3.
The Discourse on the Great Bandit
103.
"Monks, a great thief possessed of five factors breaks into houses, carries off plunder, commits robbery, and stands in ambush on the highway.
Which five?
Here, monks, a great thief is dependent on unevenness, dependent on thickets, dependent on the powerful, one who gives away wealth, and one who acts alone.
"And how, monks, is a great thief dependent on unevenness? Here, monks, a great thief is dependent on a river fastness or a mountain precipice. Thus, monks, a great thief is dependent on unevenness.
"And how, monks, is a great thief dependent on thickets? Here, monks, a great thief is dependent on a thicket of grass, or a thicket of trees, or a dense growth, or a great jungle thicket. Thus, monks, a great thief is dependent on thickets.
"And how, monks, is a great thief dependent on the powerful? Here, monks, a great thief is dependent on kings or the king's chief ministers. He thinks thus: 'If anyone says anything about me, these kings or chief ministers of mine will speak in my defence, pleading my case.' If anyone says anything about him, those kings or chief ministers speak in his defence, pleading his case. Thus, monks, a great thief is dependent on the powerful.
"And how, monks, is a great thief one who gives away wealth? Here, monks, a great thief is wealthy, of great riches, of great possessions. He thinks thus: 'If anyone says anything about me, I will offer hospitality with this wealth.' If anyone says anything about him, he offers hospitality with that wealth. Thus, monks, a great thief is one who gives away wealth.
"And how, monks, is a great thief one who acts alone? Here, monks, a great thief is one who alone is the doer of seizures. What is the reason for this? 'May my secret counsels not go outside to confusion.' Thus, monks, a great thief is one who acts alone.
"Monks, a great thief possessed of these five factors breaks into houses, carries off plunder, commits robbery, and stands in ambush on the highway.
"So too, monks, an evil monk possessed of five qualities maintains himself injured and damaged, is blameable and censurable by the wise, and generates much demerit. Which five? Here, monks, an evil monk is dependent on unevenness, dependent on thickets, dependent on the powerful, one who gives away wealth, and one who acts alone.
"And how, monks, is an evil monk dependent on unevenness? Here, monks, an evil monk is possessed of unrighteous bodily action, possessed of unrighteous verbal action, possessed of unrighteous mental action. Thus, monks, an evil monk is dependent on unevenness.
"And how, monks, is an evil monk dependent on thickets? Here, monks, an evil monk holds wrong views and is possessed of an extreme view. Thus, monks, an evil monk is dependent on thickets.
"And how, monks, is an evil monk dependent on the powerful? Here, monks, an evil monk is dependent on kings or the king's chief ministers. He thinks thus: 'If anyone says anything about me, these kings or chief ministers of mine will speak in my defence, pleading my case.' If anyone says anything about him, those kings or chief ministers speak in his defence, pleading his case. Thus, monks, an evil monk is dependent on the powerful.
"And how, monks, is an evil monk a giver of wealth? Here, monks, an evil monk is an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. He thinks thus: 'If anyone says anything about me, I will offer hospitality with this gain.' If anyone says anything about him, he offers hospitality with that gain. Thus, monks, an evil monk is a giver of wealth.
"And how, monks, is an evil monk one who lives alone? Here, monks, an evil monk alone takes up residence in the border districts. There, approaching families, he obtains gain. Thus, monks, an evil monk is one who lives alone.
Monks, an evil monk possessed of these five qualities maintains himself injured and damaged, is blameable and censurable by the wise, and generates much demerit." The third.