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- Anguttara Nikaya IX.7
- Sutava Sutta
- To Sutavan
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Rajagaha,
on Vulture Peak Mountain. Then Sutavan the wanderer went to the Blessed One and, on
arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings
& courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One:
"One day recently when I was staying right here in Rajagaha, at Giribbaja,
I heard it in the Blessed One's presence, learned it in the Blessed One's presence:
'Sutavan, an arahant monk whose mental fermentations are ended, who has reached
fulfillment, done the task, laid down the burden, attained the true goal, totally
destroyed the fetter of becoming, and who is released through right gnosis, cannot
possibly transgress these five principles. It is impossible for a monk whose mental
fermentations are ended to intentionally deprive a living being of life. It is impossible
for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to take, in the manner of stealing, what
is not given. It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to engage
in sexual intercourse. It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to
tell a conscious lie. It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to
consume stored-up sensual things as he did before, when he was a householder.' Now, did I
hear this rightly from the Blessed One? Did I learn it rightly, attend to it rightly,
understand it rightly?"
"Yes, Sutavan, you heard it rightly, learned it rightly, attended to it rightly,
& understood it rightly. Both before & now I say to you that an arahant monk whose
mental fermentations are ended, who has reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the
burden, attained the true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and who is
released through right gnosis, cannot possibly transgress these nine principles.
"[1] It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to
intentionally deprive a living being of life. [2] It is impossible for a monk whose mental
fermentations are ended to take, in the manner of stealing, what is not given. [3] It is
impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to engage in sexual
intercourse. [4] It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to tell
a conscious lie. [5] It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to
consume stored-up sensual things as he did before, when he was a householder.
"[6] It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended to follow a
bias based on desire. [7] It is impossible for a monk whose mental fermentations are ended
to follow a bias based on aversion. [8] It is impossible for a monk whose mental
fermentations are ended to follow a bias based on fear. [9] It is impossible for a monk
whose mental fermentations are ended to follow a bias based on delusion.
"Both before and now I say to you that an arahant monk whose mental fermentations
are ended, who has reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the burden, attained the
true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and who is released through right
gnosis, cannot possibly transgress these nine principles."