Forsake Worldly Pleasures: Excerpts from the Sutta Nipata, Part 2 of 2

We are pleased to present selections from the Padhanasutta and Subhasitasutta in the Mahavagga, which are part of the Sutta Nipata and translated in the book The Sutta Nipata by V. Fausböll.

“[…] [Mâra answered:] ‘I have faith and power, and understanding is found in me; while thus exerting myself, why do You ask me to live? This (burning) wind will dry up even the currents of the rivers; should it not by degrees dry up my blood, while I am exerting myself?’

[Lord Buddha answered:] ‘While the blood is drying up, the bile and the phlegm are dried up; while the flesh is wasting away, the mind gets more tranquil, and my attention, understanding, and meditation get more steadfast. While I am living thus, after having felt the extreme sensations, my mind does not look for sensual pleasures; behold a being’s purity. Lust thy first army is called, discontent thy second, thy third is called hunger and thirst, thy fourth desire. Thy fifth is called sloth and drowsiness, thy sixth cowardice, thy seventh doubt, thy eighth hypocrisy, and stupor, Gain, fame, honor, and what celebrity has been falsely obtained; and he who exalts himself and despises others.’ […]”

“On well-spoken language. So it was heard by me: At one time, Bhagavat [Lord Buddha] dwelt at Sâvatthî in Getavana. Bhagavat [Lord Buddha] said this: ‘O Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu speaks well-spoken (language), not ill-spoken; he speaks what is right (dhamma), not what is unrighteous (adhamma); he speaks what is pleasing, not what is unpleasing; he speaks what is true, not what is false. O Bhikkhus, the speech that is provided with these four requisites, is well-spoken, not ill-spoken, both faultless and blameless to the wise.’ […]

Then the venerable Vangîsa, standing before Bhagavat [Lord Buddha], praised Him with appropriate stanzas: ‘Let one say such words by which he does not pain himself, nor hurt others; such words are truly well-spoken. Let one speak pleasing words which are received joyfully (by all), and which (saying) he, without committing sins, speaks what is pleasing to others. Truth verily is immortal speech, this is a true saying; in what is true, in what is good, and in what is right, the just stand firm, so they say. The words which Buddha speaks, which are sure to bring about extinction and put an end to pain, such (words) are truly the best.’ Subhâsitasutta is ended.”