Itivuttaka 89

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Itivuttaka >> '''89. Devadattasuttam'''

Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

89. Devadattasuttam (About Devadatta - Doomed to Hell)

This was said by the Lord Buddha(Bhagavata), said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Monks, conquered by three forms of false Dhamma—his mind overwhelmed Devadatta[1] is incurably doomed to deprivation, to hell, for an eon. Which three? Conquered by evil desires—his mind overwhelmed—Devadatta is incurably doomed to deprivation, to hell, for the duration of an eon. Conquered by friendship with evil people—his mind overwhelmed—Devadatta is incurably doomed to deprivation, to hell, for the duration of an eon. And, there being something further to be done, he nevertheless stopped halfway with a lower modicum of distinctive attainment. Conquered by these three forms of false Dhamma—his mind overwhelmed—Devadatta is incurably doomed to deprivation, to hell, for an eon.”

May no one in the world ever be reborn with evil desire. Know that through that evil desire, his destination’s that of all who have evil desires. I’ve heard how Devadatta, —regarded as wise, composed, incandescent with honor— wholly aware(within self) assaulted the Tathagata(Buddha) and fell to the four-gated, fearful place: Avichi, unmitigated hell. Whoever plots against <p style="text-align:center;">one free of corruption <p style="text-align:center;">who’s done no evil deed: <p style="text-align:center;">that evil touches him himself, <p style="text-align:center;">corrupted in mind, <p style="text-align:center;">disrespectful. <p style="text-align:center;">Whoever might think <p style="text-align:center;">of polluting the ocean <p style="text-align:center;">with a pot of poison, <p style="text-align:center;">couldn’t succeed, <p style="text-align:center;">for the mass of water is great. <p style="text-align:center;">So it is <p style="text-align:center;">when anyone attacks with abuse <p style="text-align:center;">the Tathagata(Buddha) <p style="text-align:center;">—rightly-gone, <p style="text-align:center;">of peaceful mind— <p style="text-align:center;">for abuse doesn't grow on him. <p style="text-align:center;">A wise person should make friends, <p style="text-align:center;">should associate, <p style="text-align:center;">with a person like him— <p style="text-align:center;">whose path a monk can pursue <p style="text-align:center;">and reach the ending <p style="text-align:center;">of suffering & suffering.

NOTE: 1. Devadatta, one of the Buddha’s cousins, plotted to take over the Sangha, and ended up causing a schism. His story is told in Cv VII. See also No.18. His “lower modicum of distinctive attainment“ was his mastery of psychic powers.