SUTTA-NIPATA 4.4

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Suttanipata>>4.4 SUDDHATTHAKASUTTA

Adapted From the Translation by V. Fausboll(1881)

No one is purified by philosophy, those devoted to philosophy run from one teacher to another, but the wise are not led by passion, and do not embrace anything in the world as the highest.

1. I see a pure, most excellent, sound man, by his views a man's purification takes place, holding this opinion, and having seen this view to be the highest he goes back to knowledge, thinking to see what is pure. (794)

2. If a man's purification takes place by (his philosophical) views, or he by knowledge leaves pain behind, then he is purified by another (way than the ariyamagga, i.e. the noble way), together with his upadhis, on account of his views he tells him to say so. (795)

3. But the Brahmana who does not cling to what has been seen, or heard, to virtue and (holy) works, or to what has been thought, to what is good and to what is evil, and who leaves behind what has been grasped, without doing anything in this world, he does not acknowledge that purification cornes from another. (796)

4. Having left (their) former (teacher) they go to another, following their desires they do not break asunder their ties; they grasp, they let go like a monkey letting go the branch (just) after having caught (hold of it). (797)

5. Having himself undertaken some (holy) works he goes to various (things) led by his senses, but a man of great panna(direct experiential understanding), a wise man who by his wisdom has understood the Dhamma, does not go to various (occupations). (798)

6. He being secluded amongst all the Dhammas, whatever has been seen, heard, or thought--how should any one in this world be able to alter him, the seeing one, who wanders openly? (799)

7. They do not form (any view), they do not prefer (anything), they do not say, 'I am infinitely pure;' having cut the tied knot of attachment, they do not long for (anything) anywhere in the world. (800)

8. He is a Brahmana that has conquered (sin); by him there is nothing embraced after knowing and seeing it; he is not affected by any kind of passion; there is nothing grasped by him as the highest in this world. (801)

Suddhatthakasutta is ended.

Note : Numbering of verses corresponds to pali tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org