4.
The Discourse on the Inferior Horse
14.
"I will teach you, monks, eight inferior horses and eight horse faults, and eight inferior persons and eight person faults.
Listen to that, pay close attention;
I will speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"And which, monks, are the eight inferior horses and the eight horse faults? Here, monks, a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, steps backwards, pushes the chariot back from behind. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the first horse fault.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, jumps backwards, strikes the pole, breaks the tripod. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the second horse fault.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, having raised its thigh onto the chariot pole, tramples down the chariot pole itself. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the third horse fault.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, takes a wrong path, overturns the chariot. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the fourth horse fault.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, rears up, raises the front part of its body, raises its front feet. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the fifth horse fault.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, not heeding the charioteer, not heeding the driver's stick, having destroyed the bridle with its teeth, departs wherever it wishes. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the sixth horse fault.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, neither goes forward nor goes back, but stands right there standing like a post. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the seventh horse fault.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, urged on by the charioteer, having drawn together its front feet and having drawn together its hind feet, sits down right there on all four feet. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior horse here. This, monks, is the eighth horse fault. These, monks, are the eight inferior horses and the eight horse faults.
"And which, monks, are the eight inferior persons and the eight faults of a person? Here, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, wriggles out unintentionally saying 'I do not remember.' Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, being urged by the charioteer, steps backwards, pushes the chariot back from behind; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the first fault of a person.
"Furthermore, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, opposes the accuser - 'What indeed is the use of your speaking, you fool, you inexperienced one! You too imagine you should speak!' Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, being urged by the charioteer, jumps backwards, strikes the pole, breaks the tripod; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the second fault of a person.
"Furthermore, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, makes a counter-accusation against the accuser - 'You have committed such and such an offence; you first make amends.' Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, being urged by the charioteer, having thrown his thigh against the chariot pole, tramples upon the chariot pole itself; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the third fault of a person.
"Furthermore, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, evaded the issue with another issue, diverted the discussion outside, and manifested irritation, hate, and displeasure. Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, being urged by the charioteer, takes a wrong path, overturns the chariot; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the fourth fault of a person.
"Furthermore, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, throws up his arms in the midst of the Community. Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being goaded, being urged by the charioteer, jumps up, raises the front part of his body, raises his front feet; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the fifth fault of a person.
"Furthermore, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, not heeding the Community, not heeding the accuser, still with offence, departs wherever he wishes. Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being pierced, being urged by the charioteer, not heeding the charioteer, not heeding the driver's stick, having destroyed the bridle with his teeth, departs wherever he wishes; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the sixth fault of a person.
"Furthermore, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, saying 'I have indeed not committed an offence, I have indeed not committed an offence,' vexes the Community by silence. Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being pierced, being urged by the charioteer, neither goes forward nor goes back, but stands right there fixed like a post; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the seventh fault of a person.
"Furthermore, monks, monks accuse a monk of an offence. That monk, being accused of an offence by the monks, said thus - 'Why indeed are you venerable ones so excessively occupied with me that I shall now reject the training and return to the lower life?' He, having rejected the training, having returned to the lower life, said thus - 'Now are you venerable ones satisfied?' Just as, monks, an inferior horse, when told 'Go!', being pierced, being urged by the charioteer, having drawn together the front feet and having drawn together the hind feet, sits down right there on all four feet; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain inferior person here. This, monks, is the eighth fault of a person. These, monks, are the eight inferior persons and the eight faults of a person." The fourth.