Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
16. Saddhamma Vaggo

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XVI: Saddhamma

Sutta 153

Tatiya Sammatta-Niyāma Suttaṃ

The Saddhamma Way (c)

[132]

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?

Unctuously he hearkens to Dhamma,
unctuously prepossessed,
he hearkens with captiousness,
seeking flaws,
at Dhamma-teaching time his heart is smitten
and barren,
is stupid, a dullard and lack-wit
and is not given to thinking of his knowledge of the unknown.

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 become one to enter the way,
the right way
in right things.

What five?

Without unction¹ he hearkens to Dhamma,
not unctuously prepossessed,
he hearkens without captiousness²,
without seeking flaws,
at Dhamma-teaching time his heart is not smitten³
nor barren,
hears Dhamma with unperturbed mind
is filled with insight, no dullard or lack-wit,
given to thinking of his knowledge of the unknown.

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 Makkha, lit. to smear.

² Upārambha-. Comy. niggahāropana-.