Bījasutta — Reader

A Seed

Bījasutta

“Mendicants, consider an individual who has wrong view, purpose, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, immersion, knowledge, and freedom. Whatever bodily, verbal, or mental deeds they undertake in line with that view, their intentions, aims, wishes, and choices all lead to what is unlikable, undesirable, disagreeable, harmful, and suffering.

“Micchādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, purisapuggalassa micchāsaṅkappassa micchāvācassa micchākammantassa micchāājīvassa micchāvāyāmassa micchāsatissa micchāsamādhissa micchāñāṇissa micchāvimuttissa yañca kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā, sabbe te dhammā aniṭṭhāya akantāya amanāpāya ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti.

Why is that? Because their view is bad. Suppose a seed of neem, angled gourd, or bitter gourd was planted in moist earth. Whatever nutrients it takes up from the earth and water would lead to its bitter, acerbic, and unpleasant taste. Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, pāpikā. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, nimbabījaṁ vā kosātakibījaṁ vā tittakālābubījaṁ vā allāya pathaviyā nikkhittaṁ yañceva pathavirasaṁ upādiyati yañca āporasaṁ upādiyati, sabbaṁ taṁ tittakattāya kaṭukattāya asātattāya saṁvattati. Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because the seed is bad. In the same way, consider an individual who has wrong view, purpose, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, immersion, knowledge, and freedom.

Bījañhi, bhikkhave, pāpakaṁ. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhikassa purisapuggalassa micchāsaṅkappassa micchāvācassa micchākammantassa micchāājīvassa micchāvāyāmassa micchāsatissa micchāsamādhissa micchāñāṇissa micchāvimuttissa yañceva kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ …

Whatever bodily, verbal, or mental deeds they undertake in line with that view, their intentions, aims, wishes, and choices all lead to what is unlikable, undesirable, disagreeable, harmful, and suffering. Why is that? Because their view is bad. Consider an individual who has right view, purpose, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, immersion, knowledge, and freedom. Whatever bodily, verbal, or mental deeds they undertake in line with that view, their intentions, aims, wishes, and choices all lead to what is likable, desirable, agreeable, beneficial, and pleasant.

yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā, sabbe te dhammā aniṭṭhāya akantāya amanāpāya ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, pāpikā. Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, purisapuggalassa sammāsaṅkappassa sammāvācassa sammākammantassa sammāājīvassa sammāvāyāmassa sammāsatissa sammāsamādhissa sammāñāṇissa sammāvimuttissa yañceva kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā, sabbe te dhammā iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattanti.

Why is that? Because their view is good. Suppose a seed of sugarcane, fine rice, or grape was planted in moist earth. Whatever nutrients it takes up from the earth and water would lead to its sweet, pleasant, delectable flavor. Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, bhaddikā. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ucchubījaṁ vā sālibījaṁ vā muddikābījaṁ vā allāya pathaviyā nikkhittaṁ yañca pathavirasaṁ upādiyati yañca āporasaṁ upādiyati sabbaṁ taṁ sātattāya madhurattāya asecanakattāya saṁvattati. Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because the seed is good. In the same way, consider an individual who has right view, purpose, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, immersion, knowledge, and freedom. Whatever bodily, verbal, or mental deeds they undertake in line with that view, their intentions, aims, wishes, and choices all lead to what is likable, desirable, agreeable, beneficial, and pleasant.

Bījañhi, bhikkhave, bhaddakaṁ. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhikassa …pe… sammāvimuttissa yañceva kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ … yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā, sabbe te dhammā iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattanti.

Why is that? Because their view is good.”

Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, bhaddikā”ti. Catutthaṁ.

A Seed

Bījasutta

Because the seed is bad. In the same way, consider an individual who has wrong view, purpose, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, immersion, knowledge, and freedom.

Why is that? Because their view is good.”

Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, bhaddikā”ti. Catutthaṁ.