The Connected Discourses of the Buddha

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by Bhikkhu Bodhi


  6 (6)-13 (13) Malicious, Etc.

  “When, Anuruddha, a woman possesses five qualities, with the breakup of the body, after death, she is reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the nether world, in hell. What five?

  “She is without faith, shameless, unafraid of wrongdoing, malicious, [envious ... stingy … of loose conduct ... immoral … unlearned ... lazy ... muddle-minded,]264 unwise. When a woman possesses these five qualities she is reborn in a state of misery ... in hell.” [242–43]

  14 (14) The Five

  “When, Anuruddha, a woman possesses five qualities, with the breakup of the body, after death, she is reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the nether world, in hell. What are the five?

  “She destroys life, takes what is not given, engages in sexual misconduct, speaks falsehood, and indulges in wine, liquor, and intoxicants that cause negligence. When a woman possesses these five qualities she is reborn in a state of misery ... in hell.”

  II. SECOND REPETITION SERIES

  (Anuruddha)

  (Anuruddha: (ii) The Bright Side)

  15 (1) Without Anger

  Then the Venerable Anuruddha approached the Blessed One ... and said to him: “Here, venerable sir, with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, I see women, with the breakup of the body, after death, being reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. When a woman possesses how many qualities, venerable sir, is she reborn thus?”

  “When, Anuruddha, a woman possesses five qualities, with the breakup of the body, after death, she is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. What are the five?

  “She has faith, she has a sense of shame, she is afraid of wrongdoing, she is without anger, she is wise. When a woman possesses these five qualities [244] she is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world.”

  16 (2)-23 (9) Without Malice, Etc.

  “When, Anuruddha, a woman possesses five qualities, with the breakup of the body, after death, she is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. What are the five?

  “She has faith, she has a sense of shame, she is afraid of wrongdoing, she is without malice, [without envy ... not stingy ... not of loose conduct ... virtuous ... learned ... energetic ... mindful,] 265 wise. When a woman possesses these five qualities she is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world.” [245]

  24 (10) The Five Precepts

  “When, Anuruddha, a woman possesses five qualities, with the breakup of the body, after death, she is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. What are the five?

  “She abstains from the destruction of life, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from wine, liquor, and intoxicants that cause negligence. When a woman possesses these five qualities, with the breakup of the body, after death, she is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world.”

  [246]

  III. POWERS

  25 (1) Confident

  “Bhikkhus, there are five powers of a woman. What are the five? The power of beauty, the power of wealth, the power of relatives, the power of sons, the power of virtue. These are the five powers of a woman. When a woman possesses these five powers, she dwells confident at home.”

  26 (2) Having Won Over

  “Bhikkhus, there are five powers of a woman…. (as above ) ... When a woman possesses these five powers, she dwells at home having won over her husband.”266

  27 (3) Under Her Control

  “Bhikkhus, there are five powers of a woman…. (as above ) ... When a woman possesses these five powers, she abides with her husband under her control.”

  28 (4) One

  “Bhikkhus, when a man possesses one power, he abides with a woman under his control. What is that one power? The power of authority. When a woman has been overcome by the power of authority, neither the power of beauty can rescue her, nor the power of wealth, nor the power of relatives, nor the power of sons, nor the power of virtue.” [247]

  29 (5) In That Respect

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five powers of a woman. What are the five? The power of beauty, the power of wealth, the power of relatives, the power of sons, the power of virtue.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the power of beauty but not the power of wealth, then she is deficient in that respect. But if she possesses the power of beauty and the power of wealth too, then she is complete in that respect.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the powers of beauty and wealth, but not the power of relatives, then she is deficient in that respect. But if she possesses the powers of beauty and wealth, and the power of relatives too, then she is complete in that respect.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the powers of beauty, wealth, and relatives, but not the power of sons, then she is deficient in that respect. But if she possesses the powers of beauty, wealth, and relatives, and the power of sons too, then she is complete in that respect.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the powers of beauty, wealth, relatives, and sons, but not the power of virtue, then she is deficient in that respect. But if she possesses the powers of beauty, wealth, relatives, and sons, and the power of virtue too, then she is complete in that respect.

  “These are the five powers of a woman.”

  30 (6) They Expel

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five powers of a woman ... [248] … the power of virtue.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the power of beauty but not the power of virtue, they expel her; they do not accommodate her in the family.267

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the powers of beauty and wealth, but not the power of virtue, they expel her; they do not accommodate her in the family.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the powers of beauty, wealth, and relatives, but not the power of virtue, they expel her; they do not accommodate her in the family.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the powers of beauty, wealth, relatives, and sons, but not the power of virtue, they expel her; they do not accommodate her in the family.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the power of virtue but not the power of beauty, they accommodate her in the family; they do not expel her.268

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the power of virtue but not the power of wealth, they accommodate her in the family; they do not expel her.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the power of virtue but not the power of relatives, they accommodate her in the family; they do not expel her.

  “If, bhikkhus, a woman possesses the power of virtue but not the power of sons, they accommodate her in the family; they do not expel her.

  “These are the five powers of a woman.”

  31 (7) The Cause

  “Bhikkhus, there are these five powers of a woman … the power of virtue.

  “Bhikkhus, it is not because of the power of beauty, or the power of wealth, or the power of relatives, or the power of sons, that with the breakup of the body, after death, a woman is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. It is because of the power of virtue that a woman is reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world.

  “These are the five powers of a woman.” [249]

  32 (8) Situations

  “Bhikkhus, there are five situations that are difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit. What are the five?

  “She may wish: ‘May I be born into a suitable family!’ This is the first situation that is difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.

  “She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family, may I marry into a suitable family!’ This is the second situation….

  “She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family and having married into a suitable family, may I dwell at home without a rival!’269 This is the third situation….

  “She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family … dwelling at home without a rival, may I bear sons!’ This is the fourth situation…. [250]

>   “She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family … having borne sons, may I abide with my husband under my control! ’ This is the fifth situation….

  “These are the five situations that are difficult to obtain for a woman who has not done merit.

  “Bhikkhus, there are five situations that are easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit. What are the five?

  “She may wish: ‘May I be born into a suitable family!’ This is the first situation….

  “She may wish: ‘Having been born into a suitable family … having borne sons, may I abide with my husband under my control! ’ This is the fifth situation….

  “These are the five situations that are easy to obtain for a woman who has done merit.”

  33 (9) Confident

  “Bhikkhus, when a woman possesses five qualities she dwells confident at home. What are the five? She abstains from the destruction of life, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from wine, liquor, and intoxicants that cause negligence. When a woman possesses these five qualities she dwells confident at home.”

  34 (10) Growth

  “Bhikkhus, growing in five areas of growth, a woman noble disciple grows with a noble growth, and she acquires the essence, acquires the best, of this bodily existence. What are the five? She grows in faith, in virtue, in learning, in generosity, and in wisdom. Growing in these five areas of growth, a woman noble disciple grows with a noble growth, and she acquires the essence, acquires the best, of this bodily existence.

  “When she grows here in faith and virtue,

  In wisdom, generosity, and learning,

  The virtuous woman lay disciple

  Acquires right here the essence for herself.”

  [251]

  Chapter IV

  38 Jambukhādakasaṃyutta

  Connected Discourses with Jambukhādaka

  1 A Question on Nibbāna

  On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling in Magadha at Nālakagāma. Then the wanderer Jambukh̄daka270 approached the Venerable Sāriputta and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to the Venerable Sāriputta:

  “Friend Sāriputta, it is said, ‘Nibbāna, Nibbāna.’ What now is Nibbāna?”

  “The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion: this, friend, is called Nibbāna.”271

  “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the realization of this Nibbāna?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way for the realization of this Nibbāna.” [252]

  “And what, friend, is that path, what is that way for the realization of this Nibbāna?”

  “It is, friend, this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is the path, friend, this is the way for the realization of this Nibbāna.”

  “Excellent is the path, friend, excellent is the way for the realization of this Nibbāna. And it is enough, friend Sāriputta, for diligence.”

  2 Arahantship

  “Friend Sāriputta, it is said, ‘arahantship, arahantship.’ What now is arahantship?”

  “The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion: this, friend, is called arahantship.”

  “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the realization of this arahantship?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way for the realization of this arahantship.”

  “And what, friend, is that path, what is that way for the realization of this arahantship?”

  “It is, friend, this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view … right concentration. This is the path, friend, this is the way for the realization of this arahantship.”

  “Excellent is the path, friend, excellent is the way for the realization of this arahantship. And it is enough, friend Sāriputta, for diligence.”

  3 Proponents of Dhamma

  “Friend Sāriputta, who are the proponents of Dhamma in the world? Who are practising well in the world? Who are the fortunate ones in the world?”

  “Those, friend, who teach the Dhamma for the abandonment of lust, [253] for the abandonment of hatred, for the abandonment of delusion: they are the proponents of Dhamma in the world. Those who are practising for the abandonment of lust, for the abandonment of hatred, for the abandonment of delusion: they are practising well in the world. Those for whom lust, hatred, and delusion have been abandoned, cut off at the root, made like palm stumps, obliterated so that they are no more subject to future arising: they are the fortunate ones in the world.”272 “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the abandonment of this lust, hatred, and delusion?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way for the abandonment of this lust, hatred, and delusion.”

  “And what, friend, is that path…?”

  “It is, friend, this Noble Eightfold Path….”

  “Excellent is the path, friend, excellent is the way for the abandonment of this lust, hatred, and delusion. And it is enough, friend Sāriputta, for diligence.”

  4 For What Purpose?

  “For what purpose, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?”

  “It is, friend, for the full understanding of suffering that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.”

  “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the full understanding of this suffering?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way ... [254] this Noble Eightfold Path….”

  5 Conslation

  “Friend Sāriputta, it is said, ‘one who has attained consolation, one who has attained consolation.’ In what way, friend, has one attained consolation?”273

  “When, friend, a bhikkhu understands as it really is the origin and the passing away, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of the six bases for contact, in this way he has attained consolation.”

  “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the realization of this consolation?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way ... this Noble Eightfold Path….”

  6 Supreme Conslation

  “Friend Sāriputta, it is said, ‘one who has attained supreme consolation, one who has attained supreme consolation.’ In what way, friend, has one attained supreme consolation?”

  “When, friend, [255] having understood as it really is the origin and the passing away, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of the six bases for contact, a bhikkhu is liberated by nonclinging, in this way he has attained supreme consolation.”

  “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the realization of this supreme consolation?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way ... this Noble Eightfold Path….”

  7 Feeling

  “Friend Sāriputta, it is said, ‘feeling, feeling.’ What now is feeling?”

  “There are, friend, these three feelings: pleasant feeling, painful feeling, neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. These are the three feelings.”

  “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the full understanding of these three feelings?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way ... this Noble Eightfold Path….” [256]

  8 Taints

  “Friend Sāriputta, it is said, ‘taint, taint.’ What now is a taint?”

  “There are, friend, these three taints: the taint of sensuality, the taint of existence, the taint of ignorance. These are the three taints.”

  “But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the abandonment of these three taints?”

  “There is a path, friend, there is a way ... this Noble Eightfold Path….”

  9 Ignorance

 

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