The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha)

325 Pages·1995·36.49 MB·English

by  Maurice Walshe

1111 } \UlI C Cl 11 't '1I"l11 \
The
Dis!6~rses
..
of,/"
Buddha
ATranslarion ofrb(
D,gha Nikaya
;:,
Translatcd from r/)( Pali
h,
Mauricc Walshe
WISOO\t PLBLlCATJOr<.;S • BosTON
WISDOM PUIlLlCATIONS
199 Elm Streel
Somervillc:. Mass.achusclu02144
FirSt published in 1987in paperback under thetideof
0/
Thus Haw IHtard: TMLongDisrourm tMBuddha
«) MauriccWalshe. 1987. 1995
All righu rcscrvro. TotheSangha
EastandWest
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Tipi!ili. ~lu.pi!w. Dighanik.ln. Lnglish
Thelongdi~ouf'S('Sofl~Buddha: alr:uulalionofIlK-Djgha~ilu.ya I by
MauriccWilihc.
p. cm. - rrc:Khin~of(hcBuddh.l)
Indudnbibliognphiul rd"ereocoandindcx_
ISBN 0-86171-103·) {;t]k. p;lpc:t}
I. \l:'alshe, Maurice O'c. (MauriceO'Conndl) 11. lidc. 111. Series.
BQI292.E53W3S 19'J6
2'M.)'823--dCZO 95-1I288
ISBN 0-86171-103-3
02 01 00 99 98
87654
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Contents
?-=s, ------ -----
ListofIllustrations 10
Foreword
11
Preface 1)
TechnicalNotes 15
Introduction 19
SummaryoftheThirty-FaurSuttas
55
DIVISIONONE:THEMORALITIES
1 BraltmajalaSI/tfa:TheSupremeNet
WhattheTeachingIsNot 67
,
(Bombay) 2 SamaihiaplzalaSuUa:TheFruitsoftheHomeless
Life 9]
3 Ambaltha5ufta: AboutAmbattha
PrideHumbled 111
N 4 So'!odafJqaSuUa: AboutSODadaD~a
TheQualitiesofaTrueBrahmin 1.25
(Madras) 5 Ki'itadalltaSufta: AboutKutadanta
ABloodlessSacrifice 133
India at 6 Mahi1liSutla: AboutMahali
-
HeavenlySights,Souland Body 143
7 ]aliyaSuUa: AboutJaliya 149
thE: tl(')E:
oT"""""ff"il 8 Mahiisihanifda Suttn: TheGreat Lion'sRoar 151
9 PotthapiidaSuUn: About PoHhapada
thE: buddha StatesofConsciousness 159
10 5ubha5lltta: AboutSubha
-()-Modern Indi.m Cities
Morality,Concentration, Wisdom 171
]] KevaddllaSutta: AboutKevaddha
WhatBrahmaDidn'tKnow 175
7
8 Tile LO/I,\{ DiSCOllrses oftile Bm/dim Contellts 9
12 LolliccaSulta: AboutLohicca )0 LakkhWlaSIlUa:TheMarksofaGreatMan 44'
Goodand BadTeachers 181 )1 Sigil/akaSutta:ToSigalaka
'3 Tevijja Sut/a:TheThreefold Knowledge AdvicetoLayPeople 461
TI,eWaytoBrahma 187 )2 .4.tiilliltiyaSutta: TheAtanata Protective
Verses 47'
DIVISIONTWO: THEGREATDlVISION
33 Sallg'itiSufta:TheChantingTogether 479
'4 Malldpadnna Sutta:TheGreat Discourseonthe
34 Dasut/araSutta: ExpandingDecades 511
Lineage '99
'5 Mahiillidnna Sulta:TheGreatDiscourseon Bibliography 525
Origination 223 ListofAbbreviations 531
16 Malliiparinibbiilla Sutta:TheGreatPassing Notes 533
TheBuddha'sLastDays 23' Index 625
'7 Mahnslldassana SuUa:TheGreatSplendour
AKing'sRenunciation 279
18 Janavasabha Silt/a: AboutJanavasabha
Brahma AddressestheGods 291
19 Mahiigovinda SuUa:TheGreatSteward
APastLifeofGotama 30'
20 Mahiisamaya SuUa:TheMightyGathering
DevasCometoSeetheBuddha )15
21 Sakkapai'ihaSuUa: Sakka'sQuestions
AGodConsultstheBuddha 321
22 Mahiisatipa!(hillla SI/Ua:TheGreaterDiscourseon the
FoundationsofMindfulness 335
23 PnynsiSutta: AboutPayasi
DebatewithaSceptic 35'
DIVISIONTHREE:THEPATlKA DIVISION
24 PiitikaSutta: AboutPatikaputta
TheCharlatan 37'
25 Udumbarika-Sf1Jallnda SuUa: TheGreatLion'sRoarto
the Udumbarikans 385
26 Cakkavatti-Si1laniidaSufta:TheLion'sRoaron the
TurningoftheWheel 395
27 AggaiiiiaSut/a: On KnowledgeofBeginnings 407
28 SampasiidamyaSilt/a: SereneFaith 4'7
29 PasiidikaSutta: TheDelightful Discourse 427
Foreword
List ofIllustrations
It is with much pleasure that I write this brief foreword to Mr
Map of India ill the time of the Buddha, drawn by CR. Shaw, Walshe's translation of the Dfgha Nikiiya. The translator is a
Tatnes, Devon, 1<)86. 6
devout Buddhist whose Pali scholarship is backed up by per
The road between Rajagaha and Nalancla, drawn by Pang
sonal practice of meditation. His translation work is therefore a
Chinasai, London, 1(}86. 66
most important contribution to the study of Buddhism.
Statue of Buddha Sakyarnuni, Burma, 18th century. By courtesy
Mr Walshe has been active in the Buddhist world of Great
of the trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum (I.M. 65-
1912). 110 Britain for many years. Long before I came 10 Britain, his name
Rying monk, from a Thai paper folding-book, about mid-19th was known to me through his essays in 'The Wheel' series of
century, By permission of the British Library (OR 1370) the Buddhist Publication Society of Sri Lanka. In '977 my
ho). 150 venerable teacher, Tan Ajahn Chah Subhatto and I arrived in
The past Buddhas, drawn by Pang Chinasai, London,
London at the invitation of the English Sangha Trust of which
1<)86. 198
Mr Walshe was one of the Trustees. This Trust had been
Monk in meditation, from a Thai paper folding-book. about
established in 1956 in ordertobring abollt a Western Sangha in
mid-19th century. By permission of the British Library (OR 1370)
(45). 222 Britain, and towards this end, Mr Walshe has consistently
Statue of Buddha Sakyamuni, Bunna, possibly 17th century. By worked for nearly thirty years. At one time he combined this
courtesy of the trustees of the Victoria and Alberl Museum (1.5. with the postofVice-Presidentofthe BuddhistSocietyofGreat
21 & A.-1970). 278 Britain, his career at the Institute of Gem1anlc Studies in
Deva, from a Thai paper folding-book with coloured paintings,
London University (of which his translations ofthe sermons of
1830-40. By permission of the British Library (ADD 15347
Meister Eckhart are a testimonial), as well as studying Pali in
f48). 314
his spare time.
The Charlatan, drawn by Pang Chinasai, London, 1987· 370
Statue of Sariputta, Burma, about 1850. By courtesy of the Even though Pali scholars have produced quite accurate
tmstees of the Victori.1 and Albert Museum Os. 11 (22}- literal translations of the Pali Canon, one often feels the lack of
1(69). 416 profound insight into these remarkable scriptures. The Suttas
The Four Great Kings, from Buddhist Co~molo~y, Thonburi need to be studied, reflected on, and practised in order to
Version, 1l}82. Fine Art Department of Bangkok, Thililand. realise their true meaning. They are 'Dhamma discourses', or
47° contemplations on the 'way things are'. They are not meanllo
Monk, from iI Thai pilper folding-book, about mid-19th century. be 'sacred scriptures' which tell us what to believe. One should
By permission of the British Library (OR 1)70) fJ7)· 524
read them, listen to them, thinkaboul them, contemplate them,
Monk preilching to laity, from iI Thili manuscript, 1868. By
pemlission of the British Library (OR 6630 f71). 626 and investigate the present reality, the present experience with
12 TI1e uJIIg Di.~cvr/rSl'S oftile Buddha
them. Then,andonlythen,can one insightfullyknow theTruth
Preface
beyond words.
In this new translation of the long discourses MrWaJshe has
kindlyoffered us anotheropportunity toread and reflect on the
Buddha's teachings.
May all those who read them, benefit and develop in their
practice of the Dhamma.
May all beings be freed from all suffering.
May all beings be enlightened.
The two mam reasons for making this translation of some of
VENERABLESUM.EOHOTHERA
the oldest Buddhist scriptures are: (I) The spread of Buddhism
Amaravati
as a serious way oflife in the Western world. and ofeven more
Great Gaddesden
widespread serious interest in it as a subJect worthy of close
Hertfordshire
study. and (2) the fact that English IS now effectively the world
England
language, the most Widespread linguistic vehicle for all fonns
January 1986
of communication. True. the I'ali scriptures have already been
translated in almost theirentirety mto English. mainly through
the devoted efforts of the Pali Text Society. which h.1S now
entered into the second century of its aCllvity. But existmg
translations are now dated stylistic.,lly as \\lell as containing
many errors and a modem version has therefore become
necessary.
First, and foremost, the entire ment for this translation
belongs to the Venerable Balangod,' An,lOdamaitrcya Mah.\
NayakaThera, Aggamahaparyc;lita (though he has,ofcourse, no
need ofsuch pllliiia) for having convinced me that Icould. and
therefore of course should. undertake this task. To me there
remains merely the demerit of its many imperfections. Work
ing on it has provided me with much JOy, solace and
illumination.
My particular thanks for help and encouragement MC due,
besides the illustrious and (in all senses) venerable gentleman
just mentiolled, to the Ven. Or H. Saddhatissa, afriend ofm.1ny
years' standing from whom [ have learnt so much, the Ven.
Nya':\aponika who inspired an earlier, more modest venturc in
translation, the Ven. Or W. Rahula who guidcd my C<lrly,
faltering steps in Pali, as well as the Vcn. P. Vipassi and Messrs
K.lt Nonnan and L.5. Cousins, whose collective brains I have
'3
14 Tire umg Discofml:S ofIlIe Bllddlw
picked on knotty points. Jl is fitting also to pay tribute here to
the Ven. Achaan Cha (Bodhinarya Thera) and his illustrious Technical Notes
pupil Achaan Sumedho, whose efforts m establishing a
flourishing branch of the Sangha in Britain have made such
translation work all the more necessary; and - others please
note! - much remains to be done in this field.
My principles of translation are briefly discussed in the
Introduction. I am aware of a few trifling inconsistencies as
weU as a few repetitions in the notes. The fonner will, I thmk,
cause no inconvemence: they were hard to avoid altogether in
this, quite possibly the last, translation these scriptures will
This book is in three parts: Division One, containing Suttas
receive without benefit of electronic gadgetry. And as for the
1-1); Division Two, containing 5utlas 14-2); Division Three,
repetitions, these can perhaps be overlooked in connection
containing 5uttas 2.4-}4.
wilh a text which IS Itself so rcpetltiOUS. The Sutlas are divided into verses and, in some cases, into
My sincere thanks are due to Wisdom Publications for pro
sections as well. The verse and section numbers are based on
ducing this book so splendidly, and to the BuddhistSociety of
Rhys Davids's system. Thus, SuUa 16, verse 2.25 denotes SUUa
Great Britain for a generous donation towards costs.
16, chapter or section 2, verse 25. For the sake of brevity this
appears in the notes as DN 16.2.25 and in the index as 16.2.25·
MAURICEWALSHE
St Albans Thenumbersat thetopofthe page, forexamplei 12),referto
Hertfordshire the volume and page numberof the rali Text Society's edition
England in PaiL Thus, i 12) refers to volumeone, page 12) of the Dfgha
January 1986 Nikiiya. The numbers in square brackets in the actual text also
refer to these page numbers.
In this edition any passagecan easily be looked up by either
method.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Pali texts printed in the West use a standard system of Roman
spelling, with a few minor variations. Virtually the same sys
tem, with the addition of one or two extra letters, is used for
Sanskrit. The Pali alphabet, like that of Sanskrit, is set out in a
more logical order than the Roman
The vowels have their 'continental' values:
a u
i as in 'father', 'machine', 'rude'.
a i u as the corresponding short sounds.
e and 0 are always long as (approximately) in 'eh' and
'home', but without the southern English diphthongal glide.
'5
,
16 The Lollg Di.~cOllrSt'Softile Buddlll/ Technical Notes 17
Before two consonants e and 0 are also short consonants which only appear double in transcription. Each is
m(also printed m and some older works III is not really a represented by one letter in Oriental alphabets.
In
vowel but a mark ofnasalisation (probably originally rather as
in French). Today it is read as ng in 'sing' (=n).
The Relatlonshlp Betwem Sallskrit and Pall
Some consonants cause difficulty for the Western student.
Thedifferencebetween theconsonants in thefirst (velar)TOWis It is helpful to have some knowledge of the relationship be
this: tween Pali and Sanskrit. Pali, as explained in the Introduction
kh is like the nonnal English k in 'king', which we usually on page 48, is a kind of simplified Sanskrit.
pronounce with a distinct puff of breath after it. Sanskrit in transcription has some extra consonants: !"(rarely
k is the same but without this puff of breath as in French !"), !, s, ~.
!" was originally syllabic r as in 'Bmo', but is now usually
TIle PaN Alphabet
pronounced ri.
Vowels aaiiuueo m(f"!1,l) !wasoriginallysyllabic Ias in 'Plzen' (or,almost, thesecond I
in 'little'), but is now usually pronounced Ii. Note: Sanskrit! is
Consonants Voiceless Voiceless Voiced Voiced Nasal
not the same as Pali !, but both are so rare that there is no
unasplrated aspirated unasplfatedaspirated
confusion.
Velar k kh g gh n
s
Palatal c ch jh n is a thin sh sound as in 'shin'.
I
~ is a thick sh sound as might be heard in 'push' (exagger
Retroflex i ih 4 4h n
ating the difference from that in 'shin').
De"tal I lh d dh n
Labial p ph b bh m In Pali f appearsasa vowel,usually thesamevowelasoccurs
nearit: Sanskritkria (done) > Pali kata; Sanskrit':111 (straight)
Miscella"eous yrl!vsh
> Palj Ujll,
s
'kilo'. Aftersthis pronunciation occurs in English too: compare Both and ~ appear in Pali as s, but are then subject to the
'kin' and 'skin'. In 'skin' the k is not the same as in 'kin', usual rule of s + consonant: Sanskrit s+ consonant becomes
g and gh differ in precisely the same way as k and kh, but it (the same) consonant + h: thus sp>ph, st>th, etc.
is difficult for English speakers to make this distinction. The above rules combine in the case of one key-word:
nis the corresponding nasal, that is, ng in 'si.ng', Sanskrit tm/i (thirst, craving) > Pali ta~lhn. Here ,,>a, ~>s,and
Thesamedistinctionsaremade between the fivecolumnsfor then sJ:l.>J:l.h.
the palatal, retroflex, dental and labial rows, Thus c is almost Sanskrit consonant clusters are simplified, producing one
like the Englishch in 'church',ormoreexactlyas in 'discharge'. single or double consonant: Sanskrit agm (fire) > Pali aggi;
In the retroflexrow(sometimescalled 'cerebral')the lipofthe Sanskrit svQrga (heaven) > Pali sagga; Sanskrit milrga (path) >
tongue is turned back, whereas in the dental row it touches the Pali magga; Sanskrit atmall (self) > Pali atta; Sanskrit sol~IJnii
upper front teeth. Most English speakers pronounce t and d (perception) Pab soiinii; Sanskrit sparSa (contact) > Pali phassa;
somewhere between the two and can scarcely hear the differ Sanskrit alpa (little) > Pali appa etc. Instead of VlI we find bb,
ence between these two series. and instead of dy, dhy we find i!, Ih: Sanskrit "iron',la > Pali
Ofthe remainingconsonants, y and s are always as in 'yes',! nibbii"a; Sanskrit adya (today) > Pali ai/a; Sanskrit dlJyiina
is to Ias t is to t, and v is pronounced as English 'v' or 'w', (absorption) > Palj jlliina.
Doubleconsonants are pronounced double as in Italian: thus It follows that while the fonn of a Sanskrit word cannot be
met/a is rather like 'met tar'. Note that kh, gh etc. arc unitary predicted from its Pali equivalent, the Pali form can usually be
J
18 The Lollg Discoursesofthe Buddha
predicted from the Sanskrit, provided the word occurs. The
meanings of Sanskrit and Pali words are also not quite always Introduction
the same.
As regards grammatical simplification, it need perhaps only
be mentioned here that the Sanskrit dative case has in most
instances been replaced by the genitive in Pali. Thus in the
phrase Noma lossa BllOgavato Arallato $ammii-$ambuddlla5SQ
(Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, fully-enlightened
Buddha) the words lassa etc are originally genitive fonns with
dative meaning. However we do find the expression nama
Buddlliiya (homage to the Buddha) with a true dative fonn.
This translation is a 'substantive' translation because it is
Those who wish to learn some Pali - which is to beencour
completeas tosubstance. Nothing has been omitted except the
aged! - should start with Johansson and proceed to Warder
more wearisome of the very numerous repetitions which are
(see Bibliography). Sansknt is a difficult language, but Michael
such a striking feature of the original.
Coulson's 'Teach Yourself' volume (1976) renders it as painless
The Pali scriptures here translated are from the 'Triple
as possible.
Basket'(Tipitaka),acollectionofthe Buddha's teachingsregard
ed ascanonical by theTheravada school ofBuddhism, which is
found today in Sri Lanka, Bunna and Thailand, and was until
recently equally strong in Laos and Cambodia. It is now also
well established in Britain and other Western countries. The
claim ofthisschool istohavepreserved theoriginal teachingof
the Buddha,and therearegoodgroundsfor atleastconsidering
that the doctrine as found in the Pali scriptures comcs as dose
as we can get to what the Buddha actually taught. In any case
the PaLi Tipitaka is the only canon of an early school that is
preserved complete. It is not, however, in the troe spirit of
Buddhism to adopt a 'fundamentalist' attitude towards the
scriptures, and it is thusopen to the reader, Buddhist as well as
non-Buddhist, to regard the texts here translated with an open
and critical mind.
THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA
Siddhattha Gotama (inSanskrit,Siddhartha Gautama), who
became the Buddha, the Enlightened One, may have lived from
about56J-48)B.C,throughmanymodernscholars suggestalater
dating.l Oriental traditionsoffera numberofalternativedatings,
that favoured inSri Lankaandsouth-east Asia being62)"54). It
'9