The Medium Discourses

Chapter 5: Related to Cultivation

48. Precepts (2)

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 Venerable Śāriputra addressed the monks, “Good men, 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. “Good men, it’s like a tree that has damaged. It’s branches … trunk … core … joints … limbs … leaves … flowers … fruit then don’t form completely.

4. “Good men, you should know that a monk is likewise. If he 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.

5. “Good men, 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.

6. “Good men, it’s like a tree that doesn’t have damaged roots. It’s branches … trunk … core … joints … limbs … leaves … flowers … fruit then will form completely.

7. “Good men, you should know that a monk is likewise. 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.”

8. Venerable Śāriputra spoke thus. Those monks who heard what Venerable Śāriputra taught rejoiced and approved.

Notes

1. For the source text, cf. T26.1.486c3-19. This sūtra is a concise version of AN 11.4. [Back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 28 March 2024