Sārāṇīya-dhamma Sutta Conditions for Amiability

Evam-me sutaṃ. Ekaṃ samayaṃ Bhagavā, Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati, Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa, ārāme. Tatra kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi, "Bhikkhavo" ti. "Bhadante" te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṃ. Bhagavā etad-avoca: "Chayime bhikkhave dhammā sārāṇīyā piya-karaṇā garu-karaṇā, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattanti. Katame cha?

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. There he said to the monk, "Monks!" "Yes, lord," the monks responded. The Blessed One said: "Monks, these six are conditions that are conducive to amiability, that engender feelings of endearment, engender feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity. Which six?

"Idha bhikkhave bhikkhuno, mettaṃ kāya-kammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti, sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca. Ayampi dhammo sārāṇīyo piya-karaṇo garu-karaṇo, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattati.

[1] "There is the case where a monk is set on bodily acts of good will with regard to his fellows in the holy life, to their faces & behind their backs. This is a condition that is conducive to amiability, that engenders feelings of endearment, engenders feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity.

"Puna c'aparaṃ bhikkhave bhikkhuno, mettaṃ vacī-kammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti, sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca. Ayampi dhammo sārāṇīyo piya-karaṇo garu-karaṇo, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattati.

[2] "Furthermore, the monk is set on verbal acts of good will with regard to his fellows in the holy life, to their faces & behind their backs. This is a condition that is conducive to amiability, that engenders feelings of endearment, engenders feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity.

"Puna c'aparaṃ bhikkhave bhikkhuno, mettaṃ mano-kammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti, sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca. Ayampi dhammo sārāṇīyo piya-karaṇo garu-karaṇo, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattati.

[3] "Furthermore, the monk is set on mental acts of good will with regard to his fellows in the holy life, to their faces & behind their backs. This is a condition that is conducive to amiability, that engenders feelings of endearment, engenders feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity.

"Puna c'aparaṃ bhikkhave bhikkhu, ye te lābhā dhammikā dhamma-laddhā, antamaso patta-pariyāpanna-mattampi, tathārūpehi lābhehi appaṭivibhattabhogī hoti, sīlavantehi sabrahmacārīhi sādhāraṇa-bhogī. Ayampi dhammo sārāṇīyo piya-karaṇo garu-karaṇo, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattati.

[4] "Furthermore, whatever righteous gains the monk may obtain in a righteous way — even if only as much as the alms in his bowl — he does not consume them alone. He consumes them after sharing them in common with his virtuous fellows in the holy life. This is a condition that is conducive to amiability, that engenders feelings of endearment, engenders feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity.

"Puna c'aparaṃ bhikkhave bhikkhu, yāni tāni sīlāni akhaṇḍāni achiddāni asabalāni akammāsani, bhujissāni viññūpasatthāni aparāmatthāni samadhi-saṃvattanikāni. Tathārūpesu sīlesu sīla-sāmaññagato viharati, sabrahmacārīhi āvi ceva raho ca. Ayampi dhammo sārāṇīyo piya-karaṇo garu-karaṇo, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattati.

[5] "Furthermore — with reference to the virtues that are untorn, unbroken, unspotted, unsplattered, liberating, praised by the wise, untarnished, leading to concentration — the monk dwells with his virtue on a par with that of his fellows in the holy life, to their faces & behind their backs. This is a condition that is conducive to amiability, that engenders feelings of endearment, engenders feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity.

"Puna c'aparaṃ bhikkhave bhikkhu, yāyaṃ diṭṭhi ariyā niyyānikā, niyyāti takkarassa sammā-dukkhakkhayāya, tathārūpāya diṭṭhiyā diṭṭhi-sāmaññagato viharati, sabrahmacārīhi āvi ceva raho ca. Ayampi dhammo sārāṇīyo piya-karaṇo garu-karaṇo, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattati.

[6] "Furthermore — with reference to views that are noble, leading outward, that lead those who act in accordance with them to the right ending of suffering & stress — the monk dwells with his views on a par with those of his fellows in the holy life, to their faces & behind their backs. This is a condition that is conducive to amiability, that engenders feelings of endearment, engenders feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity.

"Ime kho bhikkhave cha dhammā sārāṇīyā piya-karaṇā garu-karaṇā, saṅgahāya avivādāya sāmaggiyā ekī-bhāvāya saṃvattantī" ti.

"These are the six conditions that are conducive to amiability, that engender feelings of endearment, engender feelings of respect, leading to a sense of fellowship, a lack of disputes, harmony, & a state of unity."

Idam-avoca Bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū Bhagavato bhāsitaṃ, abhinandunti.

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the monks delighted in the Blessed One's words.