Parisavagga — Reader

Assemblies

Parisavagga

42 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? A shallow assembly and a deep assembly.

42 “Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve? Uttānā ca parisā gambhīrā ca parisā.

And what is a shallow assembly? An assembly where the mendicants are haughty, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties. This is called a shallow assembly. And what is a deep assembly?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, uttānā parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū uddhatā honti unnaḷā capalā mukharā vikiṇṇavācā muṭṭhassatī asampajānā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā pākatindriyā. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, uttānā parisā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, gambhīrā parisā?

An assembly where the mendicants are not haughty, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, or loose-tongued, but have established mindfulness, situational awareness, immersion, unified minds, and restrained faculties. This is called a deep assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the deep assembly.”

Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū anuddhatā honti anunnaḷā acapalā amukharā avikiṇṇavācā upaṭṭhitassatī sampajānā samāhitā ekaggacittā saṁvutindriyā. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, gambhīrā parisā. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ gambhīrā parisā”ti.

43 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? A divided assembly and a harmonious assembly.

43 “Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve? Vaggā ca parisā samaggā ca parisā.

And what is a divided assembly? An assembly where the mendicants fight, quarrel, and dispute, continually wounding each other with barbed words. This is called a divided assembly. And what is a harmonious assembly?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, vaggā parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vaggā parisā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, samaggā parisā?

An assembly where the mendicants live in harmony, appreciating each other, without dispute, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes. This is called a harmonious assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the harmonious assembly.”

Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, samaggā parisā. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ samaggā parisā”ti.

44 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly of the worst and an assembly of the best.

44 “Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve? Anaggavatī ca parisā aggavatī ca parisā.

And what is an assembly of the worst? An assembly where the senior mendicants are indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion, not rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized. Those who come after follow their example.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, anaggavatī parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ therā bhikkhū bāhulikā honti sāthalikā, okkamane pubbaṅgamā, paviveke nikkhittadhurā, na vīriyaṁ ārabhanti appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya. Tesaṁ pacchimā janatā diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjati.

They too become indulgent and slack, leaders in backsliding, neglecting seclusion, not rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized. This is called an assembly of the worst. And what is an assembly of the best? An assembly where the senior mendicants are not indulgent or slack, nor are they backsliders; instead, they take the lead in seclusion, rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized.

Sāpi hoti bāhulikā sāthalikā, okkamane pubbaṅgamā, paviveke nikkhittadhurā, na vīriyaṁ ārabhati appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anaggavatī parisā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, aggavatī parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ therā bhikkhū na bāhulikā honti na sāthalikā, okkamane nikkhittadhurā, paviveke pubbaṅgamā, vīriyaṁ ārabhanti appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya.

Those who come after follow their example. They too are not indulgent or slack, nor are they backsliders; instead, they take the lead in seclusion, rousing energy for attaining the unattained, achieving the unachieved, and realizing the unrealized. This is called an assembly of the best. These are the two assemblies.

Tesaṁ pacchimā janatā diṭṭhānugatiṁ āpajjati. Sāpi hoti na bāhulikā na sāthalikā, okkamane nikkhittadhurā, paviveke pubbaṅgamā, vīriyaṁ ārabhati appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, aggavatī parisā. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā.

The better of these two assemblies is the assembly of the best.” 45 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two?

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ aggavatī parisā”ti. 45 “Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve?

An ignoble assembly and a noble assembly. And what is an ignoble assembly? An assembly where the mendicants don’t truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Anariyā ca parisā ariyā ca parisā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, anariyā parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti.

This is called an ignoble assembly. And what is a noble assembly? An assembly where the mendicants truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anariyā parisā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, ariyā parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti.

This is called a noble assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the noble assembly.” 46

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyā parisā. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ ariyā parisā”ti. 46

“There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly of the dregs and an assembly of the cream. And what is an assembly of the dregs?

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve? Parisākasaṭo ca parisāmaṇḍo ca. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, parisākasaṭo?

An assembly where the mendicants make decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice. This is called an assembly of the dregs. And what is an assembly of the cream? An assembly where the mendicants make decisions unprejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.

Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū chandāgatiṁ gacchanti, dosāgatiṁ gacchanti, mohāgatiṁ gacchanti, bhayāgatiṁ gacchanti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, parisākasaṭo. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, parisāmaṇḍo? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū na chandāgatiṁ gacchanti, na dosāgatiṁ gacchanti, na mohāgatiṁ gacchanti, na bhayāgatiṁ gacchanti.

This is called an assembly of the cream. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly of the cream.” 47

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, parisāmaṇḍo. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ parisāmaṇḍo”ti. 47

“There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly educated in fancy talk, not in questioning, and an assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk. And what is an assembly educated in fancy talk, not in questioning?

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve? Okkācitavinītā parisā nopaṭipucchāvinītā, paṭipucchāvinītā parisā nookkācitavinītā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, okkācitavinītā parisā nopaṭipucchāvinītā?

It is an assembly where, when discourses spoken by the Realized One—deep, profound, transcendent, dealing with emptiness—are being recited the mendicants do not want to listen. They don’t actively listen or try to understand, nor do they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing. But when discourses composed by poets—poetry, with fancy words and phrases, composed by outsiders or spoken by disciples—are being recited the mendicants do want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand, and they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing. But when they’ve memorized those teachings they don’t question or examine each other, saying:

Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū ye te suttantā tathāgatabhāsitā gambhīrā gambhīratthā lokuttarā suññatāpaṭisaṁyuttā tesu bhaññamānesu na sussūsanti na sotaṁ odahanti na aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti na ca te dhamme uggahetabbaṁ pariyāpuṇitabbaṁ maññanti. Ye pana te suttantā kavitā kāveyyā cittakkharā cittabyañjanā bāhirakā sāvakabhāsitā tesu bhaññamānesu sussūsanti sotaṁ odahanti aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti, te dhamme uggahetabbaṁ pariyāpuṇitabbaṁ maññanti, te ca taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā na ceva aññamaññaṁ paṭipucchanti na ca paṭivicaranti:

‘Why does it say this? What does that mean?’ So they don’t reveal what is hidden or clarify what is unclear, or dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters. This is called an assembly educated in fancy talk, not in questioning. And what is an assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk?

‘idaṁ kathaṁ, imassa ko attho’ti? Te avivaṭañceva na vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca na uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ na paṭivinodenti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, okkācitavinītā parisā no paṭipucchāvinītā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, paṭipucchāvinītā parisā nookkācitavinītā?

It is an assembly where, when discourses composed by poets—poetry, with fancy words and phrases, composed by outsiders or spoken by disciples—are being recited the mendicants do not want to listen. They don’t actively listen or try to understand, nor do they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing. But when discourses spoken by the Realized One—deep, profound, transcendent, dealing with emptiness—are being recited the mendicants do want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand, and they think those teachings are worth learning and memorizing.

Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū ye te suttantā kavitā kāveyyā cittakkharā cittabyañjanā bāhirakā sāvakabhāsitā tesu bhaññamānesu na sussūsanti na sotaṁ odahanti na aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti, na ca te dhamme uggahetabbaṁ pariyāpuṇitabbaṁ maññanti. Ye pana te suttantā tathāgatabhāsitā gambhīrā gambhīratthā lokuttarā suññatāpaṭisaṁyuttā tesu bhaññamānesu sussūsanti sotaṁ odahanti aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti, te ca dhamme uggahetabbaṁ pariyāpuṇitabbaṁ maññanti.

And when they’ve memorized those teachings they question and examine each other, saying: ‘Why does it say this? What does that mean?’ So they reveal what is hidden, clarify what is unclear, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters. This is called an assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk.

Te taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā aññamaññaṁ paṭipucchanti paṭivicaranti: ‘idaṁ kathaṁ, imassa ko attho’ti? Te avivaṭañceva vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ paṭivinodenti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paṭipucchāvinītā parisā nookkācitavinītā.

These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly educated in questioning, not in fancy talk.” 48 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ paṭipucchāvinītā parisā nookkācitavinītā”ti. 48 “Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā.

What two? An assembly that values things of the flesh, not the true teaching, and an assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh. And what is an assembly that values things of the flesh, not the true teaching? It is an assembly where the mendicants praise each other in front of the white-clothed laypeople, saying:

Katamā dve? Āmisagaru parisā no saddhammagaru, saddhammagaru parisā no āmisagaru. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, āmisagaru parisā no saddhammagaru? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū gihīnaṁ odātavasanānaṁ sammukhā aññamaññassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti:

‘The mendicant so-and-so is freed both ways; so-and-so is freed by wisdom; so-and-so is a direct witness; so-and-so is attained to view; so-and-so is freed by faith; so-and-so is a follower of teachings; so-and-so is a follower by faith; so-and-so is ethical, of good character; so-and-so is unethical, of bad character.’ They thereby acquire material things. And when they get these things, they use them tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape.

‘asuko bhikkhu ubhatobhāgavimutto, asuko paññāvimutto, asuko kāyasakkhī, asuko diṭṭhippatto, asuko saddhāvimutto, asuko dhammānusārī, asuko saddhānusārī, asuko sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, asuko dussīlo pāpadhammo’ti. Te tena lābhaṁ labhanti. Te taṁ lābhaṁ labhitvā gathitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti.

This is called an assembly that values things of the flesh, not the true teaching. And what is an assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh? It is an assembly where the mendicants don’t praise each other in front of the white-clothed laypeople, saying: ‘The mendicant so-and-so is freed both ways; so-and-so is freed by wisdom; so-and-so is a direct witness; so-and-so is attained to view; so-and-so is freed by faith; so-and-so is a follower of teachings; so-and-so is a follower by faith; so-and-so is ethical, of good character; so-and-so is unethical, of bad character.’

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, āmisagaru parisā no saddhammagaru. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, saddhammagaru parisā noāmisagaru? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū gihīnaṁ odātavasanānaṁ sammukhā aññamaññassa vaṇṇaṁ na bhāsanti: ‘asuko bhikkhu ubhatobhāgavimutto, asuko paññāvimutto, asuko kāyasakkhī, asuko diṭṭhippatto, asuko saddhāvimutto, asuko dhammānusārī, asuko saddhānusārī, asuko sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, asuko dussīlo pāpadhammo’ti.

They thereby acquire material things. And when they get these things, they use them untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape. This is called an assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh. These are the two assemblies.

Te tena lābhaṁ labhanti. Te taṁ lābhaṁ labhitvā agathitā amucchitā anajjhosannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhammagaru parisā noāmisagaru. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā.

The better of these two assemblies is the assembly that values the true teaching, not things of the flesh.” 49 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two?

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ saddhammagaru parisā noāmisagarū”ti. 49 “Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve?

An unjust assembly and a just assembly. And what is an unjust assembly? An assembly where legal acts against the teaching proceed, while legal acts following the teaching don’t proceed. Legal acts against the training proceed, while legal acts following the training don’t proceed. Legal acts against the teaching are explained, while legal acts following the teaching aren’t explained. Legal acts against the training are explained, while legal acts following the training aren’t explained.

Visamā ca parisā samā ca parisā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, visamā parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ adhammakammāni pavattanti dhammakammāni nappavattanti, avinayakammāni pavattanti vinayakammāni nappavattanti, adhammakammāni dippanti dhammakammāni na dippanti, avinayakammāni dippanti vinayakammāni na dippanti.

This is called an unjust assembly. And what is a just assembly? An assembly where legal acts following the teaching proceed, while legal acts against the teaching don’t proceed. Legal acts following the training proceed, while legal acts against the training don’t proceed. Legal acts following the teaching are explained, while legal acts against the teaching aren’t explained. Legal acts in line with the training are explained, while legal acts following training aren’t explained.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, visamā parisā. (…) Katamā ca, bhikkhave, samā parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ dhammakammāni pavattanti adhammakammāni nappavattanti, vinayakammāni pavattanti avinayakammāni nappavattanti, dhammakammāni dippanti adhammakammāni na dippanti, vinayakammāni dippanti avinayakammāni na dippanti.

This is called a just assembly. These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the just assembly.” 50

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, samā parisā. (…) Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ samā parisā”ti. 50

“There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An unprincipled assembly and a principled assembly … The better of these two assemblies is the principled assembly.”

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve? Adhammikā ca parisā dhammikā ca parisā …pe… imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammikā parisā”ti.

51 “There are, mendicants, these two assemblies. What two? An assembly with unprincipled speech, and an assembly with principled speech.

51 “Dvemā, bhikkhave, parisā. Katamā dve? Adhammavādinī ca parisā dhammavādinī ca parisā.

And what is an assembly with unprincipled speech? It is an assembly where the mendicants take up disciplinary issues, whether legitimate or not. But they don’t persuade each other or allow themselves to be persuaded, nor do they convince each other or allow themselves to be convinced. Unable to persuade or convince each other, they can’t let go of their opinions. They obstinately stick to that disciplinary issue, insisting that:

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhammavādinī parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū adhikaraṇaṁ ādiyanti dhammikaṁ vā adhammikaṁ vā. Te taṁ adhikaraṇaṁ ādiyitvā na ceva aññamaññaṁ saññāpenti na ca saññattiṁ upagacchanti, na ca nijjhāpenti na ca nijjhattiṁ upagacchanti. Te asaññattibalā anijjhattibalā appaṭinissaggamantino tameva adhikaraṇaṁ thāmasā parāmāsā abhinivissa voharanti:

‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’ This is called an assembly with unprincipled speech. And what is an assembly with principled speech? It is an assembly where the mendicants take up disciplinary issues, whether legitimate or not.

‘idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhammavādinī parisā. Katamā ca, bhikkhave, dhammavādinī parisā? Idha, bhikkhave, yassaṁ parisāyaṁ bhikkhū adhikaraṇaṁ ādiyanti dhammikaṁ vā adhammikaṁ vā.

Then they persuade each other or allow themselves to be persuaded, and they convince each other or allow themselves to be convinced. Since they are able to persuade and convince each other, they let go of their opinions. They don’t obstinately stick to that disciplinary issue or insist that: ‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’ This is called an assembly with principled speech.

Te taṁ adhikaraṇaṁ ādiyitvā aññamaññaṁ saññāpenti ceva saññattiñca upagacchanti, nijjhāpenti ceva nijjhattiñca upagacchanti. Te saññattibalā nijjhattibalā paṭinissaggamantino, na tameva adhikaraṇaṁ thāmasā parāmāsā abhinivissa voharanti: ‘idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dhammavādinī parisā.

These are the two assemblies. The better of these two assemblies is the assembly with principled speech.”

Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve parisā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ parisānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammavādinī parisā”ti. Parisavaggo pañcamo. Tassuddānaṁ

Uttānā vaggā aggavatī, Ariyā kasaṭo ca pañcamo; Okkācitaāmisañceva, Visamā adhammādhammiyena cāti.

Paṭhamo paṇṇāsako samatto.