“Mendicants, you should know bad principles and good principles. “Adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca; And you should know bad results and good results. anattho ca veditabbo attho ca. Knowing these things, your practice should follow the good principles with good results.” Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban”ti.

That is what the Buddha said. Idamavoca bhagavā. When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered, Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: “The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. “idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca; anattho ca veditabbo attho ca. Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti. Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha?” Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?

Then they considered, Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: “This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. “ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. As he answers, so we’ll remember it.” Yathā no āyasmā ānando byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā”ti.

Then those mendicants went to Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him. Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said, Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ: “Idaṁ kho no, āvuso ānanda, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘adhammo ca …pe… tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti. Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho—adhammo ca …pe… tathā paṭipajjitabbanti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti? Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. Yathā no āyasmā ānando byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā’ti. “May Venerable Ānanda please explain this.” Vibhajatu āyasmā ānando”ti.

“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves. “Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva mūlaṁ atikkamma khandhaṁ sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya; Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you overlooked him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter. evaṁsampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha. For he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the teacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passati, cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ tumhe bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.” Yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

“Certainly he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the teacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One. “Addhāvuso ānanda, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passati cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto vattā pavattā atthassa ninnetā amatassa dātā dhammassāmī tathāgato. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ mayaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma, We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer. yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma. Still, Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. Api cāyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. You are capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.” Vibhajatāyasmā ānando agaruṁ katvā”ti.

“Then listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Tenahāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” they replied. “Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paccassosuṁ. Ānanda said this: Athāyasmā ānando etadavoca:

“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail: “Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘You should know bad principles and good principles. ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca; And you should know bad results and good results. anattho ca veditabbo attho ca. Knowing these things, your practice should follow the good principles with good results.’ Adhammañca viditvā dhammañca, anatthañca viditvā atthañca yathā dhammo yathā attho tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.

So what are bad principles? What are good principles? What are bad results? And what are good results? Katamo cāvuso, adhammo, katamo ca dhammo, katamo ca anattho, katamo ca attho?

Wrong view is a bad principle. Micchādiṭṭhi, āvuso, adhammo; Right view is a good principle. sammādiṭṭhi dhammo; And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong view are bad results. ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of right view are good results. sammādiṭṭhipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.

Wrong thought is a bad principle. Micchāsaṅkappo, āvuso, adhammo; Right thought is a good principle. … sammāsaṅkappo dhammo … Wrong speech is a bad principle. micchāvācā, āvuso, adhammo; Right speech is a good principle. … sammāvācā dhammo … Wrong action is a bad principle. micchākammanto, āvuso, adhammo; Right action is a good principle. … sammākammanto dhammo … Wrong livelihood is a bad principle. micchāājīvo, āvuso, adhammo; Right livelihood is a good principle. … sammāājīvo dhammo … Wrong effort is a bad principle. micchāvāyāmo, āvuso, adhammo; Right effort is a good principle. … sammāvāyāmo dhammo … Wrong mindfulness is a bad principle. micchāsati, āvuso, adhammo; Right mindfulness is a good principle. … sammāsati dhammo … Wrong immersion is a bad principle. micchāsamādhi, āvuso, adhammo; Right immersion is a good principle. … sammāsamādhi dhammo … Wrong knowledge is a bad principle. micchāñāṇaṁ, āvuso, adhammo; Right knowledge is a good principle. … sammāñāṇaṁ dhammo ….

Wrong freedom is a bad principle. Micchāvimutti, āvuso, adhammo; Right freedom is a good principle. sammāvimutti dhammo; And the many bad, unskillful qualities produced by wrong freedom are bad results. ye ca micchāvimuttipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti, ayaṁ anattho; And the many skillful qualities fully developed because of right freedom are good results. sammāvimuttipaccayā ca aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti, ayaṁ attho.

The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail: Ayaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘You should know bad principles and good principles … ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo dhammo ca …pe… and practice accordingly.’ And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital. tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti, imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this. Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe, āvuso, bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.” Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” said those mendicants, approving and agreeing with what Ānanda said. Then they rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then they said: “Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Yaṁ kho no bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo …pe… tathā paṭipajjitabban’ti.

Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho—adhammo ca, bhikkhave, veditabbo …pe… tathā paṭipajjitabbanti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?

Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. Yathā no āyasmā ānando byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā’ti.

“Sir, we went to Ānanda and asked him about this matter. Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamimhā; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ apucchimhā. And Ānanda clearly explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.” Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā ānandena imehi ākārehi imehi padehi imehi byañjanehi attho suvibhatto”ti.

“Good, good, mendicants! “Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhave. Ānanda is astute, Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, ānando. he has great wisdom. Mahāpañño, bhikkhave, ānando. If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Ānanda. Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi cetaṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ ānandena byākataṁ. That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.” Eso ceva tassa attho evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.