Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
Some faults, once pointed out by companions, are given up through correcting bodily or verbal conduct directly, but ten deeper things — greed, hate, delusion, anger, acrimony, disdain, contempt, stinginess, nasty jealousy, and corrupt wishes — can only be given up by seeing again and again with wisdom.
Correction by companions, for surface faults
The first two categories share an identical structure: a mendicant commits an offense by body or speech, ‘sensible spiritual companions’ point it out after examination, and the mendicant, spoken to directly, gives up the bad conduct and develops good conduct in its place — correction working through social feedback.
A tenfold list that diverges from the familiar one
The third category's list is worth checking carefully against this project's usual seventeen-item defilement list: it shares greed, hate, delusion, anger, acrimony, disdain, contempt, and stinginess with that standard list, but then closes with two items given their own full definitions — nasty jealousy (issā, defined here as resentment at others' prosperity) and corrupt wishes (pāpicchā, wanting to be seen as possessing virtues one lacks) — rather than continuing further down the standard list's remaining items.
Corrupt wishes, defined in unusual detail
The discourse's definition of corrupt wishes is distinctively specific, naming nine separate false self-presentations in turn: wanting to seem faithful, ethical, learned, secluded, energetic, mindful, immersed, wise, and free of defilements, when none of these is actually true — a pointed catalogue of spiritual pretense.
Key terms
The text
Given up by the body, or by speech
§1“Mendicants, there are things that should be given up by the body, not by speech. There are things that should be given up by speech, not by the body. There are things that should be given up neither by the body, nor by speech, but by seeing again and again with wisdom. And what are the things that should be given up by the body, not by speech? It’s when a mendicant has committed a certain unskillful offense by way of body. After examination, sensible spiritual companions say this to them: ‘Venerable, you’ve committed a certain unskillful offense by way of body. Please give up that bad bodily conduct and develop good bodily conduct.’ When spoken to by their sensible spiritual companions they give up that bad bodily conduct and develop good bodily conduct. These are the things that should be given up by the body, not by speech. And what are the things that should be given up by speech, not by the body? It’s when a mendicant has committed a certain unskillful offense by way of speech. After examination, sensible spiritual companions say this to them: ‘Venerable, you’ve committed a certain unskillful offense by way of speech. Please give up that bad verbal conduct and develop good verbal conduct.’ When spoken to by their sensible spiritual companions they give up that bad verbal conduct and develop good verbal conduct. These are the things that should be given up by speech, not by the body.
Given up only by wisdom
§2And what are the things that should be given up neither by the body, nor by speech, but by seeing again and again with wisdom? Greed … hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … and stinginess are things that should be given up neither by the body, nor by speech, but by seeing again and again with wisdom.
Nasty jealousy, and corrupt wishes
§3Nasty jealousy should be given up neither by the body, nor by speech, but by seeing again and again with wisdom. And what is nasty jealousy? It’s when a householder or their child is prospering in money, grain, silver, or gold. And a bondservant or dependent thinks: ‘Oh, may that householder or their child not prosper in money, grain, silver, or gold!’ Or an ascetic or brahmin receives robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And some other ascetic or brahmin thinks: ‘Oh, may that venerable not receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.’ This is called nasty jealousy. Corrupt wishes should be given up neither by the body, nor by speech, but by seeing again and again with wisdom. And what are corrupt wishes? It’s when a faithless person wishes to be known as faithful. An unethical person wishes to be known as ethical. An unlearned person wishes to be known as learned. A lover of company wishes to be known as secluded. A lazy person wishes to be known as energetic. An unmindful person wishes to be known as mindful. A person without immersion wishes to be known as having immersion. A witless person wishes to be known as wise. Someone who has not ended the defilements wishes to be known as having ended the defilements. These are called corrupt wishes. Corrupt wishes should be given up neither by the body, nor by speech, but by seeing again and again with wisdom.
Whether these things master a mendicant
§4Suppose that greed masters that mendicant and keeps going. Or that hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … stinginess … nasty jealousy … or corrupt wishes master them and keep going. You should know of them: ‘This venerable does not have the understanding that would eliminate greed, so greed masters them and keeps going. They don’t have the understanding that would eliminate hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … stinginess … nasty jealousy … or corrupt wishes, so corrupt wishes master them and keep going.’ Suppose that greed does not master that mendicant and keep going. Or that hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … stinginess … nasty jealousy … or corrupt wishes don’t master that mendicant and keep going. You should know of them: ‘This venerable has the understanding that eliminates greed, so greed doesn’t master them and keep going. They have the understanding that eliminates hate … delusion … anger … acrimony … disdain … contempt … stinginess … nasty jealousy … and corrupt wishes, so corrupt wishes don’t master them and keep going.’”
Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.