3.
The Third Discourse on Not the Teaching
115.
"What is not the Teaching, monks, should be known, and the Teaching;
what is harmful should be known, and what is beneficial.
Having understood what is not the Teaching and the Teaching, having understood what is harmful and what is beneficial, one should proceed according to the Teaching, according to what is beneficial."
This is what the Blessed One said.
Having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered the dwelling.
Then, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this occurred to those monks - "Friends, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling - 'What is not the Teaching, monks, should be known, and the Teaching; what is harmful should be known, and what is beneficial. Having understood what is not the Teaching and the Teaching, having understood what is harmful and what is beneficial, one should proceed according to the Teaching, according to what is beneficial.' Who now could explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail?"
Then those monks had this thought: "This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life. The Venerable Ānanda is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. What if we were to approach the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, we should ask the Venerable Ānanda about this matter. As the Venerable Ānanda answers us, so we will remember it."
Then those monks approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, they exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Ānanda. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, they sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Venerable Ānanda -
"Friend Ānanda, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling - 'What is not the Teaching and etc. one should proceed accordingly.'
Then, friend, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this occurred to us - 'Friends, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling - what is not the Teaching and etc. one should proceed accordingly. Who now could explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail?'
Then, friend, this occurred to us - 'This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life. The Venerable Ānanda is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. What if we were to approach the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, we should ask the Venerable Ānanda about this matter. As the Venerable Ānanda answers us, so we will remember it.' Let the Venerable Ānanda explain."
"Just as, friends, a man desiring the substance, seeking the substance, wandering about in search of the substance, of a great tree standing with substance, having passed over the root, having passed over the trunk, might think the substance should be sought in the branches and leaves; thus it is with the venerable ones, when the Teacher is present before you, having passed over that Blessed One, you think this matter should be asked of us. For, friends, the Blessed One is one who knows what is to be known, one who sees what is to be seen, become vision, become knowledge, become the Teaching, become the supreme, the speaker, the proclaimer, the one who leads to the meaning, the giver of the Deathless, the lord of the Teaching, the Truth-finder. And that was the time when you should have approached the Blessed One himself and asked about this matter. As the Blessed One would have answered you, so you should have remembered it."
"Certainly, friend Ānanda, the Blessed One is one who knows what is to be known, one who sees what is to be seen, become vision, become knowledge, become the Teaching, become the supreme, the speaker, the proclaimer, the one who leads to the meaning, the giver of the Deathless, the lord of the Teaching, the Truth-finder. And that was the time when we should have approached the Blessed One himself and asked about this matter; as the Blessed One would have answered us, so we should have remembered it. But the Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life. The Venerable Ānanda is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. Let the Venerable Ānanda explain, without finding it troublesome."
"Well then, friends, listen, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, friend," those monks assented to the Venerable Ānanda. Then the Venerable Ānanda said this -
"Friends, that which the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling - 'What is not the Teaching, monks, should be known, and the Teaching; what is harmful should be known, and what is beneficial. Having understood what is not the Teaching and the Teaching, having understood what is harmful and what is beneficial, one should proceed according to the Teaching, according to what is beneficial.'
And what, friends, is not the Teaching, and what is the Teaching, and what is harmful, and what is beneficial?
"Wrong view, friends, is not the Teaching; right view is the Teaching; and whatever many evil unwholesome mental states come to be with wrong view as condition, this is harmful; and with right view as condition, many wholesome mental states go to fulfilment through development, this is beneficial.
"Wrong thought, friend, is not the Teaching; right thought is the Teaching. Wrong speech, friend, is not the Teaching; right speech is the Teaching. Wrong action, friend, is not the Teaching; right action is the Teaching. Wrong livelihood, friend, is not the Teaching; right livelihood is the Teaching. Wrong effort, friend, is not the Teaching; right effort is the Teaching. Wrong mindfulness, friend, is not the Teaching; right mindfulness is the Teaching. Wrong concentration, friend, is not the Teaching; right concentration is the Teaching. Wrong knowledge, friend, is not the Teaching; right knowledge is the Teaching.
Wrong liberation, friend, is not the Teaching; right liberation is the Teaching; and whatever many evil unwholesome mental states come to be with wrong liberation as condition, this is harmful; and with right liberation as condition, many wholesome mental states go to fulfilment through development, this is beneficial.
"Friends, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling - 'What is not the Teaching, monks, should be known, and the Teaching. Etc. one should thus proceed' - I, friends, understand in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail, thus. But if you wish, friends, you may approach the Blessed One himself and ask about this matter. As the Blessed One answers you, so you should remember it."
"Yes, friend," those monks, having delighted in and given thanks for the Venerable Ānanda's saying, rose from their seats and approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -
"That which the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling - 'What is not the Teaching, monks, should be known. Etc. one should thus proceed.'
"Then, venerable sir, not long after the Blessed One had departed, this occurred to us - 'Friends, the Blessed One, having recited a synopsis in brief, without explaining the meaning in detail, rose from his seat and entered the dwelling - "What is not the Teaching, monks, should be known, etc. one should proceed accordingly. Who now could explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail?'
"Then this occurred to us, venerable sir - 'This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Teacher and esteemed by the wise fellow monks in the holy life. The Venerable Ānanda is able to explain in detail the meaning of this synopsis recited in brief by the Blessed One, the meaning not explained in detail. What if we were to approach the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, we should ask the Venerable Ānanda about this matter. As the Venerable Ānanda answers us, so we will remember it.'
"Then we, venerable sir, approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, we asked the Venerable Ānanda about this matter. For us, venerable sir, the Venerable Ānanda explained the meaning well with these characteristics, with these terms, with these phrases."
"Good, good, monks! Monks, Ānanda is wise. Monks, Ānanda is of great wisdom. Monks, if you had approached me and asked about this matter, I too would have answered it in exactly the same way as it was answered by Ānanda. This indeed is its meaning, and thus you should remember it." The third.