MN15 — Anumānasutta

Thus have I heard:

On one occasion, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was dwelling among the Bhaggas at Susumāragira in the Bhesakaḷā Forest, in the Deer Park.

There, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the disciples, Friends, disciples.

Friend, those disciples replied to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna.

The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this: If, friends, a disciple invites criticism, saying, Let the venerable ones speak to me, I am open to being admonished by the venerable ones, but he is difficult to admonish, possessing qualities that make him difficult to admonish, intolerant, and not accepting guidance, then his fellow disciples do not think he should be spoken to, nor do they think he should be instructed, nor do they think they should place trust in that person.

And what, friends, are the qualities that make one difficult to admonish?

Here, friends, a disciple is of evil desires, led by evil desires. When, friends, a disciple is of evil desires, led by evil desires: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is self-praising and disparaging of others. When, friends, a disciple is self-praising and disparaging of others: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is angry, overcome by anger. When, friends, a disciple is angry, overcome by anger: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is angry and holds a grudge because of anger. When, friends, a disciple is angry and holds a grudge because of anger: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is angry and becomes resentful because of anger. When, friends, a disciple is angry and becomes resentful because of anger: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is angry and speaks harsh words because of anger. When, friends, a disciple is angry and speaks harsh words because of anger: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, retaliates against the reprover. When, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, retaliates against the reprover: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, disparages the reprover. When, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, disparages the reprover: this is a quality that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, accuses the reprover.

Friends, when a disciple, being admonished by an admonisher, retaliates against the admonisher, this is a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, when a disciple, being admonished by an admonisher, evades the issue, diverts the conversation, and displays anger, resentment, and displeasure, this is also a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

Moreover, friends, when a disciple, being admonished by an admonisher, does not engage in the matter, this too is a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

Additionally, friends, when a disciple is deceitful and hypocritical, this is a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, when a disciple is envious and stingy, this is a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

Moreover, friends, when a disciple is fraudulent and deceitful, this is a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

Additionally, friends, when a disciple is obstinate and arrogant, this is a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, when a disciple clings to his views, is tenacious, and difficult to relinquish, this is a trait that makes one difficult to admonish.

These, friends, are called traits that make one difficult to admonish.

Even if, friends, a disciple invites others, saying, Let the venerable ones speak to me, I am open to being admonished by the venerable ones, and he is indeed easy to admonish, endowed with traits that make one easy to admonish, patient, and accepting of guidance, then his fellow practitioners consider him worthy of being spoken to, worthy of being admonished, and they think he is someone in whom trust should be placed.

And what, friends, are the traits that make one easy to admonish?

Here, friends, a disciple is not covetous, not led by evil desires. This is a trait that makes one easy to admonish.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is not boastful, not disparaging of others. This is a trait that makes one easy to admonish.

Moreover, friends, a disciple is not angry, not overcome by anger.

Friends, a disciple is not angry and not overcome by anger: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is not angry and does not harbor resentment due to anger: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Again, friends, a disciple is not angry and does not cling to anger: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is not angry and does not speak harsh words due to anger: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Again, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, does not retaliate against the reprover: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, does not disparage the reprover: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Again, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, does not accuse the reprover: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, does not evade the issue, does not divert the conversation, and does not display anger, hatred, or discontent: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Again, friends, a disciple, when reproved by a reprover, is in harmony with the reprover: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is not boastful and not deceitful: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Again, friends, a disciple is not envious and not stingy: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple is not deceitful and not hypocritical: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Again, friends, a disciple is not arrogant and not conceited: this is a quality that makes one easy to instruct.

Indeed, friend, when a disciple is not arrogant and not conceited, this quality makes him easy to instruct.

Furthermore, friend, when a disciple is not attached to views, not clinging, and easily lets go, this quality also makes him easy to instruct.

These are called, friend, the qualities that make one easy to instruct.

Therefore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself in this way: This person who is of bad desires, who is led by bad desires, is disagreeable and unpleasant to me. If I were of bad desires and led by bad desires, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Knowing this, friend, a disciple should generate the thought, I will not be of bad desires, nor will I be led by bad desires.

This person who praises himself and disparages others is disagreeable and unpleasant to me. If I were to praise myself and disparage others, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Knowing this, friend, a disciple should generate the thought, I will not praise myself nor disparage others.

This person who is angry and overcome by anger is disagreeable and unpleasant to me. If I were angry and overcome by anger, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Knowing this, friend, a disciple should generate the thought, I will not be angry nor overcome by anger.

This person who is angry and holds a grudge because of anger is disagreeable and unpleasant to me. If I were angry and held a grudge because of anger, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Knowing this, friend, a disciple should generate the thought, I will not be angry nor hold a grudge because of anger.

This person who is angry and harbors resentment because of anger is disagreeable and unpleasant to me. If I were angry and harbored resentment because of anger, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Knowing this, friend, a disciple should generate the thought, I will not be angry nor harbor resentment because of anger.

This person who is angry and speaks harshly because of anger is disagreeable and unpleasant to me. If I were angry and spoke harshly because of anger, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Knowing this, friend, a disciple should generate the thought, I will not be angry nor speak harshly because of anger.

When a person, having been admonished by another, retaliates against the admonisher, this person is unpleasant and disagreeable to me. But if I, having been admonished, were to retaliate against the admonisher, I would be unpleasant and disagreeable to others. Knowing this, a disciple should generate the thought, When admonished, I will not retaliate against the admonisher.

When a person, having been admonished by another, disparages the admonisher, this person is unpleasant and disagreeable to me. But if I, having been admonished, were to disparage the admonisher, I would be unpleasant and disagreeable to others. Knowing this, a disciple should generate the thought, When admonished, I will not disparage the admonisher.

When a person, having been admonished by another, accuses the admonisher, this person is unpleasant and disagreeable to me. But if I, having been admonished, were to accuse the admonisher, I would be unpleasant and disagreeable to others. Knowing this, a disciple should generate the thought, When admonished, I will not accuse the admonisher.

When a person, having been admonished by another, evades the issue, diverts the conversation, and displays anger, resentment, and lack of respect, this person is unpleasant and disagreeable to me. But if I, having been admonished, were to evade the issue, divert the conversation, and display anger, resentment, and lack of respect, I would be unpleasant and disagreeable to others. Knowing this, a disciple should generate the thought, When admonished, I will not evade the issue, divert the conversation, or display anger, resentment, and lack of respect.

When a person, having been admonished by another, does not reconcile with the admonisher, this person is unpleasant and disagreeable to me. But if I, having been admonished, were not to reconcile with the admonisher, I would be unpleasant and disagreeable to others. Knowing this, a disciple should generate the thought, When admonished, I will reconcile with the admonisher.

When a person is deceitful and hypocritical, this person is unpleasant and disagreeable to me. But if I were deceitful and hypocritical, I would be unpleasant and disagreeable to others. Knowing this, a disciple should generate the thought, I will be free from deceit and hypocrisy.

When a person is envious and stingy, this person is unpleasant and disagreeable to me. But if I were envious and stingy, I would be unpleasant and disagreeable to others.

Therefore, friend, a disciple who knows thus should generate the thought, I will be free from envy, free from stinginess.

This person is deceitful and hypocritical, and he is disagreeable and unpleasant to me; if I were deceitful and hypocritical, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Therefore, friend, a disciple who knows thus should generate the thought, I will be free from deceit, free from hypocrisy.

This person is stubborn and arrogant, and he is disagreeable and unpleasant to me; if I were stubborn and arrogant, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Therefore, friend, a disciple who knows thus should generate the thought, I will be free from stubbornness, free from arrogance.

This person is attached to views, clinging, and difficult to relinquish, and he is disagreeable and unpleasant to me; if I were attached to views, clinging, and difficult to relinquish, I would be disagreeable and unpleasant to others.

Therefore, friend, a disciple who knows thus should generate the thought, I will be free from attachment to views, free from clinging, easy to relinquish.

There, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself thus: Am I one with evil desires, under the influence of evil desires?

If, friend, a disciple reflecting thus knows, I am one with evil desires, under the influence of evil desires, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

But if, friend, a disciple reflecting thus knows, I am not one with evil desires, not under the influence of evil desires, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Again, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself thus: Am I one who praises himself and disparages others?

If, friend, a disciple reflecting thus knows, I am one who praises himself and disparages others, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

But if, friend, a disciple reflecting thus knows, I am not one who praises himself and disparages others, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Again, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself thus: Am I one who is angry, overcome by anger?

If, friend, a disciple reflecting thus knows...

If a disciple reflects and knows, I am angry, overcome by anger, then, friend, that disciple should strive to abandon those evil, unwholesome states.

However, if a disciple reflects and knows, I am not angry, not overcome by anger, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself, Am I angry, harboring resentment due to anger?

If a disciple reflects and knows, I am angry, harboring resentment due to anger, then, friend, that disciple should strive to abandon those evil, unwholesome states.

However, if a disciple reflects and knows, I am not angry, not harboring resentment due to anger, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself, Am I angry, clinging to anger?

If a disciple reflects and knows, I am angry, clinging to anger, then, friend, that disciple should strive to abandon those evil, unwholesome states.

However, if a disciple reflects and knows, I am not angry, not clinging to anger, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself, Am I angry, speaking words out of anger?

If a disciple reflects and knows, I am angry, speaking words out of anger, then, friend, that disciple should strive to abandon those evil, unwholesome states.

However, if a disciple reflects and knows, I am not angry, not speaking words out of anger, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself, When reproached by a reproacher, do I retaliate?

If a disciple reflects and knows, I am reproached by a reproacher and I retaliate, then, friend, that disciple should strive to abandon those evil, unwholesome states.

Therefore, friend, a disciple reflecting should know thus: I am being admonished by the admonisher, I do not retaliate against the admonisher. Therefore, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself thus: Am I being admonished by the admonisher, and do I disparage the admonisher?

If, friend, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am being admonished by the admonisher, and I disparage the admonisher, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

If, however, friend, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am being admonished by the admonisher, and I do not disparage the admonisher, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself thus: Am I being admonished by the admonisher, and do I accuse the admonisher?

If, friend, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am being admonished by the admonisher, and I accuse the admonisher, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

If, however, friend, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am being admonished by the admonisher, and I do not accuse the admonisher, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself thus: Am I being admonished by the admonisher, and do I evade by speaking of other things, diverting the conversation, and manifesting anger, hatred, and resentment?

If, friend, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am being admonished by the admonisher, and I evade by speaking of other things, diverting the conversation, and manifesting anger, hatred, and resentment, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

If, however, friend, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am being admonished by the admonisher, and I do not evade by speaking of other things, do not divert the conversation, and do not manifest anger, hatred, and resentment, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect on himself thus:

Am I being urged by the admonisher and not fulfilling the task?

If, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am being urged by the admonisher and not fulfilling the task, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

If, however, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am being urged by the admonisher and fulfilling the task, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect upon himself thus, Am I deceitful and hypocritical?

If, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am deceitful and hypocritical, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

If, however, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am not deceitful and not hypocritical, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect upon himself thus, Am I envious and stingy?

If, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am envious and stingy, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

If, however, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am not envious and not stingy, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect upon himself thus, Am I deceitful and a trickster?

If, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am deceitful and a trickster, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

If, however, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am not deceitful and not a trickster, then, friend, that disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friend, a disciple should reflect upon himself thus, Am I stubborn and arrogant?

If, friend, a disciple, upon reflection, knows thus, I am stubborn and arrogant, then, friend, that disciple should strive for the abandonment of those evil, unwholesome states.

Friends, when a disciple reflects, he knows thus: I am not stiff, I am not arrogant. Therefore, friends, the disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Furthermore, friends, a disciple should reflect on himself thus: Am I one who clings to views, who holds on stubbornly, who is difficult to relinquish?

If, friends, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am one who clings to views, who holds on stubbornly, who is difficult to relinquish, then, friends, the disciple should strive to abandon those evil, unwholesome states.

If, friends, a disciple reflecting knows thus: I am not one who clings to views, who does not hold on stubbornly, who is easy to relinquish, then, friends, the disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

If, friends, a disciple reflecting sees all these evil, unwholesome states not abandoned in himself, then, friends, the disciple should strive to abandon all these evil, unwholesome states.

If, friends, a disciple reflecting sees all these evil, unwholesome states abandoned in himself, then, friends, the disciple should dwell with joy and delight, training day and night in wholesome states.

Just as, friends, a young man or woman, fond of adornment, looking at their own reflection in a clear, bright mirror or in a bowl of clear water, if they see a blemish or a stain there, they strive to remove it; if they do not see a blemish or a stain there, they are pleased, thinking, It is a gain for me, it is clean for me.

In the same way, friends, if a disciple reflecting sees all these evil, unwholesome states not abandoned in himself, then, friends, the disciple should strive to abandon all these evil, unwholesome states.

Thus spoke the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna.

The disciples were delighted and rejoiced in the words of the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna.

The Anumāna Sutta is completed.