Uttara on Failure Uttaravipattisutta

At one time Venerable Uttara was staying on the Saṅkheyyaka Mountain in the Mahisa region near Dhavajālikā. Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā uttaro mahisavatthusmiṁ viharati saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ. There Uttara addressed the mendicants: Tatra kho āyasmā uttaro bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants, it’s good for a mendicant to check their own failings from time to time. “sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. It’s good for a mendicant to check the failings of others from time to time. Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. It’s good for a mendicant to check their own successes from time to time. Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. It’s good for a mendicant to check the successes of others from time to time.” Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī”ti.

Now at that time the great king Vessavaṇa was on his way from the north to the south on some business. Tena kho pana samayena vessavaṇo mahārājā uttarāya disāya dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ gacchati kenacideva karaṇīyena. He heard Venerable Uttara teaching this to the mendicants on Saṅkheyyaka Mountain. Assosi kho vessavaṇo mahārājā āyasmato uttarassa mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desentassa: “sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī”ti.

Then Vessavaṇa vanished from Saṅkheyyaka Mountain and appeared among the gods of the thirty-three, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm. Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi. Then he went up to Sakka, lord of gods, and said to him: Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā yena sakko devānamindo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:

“Please good fellow, you should know this. “yagghe, mārisa, jāneyyāsi. Venerable Uttara is teaching the mendicants on Saṅkheyyaka Mountain in this way: Eso āyasmā uttaro mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ deseti: ‘It’s good for a mendicant from time to time to check their own failings. … ‘sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. the failings of others … Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ …pe… their own successes … attasampattiṁ … the successes of others.’” parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī’”ti.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, Sakka vanished from the gods of the thirty-three and reappeared on Saṅkheyyaka Mountain in front of Venerable Uttara. Atha kho sakko devānamindo seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ devesu tāvatiṁsesu antarahito mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ āyasmato uttarassa sammukhe pāturahosi. Then Sakka went up to Venerable Uttara, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him: Atha kho sakko devānamindo yenāyasmā uttaro tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ uttaraṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sakko devānamindo āyasmantaṁ uttaraṁ etadavoca:

“Is it really true, sir, that you teach the mendicants in this way: “Saccaṁ kira, bhante, āyasmā uttaro bhikkhūnaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desesi: ‘It’s good for a mendicant from time to time to check their own failings … ‘sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti, the failings of others … sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ …pe… their own successes … attasampattiṁ … the successes of others’?” parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī’”ti?

“Indeed, lord of gods.” “Evaṁ, devānamindā”ti.

“Sir, did this teaching come to you from your own inspiration, or was it spoken by the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?” “Kiṁ panidaṁ, bhante, āyasmato uttarassa sakaṁ paṭibhānaṁ, udāhu tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti?

“Well then, lord of gods, I shall give you a simile. “Tena hi, devānaminda, upamaṁ te karissāmi. For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said. Upamāya m’idhekacce viññū purisā bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānanti.

Suppose there was a large heap of grain not far from a town or village. Seyyathāpi, devānaminda, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre mahādhaññarāsi. And a large crowd were to take away grain Tato mahājanakāyo dhaññaṁ āhareyya—with carrying poles, baskets, hip sacks, or their cupped hands. kājehipi piṭakehipi ucchaṅgehipi añjalīhipi. If someone were to go to that crowd and ask them Yo nu kho, devānaminda, taṁ mahājanakāyaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ puccheyya: where they got the grain from, how should that crowd rightly reply?” ‘kuto imaṁ dhaññaṁ āharathā’ti, kathaṁ byākaramāno nu kho, devānaminda, so mahājanakāyo sammā byākaramāno byākareyyā”ti?

“Sir, they should reply that they took it from the large heap of grain.” “‘Amumhā mahādhaññarāsimhā āharāmā’ti kho, bhante, so mahājanakāyo sammā byākaramāno byākareyyā”ti.

“In the same way, lord of gods, whatever is well spoken is spoken by the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. “Evamevaṁ kho, devānaminda, yaṁ kiñci subhāsitaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. Both myself and others rely completely on that when we speak.” Tato upādāyupādāya mayaṁ caññe ca bhaṇāmā”ti.

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! “Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ bhante. How well this was said by Venerable Uttara! Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ āyasmatā uttarena: ‘Whatever is well spoken is spoken by the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. ‘yaṁ kiñci subhāsitaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. Both myself and others rely completely on that when we speak.’ Tato upādāyupādāya mayañcaññe ca bhaṇāmā’ti. At one time, Honorable Uttara, the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left. Ekamidaṁ, bhante uttara, samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte. There the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about Devadatta: Tatra kho bhagavā devadattaṁ ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:

‘Mendicants, it’s good for a mendicant from time to time to check their own failings … ‘Sādhu, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. the failings of others … Sādhu, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ …pe… their own successes … attasampattiṁ … the successes of others. parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti. Overcome and overwhelmed by eight things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable. Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, asaddhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho. What eight? Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Overcome and overwhelmed by gain … Lābhena hi, bhikkhave, abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho; loss … alābhena, bhikkhave …pe… fame … yasena, bhikkhave … disgrace … ayasena, bhikkhave … honor … sakkārena, bhikkhave … dishonor … asakkārena, bhikkhave … corrupt wishes … pāpicchatāya, bhikkhave … bad friendship, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable. pāpamittatāya, bhikkhave, abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho. Overcome and overwhelmed by these eight things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi asaddhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho.

It’s good for a mendicant, whenever they encounter it, to overcome gain … Sādhu, bhikkhave, bhikkhu uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya; loss … uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe… fame … uppannaṁ yasaṁ … disgrace … uppannaṁ ayasaṁ … honor … uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ … dishonor … uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ … corrupt wishes … uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ … bad friendship. uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya.

What advantage does a mendicant gain by overcoming these eight things? Kiñca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu atthavasaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya; uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe… uppannaṁ yasaṁ … uppannaṁ ayasaṁ … uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ … uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ … uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ … uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya?

The distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without overcoming these eight things do not arise when they have overcome them. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, uppannaṁ lābhaṁ anabhibhuyya viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe… uppannaṁ yasaṁ … uppannaṁ ayasaṁ … uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ … uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ … uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ … uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ anabhibhuyya viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti. This is the advantage that a mendicant gains by overcoming these eight things. Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu atthavasaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya; uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe… uppannaṁ yasaṁ … uppannaṁ ayasaṁ … uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ … uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ … uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ … uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya.

So you should train like this: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

“Whenever we encounter it, we will overcome gain … “uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya viharissāma, loss … uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe… fame … uppannaṁ yasaṁ … disgrace … uppannaṁ ayasaṁ … honor … uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ … dishonor … uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ … corrupt wishes … uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ … bad friendship.” uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya viharissāmā”ti. That’s how you should train.’ Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban’ti.

Honorable Uttara, this exposition of the teaching is not established anywhere in the four assemblies—Ettāvatā, bhante uttara, manussesu catasso parisā—monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. bhikkhū, bhikkhuniyo, upāsakā, upāsikāyo. Nāyaṁ dhammapariyāyo kismiñci upaṭṭhito. Sir, learn this exposition of the teaching! Uggaṇhatu, bhante, āyasmā uttaro imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ. Memorize this exposition of the teaching! Pariyāpuṇātu, bhante, āyasmā uttaro imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ. Remember this exposition of the teaching! Dhāretu, bhante, āyasmā uttaro imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ. Sir, this exposition of the teaching is beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.” Atthasaṁhito ayaṁ, bhante, dhammapariyāyo ādibrahmacariyako”ti.