Migasālāsutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.44

Numbered Discourses 6.44

5. Dhammikavagga

5. About Dhammika

Migasālāsutta

With Migasālā

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena migasālāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the laywoman Migasālā, where he sat down on the seat spread out.

Atha kho migasālā upāsikā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho migasālā upāsikā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

Then the laywoman Migasālā went up to Ānanda, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyaṁ?

“Honorable Ānanda, how on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life?

Pitā me, bhante, purāṇo brahmacārī ahosi ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā.

My father Purāṇa was chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex.

So kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmī satto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.

When he passed away the Buddha declared that, since he was a once-returner, he was reborn in the host of joyful gods.

Petteyyopi me, bhante, isidatto abrahmacārī ahosi sadārasantuṭṭho.

But my uncle Isidatta was not chaste; he lived content with his wife.

Sopi kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.

When he passed away the Buddha declared that, since he too was a once-returner, he was reborn in the host of joyful gods.

Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyan”ti?

How on earth are we supposed to understand the teaching taught by the Buddha, when the chaste and the unchaste are both reborn in exactly the same place in the next life?”

“Evaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhagini, bhagavatā byākatan”ti.

“You’re right, sister, but that’s how the Buddha declared it.”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando migasālāya upāsikāya nivesane piṇḍapātaṁ gahetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.

Then Ānanda, after receiving almsfood at Migasālā’s home, rose from his seat and left.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, Ānanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena migasālāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ.

Atha kho, bhante, migasālā upāsikā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho, bhante, migasālā upāsikā maṁ etadavoca:

‘kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyaṁ.

Pitā me, bhante, purāṇo brahmacārī ahosi ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā.

So kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.

Petteyyopi me, bhante, isidatto abrahmacārī ahosi sadārasantuṭṭho.

Sopi kālaṅkato bhagavatā byākato sakadāgāmipatto tusitaṁ kāyaṁ upapannoti.

Kathaṁ kathaṁ nāmāyaṁ, bhante ānanda, bhagavatā dhammo desito aññeyyo, yatra hi nāma brahmacārī ca abrahmacārī ca ubho samasamagatikā bhavissanti abhisamparāyan’ti?

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, migasālaṁ upāsikaṁ etadavocaṁ:

‘evaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhagini, bhagavatā byākatan’”ti.

“Kā cānanda, migasālā upāsikā bālā abyattā ammakā ammakapaññā, ke ca purisapuggalaparopariyañāṇe?

“Ānanda, who is this laywoman Migasālā, a foolish incompetent aunty, with an aunty’s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individual persons?

Chayime, ānanda, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

These six individuals are found in the world.

Katame cha?

What six?

Idhānanda, ekacco puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena.

Take a certain individual who is gentle and pleasant to be with. And spiritual companions enjoy living together with them.

Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi akataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi appaṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati.

And they’ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī.

When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.

Idha panānanda, ekacco puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena.

Take another individual who is gentle and pleasant to be with. And spiritual companions enjoy living together with them.

Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.

And they’ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found temporary freedom.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā visesāya pareti no hānāya, visesagāmīyeva hoti no hānagāmī.

When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.

Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti:

Judgmental people compare them, saying:

‘imassapi teva dhammā aparassapi teva dhammā, kasmā tesaṁ eko hīno eko paṇīto’ti.

‘This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?’

Tañhi tesaṁ, ānanda, hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.

This will be for their lasting harm and suffering.

Tatrānanda, yvāyaṁ puggalo sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, abhinandanti sabrahmacārī ekattavāsena, tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.

In this case, the individual who is gentle … and has listened, learned, penetrated theoretically, and found temporary freedom

Ayaṁ, ānanda, puggalo amunā purimena puggalena abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca.

is better and finer than the other individual.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Imaṁ hānanda, puggalaṁ dhammasoto nibbahati,

Because the stream of the teaching carries them along.

tadantaraṁ ko jāneyya aññatra tathāgatena.

But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One?

Tasmātihānanda, mā puggalesu pamāṇikā ahuvattha;

So, Ānanda, don’t be judgmental about individuals.

mā puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhittha.

Don’t pass judgment on individuals.

Khaññati hānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhanto.

Those who pass judgment on individuals harm themselves.

Ahaṁ vā, ānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇheyyaṁ, yo vā panassa mādiso.

I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals.

Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa lobhadhammā uppajjanti.

Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has greedy thoughts.

Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi akataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi appaṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati.

And they’ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī.

When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.

Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa lobhadhammā uppajjanti.

Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has greedy thoughts. …

Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti …pe…

Because the stream of the teaching carries them along. …

no hānagāmī.

When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.

Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti …pe…

Judgmental people compare them …

yo vā panassa mādiso.

I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on people.

Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti.

Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has the impulse to speak inappropriately.

Tassa savanenapi akataṁ hoti …pe… sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ na labhati.

And they’ve not listened or learned or penetrated theoretically or found even temporary freedom.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā hānāya pareti no visesāya, hānagāmīyeva hoti no visesagāmī.

When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a lower place, not a higher. They’re going to a lower place, not a higher.

Idha panānanda, ekaccassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti.

Take another individual who is angry and conceited, and from time to time has the impulse to speak inappropriately.

Tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.

But they’ve listened and learned and penetrated theoretically and found temporary freedom.

So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā visesāya pareti no hānāya, visesagāmīyeva hoti no hānagāmī.

When their body breaks up, after death, they depart for a higher place, not a lower. They’re going to a higher place, not a lower.

Tatrānanda, pamāṇikā pamiṇanti:

Judgmental people compare them, saying:

‘imassapi teva dhammā, aparassapi teva dhammā. Kasmā tesaṁ eko hīno, eko paṇīto’ti?

‘This one has just the same qualities as the other, so why is one worse and one better?’

Tañhi tesaṁ, ānanda, hoti dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.

This will be for their lasting harm and suffering.

Tatrānanda, yassa puggalassa kodhamāno adhigato hoti, samayena samayañcassa vacīsaṅkhārā uppajjanti, tassa savanenapi kataṁ hoti, bāhusaccenapi kataṁ hoti, diṭṭhiyāpi paṭividdhaṁ hoti, sāmāyikampi vimuttiṁ labhati.

In this case, the individual who is angry and conceited, but has listened, learned, penetrated theoretically, and found temporary freedom

Ayaṁ, ānanda, puggalo amunā purimena puggalena abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca.

is better and finer than the other individual.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Imaṁ hānanda, puggalaṁ dhammasoto nibbahati.

Because the stream of the teaching carries them along.

Tadantaraṁ ko jāneyya aññatra tathāgatena.

But who knows the difference between them except a Realized One?

Tasmātihānanda, mā puggalesu pamāṇikā ahuvattha;

So, Ānanda, don’t be judgmental about individuals.

mā puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhittha.

Don’t pass judgment on individuals.

Khaññati hānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇhanto.

Those who pass judgment on individuals harm themselves.

Ahaṁ vā, ānanda, puggalesu pamāṇaṁ gaṇheyyaṁ, yo vā panassa mādiso.

I, or someone like me, may pass judgment on individuals.

Kā cānanda, migasālā upāsikā bālā abyattā ammakā ammakapaññā, ke ca purisapuggalaparopariyañāṇe.

Who is this laywoman Migasālā, a foolish incompetent aunty, with an aunty’s wit? And who is it that knows how to assess individual persons?

Ime kho, ānanda, cha puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

These six individuals are found in the world.

Yathārūpena, ānanda, sīlena purāṇo samannāgato ahosi, tathārūpena sīlena isidatto samannāgato abhavissa. Nayidha purāṇo isidattassa gatimpi aññassa.

If Isidatta had achieved Purāṇa’s level of ethical conduct, Purāṇa could not have even known Isidatta’s destination.

Yathārūpāya ca, ānanda, paññāya isidatto samannāgato ahosi, tathārūpāya paññāya purāṇo samannāgato abhavissa. Nayidha isidatto purāṇassa gatimpi aññassa.

And if Purāṇa had achieved Isidatta’s level of wisdom, Isidatta could not have even known Purāṇa’s destination.

Iti kho, ānanda, ime puggalā ubho ekaṅgahīnā”ti.

So both individuals were lacking in one respect.”

Dutiyaṁ.