Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

Such was the fashion of the Exalted One's answer to Sakka's question. And Sakka, delighted with the Exalted One's utterances, expressed his pleasure and appreciation saying : — ' That is so, Exalted One, that is so, O Welcome One ! I have got rid of doubt and am no longer puzzled, through hearing the answer of the Exalted One.'

4. So Sakka, expressing his pleasure and appreciation, asked a further question of the Exalted One : — ' But how, sir, has that bhikkhu gone about who has acquired the self-restraint enjoined by the Patimokkha?'

' I say, ruler of gods, that behaviour in act and in speech, as well as those things we seek after are twofold, according as they are to be followed after or avoided. [280] And for what reason do I say so ? When, in following some mode of behaviour in act or speech or in pursuing some quest, I have perceived that bad qualities developed and good qualities diminished, then such behaviour or such pursuits were to be avoided. And when, again, I perceived as the consequence of some other mode of behaviour in act or speech, or of some other pursuit that bad qualities were diminished and good qualities were developed, then that behaviour, or that pursuit, was to be followed after. Thus when I, ruler of gods, declare that behaviour in act, behaviour in speech, and the things we seek after are twofold, I say so for those reasons.

Commentator (who repeats his comment in Asl. 194) describes the former ethical indifference (upekha) as that of the foolish average person, confused in mind, who has not overcome limitations or results (of Karma), but is bound by his world of objects of sense.

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[28l] ' And it is on this wise, ruler of gods, that a bhikkhu must have gone about to have acquired the self-restraint enjoined by the Patimokkha.'

Such was the fashion of the Exalted One's answer to Sakka's question. And Sakka, delighted with the Exalted One's utterance, expressed his pleasure and appreciation saying : — ' That is so, Exalted One, that is so, O Welcome One ! I have got rid of doubt and am no longer puzzled, through hearing the answer of the Exalted One.'

5. So Sakka, expressing his pleasure and appreciation, asked a further question of the Exalted One : — ' But how, sir, has that bhikkhu gone about who has acquired control of his faculties ? '

' I say, ruler of gods, that the objects of the senses — visible, audible, odorous, sapid, tangible and mental objects 1 — are twofold, according as they are to be followed after or avoided.'

Then said Sakka to the Exalted One: — 'I, sir, understand the details of that which you have told me in outline. [282] Those sense-objects which are not to be followed are such as cause bad qualities to develop and good qualities to diminish ; and those sense-objects which have the opposite effect are to be followed after. And because I can thus understand in detail the meaning of that which the Exalted One has told me in outline, I have got rid of doubt and am no longer puzzled, now that I have heard the Exalted One's answer to my question.'

6. So Sakka, expressing his pleasure and appreciation, asked a further question of the Exalted One : — ' Are all recluses and brahmins, sir, wholly of one creed, one practice, one persuasion 2, one aim ? '

1 According to Buddhist psychology, these are not ideas as distinct from impressions, but are any presentations or objects of consciousness, whether on occasion of sense or of reflexion, at that stage when mind 'turns toward' the object and 'receives' it (avajjana, sampa- /icchana).

2 Ekantacchanda, lit. of one desire, will or purpose ; but equated by the Cy. with ekaladdhika, of one heresy.

3l6 XXI. SAKKA-PANHA SUTTANTA. D. ii. 282.

' No, ruler of gods, they are not.'

' But why, sir, are they not ? '