Majjhima Nikāya — Discursos Médios — 15 — Measuring Up

1So I have heard. At one time Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile’s Bellow, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood. There Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, mendicants!”

2“Reverend,” they replied. Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:

3“Suppose a mendicant invites other mendicants to admonish them. But they’re hard to admonish, having qualities that make them hard to admonish. They’re impatient, and don’t take instruction respectfully. So their spiritual companions don’t think it’s worth advising and instructing them, and that individual doesn’t gain their trust.

4And what are the qualities that make them hard to admonish? Firstly, a mendicant has corrupt wishes, having fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. This is a quality that makes them difficult to admonish.

5Furthermore, a mendicant glorifies themselves and puts others down. …

6They’re irritable, overcome by anger …

7They’re irritable, and acrimonious due to anger …

8They’re irritable, and stubborn due to anger …

9They’re irritable, and blurt out words bordering on anger …

10When accused, they object to the accuser …

11When accused, they rebuke the accuser …

12When accused, they retort to the accuser …

13When accused, they dodge the issue, distract the discussion with irrelevant points, and display annoyance, hate, and bitterness …

14When accused, they are unable to account for the evidence …

15They are offensive and contemptuous …

16They’re jealous and stingy …

17They’re devious and deceitful …

18They’re obstinate and arrogant …

19Furthermore, a mendicant is attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go. This too is a quality that makes them difficult to admonish.

20These are the qualities that make them hard to admonish.

21Suppose a mendicant doesn’t invite other mendicants to admonish them. But they’re easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They’re accepting, and take instruction respectfully. So their spiritual companions think it’s worth advising and instructing them, and that individual gains their trust.

22And what are the qualities that make them easy to admonish? Firstly, a mendicant doesn’t have corrupt wishes …

37Furthermore, a mendicant isn’t attached to their own views, not holding them tight, but letting them go easily.

38These are the qualities that make them easy to admonish.

39In such a case, a mendicant should measure themselves like this. ‘This individual has corrupt wishes, having fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. And I don’t like or approve of this individual. And if I were to fall under the sway of corrupt wishes, others wouldn’t like or approve of me.’ A mendicant who knows this should give rise to the thought: ‘I will not fall under the sway of corrupt wishes.’ …

54‘This individual is attached to their own views, holding them tight and refusing to let go. And I don’t like or approve of this individual. And if I were to be attached to my own views, holding them tight and refusing to let go, others wouldn’t like or approve of me.’ A mendicant who knows this should give rise to the thought: ‘I will not be attached to my own views, holding them tight, but will let them go easily.’

55In such a case, a mendicant should check themselves like this: ‘Do I have corrupt wishes? Have I fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes?’ Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they have fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. Then they should make an effort to give up those bad, unskillful qualities. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they haven’t fallen under the sway of corrupt wishes. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities. …

70Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they are attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go. Then they should make an effort to give up those bad, unskillful qualities. Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows that they’re not attached to their own views, holding them tight, but let them go easily. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities.

71Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they haven’t given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should make an effort to give them all up. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they have given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities.

72Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and they check their own reflection in a clean bright mirror or a clear bowl of water. If they see any dirt or blemish there, they’d try to remove it. But if they don’t see any dirt or blemish there, they’re happy, thinking: ‘How fortunate that I’m clean!’

73In the same way, suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they haven’t given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should make an effort to give them all up. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant sees that they have given up all these bad, unskillful qualities. Then they should meditate with rapture and joy, training day and night in skillful qualities.”

74That is what Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what Mahāmoggallāna said.