• Numbered Discourses 3.30 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 3.30
  • 3. Individuals 3. Puggalavagga

Upside-down Avakujjasutta

ā€œThese three individuals are found in the world. ā€œTayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. What three? Katame tayo? One with upside-down wisdom, one with wisdom on their lap, and one with widespread wisdom. AvakujjapaƱƱo puggalo, ucchaį¹…gapaƱƱo puggalo, puthupaƱƱo puggalo.

And who is the individual with upside-down wisdom? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, avakujjapaƱƱo puggalo? It’s an individual who often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the mendicants. Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ santike dhammassavanāya. The mendicants teach them Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. Tassa bhikkhÅ« dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyaƱjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti. But even while sitting there, that person doesn’t apply the mind to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion. So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti; And when they get up from their seat, they don’t apply the mind to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion. vuį¹­į¹­hitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti. It’s like when a pot full of water is tipped over, so the water drains out and doesn’t stay. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kumbho nikujjo tatra udakaṁ āsittaṁ vivaį¹­į¹­ati, no saṇṭhāti; In the same way, an individual often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the mendicants. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ santike dhammassavanāya. The mendicants teach them Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. Tassa bhikkhÅ« dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyaƱjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti. But even while sitting there, that person doesn’t apply the mind to the discussion in the beginning, middle, or end. So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti; And when they get up from their seat, they don’t apply the mind to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion. vuį¹­į¹­hitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti. This is called an individual with upside-down wisdom. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, avakujjapaƱƱo puggalo.

And who is the individual with wisdom on their lap? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, ucchaį¹…gapaƱƱo puggalo? It’s an individual who often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the mendicants. Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ santike dhammassavanāya. The mendicants teach them Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. Tassa bhikkhÅ« dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyaƱjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti. While sitting there, that person applies the mind to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end. So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti; But when they get up from their seat, they don’t apply the mind to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion. vuį¹­į¹­hito ca kho tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti. It’s like a person who has different kinds of food crammed on their lap—Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, purisassa ucchaį¹…ge nānākhajjakāni ākiṇṇāni—such as sesame, rice, sweets, or jujube—tilā taį¹‡įøulā modakā badarā. so that if they get up from the seat without mindfulness, everything gets scattered. So tamhā āsanā vuį¹­į¹­hahanto satisammosā pakireyya. In the same way, an individual often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the mendicants. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ santike dhammassavanāya. The mendicants teach them Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. Tassa bhikkhÅ« dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyaƱjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti. While sitting there, that person applies the mind to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end. So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti; But when they get up from their seat, they don’t apply the mind to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion. vuį¹­į¹­hito ca kho tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya neva ādiṁ manasi karoti, na majjhaṁ manasi karoti, na pariyosānaṁ manasi karoti. This is called an individual with wisdom on their lap. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ucchaį¹…gapaƱƱo puggalo.

And who is the individual with widespread wisdom? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puthupaƱƱo puggalo? It’s an individual who often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the mendicants. Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ santike dhammassavanāya. The mendicants teach them Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. Tassa bhikkhÅ« dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyaƱjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti. While sitting there, they apply the mind to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end. So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti; And when they get up from their seat, they continue to apply the mind to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion. vuį¹­į¹­hitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti. It’s like when a pot full of water is set straight, so the water stays and doesn’t drain out. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kumbho ukkujjo tatra udakaṁ āsittaṁ saṇṭhāti no vivaį¹­į¹­ati; In the same way, an individual often goes to the monastery to hear the teaching in the presence of the mendicants. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo ārāmaṁ gantā hoti abhikkhaṇaṁ bhikkhÅ«naṁ santike dhammassavanāya. The mendicants teach them Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And they reveal a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. Tassa bhikkhÅ« dhammaṁ desenti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyaƱjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāsenti. While sitting there, they apply the mind to the discussion in the beginning, middle, and end. So tasmiṁ āsane nisinno tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti; And when they get up from their seat, they continue to apply the mind to the beginning, middle, or end of the discussion. vuį¹­į¹­hitopi tamhā āsanā tassā kathāya ādimpi manasi karoti, majjhampi manasi karoti, pariyosānampi manasi karoti. This is called an individual with widespread wisdom. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, puthupaƱƱo puggalo.

These are the three individuals found in the world. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

A person with upside-down wisdom, AvakujjapaƱƱo puriso, is a simpleton and cannot see, dummedho avicakkhaṇo; and even if they frequently Abhikkhaṇampi ce hoti, go into the mendicants’ presence, gantā bhikkhÅ«na santike.

such a person can’t learn Ādiṁ kathāya majjhaƱca, the beginning, middle, or end pariyosānaƱca tādiso; of the discussion, Uggahetuṁ na sakkoti, for their wisdom is lacking. paƱƱā hissa na vijjati.

the individual with wisdom on their lap Ucchaį¹…gapaƱƱo puriso, is better than that, it’s said; seyyo etena vuccati; but even if they frequently Abhikkhaṇampi ce hoti, go into the mendicants’ presence, gantā bhikkhÅ«na santike.

such a person can only learn Ādiṁ kathāya majjhaƱca, the beginning, middle, and end pariyosānaƱca tādiso; while sitting in that seat; Nisinno āsane tasmiṁ, but they’ve only grasped the phrasing, uggahetvāna byaƱjanaṁ; for when they get up their understanding fails, Vuį¹­į¹­hito nappajānāti, and what they’ve learned is lost. gahitaṁ hissa mussati.

The person with widespread wisdom PuthupaƱƱo ca puriso, is better than that, it’s said; seyyo etehi vuccati; and if they, too, frequently Abhikkhaṇampi ce hoti, go into the mendicants’ presence, gantā bhikkhÅ«na santike.

one such can learn Ādiṁ kathāya majjhaƱca, the beginning, middle, and end pariyosānaƱca tādiso; while sitting in that seat; Nisinno āsane tasmiṁ, and when they’ve grasped the phrasing, uggahetvāna byaƱjanaṁ.

they remember it with the best of intentions. Dhāreti seį¹­į¹­hasaį¹…kappo, That peaceful-hearted man, Abyaggamānaso naro; practicing in line with the teaching, Dhammānudhammappaį¹­ipanno, would make an end of suffering.ā€ Dukkhassantakaro siyÄā€ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Puggalavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Samiddha gilāna saį¹…khārā, bahukārā vajirena ca; Sevi jiguccha gÅ«thabhāṇī, andho ca avakujjatāti.