s when a bhikkhu generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise … so that unskillful qualities are given up … so that skillful qualities arise … so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development. Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of skillful behaviors.

Katame ca, thapati, akusalā saṅkappā? Kāmasaṅkappo, byāpādasaṅkappo, vihiṁsāsaṅkappo—ime vuccanti, thapati, akusalā saṅkappā.

And what are unskillful thoughts? Thoughts of sensuality, of malice, and of cruelty. These are called unskillful thoughts.

Ime ca, thapati, akusalā saṅkappā kiṁsamuṭṭhānā? Samuṭṭhānampi nesaṁ vuttaṁ. ‘Saññāsamuṭṭhānā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Katamā saññā? Saññāpi hi bahū anekavidhā nānappakārakā. Kāmasaññā, byāpādasaññā, vihiṁsāsaññā—itosamuṭṭhānā akusalā saṅkappā.

And where do these unskillful thoughts stem from? Where they stem from has been stated. You should say that they stem from perception. What perception? Perception takes many and diverse forms. Perceptions of sensuality, malice, and cruelty—unskillful thoughts stem from this.

Ime ca, thapati, akusalā saṅkappā kuhiṁ aparisesā nirujjhanti? Nirodhopi nesaṁ vutto. Idha, thapati, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; etthete akusalā saṅkappā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

And where do these unskillful thoughts cease without anything left over? Their cessation has also been stated. It’s when a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first jhāna, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is where these unskillful thoughts cease without anything left over.

Kathaṁ paṭipanno ca, thapati, akusalānaṁ saṅkappānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti? Idha, thapati, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya …pe… anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya …pe… uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Evaṁ paṭipanno kho, thapati, akusalānaṁ saṅkappānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.

And how is someone practicing for the cessation of unskillful thoughts? It’s when a bhikkhu generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise … so that unskillful qualities are given up … so that skillful qualities arise … so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development. Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of unskillful thoughts.

Katame ca, thapati, kusalā saṅkappā? Nekkhammasaṅkappo, abyāpādasaṅkappo, avihiṁsāsaṅkappo—ime vuccanti, thapati, kusalā saṅkappā.

And what are skillful thoughts? Thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. These are called skillful thoughts.

Ime ca, thapati, kusalā saṅkappā kiṁsamuṭṭhānā? Samuṭṭhānampi nesaṁ vuttaṁ. ‘Saññāsamuṭṭhānā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Katamā saññā? Saññāpi hi bahū anekavidhā nānappakārakā. Nekkhammasaññā, abyāpādasaññā, avihiṁsāsaññā—itosamuṭṭhānā kusalā saṅkappā.

And where do these skillful thoughts stem from? Where they stem from has been stated. You should say that they stem from perception. What perception? Perception takes many and diverse forms. Perceptions of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness—skillful thoughts stem from this.

Ime ca, thapati, kusalā saṅkappā kuhiṁ aparisesā nirujjhanti? Nirodhopi nesaṁ vutto. Idha, thapati, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; etthete kusalā saṅkappā aparisesā nirujjhanti.

And where do these skillful thoughts cease without anything left over? Their cessation has also been stated. It’s when, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a bhikkhu enters and remains in the second jhāna, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is where these skillful thoughts cease without anything left over.

Kathaṁ paṭipanno ca, thapati, kusalānaṁ saṅkappānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti? Idha, thapati, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati; uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya …pe… anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya …pe… uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Evaṁ paṭipanno kho, thapati, kusalānaṁ saṅkappānaṁ nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.

And how is someone practicing for the cessation of skillful thoughts? It’s when a bhikkhu generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise … so that unskillful qualities are given up … so that skillful qualities arise … so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development. Someone practicing like this is practicing for the cessation of skillful thoughts.

Katamehi cāhaṁ, thapati, dasahi dhammehi samannāgataṁ purisapuggalaṁ paññapemi sampannakusalaṁ paramakusalaṁ uttamapattipattaṁ samaṇaṁ ayojjhaṁ? Idha, thapati, bhikkhu asekhāya sammādiṭṭhiyā samannāgato hoti, asekhena sammāsaṅkappena samannāgato hoti, asekhāya sammāvācāya samannāgato hoti, asekhena sammākammantena samannāgato hoti, asekhena sammāājīvena samannāgato hoti, asekhena sammāvāyāmena samannāgato hoti, asekhāya sammāsatiyā samannāgato hoti, asekhena sammāsamādhinā samannāgato hoti, asekhena sammāñāṇena samannāgato hoti, asekhāya sammāvimuttiyā samannāgato hoti—imehi kho ahaṁ, thapati, dasahi dhammehi samannāgataṁ purisapuggalaṁ paññapemi sampannakusalaṁ paramakusalaṁ uttamapattipattaṁ samaṇaṁ ayojjhan”ti.

Master builder, when an individual has what ten qualities do I describe them as an invincible ascetic—accomplished in the skillful, excelling in the skillful, attained to the highest attainment? It’s when a bhikkhu has an adept’s right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right immersion, right knowledge, and right freedom. When an individual has these ten qualities, I describe them as an invincible ascetic—accomplished in the skillful, excelling in the skillful, attained to the highest attainment.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano pañcakaṅgo thapati bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Pañcakaṅga the master builder was happy with what the Buddha said.

Samaṇamuṇḍikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.