Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
16. Saddhamma Vaggo

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XVI: Saddhamma

Sutta 151

Paṭhama Sammatta-Niyāma Suttaṃ

The Saddhamma Way (a)

[131]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, pursuing five courses
and not hearkening unto Saddhamma
he does not become one to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.

What five?

He belittles talk,
belittles the talker,
he belittles the self,
he hears Dhamma with perturbed mind
and does not, with mind one-pointed,
make thinking orderly.

Verily, monks, pursuing these five courses
and not hearkening unto Saddhamma
he does not become one
to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.'

"Monks, pursuing five courses
and hearkening unto Saddhamma
he must become¹ one to enter the way,²
the right way³
in right things.

What five?

He does not belittle⁴ talk,
nor belittle the talker,
he does not belittle the self,
hears Dhamma with unperturbed mind
and with mind one-pointed,
makes⁵ thinking orderly.

[132] Verily, monks, pursuing these five courses
and hearkening unto Saddhamma
he must become one
to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.'

¹ Bhabbo should or ought to become. ('Not "should do!" Must, must, must do!" ... "Should" is to-morrow, "must" is to-day!' — Benito Mussolini the Man: V. J. Bordeau.) See Mm. Rhys Davids' Sakya, p. 324; Manual, p. 128.

² Niyāma.

³ Sammatta, the state of sam √ī going along well.

⁴ Pari-bhoti (-bhavati).