4.
The Chapter of Octads
1.
The Discourse on Sensual Pleasure
Surely he is joyful in mind, a mortal having obtained what he wishes.
If those sensual pleasures decline, he is transformed like one pierced by a dart.
He, mindful, overcomes this clinging in the world.
Women, relatives, manifold sensual pleasures, whatever man covets.
From that, suffering follows him, like water a broken boat.
Having abandoned them, one would cross the flood, like one who has bailed out a boat, gone to the far shore.
The Discourse on Sensual Pleasure is concluded as first.
2.
The Discourse on the Cave Octad
Such a one is far from seclusion, for sensual pleasures in the world are not easily abandoned.
Looking back or forward, craving for these very sensual pleasures or for former ones.
Brought to suffering, they lament, "What shall we become when we have passed away from here?"
One should not practise unrighteously because of that, for the wise have said this life is short.
Inferior men lament in the mouth of death, not free from craving in existence after existence.
Having seen this too, one should wander unselfish, not making attachment to existences.
Not doing what he himself would blame, the wise one does not cling to what is seen and heard.
With the dart pulled out, wandering diligently, he does not long for this world or the next.
The Discourse on the Cave Octad is concluded as second.
3.
The Discourse on the Corrupt Octad
The sage does not approach the dispute that has arisen, therefore the sage has no barrenness anywhere.
Making complete things by oneself, as indeed one knows, so one would speak.
The skilful call that an ignoble quality, whoever praises himself by himself.
The skilled call that the noble teaching, for whom there are no swellings anywhere in the world.
Whatever benefit he sees in himself, dependent on that, peace based on the unstable.
Therefore a man, in those attachments, rejects and takes up a teaching.
Having abandoned deceit and conceit, the wise one, by what would he go? He is unattracted.
For self and non-self do not exist for him, he has shaken off all views right here.
The Discourse on the Corrupt Octad is concluded as third.
4.
The Discourse on the Pure Octad
Thus directly knowing, having known it as "supreme", contemplating purity, he falls back on knowledge.
He is purified by another while still with clinging, for view reveals him thus speaking.
Untainted by merit and evil, having abandoned self, not producing anything here.
They grasp and let go, like a monkey releasing a branch and seizing another.
But the wise one, having understood the Teaching through the knowledges, the one of extensive wisdom does not go high and low.
That very seer, walking unveiled, by what could one here in the world assign him?
Having released the knot of grasping that was bound, they do not make hope anywhere in the world.
Not lustful with lust, not attached to dispassion, for him here there is not anything else grasped.
The Discourse on the Pure Octad is concluded as fourth.
5.
The Discourse on the Supreme Octad
He calls all others "inferior" compared to that, therefore he has not passed beyond contentions.
Having grasped that very thing there, he sees all else as inferior.
Therefore a monk should not depend on what is seen or heard or sensed, or on moral rules and austerities.
One should not represent oneself as "equal," nor should one think oneself "inferior" or "superior."
He indeed does not follow a faction among those who are divided, he does not fall back on any view.
For him there are no dwellings whatsoever, having discriminated what is grasped among phenomena.
That brahmin not taking up any view, by what could one here in the world assign him?
A brahmin is not to be guided by rites and observances, one who has gone beyond does not fall back, such is he.
The Discourse on the Supreme Octad is concluded as fifth.
6.
The Discourse on Ageing
Even if one lives beyond that, then indeed one dies of old age.
Seeing that this is subject to separation, one should not dwell in a household.
Having known this too, a wise person, one devoted, should not bow down to selfish attachment.
So too one does not see a beloved person, a ghost who has died.
Only the name remains, to be expressed of the departed being.
Therefore the sages, having abandoned possession, lived seeing security.
They call this concord for him, who does not show himself in existence.
In him lamentation and avarice do not cling, just as water does not cling to a leaf.
Thus the sage is not tainted, by what is seen, heard, or sensed.
He does not desire purification by another, for he does not find pleasure in nor does he detach himself.
The Discourse on Ageing is concluded as sixth.
7.
The Discourse on Tissa Metteyya
Having heard your teaching, we shall train in seclusion.
And he proceeds wrongly, this in him is ignoble.
Like a vehicle gone astray, they call him in the world a low worldling.
Having seen this too, one should train to abandon sexual intercourse.
Having heard the shouting of others, such a one becomes ashamed.
This indeed is his great greed, he plunges into untruth.
Yet engaged in sexual intercourse, like a fool he is distressed.
One should firmly pursue the solitary life, one should not indulge in sexual intercourse.
One should not think oneself the best because of that, he indeed is near to Nibbāna.
People bound to sensual pleasures envy the one who has crossed the flood."
The Discourse on Tissa Metteyya is concluded as seventh.
8.
The Discourse on Pasūra
Depending upon which, declaring it beautiful there, the many are established in individual truths.
They speak quarrelsome talk, depending on others, desiring praise, declaring themselves skilled.
But when refuted, he becomes ashamed, he is angered by blame, seeking faults.
He laments, grieves, the one of inferior doctrine, bewails thinking "he has overcome me".
Having seen this too, one should refrain from quarrelsome talk, for there is no other purpose than gaining praise.
He laughs and is elated by that, having attained that purpose as his mind wished.
Having seen this too, one should not engage in contention, for the skilled do not say purity comes by that.
Go, hero, by whatever way he goes, there is not beforehand that which is for battle.
You should speak to them, for here there is no opponent for you when a dispute has arisen.
Among them what would you gain, Pasūra, for whom here there is not anything else grasped.
You have engaged in a yoke with the Wise One, for indeed you are not able to proceed together.
The Discourse on Pasūra is concluded as eighth.
9.
The Discourse to Māgaṇḍiya
How much less for this, full of urine and excrement - I would not wish to touch it even with my foot."
What kind of wrong view, ceremonial observances, livelihood, and rebirth in existence do you speak of?"
"Having discriminated what is grasped among phenomena;
And seeing, not grasping among views,
Seeking internal peace, I saw."
"You, sage, speak of not grasping them;
This meaning which is 'internal peace' -
How has that been declared by the wise?"
"Nor by moral rules and austerities does he speak of purity;
Not without view, not without tradition, not without knowledge,
Not without morality, not without austerity, nor by that;
Having abandoned these and not grasping,
Peaceful, not depending, one should not long for existence."
"Nor by moral rules and austerities does he speak of purity;
Not without view, not without tradition, not without knowledge,
Not without morality, not without austerity, nor by that;
I imagine this teaching to be sheer delusion,
Some by view attain purity."
"You have come to delusion regarding what has been grasped;
And from this you have not seen even a subtle perception,
Therefore you regard it as sheer delusion."
One unshaken in the three discriminations, for him there is no 'equal' or 'superior'."
In whom there is neither equal nor unequal, with whom would he engage in dispute?
Empty of sensual pleasures, not putting anything forward, he would not engage in dispute with people.
Just as the water-born lotus with thorny stalk, is untainted by water and mud;
Thus the sage who speaks of peace, without greed, is untainted by sensual pleasures and the world.
He is not to be guided by action, nor by learning, he is not led into attachments.
Those who have grasped perception and view, they wander in the world clashing."
The Discourse on Māgaṇḍiya is concluded as ninth.
10.
The Discourse on Before the Breaking Up
Tell me that, Gotama, being asked about the highest person."
Not to be reckoned in the middle, for him there is nothing put forward.
Speaking with wisdom, unagitated, he indeed is a sage restrained in speech.
Seeing seclusion in contacts, and he is not led by views.
Not impudent, not loathsome, and not given to slander.
Smooth and discerning, not faithless, he does not become dispassionate.
Unopposed by craving, he does not covet flavours.
Neither superior nor inferior, for him there are no excesses.
For existence or non-existence, craving in whom is not found.
Mental knots are not found in him, he has crossed over clinging.
Neither self nor non-self is found in him.
That is not esteemed by him, therefore he does not tremble in controversies.
Not among equals, not among the inferior, he does not go to speculation, being free from speculation.
And who does not go among phenomena, he indeed is called 'peaceful'."
The Discourse on Before the Breaking Up is concluded as tenth.
11.
The Discourse on Quarrels and Disputes
Conceit and arrogance together with slander, from where have these arisen? Please tell me that."
Lamentation and sorrow together with avarice;
Conceit and arrogance together with slander,
Disputes and contentions are connected with stinginess;
And slander arises when contentions have arisen."
And what is the source of hope and goal, which are for a man's future state?"
And hope and goal, from this source do they arise, which are for a man's future state."
Wrath and untruth and bewilderment, and whatever other mental states have been spoken of by the ascetic."
Having seen existence and non-existence in forms, a creature makes judgment in the world.
One who is doubtful should train for the path of knowledge, the teachings have been spoken by the ascetic having known."
Non-existence and existence too, whatever this meaning is, tell me this, from what source does it arise."
Non-existence and existence too, whatever this meaning is, this I tell you, from here is its source."
When what is absent is there no selfish attachment, when what is clear do contacts not touch?"
When desire is absent there is no selfish attachment, when materiality is clear contacts do not touch."
Tell me this, how it ceases to be, my mind was set on knowing that."
For one so practising, matter ceases to be, for the terms of obsession have perception as their source."
We ask you another thing, please tell us that;
Do some say this is the highest,
The purification of a being here, the wise ones;
Or do they say something else beyond this.
But some of them speak of the time, declaring themselves skilled regarding the one without residue of clinging.
Having known, liberated, he does not enter into contention, the wise one does not come to this or that existence."
The Discourse on Quarrels and Disputes is concluded as eleventh.
12.
The Discourse on the Smaller Array
"Whoever knows thus, he has understood the Teaching; whoever rejects this is incomplete."
Which of these is the true statement, for all these declare themselves skilled.
All are fools of very inferior wisdom, all these are dwelling in views.
None of them is of deficient wisdom, for their view too is likewise complete.
They made their own view the truth, therefore they burn others as fools.
Thus having plunged in, they dispute, why do ascetics not speak as one?
They proclaim their truths as different themselves, therefore ascetics do not speak as one.
Are the truths heard many and different, or do they follow their own reasoning?
Having fashioned reasoning in views, they speak of the twofold principle: "truth" and "falsehood".
Standing in judgment, laughing, he says "the other is a fool, unskilled."
He himself calling himself skilled, he despises another - that very thing he praises.
By himself alone he has consecrated himself with his mind, for his view is likewise complete.
But if oneself is one who has attained the highest knowledge, a wise one, there is no fool among ascetics.
Thus too the sectarians speak diversely, for they are infatuated by lust for their own views.
Thus too the sectarians are established diversely, speaking firmly there in their own doctrine.
He himself would bring about quarrel, calling another a fool of impure teaching.
Having abandoned all judgments, a creature does not make quarrel in the world.
The Discourse on the Smaller Array is concluded as twelfth.
13.
The Discourse on the Greater Array
All of them bring upon themselves blame, and also they obtain praise therein.
Having seen this too, one should not engage in contention, seeing security in the ground of non-contention.
Unattracted, why would he approach attraction, not making acquiescence in what is seen and heard.
"Right here we would train, then comes his purity," led on by existence, declaring themselves skilled.
One prattles and longs for purity, like one separated from the caravan, dwelling away from home.
Not wishing for purity or impurity, one should wander abstaining, without grasping at peace.
Going upwards, they lament for purity, not free from craving in existence after existence.
For whom there is no passing away and rebirth here, by what would he tremble, where would he mutter?
Which of these is the true statement, for all these declare themselves skilled.
Thus having quarrelled they dispute, each calling their own view the truth.
For many speak of another's teaching as inferior, while speaking firmly in their own.
All theories would be true, for their purity is individual only.
Therefore he has passed beyond contentions, for he does not see another teaching as best.
If he saw, what then is that to him? Having passed beyond, they speak of purity by another means.
Let him see much or little as he wishes, for the skilled do not say purity comes by that.
Depending upon which, declaring it beautiful there, speaking of purity, he saw truly there.
And having known the conventions of worldlings, he is equanimous - others take them up, I think.
Peaceful among the unpeaceful, equanimous, he is without grasping - others take up, I think.
He, the wise one, free from wrong views, does not cling in the world, not blaming himself.
He, the sage with burden laid down, free, does not speculate, is not one who has ceased, is not one with craving.
The Discourse on the Greater Array is concluded as thirteenth.
14.
The Discourse on Quickly
How, having seen, is a monk extinguished, not clinging to anything in the world?"
"With wisdom one should keep in check all that is 'I am';
Whatever cravings there are internally,
For the removal of those, one should always train mindfully.
One should not make strength by that, for that is not called quenching by the good.
Touched by various forms, one should not stand imagining oneself.
For one internally at peace, there is no self, whence non-self?
So established, without longing, a monk should not create excess anywhere."
Tell the practice, venerable one, the principal monastic code or else concentration."
And one should not covet flavours, nor should one cherish anything in the world.
And should not yearn for existence, and should not tremble among fearful things.
Having obtained, one should not make storage, nor should one be distressed not obtaining those.
Then a monk should dwell in seats and beds that are quiet.
One should abandon weariness, deceit, laughter, play, sexual intercourse together with adornment.
Nor interpreting animal cries, nor inducing conception, nor medical treatment - one devoted to me should not pursue these.
He should dispel greed together with stinginess, wrath and slander.
And one should not be attached in the village, one should not cajole people out of desire for gain.
He should not train in impudence, nor should he speak contentious talk.
Then by livelihood, by wisdom, by moral rules and austerities, one should not despise another.
One should not reply to them with harshness, for the peaceful do not make opposition.
Having known peace as 'this is peace', one should not be negligent in the teaching of Gotama.
Therefore, in that Blessed One's Dispensation, one should always, diligent, pay homage and train."
The Discourse on Quickly is concluded as fourteenth.
15.
The Discourse on One's Own Stick
I will explain the anxiety, as I was stirred by it.
Having seen them in conflict with one another, fear entered me.
Wishing for a dwelling for myself, I did not see one uninhabited.
Then here I saw the dart, difficult to see, lodged in the heart.
Having pulled out that very dart, one neither runs nor sinks.
One should not be engaged in those, having become disenchanted with sensual pleasures in every respect;
One should train for one's own Nibbāna.
Without wrath, the sage should overcome the evil of greed and avarice.
One should not stand in arrogance, a man whose mind is set on Nibbāna.
And one should fully understand conceit, abstaining from violence one should wander.
One should not grieve when something is declining, one should not be attached to space.
The object, the planning, the mire of sensual pleasure is difficult to pass over.
Having given up all, he indeed is called 'peaceful'."
Rightly conducting himself in the world, he does not long for anyone here.
He does not grieve, does not covet, with stream cut off, without bondage.
If you do not grasp in the middle, you will live at peace.
And who does not grieve over what is non-existent, he indeed does not decay in the world.
He, not finding selfish attachment, does not grieve thinking 'I have not'.
I declare that benefit, when asked, of the one who is unmoved.
He, abstaining from various exertions, sees security everywhere.
Peaceful, he is free from avarice, he does not take up nor reject."
The Discourse on One's Own Stick is concluded as fifteenth.
16.
The Discourse to Sāriputta
Nor heard of from anyone;
A Teacher of such lovely speech,
Come from Tusita as leader of a following.
Having dispelled all darkness, alone he attained delight.
For the many here who are bound, there is a coming with a question.
The root of a tree, a cemetery, or in caves of mountains.
By which a monk would not tremble, in a quiet resting place.
Which a monk might overcome, in a secluded lodging.
What would be his moral rules and austerities, for the resolute monk?
Like a smith with silver, should he blow away his own stain?"
If he resorts to empty seats and beds;
For one desiring highest enlightenment, according to the Teaching,
That I shall tell you, as one who understands.
Of gadflies and stinging insects, of reptiles, of human contact, of quadrupeds.
And one should overcome other dangers, the seeker of the wholesome.
He, touched by these in many ways, without attachment, should make firm effort with exertion.
Whatever agitation of the mind one should cognize, one should dispel it as the side of the Dark One."
And then one should surely overcome the pleasant or the unpleasant.
One should overcome discontent in a remote lodging, one should overcome the four states of lamentation.
These thoughts leading to lamentation, a trainee wandering without an abode should remove.
He, guarded in those, wandering restrained in the village, even if provoked, should not utter harsh speech.
Having undertaken equanimity, with concentrated mind, one should cut off thought and its dwelling place and worry.
One should utter wholesome speech, not excessively, one should not intend for the principle of popular talk.
Regarding forms, sounds, and also flavours, odours, and contacts, one should overcome lust.
In proper time, rightly investigating the Teaching,
Having become unified, he would dispel the darkness."
The Discourse on Sāriputta is concluded as sixteenth.
The Chapter of Octads is the fourth.
Concluded.
Its summary:
Metteyya and Pasūra, Māgaṇḍiya and Before the Breaking.
The excellent Attadaṇḍa discourse, with Theraputta, sixteen;
Thus these discourses, all belong to the Aṭṭhaka Chapter.