Ṭhānasutta — Reader

Things

Ṭhānasutta

“Mendicants, there are these four things. What four? There is a thing that’s unpleasant to do, and doing it proves harmful.

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, ṭhānāni. Katamāni cattāri? Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati.

There is a thing that’s unpleasant to do, but doing it proves beneficial. There is a thing that’s pleasant to do, but doing it proves harmful.

Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati. Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati.

There is a thing that’s pleasant to do, and doing it proves beneficial. Take the thing that’s unpleasant to do, and doing it proves harmful.

Atthi, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati. Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati—

This is regarded as a thing that shouldn’t be done on both grounds: because it’s unpleasant, and because doing it proves harmful.

idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva na kattabbaṁ maññati. Yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; imināpi naṁ na kattabbaṁ maññati. Yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati;

This is regarded as a thing that shouldn’t be done on both grounds. Next, take the thing that’s unpleasant to do, but doing it proves beneficial.

imināpi naṁ na kattabbaṁ maññati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva na kattabbaṁ maññati. Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati—

It is here that you can tell who is foolish and who is astute in regard to human strength, energy, and vigor. A fool doesn’t reflect: ‘Despite the fact that this thing is unpleasant to do, doing it still proves beneficial.’

imasmiṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhāne bālo ca paṇḍito ca veditabbo purisathāme purisavīriye purisaparakkame. Na, bhikkhave, bālo iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ; atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattatī’ti.

They don’t do that thing, so that proves harmful. An astute person does reflect: ‘Even though this thing is unpleasant to do,

So taṁ ṭhānaṁ na karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ akayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati. Paṇḍito ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ amanāpaṁ kātuṁ;

doing it still proves beneficial.’ They do that thing, so that proves beneficial. Next, take the thing that’s pleasant to do,

atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattatī’ti. So taṁ ṭhānaṁ karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati. Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ;

but doing it proves harmful. It is here that you can tell who is foolish and who is astute in regard to human strength, energy, and vigor. A fool doesn’t reflect: ‘Even though this thing is pleasant to do,

tañca kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati— imasmimpi, bhikkhave, ṭhāne bālo ca paṇḍito ca veditabbo purisathāme purisavīriye purisaparakkame. Na, bhikkhave, bālo iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ;

doing it still proves harmful.’ They do that thing, and so that proves harmful. An astute person does reflect:

atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattatī’ti. So taṁ ṭhānaṁ karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattati. Paṇḍito ca kho, bhikkhave, iti paṭisañcikkhati:

‘Despite the fact that this thing is pleasant to do, doing it still proves harmful.’ They don’t do that thing, so that proves beneficial.

‘kiñcāpi kho idaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ; atha carahidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ anatthāya saṁvattatī’ti. So taṁ ṭhānaṁ na karoti. Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ akayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati.

Next, take the thing that’s pleasant to do, and doing it proves beneficial. This is regarded as a thing that should be done on both grounds: because it’s pleasant, and because doing it proves beneficial.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yamidaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ, tañca kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati— idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva kattabbaṁ maññati. Yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ manāpaṁ kātuṁ, imināpi naṁ kattabbaṁ maññati; yampidaṁ ṭhānaṁ kayiramānaṁ atthāya saṁvattati, imināpi naṁ kattabbaṁ maññati.

This is regarded as a thing that should be done on both grounds. These are the four things.”

Idaṁ, bhikkhave, ṭhānaṁ ubhayeneva kattabbaṁ maññati. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri ṭhānānī”ti. Pañcamaṁ.