The Medium Discourses

Chapter 5: Related to Training

47. Precepts

1. Thus I have heard:[1] One time, the Buddha traveled to the country of Śrāvastī and stayed at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove.

2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “If a monk violates the precepts, that’s detrimental to having no regrets … gladness … joy … calmness … happiness … samādhi … true seeing and true knowing … disenchantment … lack of desire … liberation. If he doesn’t have liberation, that’s detrimental to nirvāṇa.

3. “If a monk observes the precepts, he readily cultivates having no regrets … gladness … joy … calmness … happiness … samādhi … true seeing and true knowing … disenchantment … lack of desire … liberation. If he has liberation, he readily cultivates nirvāṇa.”

4. This is what the Buddha said. Those monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.

Notes

1. For the source text, cf. T26.1.486b23-c1. This sūtra is a concise version of AN 11.3. [Back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 28 March 2024