351 and 352 LESSONS 20 and 21 08 2011 Aggi
Vacchagotta Sutta To Vacchagotta on Fire and Kathavatthu
Sutta Topics for Discussion FREE ONLINE eNΔlandΔ Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and
BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT to attain Ultimate
Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org- Free Buddhist
Studies for the students- SELECTED BUDDHAβS
TEACHINGS -TEXTS FROM THE BOOK OF PROTECTION- Hon’ble Chief Minister ji to tour entire state
again by September end- Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directs officers to take immediate
action on feedback received from in-charge officers of three zones, directs to
solve problems cited by them- Pre-10th scholarship of old students of SC/ST
should be transferred in their accounts by 31 August and that of new students
should be transferred by 30 October β Hon’ble Chief Minister jiThe Ten Training Precepts
MN 72
PTS: M i 483
Aggi-Vacchagotta Sutta:
To Vacchagotta on Fire
translated from the Pali
by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying in
Savatthi, at Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s
monastery. Then the wanderer Vacchagotta 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 asked the Blessed One: “How is it, Master Gotama,
does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘The cosmos is eternal: only this is true,
anything otherwise is worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘The cosmos is not
eternal: only this is true, anything otherwise is worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘The cosmos is
finite: only this is true, anything otherwise is worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘The cosmos is
infinite: only this is true, anything otherwise is worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘The soul & the
body are the same: only this is true, anything otherwise is worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘The soul is one
thing and the body another: only this is true, anything otherwise is
worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘After death a
Tathagata exists: only this is true, anything otherwise is worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘After death a
Tathagata does not exist: only this is true, anything otherwise is
worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘After death a
Tathagata both exists & does not exist: only this is true, anything
otherwise is worthless’?”
“…no…”
“Then does Master Gotama hold the view: ‘After death a Tathagata
neither exists nor does not exist: only this is true, anything otherwise is
worthless’?”
“…no…”
“How is it, Master Gotama, when Master Gotama is asked if
he holds the view ‘the cosmos is eternal…’… ‘after death a Tathagata
neither exists nor does not exist: only this is true, anything otherwise is
worthless,’ he says ‘…no…’ in each case. Seeing what drawback, then, is
Master Gotama thus entirely dissociated from each of these ten positions?”
“Vaccha, the position that ‘the cosmos
is eternal’ is a thicket of views, a wilderness of views, a contortion of
views, a writhing of views, a fetter of views. It is accompanied by suffering,
distress, despair, & fever, and it does not lead to disenchantment,
dispassion, cessation; to calm, direct knowledge, full Awakening, Unbinding.
“The position that ‘the cosmos is not eternal’…
“…’the cosmos is finite’…
“…’the cosmos is infinite’…
“…’the soul & the body are the same’…
“…’the soul is one thing and the body another’…
“…’after death a Tathagata exists’…
“…’after death a Tathagata does not exist’…
“…’after death a Tathagata both exists & does not
exist’…
“…’after death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not
exist’… does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation; to calm,
direct knowledge, full Awakening, Unbinding.”
“Does Master Gotama have any position at all?”
“A ‘position,’ Vaccha, is something that a Tathagata has
done away with. What a Tathagata sees is this: ‘Such is form, such its origin,
such its disappearance; such is feeling, such its origin, such its
disappearance; such is perception… such are mental fabrications… such is
consciousness, such its origin, such its disappearance.’ Because of this, I
say, a Tathagata β with the ending, fading out, cessation, renunciation, &
relinquishment of all construings, all excogitations, all I-making &
mine-making & obsession with conceit β is, through lack of
clinging/sustenance, released.”
“But, Master Gotama, the monk whose mind is thus released:
Where does he reappear?”
“‘Reappear,’ Vaccha, doesn’t apply.”
“In that case, Master Gotama, he does not reappear.”
“‘Does not reappear,’ Vaccha, doesn’t apply.”
“…both does & does not reappear.”
“…doesn’t apply.”
“…neither does nor does not reappear.”
“…doesn’t apply.”
“How is it, Master Gotama, when Master Gotama is asked if
the monk reappears… does not reappear… both does & does not reappear…
neither does nor does not reappear, he says, ‘…doesn’t apply’ in each case.
At this point, Master Gotama, I am befuddled; at this point, confused. The
modicum of clarity coming to me from your earlier conversation is now
obscured.”
“Of course you’re befuddled, Vaccha. Of course you’re
confused. Deep, Vaccha, is this phenomenon, hard to see, hard to realize, tranquil,
refined, beyond the scope of conjecture, subtle, to-be-experienced by the wise.
For those with other views, other practices, other satisfactions, other aims,
other teachers, it is difficult to know. That being the case, I will now put
some questions to you. Answer as you see fit. What do you
think, Vaccha: If a fire were burning in front of you, would you know that,
‘This fire is burning in front of me’?”
“…yes…”
“And suppose someone were to ask you, Vaccha, ‘This fire
burning in front of you, dependent on what is it burning?’ Thus asked, how
would you reply?”
“…I would reply, ‘This fire burning in front of me is
burning dependent on grass & timber as its sustenance.’”
“If the fire burning in front of you were to go out, would
you know that, ‘This fire burning in front of me has gone out’?”
“…yes…”
“And suppose someone were to ask you, ‘This fire that has
gone out in front of you, in which direction from here has it gone? East? West?
North? Or south?’ Thus asked, how would you reply?”
“That doesn’t apply, Master Gotama. Any fire burning
dependent on a sustenance of grass and timber, being unnourished β from having
consumed that sustenance and not being offered any other β is classified simply
as ‘out’ (unbound).”
“Even so, Vaccha, any physical form by which one describing
the Tathagata would describe him: That the Tathagata has abandoned, its root
destroyed, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of
development, not destined for future arising. Freed from the classification of
form, Vaccha, the Tathagata is deep, boundless, hard to fathom, like the sea.
‘Reappears’ doesn’t apply. ‘Does not reappear’ doesn’t apply. ‘Both does &
does not reappear’ doesn’t apply. ‘Neither reappears nor does not reappear’
doesn’t apply.
“Any feeling… Any perception… Any mental fabrication…
“Any consciousness by which one describing the Tathagata
would describe him: That the Tathagata has abandoned, its root destroyed, made
like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of development, not destined
for future arising. Freed from the classification of consciousness, Vaccha, the
Tathagata is deep, boundless, hard to fathom, like the sea. ‘Reappears’ doesn’t
apply. ‘Does not reappear’ doesn’t apply. ‘Both does & does not reappear’
doesn’t apply. ‘Neither reappears nor does not reappear’ doesn’t apply.”
When this was said, the wanderer Vacchagotta said to the Blessed
One: “Master Gotama, it is as if there were a great sala tree not far from
a village or town: From inconstancy, its branches and leaves would wear away,
its bark would wear away, its sapwood would wear away, so that on a later
occasion β divested of branches, leaves, bark, & sapwood β it would stand
as pure heartwood. In the same way, Master Gotama’s words are divested of branches,
leaves, bark, & sapwood and stand as pure heartwood.
“Magnificent,
Master Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was
overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or
were to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in
the same way has Master Gotama β through many lines of reasoning β made the
Dhamma clear. I go to Master Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma, and to the
Sangha of monks. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone
to him for refuge, from this day forward, for life.”
SELECTED BUDDHAβS TEACHINGS -TEXTS FROM
THE BOOK OF PROTECTION
Translated from the original
Pali texts
by Piyadassi Thera
Namo Tassa
Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa
Homage to the Blessed One,
the Consummate One,
the Supremely Enlightened One
I
Going for Refuge
(Sarana-gamana [1])
Buddham saranam
gacchami
Dhammam saranam
gacchami
Sangham saranam
gacchami
Dutiyampi Buddham
saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Dhammam
saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Sangham
saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Buddham
saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Dhammam
saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Sangham
saranam gacchami
I go for refuge to the Buddha
(Teacher)
I go for refuge to the Dhamma
(the Teaching)
I go for refuge to the Sangha
(the Taught)
For the second time I go for
refuge to the Buddha
For the second time I go for
refuge to the Dhamma
For the second time I go for
refuge to the Sangha
For the third time I go for
refuge to the Buddha
For the third time I go for
refuge to the Dhamma
For the third time I go for
refuge to the Sangha
AN 3.67
PTS: A i 197
Kathavatthu Sutta:
Topics for Discussion
translated from the Pali
by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
“Monks, there are these three topics for discussion. Which
three?
“One may talk about the past, saying, ‘Thus it was in the
past.’ One may talk about the future, saying, ‘Thus it will be in the future.’
Or one may talk about now in the present, saying, ‘Thus it is now in the
present.’
“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a
discussion that a person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk
with. If a person, when asked a question, doesn’t give a categorical answer to
a question deserving a categorical answer, doesn’t give an analytical
(qualified) answer to a question deserving an analytical answer, doesn’t give a
counter-question to a question deserving a counter-question, doesn’t put aside
a question deserving to be put aside, then β that being the case β he is a
person unfit to talk with. But if a person, when asked a question, gives a
categorical answer to a question deserving a categorical answer, gives an
analytical answer to a question deserving an analytical answer, gives a
counter-question to a question deserving a counter-question, and puts aside a
question deserving to be put aside, then β that being the case β he is a person
fit to talk with.
“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a
discussion that a person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk with.
If a person, when asked a question, doesn’t stand by what is possible and
impossible, doesn’t stand by agreed-upon assumptions, doesn’t stand by
teachings known to be true,[1]
doesn’t stand by standard procedure, then β that being the case β he is a
person unfit to talk with. But if a person, when asked a question, stands by
what is possible and impossible, stands by agreed-upon assumptions, stands by
teachings known to be true, stands by standard procedure, then β that being the
case β he is a person fit to talk with.
“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a
discussion that a person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk
with. If a person, when asked a question, wanders from one thing to another,
pulls the discussion off the topic, shows anger & aversion and sulks, then
β that being the case β he is a person unfit to talk with. But if a person,
when asked a question, doesn’t wander from one thing to another, doesn’t pull
the discussion off the topic, doesn’t show anger or aversion or sulk, then β
that being the case β he is a person fit to talk with.
“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a
discussion that a person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk
with. If a person, when asked a question, puts down [the questioner], crushes
him, ridicules him, grasps at his little mistakes, then β that being the case β
he is a person unfit to talk with. But if a person, when asked a question,
doesn’t put down [the questioner], doesn’t crush him, doesn’t ridicule him,
doesn’t grasp at his little mistakes, then β that being the case β he is a
person fit to talk with.
“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a
discussion that a person can be known as drawing near or not drawing near. One
who lends ear draws near; one who doesn’t lend ear doesn’t draw near. Drawing
near, one clearly knows one quality, comprehends one quality, abandons one
quality, and realizes one quality.[2]
Clearly knowing one quality, comprehending one quality, abandoning one quality,
and realizing one quality, one touches right release. For that’s the purpose of
discussion, that’s the purpose of counsel, that’s the purpose of drawing near,
that’s the purpose of lending ear: i.e., the liberation of the mind through no
clinging.
Those who discuss when
angered, dogmatic, arrogant, following what’s not the noble ones’ way, seeking
to expose each other’s faults, delight in each other’s misspoken word, slip,
stumble, defeat. Noble ones don’t speak in that way. If wise people, knowing
the right time, want to speak, then, words connected with justice, following
the ways of the noble ones: That’s what the enlightened ones speak, without
anger or arrogance, with a mind not boiling over, without vehemence, without
spite. Without envy they speak from right knowledge. They would delight in
what’s well-said and not disparage what’s not. They don’t study to find fault,
don’t grasp at little mistakes. don’t put down, don’t crush, don’t speak random
words. For the purpose of knowledge, for the purpose of [inspiring] clear
confidence, counsel that’s true: That’s how noble ones give counsel, That’s the
noble ones’ counsel. Knowing this, the wise should give counsel without arrogance.”
The Ten Training Precepts
(Dasa-sikkhapada
[1])
1. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from
killing.
2. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from
stealing.
3. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from
sexual misconduct.
4. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from lying.
5. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from liquor
that causes intoxication and
heedlessness.
6. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from
untimely eating.
7. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from
dancing, singing, music, and
visiting unseemly shows.
8. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from the
use of garlands, perfumes,
cosmetics, and embellishments.
9. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from the
use of high and luxurious
beds.
10. I undertake to abide by
the precept to abstain from
accepting gold and silver.
Press Information Bureau
(C.M. Information Campus)
Information & Public Relations Department,
U.P.
Hon’ble Chief Minister ji to tour entire state
again by September end
Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directs officers to take
immediate action on feedback received from in-charge
officers of three zones, directs to solve problems
cited by them
Pre-10th scholarship of old students of SC/ST
should be transferred in their accounts by 31 August and that of
new students should be transferred by 30 October β Hon’ble Chief
Minister ji
Lucknow : 18 August 2011
The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Ms.
Mayawati ji, has directed the officers to carry out rescue and relief works in
flood affected areas on war footing and provide all possible help to the
affected people at the earliest. She directed the officers of flood affected
districts to keep an eye on the flood situation continuously. She had taken
decision to conduct tour of the entire state after August 15, but owing to bad
weather and rainy conditions the Hon’ble Chief Minister ji would now conduct
her tour at the end of September. She directed the senior ministers to go to the
flood affected districts to ensure effective implementation of rescue and
relief works. It may be recalled that the Cabinet Secretary Mr. Shashank
Shekhar Singh and Chief Secretary Mr. Anoop Mishra had requested the Hon’ble
Chief Minister ji to postpone her state tour considering flood situation in
some parts of the state.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directed the
officers to strengthen the law and order of the state and accelerate the pace
of development. She asked the officers to ensure effective implementation of
public welfare programmes so that people
could be benefited by them. She directed officers
to take immediate action on feedback received from in-charge officers of three
zones and asked them to solve problems cited by them as well. She warned that
action against criminals, antisocial
elements and mafias should continue.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji gave these
directives when the Cabinet Secretary Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh and Chief
Secretary Mr. Anoop Mishra apprised her of the inferences of the meeting held
at the Tilak Hall today to review law and order and progress of development
works. The meeting was attended by all the DMs, SSPs, IGs/DIGs and other senior
officers of police department.
Ms. Mayawati ji said that the policy related
difficulties being faced in declaring the barracks useless and also in other
matter of the police department, should be removed immediately so that there
was no delay in taking decisions and performing other duties. Directing
officers to ensure proper maintenance of existing barracks and provide all
necessary facilities to PAC Jawans residing there, she said that new barracks
and government residences should be constructed and existing ones should be
repaired and necessary amount should be released for it immediately.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directed the police
and administrative officers to co-ordinate with each other. She asked them to
remain cautious in the wake of Ramzan and coming festivals. She asked the DMs
and district level officers of police to review the functioning of chowki and
thana in-charges. She directed that elements trying to vitiate the social
harmony should be identified and monitored and action should be taken against
them if needed.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directed the
division and district level senior officers to maintain continuous interaction
with their juniors and solve their problems at the earliest. She directed the
officers to maintain tehsil divas and thana divas registers and prepare a
format for registering complaints and their disposal should also be mentioned
in it.
Ms. Mayawati ji directed the officers to ensure
that CC roads were constructed in SC/ST dominated villages/majras selected
under Dr. Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Yojana on priority basis. She asked the
officers to ensure that
the construction of CC roads was initiated at all
costs in the villages having most SC/ST population. Besides, she directed them
to accord top priority to the construction of link roads and community centres.
She further asked them to complete the ongoing construction of community
centres of the year 2009-10, 2010-11 at the earliest. Besides, she directed
them to credit the amount payable to the beneficiaries under the U.P.
Mukhaymantri Mahamaya Gharib Arthik
Madad Yojana in their accounts at the earliest.
She said that the districts which had not received amount under this scheme so
far, should be provided the amount today itself.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directed the
officers to verify whether the amount payable to the beneficiaries of old age
pension scheme had been credited in their accounts. She asked all the DMs to
conduct random checking of it and inform the beneficiary that the amount had
been credited in their respective accounts so that they were not made to run
from here to there. She asked the officers to ensure that the pre-10th
scholarship of old students of SC/ST was transferred in their accounts by 31
August and that of new students was transferred by 30 October. She further
asked them to ensure that the post-10th students were also
distributed scholarship amount. She said that any laxity in it would not be
tolerated.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directed the
concerning departments and working agencies to fulfil the fixed targets soon by
completing their departmental works under Bundelkhand package. She also
directed the officers to do special efforts for releasing the amount allotted
under centrally sponsored schemes related to concerning departments. She also
directed the officers to implement all externally aided projects in a time
bound and qualitative manner.
Reviewing relief and rescue works in flood
affected areas, the Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that all essential
facilities should be made available for the people on priority basis. She said
owing to the possibility of spreading infectious
diseases in flood affected areas, effective arrangements
should be made to check these diseases timely. She said that besides providing
medical facilities, immunisation of cattle should also be done in flood
affected areas. She directed
the officers to make arrangements for sanitation
and proper drainage system to remove water-logging problem in urban areas. She
directed the Urban Development Department to purchase bitumen directly from
Mathura Refinery.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji directed the
officers to ensure the availability of doctors and medicines at primary and
community health centres in rural areas. She said that the numbers of
operations per surgeon and patients per
doctor at O.P.D. had improved considerably, but it
could be improved more. She said that medical facilities should be provided to
the people and skilful staff should be recruited to operate medical instruments
in hospitals, so that people
could get the benefit.
Reviewing the progress of higher, secondary and
basic eduction, the Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that quality education
should be imparted to the students. She directed the officers to ensure the
arrangements to provide textbooks free of cost to the children studying in
primary schools. She said that untrained Shiksha Mitras should be imparted
training through long distance education and any slackness in this regard would
not be tolerated. She said that Savitribai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojana
should also be implemented for the girls studying in Madarsas in a speedy
manner. She also directed the officers to provide the benefit of Uttar Pradesh
Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Garib Arthik Madad Yojana, Mahamaya Garib Balika Ashirwad
Yojana, different pensions and scholarships to eligible beneficiaries timely.
She said that Janhit Guarantee Law should be implemented in order to benefit
the common-man.
Directing the officers to get C.C. roads and
drains constructed in the villages selected under Dr. Ambedkar Gram Sabha
Development Scheme, the Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that these villages
should be saturated with all the programmes. She said that surprise checking
should be made by the senior officers to monitor the tree plantation programme.
*******