Itivuttaka 97

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Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

97. Kalyanasilasuttam (Good Virtues)

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

“Monks, a monk who has beneficent virtue(sheel), admirable qualities, & admirable direct understanding(panna) is called, in this Dhamma-&-Vinaya, one who is complete, fulfilled, a superlative person.

“And how is a monk a person with beneficent virtue? There is the case where a monk is virtuous. He dwells restrained in accordance with the Patimokkha(Buddhist code of conduct in Vinaya Pitaka),consummate in his behavior & sphere of activity. He trains himself, having undertaken the training rules, seeing danger in the slightest faults. In this way a monk is a person with beneficent virtue. Thus he is of beneficent virtue.

“And how is a monk a person with admirable qualities? There is the case where a monk lives devoted to developing the seven [sets of] qualities that are wings to awakening.[1] In this way a monk is a person with admirable qualities. Thus he is of beneficent virtue & admirable qualities.

“And how is a monk a person with admirable direct understanding(panna)? There is the case where a monk—with the ending of asavas(wants/desires)—remains in the asava-free, mind in moksha mind with panna(direct understanding), directly knowing & realizing it for himself right in the here-&-now. In this way a monk is a person with admirable direct understanding(panna). Thus he is of beneficent virtue, admirable qualities, admirable direct understanding(panna). In this Dhamma-&-Vinaya he is called one who is complete, fulfilled, a superlative person.”

Devoid of wrong-doing in thought, word, or deed, he’s called a person of beneficent virtue: the monk conscientious. Well-developed in the qualities that go to the attainment of self-awakening, he’s called a person of admirable qualities: the monk unassuming. Discerning right here for himself, in himself, the ending of suffering he’s called a person of admirable direct understanding(panna): the monk with no asava(want/desire). Consummate in these things, untroubled, with doubt cut away, <p style="text-align:center;">unattached in all the world, <p style="text-align:center;">he’s said to have abandoned <p style="text-align:center;">the All.

NOTE: 1. See the note to no. 82.