Ādhipateyyasuttaṃ [AN 3.40, PTS 1.148–1.150]

10.

The Discourse on Authority

40. "There are, monks, these three authorities. What three? Taking oneself as authority, taking the world as authority, taking the Teaching as authority. And what, monks, is taking oneself as authority? Here, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, or having gone to the root of a tree, or having gone to an empty house, considers thus: 'But I have not gone forth from home into homelessness because of robes. Not because of almsfood, not because of lodging, not because of this or that existence have I gone forth from home into homelessness. But rather, I am overcome by birth, by ageing, by death, by sorrows, by lamentations, by sufferings, by displeasures, by anguishes, overcome by suffering, afflicted by suffering. Perhaps the ending of this whole mass of suffering might be discerned.' If I, having left behind whatever sensual pleasures, have gone forth from home into homelessness, were to seek such sensual pleasures or those even more wicked than that, that would not be proper for me.' He considers thus: 'My energy will be aroused and unsluggish, mindfulness will be established and unconfused, the body will be calm and not excited, the mind will be concentrated and fully focused.' He, having made himself the authority, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless, he maintains himself pure. This is called, monks, taking oneself as authority.

"And what, monks, is taking the world as authority? Here, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, or having gone to the root of a tree, or having gone to an empty house, considers thus: 'But I have not gone forth from home into homelessness because of robes. Not because of almsfood, not because of lodging, not because of this or that existence have I gone forth from home into homelessness. But rather, I am overcome by birth, by ageing, by death, by sorrows, by lamentations, by sufferings, by displeasures, by anguishes, overcome by suffering, afflicted by suffering. Perhaps the ending of this whole mass of suffering might be discerned.' If I, having thus gone forth, were to think sensual thoughts, or were to think thoughts of anger, or were to think thoughts of violence, great indeed is this world community. In this great world community there are ascetics and brahmins possessing supernormal power, possessing the divine eye, knowing the minds of others. They see even from afar, even when near they are not seen, and with the mind they understand the mind. They too would know me thus: 'See, sirs, this son of good family, having gone forth with faith from home into homelessness, dwells mixed up with evil unwholesome mental states.' There are also deities possessing supernormal power, possessing the divine eye, knowing the minds of others. They see even from afar, even when near they are not seen, and with the mind they know the mind. They too would know me thus: 'See, sirs, this son of good family, having gone forth with faith from home into homelessness, dwells mixed up with evil unwholesome mental states.' He considers thus: 'My energy will be aroused and unsluggish, mindfulness will be established and unconfused, the body will be calm and not excited, the mind will be concentrated and fully focused.' He, having made the world the authority, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless, he maintains himself pure. This is called, monks, taking the world as authority.

"And what, monks, is taking the Teaching as authority? Here, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, or having gone to the root of a tree, or having gone to an empty house, considers thus: 'But I have not gone forth from home into homelessness because of robes. Not because of almsfood, not because of lodging, not because of this or that existence have I gone forth from home into homelessness. But rather, I am overcome by birth, by ageing, by death, by sorrows, by lamentations, by sufferings, by displeasures, by anguishes, overcome by suffering, afflicted by suffering. Perhaps the ending of this whole mass of suffering might be discerned.' 'Well proclaimed by the Blessed One is the Teaching, visible here and now, immediately effective, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be individually experienced by the wise.' There are indeed my fellow monks in the holy life who dwell knowing and seeing. If I, having gone forth in such a well-proclaimed Teaching and discipline, were to dwell lazy and heedless, that would not be proper for me.' He considers thus: 'My energy will be aroused and unsluggish, mindfulness will be established and unconfused, the body will be calm and not excited, the mind will be concentrated and fully focused.' He, making the Teaching itself the authority, abandons the unwholesome, develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy, develops the blameless, he maintains himself pure. This is called, monks, taking the Teaching as authority. These, monks, are the three authorities."