4👑☸SN 20 all suttas

SN 20.1 Kūṭa: A Roof Peak


1. Kūṭasutta	1. A Roof Peak
Evaṃ me sutaṃ—	So I have heard.
ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.	At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Tatra kho bhagavā … pe … etadavoca:	There the Buddha … said:
“seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kūṭāgārassa yā kāci gopānasiyo sabbā tā kūṭaṅgamā kūṭasamosaraṇā kūṭasamugghātā sabbā tā samugghātaṃ gacchanti;	“monks, the rafters of a bungalow all lean to the peak and meet at the peak, and when the peak is demolished they’re all demolished too.
evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye keci akusalā dhammā sabbe te avijjāmūlakā avijjāsamosaraṇā avijjāsamugghātā, sabbe te samugghātaṃ gacchanti.	In the same way any unskillful Dharmas are rooted in ignorance and meet in ignorance, and when ignorance is demolished they’re all demolished too.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘appamattā viharissāmā’ti.	‘We will stay assiduous.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.2 Nakhasikha: A Fingernail


2. Nakhasikhasutta	2. A Fingernail
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
Atha kho bhagavā parittaṃ nakhasikhāyaṃ paṃsuṃ āropetvā bhikkhū āmantesi:	Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt under his fingernail, addressed the monks:
“Taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave,	“What do you think, monks?
katamaṃ nu kho bahutaraṃ, yo cāyaṃ mayā paritto nakhasikhāyaṃ paṃsu āropito yā cāyaṃ mahāpathavī”ti?	Which is more: the little bit of dirt under my fingernail, or this great earth?”
“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṃ yadidaṃ mahāpathavī.	“Sir, the great earth is far more.
Appamattakoyaṃ bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṃ paṃsu āropito.	The little bit of dirt under your fingernail is tiny.
Saṅkhampi na upeti upanidhimpi na upeti kalabhāgampi na upeti mahāpathaviṃ upanidhāya bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṃ paṃsu āropito”ti.	Compared to the great earth, it can’t be reckoned or compared, it’s not even a fraction.”
“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussesu paccājāyanti;	“In the same way the sentient beings reborn as humans are few,
atha kho eteyeva bahutarā sattā ye aññatra manussehi paccājāyanti.	while those not reborn as humans are many.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘appamattā viharissāmā’ti.	‘We will stay assiduous.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.3 Kula: Families


3. Kulasutta	3. Families
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici kulāni bahutthikāni appapurisāni tāni suppadhaṃsiyāni honti corehi kumbhatthenakehi;	“monks, those families with many women and few men are easy prey for bandits and thieves.
evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhuno mettācetovimutti abhāvitā abahulīkatā so suppadhaṃsiyo hoti amanussehi.	In the same way any monk who has not developed and cultivated the heart’s release by love is easy prey for non-humans.
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici kulāni appitthikāni bahupurisāni tāni duppadhaṃsiyāni honti corehi kumbhatthenakehi;	Those families with few women and many men are hard prey for bandits and thieves.
evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhuno mettācetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā so duppadhaṃsiyo hoti amanussehi.	In the same way a monk who has developed and cultivated the heart’s release by love is hard prey for non-humans.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘mettā no cetovimutti bhāvitā bhavissati bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā’ti.	‘We will develop the heart’s release by love. We’ll cultivate it, make it our vehicle and our basis, keep it up, consolidate it, and properly implement it.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.4 Okkhā: Rice Pots


4. Okkhāsutta	4. Rice Pots
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
“Yo, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṃ okkhāsataṃ dānaṃ dadeyya, yo majjhanhikasamayaṃ okkhāsataṃ dānaṃ dadeyya, yo sāyanhasamayaṃ okkhāsataṃ dānaṃ dadeyya, yo vā pubbaṇhasamayaṃ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṃ bhāveyya, yo vā majjhanhikasamayaṃ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṃ bhāveyya, yo vā sāyanhasamayaṃ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṃ bhāveyya, idaṃ tato mahapphalataraṃ.	“monks, suppose one person was to give a gift of a hundred pots of rice in the morning, at midday, and in the evening. And someone else was to develop a heart of love, even just as long as it takes to pull a cow’s udder. The latter would be more fruitful.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘mettā no cetovimutti bhāvitā bhavissati bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā’ti.	‘We will develop the heart’s release by love. We’ll cultivate it, make it our vehicle and our basis, keep it up, consolidate it, and properly implement it.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.5 Satti: A Spear


5. Sattisutta	5. A Spear
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, satti tiṇhaphalā.	“monks, suppose there was a sharp-pointed spear.
Atha puriso āgaccheyya:	And a man came along and thought:
‘ahaṃ imaṃ sattiṃ tiṇhaphalaṃ pāṇinā vā muṭṭhinā vā paṭileṇissāmi paṭikoṭṭissāmi paṭivaṭṭessāmī’ti.	‘With my hand or fist I’ll fold this sharp spear over, bend it back, and twist it around!’
Taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave,	What do you think, monks?
bhabbo nu kho so puriso amuṃ sattiṃ tiṇhaphalaṃ pāṇinā vā muṭṭhinā vā paṭileṇetuṃ paṭikoṭṭetuṃ paṭivaṭṭetun”ti?	Is that man capable of doing so?”
“No hetaṃ, bhante”.	“No, sir.
“Taṃ kissa hetu”?	Why not?
“Asu hi, bhante, satti tiṇhaphalā na sukarā pāṇinā vā muṭṭhinā vā paṭileṇetuṃ paṭikoṭṭetuṃ paṭivaṭṭetuṃ.	Because it’s not easy to fold that sharp spear over, bend it back, and twist it around with the hand or fist.
Yāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.	That man will eventually get weary and frustrated.”


“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yassa kassaci bhikkhuno mettācetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, tassa ce amanusso cittaṃ khipitabbaṃ maññeyya;	“In the same way, suppose a monk has developed the heart’s release by love, has cultivated it, made it a vehicle and a basis, kept it up, consolidated it, and properly implemented it. Should any non-human think to overthrow their mind,
atha kho sveva amanusso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assa.	they’ll eventually get weary and frustrated.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘mettā no cetovimutti bhāvitā bhavissati bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā’ti.	‘We will develop the heart’s release by love. We’ll cultivate it, make it our vehicle and our basis, keep it up, consolidate it, and properly implement it.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.6 Dhanuggaha: The Archers


6. Dhanuggahasutta	6. The Archers
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, cattāro daḷhadhammā dhanuggahā susikkhitā katahatthā katūpāsanā catuddisā ṭhitā assu.	“monks, suppose there were four well-trained expert archers with strong bows standing in the four directions.
Atha puriso āgaccheyya:	And a man came along and thought:
‘ahaṃ imesaṃ catunnaṃ daḷhadhammānaṃ dhanuggahānaṃ susikkhitānaṃ katahatthānaṃ katūpāsanānaṃ catuddisā kaṇḍe khitte appatiṭṭhite pathaviyaṃ gahetvā āharissāmī’ti.	‘When these four well-trained expert archers shoot arrows in four directions, I’ll catch them before they reach the ground, and then I’ll bring them back.’
Taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave,	What do you think, monks?
‘javano puriso paramena javena samannāgato’ti alaṃvacanāyā”ti?	Are they qualified to be called ‘a speedster, with ultimate speed’?”


“Ekassa cepi, bhante, daḷhadhammassa dhanuggahassa susikkhitassa katahatthassa katūpāsanassa kaṇḍaṃ khittaṃ appatiṭṭhitaṃ pathaviyaṃ gahetvā āhareyya:	“If he could catch an arrow shot by just one well-trained expert archer before it reaches the ground and bring it back,
‘javano puriso paramena javena samannāgato’ti alaṃvacanāya, ko pana vādo catunnaṃ daḷhadhammānaṃ dhanuggahānaṃ susikkhitānaṃ katahatthānaṃ katūpāsanānan”ti?	he’d be qualified to be called ‘a speedster, with ultimate speed’. How much more so arrows shot by four archers!”


“Yathā ca, bhikkhave, tassa purisassa javo, yathā ca candimasūriyānaṃ javo, tato sīghataro.	“As fast as that man is, the sun and moon are faster.
Yathā ca, bhikkhave, tassa purisassa javo yathā ca candimasūriyānaṃ javo yathā ca yā devatā candimasūriyānaṃ purato dhāvanti tāsaṃ devatānaṃ javo, () tato sīghataraṃ āyusaṅkhārā khīyanti.	As fast as that man is, as fast as the sun and moon are, and as fast as the deities that run before the sun and moon are, the waning of the life forces is faster.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘appamattā viharissāmā’ti.	‘We will stay assiduous.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.7 Āṇi: The Drum Peg


7. Āṇisutta	7. The Drum Peg
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
“Bhūtapubbaṃ, bhikkhave, dasārahānaṃ ānako nāma mudiṅgo ahosi.	“Once upon a time, monks, the Dasārahas had a clay drum called the Commander.
Tassa dasārahā ānake ghaṭite aññaṃ āṇiṃ odahiṃsu.	Each time the Commander split they repaired it by inserting another peg.
Ahu kho so, bhikkhave, samayo yaṃ ānakassa mudiṅgassa porāṇaṃ pokkharaphalakaṃ antaradhāyi.	But there came a time when the clay drum Commander’s original wooden rim disappeared
Āṇisaṅghāṭova avasissi.	and only a mass of pegs remained.
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhavissanti bhikkhū anāgatamaddhānaṃ, ye te suttantā tathāgatabhāsitā gambhīrā gambhīratthā lokuttarā suññatappaṭisaṃyuttā, tesu bhaññamānesu na sussūsissanti na sotaṃ odahissanti na aññā cittaṃ upaṭṭhāpessanti na ca te dhamme uggahetabbaṃ pariyāpuṇitabbaṃ maññissanti.	In the same way, in a future time there will be monks who won’t want to listen when discourses spoken by the Realized One—deep, profound, transcendent, dealing with emptiness—are being recited. They won’t pay attention or apply their minds to understand them, nor will they think those Dharmas are worth learning and memorizing.


Ye pana te suttantā kavikatā kāveyyā cittakkharā cittabyañjanā bāhirakā sāvakabhāsitā, tesu bhaññamānesu sussūsissanti, sotaṃ odahissanti, aññā cittaṃ upaṭṭhāpessanti, te ca dhamme uggahetabbaṃ pariyāpuṇitabbaṃ maññissanti.	But when discourses composed by poets—poetry, with fancy words and phrases, composed by outsiders or spoken by disciples—are being recited they will want to listen. They’ll pay attention and apply their minds to understand them, and they’ll think those Dharmas are worth learning and memorizing.
Evametesaṃ, bhikkhave, suttantānaṃ tathāgatabhāsitānaṃ gambhīrānaṃ gambhīratthānaṃ lokuttarānaṃ suññatappaṭisaṃyuttānaṃ antaradhānaṃ bhavissati.	And that is how the discourses spoken by the Realized One—deep, profound, transcendent, dealing with emptiness—will disappear.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘ye te suttantā tathāgatabhāsitā gambhīrā gambhīratthā lokuttarā suññatappaṭisaṃyuttā, tesu bhaññamānesu sussūsissāma, sotaṃ odahissāma, aññā cittaṃ upaṭṭhāpessāma, te ca dhamme uggahetabbaṃ pariyāpuṇitabbaṃ maññissāmā’ti.	‘When discourses spoken by the Realized One—deep, profound, transcendent, dealing with emptiness—are being recited we will want to listen. We will pay attention and apply our minds to understand them, and we will think those Dharmas are worth learning and memorizing.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.8 Kaliṅgara: Wood Blocks


8. Kaliṅgarasutta	8. Wood Blocks
Evaṃ me sutaṃ—	So I have heard.
ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā vesāliyaṃ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṃ.	At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.
Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:	There the Buddha addressed the monks:
“bhikkhavo”ti.	“monks!”
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṃ.	“Venerable sir,” they replied.
Bhagavā etadavoca:	The Buddha said this:


“Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi licchavī viharanti appamattā ātāpino upāsanasmiṃ.	“monks, these days the Licchavis live using wood blocks as pillows, and they exercise assiduously and ardently.
Tesaṃ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto na labhati otāraṃ na labhati ārammaṇaṃ.	King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha finds no vulnerability, he’s got no foothold.
Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṃ licchavī sukhumālā mudutalunahatthapādā	But in the future the Licchavis will become delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet.
te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṃ kappissanti.	They’ll sleep on soft beds with down pillows until the sun comes up.
Tesaṃ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto lacchati otāraṃ lacchati ārammaṇaṃ.	King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha will find a vulnerability, he’ll get his foothold.


Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi bhikkhū viharanti appamattā ātāpino padhānasmiṃ.	These days the monks live using wood blocks as pillows, and they meditate assiduously and ardently.
Tesaṃ māro pāpimā na labhati otāraṃ na labhati ārammaṇaṃ.	Māra the Wicked finds no vulnerability, he's got no foothold.
Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṃ bhikkhū sukhumā mudutalunahatthapādā.	But in the future the monks will become delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet.
Te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṃ kappissanti.	They’ll sleep on soft beds with down pillows until the sun comes up.
Tesaṃ māro pāpimā lacchati otāraṃ lacchati ārammaṇaṃ.	Māra the Wicked will find a vulnerability and will get a foothold.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘kaliṅgarūpadhānā viharissāma appamattā ātāpino padhānasmin’ti.	‘We will live using wood blocks as pillows, and we will meditate assiduously and ardently.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.9 Nāga: A Bull Elephant


9. Nāgasutta	9. A Bull Elephant
Evaṃ me sutaṃ—	So I have heard.
ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.	At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena aññataro navo bhikkhu ativelaṃ kulāni upasaṅkamati.	Now at that time a certain junior monk went to visit families too often.
Tamenaṃ bhikkhū evamāhaṃsu:	The monks said to him:
“māyasmā ativelaṃ kulāni upasaṅkamī”ti.	“Venerable, don’t go to visit families too often.”
So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi vuccamāno evamāha:	But that monk, when spoken to by the monks, said this:
“ime hi nāma therā bhikkhū kulāni upasaṅkamitabbaṃ maññissanti, kimaṅgaṃ panāhan”ti?	“But these senior monks think they can go to visit families, so why can’t I?”


Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṃsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdiṃsu. Ekamantaṃ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṃ etadavocuṃ:	And then several monks went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said:
“idha, bhante, aññataro navo bhikkhu ativelaṃ kulāni upasaṅkamati.
Tamenaṃ bhikkhū evamāhaṃsu:
‘māyasmā ativelaṃ kulāni upasaṅkamī’ti.
So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi vuccamāno evamāha:
‘ime hi nāma therā bhikkhū kulāni upasaṅkamitabbaṃ maññissanti, kimaṅgaṃ panāhan’”ti.


“Bhūtapubbaṃ, bhikkhave, araññāyatane mahāsarasī.	“Once upon a time, monks, there was a great lake in the jungle,
Taṃ nāgā upanissāya viharanti.	with bull elephants living nearby.
Te taṃ sarasiṃ ogāhetvā soṇḍāya bhisamuḷālaṃ abbuhetvā suvikkhālitaṃ vikkhāletvā akaddamaṃ saṅkhāditvā ajjhoharanti.	They’d plunge into the lake and pull up lotus bulbs with their trunks. They’d wash them thoroughly until they were free of mud before chewing and swallowing them.
Tesaṃ taṃ vaṇṇāya ceva hoti balāya ca, na ca tatonidānaṃ maraṇaṃ vā nigacchanti maraṇamattaṃ vā dukkhaṃ.	That was good for their appearance and health, and wouldn’t result in death or deadly pain.
Tesaṃyeva kho pana, bhikkhave, mahānāgānaṃ anusikkhamānā taruṇā bhiṅkacchāpā taṃ sarasiṃ ogāhetvā soṇḍāya bhisamuḷālaṃ abbuhetvā na suvikkhālitaṃ vikkhāletvā sakaddamaṃ asaṅkhāditvā ajjhoharanti.	The young cubs, following the example of the great bull elephants, plunged into the lake and pulled up lotus bulbs with their trunks. But they didn’t wash them thoroughly, and while they were still muddy they chewed and swallowed them.
Tesaṃ taṃ neva vaṇṇāya hoti na balāya.	That was not good for their appearance and health, and resulted in death or deadly pain.
Tatonidānaṃ maraṇaṃ vā nigacchanti maraṇamattaṃ vā dukkhaṃ.


Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idha therā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya gāmaṃ vā nigamaṃ vā piṇḍāya pavisanti.	In the same way, there are senior monks who robe up in the morning and, taking their bowl and robe, enter the town or village for alms.
Te tattha dhammaṃ bhāsanti.	There they speak on the Dharmas,
Tesaṃ gihī pasannākāraṃ karonti.	and lay people demonstrate their confidence in them.
Te taṃ lābhaṃ agadhitā amucchitā anajjhopannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti.	And when they get things, they use them untied, unstupefied, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape.
Tesaṃ taṃ vaṇṇāya ceva hoti balāya ca, na ca tatonidānaṃ maraṇaṃ vā nigacchanti maraṇamattaṃ vā dukkhaṃ.	That’s good for their appearance and health, and doesn’t result in death or deadly pain.
Tesaṃyeva kho pana, bhikkhave, therānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ anusikkhamānā navā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya gāmaṃ vā nigamaṃ vā piṇḍāya pavisanti.	Junior monks, following the example of the senior monks, robe up in the morning and, taking their bowl and robe, enter the town or village for alms.
Te tattha dhammaṃ bhāsanti.	There they speak on the Dharmas,
Tesaṃ gihī pasannākāraṃ karonti.	and lay people demonstrate their confidence in them.
Te taṃ lābhaṃ gadhitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti.	But when they get things, they use them tied, stupefied, attached, blind to the drawbacks, not understanding the escape.
Tesaṃ taṃ neva vaṇṇāya hoti na balāya, te tatonidānaṃ maraṇaṃ vā nigacchanti maraṇamattaṃ vā dukkhaṃ.	That’s not good for their appearance and health, and results in death or deadly pain.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘agadhitā amucchitā anajjhopannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā taṃ lābhaṃ paribhuñjissāmā’ti.	‘When we get things, we will use them untied, unstupefied, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.10 Biḷāra: A Cat


10. Biḷārasutta	10. A Cat
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu ativelaṃ kulesu cārittaṃ āpajjati.	Now at that time a certain junior monk socialized with families too often.
Tamenaṃ bhikkhū evamāhaṃsu:	The monks said to him:
“māyasmā ativelaṃ kulesu cārittaṃ āpajjī”ti.	“Venerable, don’t socialize with families too often.”
So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi vuccamāno na viramati.	But that monk, when spoken to by the monks, did not stop.
Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṃsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdiṃsu. Ekamantaṃ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṃ etadavocuṃ:	And then several monks went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. The Buddha said:
“idha, bhante, aññataro bhikkhu ativelaṃ kulesu cārittaṃ āpajjati.
Tamenaṃ bhikkhū evamāhaṃsu:
‘māyasmā ativelaṃ kulesu cārittaṃ āpajjī’ti.
So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi vuccamāno na viramatī”ti.


“Bhūtapubbaṃ, bhikkhave, biḷāro sandhisamalasaṅkaṭīre ṭhito ahosi mudumūsiṃ maggayamāno:	“Once upon a time, monks, a cat was standing by an alley or a drain or a dustbin hunting a little mouse:
‘yadāyaṃ mudumūsi gocarāya pakkamissati, tattheva naṃ gahetvā khādissāmī’ti.	‘When that little mouse comes out to feed, I’ll catch it right there and eat it!’
Atha kho so, bhikkhave, mudumūsi gocarāya pakkāmi.	And then that little mouse came out to feed.
Tamenaṃ biḷāro gahetvā sahasā saṅkhāditvā ajjhohari.	The cat caught it and hastily swallowed it without chewing.
Tassa so mudumūsi antampi khādi, antaguṇampi khādi.	And that little mouse ate its intestines and mesentery,
So tatonidānaṃ maraṇampi nigacchi maraṇamattampi dukkhaṃ.	resulting in death and deadly pain.


Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya gāmaṃ vā nigamaṃ vā piṇḍāya pavisati arakkhiteneva kāyena arakkhitāya vācāya arakkhitena cittena, anupaṭṭhitāya satiyā, asaṃvutehi indriyehi.	In the same way, take a certain monk who robes up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, enters the village or town for alms without guarding body, speech, and mind, without establishing rememberfulness, and without restraining the sense faculties.
So tattha passati mātugāmaṃ dunnivatthaṃ vā duppārutaṃ vā.	There he sees a female scantily clad, with revealing clothes.
Tassa mātugāmaṃ disvā dunnivatthaṃ vā duppārutaṃ vā rāgo cittaṃ anuddhaṃseti.	Lust infects his mind,
So rāgānuddhaṃsena cittena maraṇaṃ vā nigacchati maraṇamattaṃ vā dukkhaṃ.	resulting in death or deadly pain.
Maraṇañhetaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyassa vinaye yo sikkhaṃ paccakkhāya hīnāyāvattati.	For it is death in the training of the noble one to reject the training and return to a lesser life.
Maraṇamattañhetaṃ, bhikkhave, dukkhaṃ yadidaṃ aññataraṃ saṅkiliṭṭhaṃ āpattiṃ āpajjati.	And it is deadly pain to commit one of the corrupt offences
Yathārūpāya āpattiyā vuṭṭhānaṃ paññāyati.	for which rehabilitation is possible.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘rakkhiteneva kāyena rakkhitāya vācāya rakkhitena cittena, upaṭṭhitāya satiyā, saṃvutehi indriyehi gāmaṃ vā nigamaṃ vā piṇḍāya pavisissāmā’ti.	‘We will enter the village or town for alms guarding body, speech, and mind, establishing rememberfulness, and restraining the sense faculties.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.11 Siṅgāla: A Jackal


11. Siṅgālasutta	11. A Jackal
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
“Assuttha no tumhe, bhikkhave, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṃ jarasiṅgālassa vassamānassā”ti?	“monks, did you hear an old jackal howling at the crack of dawn?”
“Evaṃ, bhante”.	“Yes, sir.”
“Eso kho, bhikkhave, jarasiṅgālo ukkaṇḍakena nāma rogajātena phuṭṭho.	“That old jackal has the disease called mange.
So yena yena icchati tena tena gacchati;	Yet it still goes where it wants,
yattha yattha icchati tattha tattha tiṭṭhati;	stands where it wants,
yattha yattha icchati tattha tattha nisīdati;	sits where it wants,
yattha yattha icchati tattha tattha nipajjati;	and lies down where it wants.
sītakopi naṃ vāto upavāyati.	And the cool breeze still blows on it.
Sādhu khvassa, bhikkhave, yaṃ idhekacco sakyaputtiyapaṭiñño evarūpampi attabhāvapaṭilābhaṃ paṭisaṃvediyetha.	A certain person here who claims to be a follower of the Sakyan son would be lucky to experience even such an incarnation.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘appamattā viharissāmā’ti.	‘We will stay assiduous.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

SN 20.12 Dutiyasiṅgāla: A Jackal (2nd)


12. Dutiyasiṅgālasutta	12. A Jackal (2nd)
Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati.	At Sāvatthī.
“Assuttha no tumhe, bhikkhave, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṃ jarasiṅgālassa vassamānassā”ti?	“monks, did you hear an old jackal howling at the crack of dawn?”
“Evaṃ, bhante”.	“Yes, sir.”
“Siyā kho, bhikkhave, tasmiṃ jarasiṅgāle yā kāci kataññutā kataveditā, na tveva idhekacce sakyaputtiyapaṭiññe siyā yā kāci kataññutā kataveditā.	“There might be some gratitude and thankfulness in that old jackal, but there is none in a certain person here who claims to be a follower of the Sakyan son.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘kataññuno bhavissāma katavedino;	‘We will be grateful and thankful.
na ca no amhesu appakampi kataṃ nassissatī’ti.	We won’t forget even a small thing done for us.’
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”


Opammasaṃyuttaṃ samattaṃ.	The Linked Discourses with similes are complete.


(cst4)	(derived from b.sujato)
Saṃyutta Nikāya 20	Linked Discourses 20

4👑☸ Cattāri Ariya-saccaṃ 四聖諦

SN 20 all suttas

SN 20 vagga 1 Opamma: Similes

SN 20.1 Kūṭa: A Roof Peak

SN 20.2 Nakhasikha: A Fingernail

SN 20.3 Kula: Families

SN 20.4 Okkhā: Rice Pots

SN 20.5 Satti: A Spear

SN 20.6 Dhanuggaha: The Archers

SN 20.7 Āṇi: The Drum Peg

SN 20.8 Kaliṅgara: Wood Blocks

SN 20.9 Nāga: A Bull Elephant

SN 20.10 Biḷāra: A Cat

SN 20.11 Siṅgāla: A Jackal

SN 20.12 Dutiyasiṅgāla: A Jackal (2nd)

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1. Opammavagga	1. Similes