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The Book of the Gradual Sayings
Volume II
The Book of the Fours
by Michael Olds
After the translation from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward*
Published by the Pali Text Society
[No Nidana for this sutta or section of suttas; the closest Nidana previous to Chapter XVI is for Chapter XI where the Buddha is said to be residing in Savatthi at Jeta Grove in Anathapindika's Park.]
'Beggars, when a Wellfarer or a Wellfarer's Discipline abides in the world, that happens for the profit of many, the happiness of many; out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the profit, for the happiness of gods and man.
And of what sort, beggars, is a Wellfarer?
Herein, beggars, a Tathagata arises in the world, an Arahant, a Fully Enlightened One, perfect in knowledge and conduct, a Wellfarer, a world-knower, unsurpassed driver of men to be driven, Teacher of devas and mankind, a Buddha, an Exalted One. This, beggars, is a Wellfarer. And of what sort, beggars, is a Wellfarer's Discipline? It is a Dhamma taught in such a way as to be helpful in the beginning, helpful in the middle and helpful at the end, making plain the holy life, entirely complete and purified. This, beggars, is the Discipline of a Wellfarer.
Beggars, when a Wellfarer or a Wellfarer's Discipline abides in the world, that happens for the profit of many, the happiness of many; out of compassion for the world, for the good, for the profit, for the happiness of gods and man.
Beggars, these four things conduce to the undermining, confusion, and vanishing away of Saddhamma. What four?
In the first case, beggars, is the case where beggars commit to memory a sutta in the wrong way, with the words and their implications stated incorrectly. Now beggars, if the words and their implications are stated incorrectly, the intended meaning will subsequently be understood incorrectly. This is the first case which conduces to the undermining, confusion, and vanishing away of Saddhamma. Again, beggars, the beggars become difficult to speak to, having qualities which make them difficult to speak to; they are intractable and incapable of being instructed. This, beggars, is the second case which conduces to the undermining, confusion, and vanishing away of Saddhamma.
Again, beggars, those beggars who are widely read, who have got the Dhamma by heart, who have got the Vinaya by heart, who know the outlines, these, not doing their duty, do not pass along the suttas to others and when they die the suttas are cut down at the roots and cannot be propagated. This, beggars, is the third case which conduces to the undermining, confusion, and vanishing away of Saddhamma.
Again, beggars, the elder beggars live in luxury, are slackers and backsliders, they do not carry on the tradition of solitary living and do not set going effort to reach the goal, to gain what can be gained, to know what can be known. Then the generation that follows takes their example and lives in luxury, are slackers and backsliders, they do not carry on the tradition of solitary living and do not set going effort to reach the goal, to gain what can be gained, to know what can be known. This, beggars, is the fourth case which conduces to the undermining, confusion, and vanishing away of Saddhamma.
But, beggars, these four things conduce to the maintenance, clarification, and propagation of Saddhamma.
In the first case, beggars, is the case where beggars commit to memory a sutta in the correct way, with the words and their implications stated correctly. Now beggars, if the words and their implications are stated correctly, the intended meaning will subsequently be understood correctly. This is the first case which conduces to the maintenance, clarification, and propagation of Saddhamma.
Again, beggars, the beggars are easy to speak to, having qualities which make them easy to speak to; they are tractable and capable of being instructed. This, beggars, is the second case which conduces to the maintenance, clarification, and propagation of Saddhamma.
Again, beggars, those beggars who are widely read, who have got the Dhamma by heart, who have got the Vinaya by heart, who know the outlines, these, doing their duty, pass along the suttas to others and when they die the suttas are not cut down at the roots and can be propagated. This, beggars, is the third case which conduces to the maintenance, clarification, and propagation of Saddhamma.
Again, beggars, the elder beggars do not live in luxury, are not slackers and backsliders, they do carry on the tradition of solitary living and do set going effort to reach the goal, to gain what can be gained, to know what can be known. Then the generation that follows takes their example and does not live in luxury, are not slackers and backsliders, they do carry on the tradition of solitary living and do set going effort to reach the goal, to gain what can be gained, to know what can be known. This, beggars, is the fourth case which conduces to the maintenance, clarification, and propagation of Saddhamma.
So, beggars, these are the four things that conduce to the undermining, confusion, and vanishing away of Saddhamma, and these are the four things that conduce to the maintenance, clarification, and propagation of Saddhamma.
*This amounts an "editing job" on Woodward's rendition which I like, but which uses some terms I think are mis-conceived. I have put an inquiry into the Pali Text Society concerning how, exactly, I should give credit in a case such as this; until I hear from them, this will have to do.
Contact: MikeOlds(at)pacbell.net
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