Source:: [SuttaCentral.net](https://suttacentral.net/an8.20/en/sujato?layout=sidebyside&script=latin) # AN8.20 Uposathasutta Tags:: [[Vinaya]], [[Sikkha]] > [!tldr] Summary > - On a story of a corrupt monk mixed in the assembly, and [[Moggallana]] took him by the arm and removed him from the sangha :) > - Buddha praising 8 qualities of [[Dhamma]] and [[Vinaya|Training Rules]] like those of an **"Ocean"** #simile/buddha ## Notes > [!NOTE] Gradual training — In Uposathasutta ([AN8.20](https://suttacentral.net/an8.20/en/sujato)) > The **ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines**, with no abrupt precipice. > _Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto;_ > > In the same way in this **teaching and training** the penetration to enlightenment comes from ==**gradual training, progress**, and **practice**==, **not abruptly**. > _evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, imasmiṁ **dhammavinaye** ==**anupubbasikkhā** **anupubbakiriyā** **anupubbapaṭipadā**==, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho._ > _Yampi, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho;_ > > This is the first thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training. > _ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti._ ^gradual-training ## Sutta (Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato) Numbered Discourses 8.20 Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.20 2. The Great Chapter 2. Mahāvagga Sabbath Uposathasutta At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde. Now, at that time it was the sabbath, and the Buddha was sitting surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto nisinno hoti. And then, as the night was getting late, in the first watch of the night, Venerable Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said, Atha kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante paṭhame yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, the night is getting late. It is the first watch of the night, and the Saṅgha of monks has been sitting long. “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto paṭhamo yāmo, ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi. For a second time, as the night was getting late, in the middle watch of the night, Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said, Dutiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante majjhime yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, the night is getting late. It is the middle watch of the night, and the Saṅgha of monks has been sitting long. “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto majjhimo yāmo, ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. But for a second time the Buddha kept silent. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi. For a third time, as the night was getting late, in the last watch of the night, as dawn stirred, bringing joy to the night, Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said, Tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante pacchime yāme, uddhaste aruṇe, nandimukhiyā rattiyā uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, the night is getting late. It is the last watch of the night and dawn stirs, bringing joy to the night. “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto pacchimo yāmo, uddhastaṁ aruṇaṁ, nandimukhī ratti; And the Saṅgha has been sitting long. ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. “Ānanda, the assembly is not pure.” “Aparisuddhā, ānanda, parisā”ti. Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna thought, Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi: “Who is the Buddha talking about?” “kaṁ nu kho bhagavā puggalaṁ sandhāya evamāha: ‘aparisuddhā, ānanda, parisā’”ti? Then he focused on comprehending the minds of everyone in the Saṅgha. Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno sabbāvantaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasākāsi. He saw that unethical person, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner—though claiming to be one—rotten inside, corrupt, and depraved, sitting in the middle of the Saṅgha. Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ dussīlaṁ pāpadhammaṁ asuciṁ saṅkassarasamācāraṁ paṭicchannakammantaṁ assamaṇaṁ samaṇapaṭiññaṁ abrahmacāriṁ brahmacāripaṭiññaṁ antopūtiṁ avassutaṁ kasambujātaṁ majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa nisinnaṁ; When he saw him he got up from his seat, went up to him and said, disvāna uṭṭhāyāsanā yena so puggalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: “Get up, reverend. The Buddha has seen you. “uṭṭhehāvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā. You can’t live in communion with the monks.” Natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti. But when he said this, that person kept silent. Evaṁ vutte, so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi. For a second time Dutiyampi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: “uṭṭhehāvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā. Natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti. Dutiyampi kho so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi. and a third time, Tatiyampi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: he asked that monk to leave. “uṭṭhehāvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā. Natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti. But for a third time that person kept silent. Tatiyampi kho so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi. Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna took that person by the arm, ejected him out the gate, and bolted the door. Then he went up to the Buddha, and said to him, Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ bāhāyaṁ gahetvā bahidvārakoṭṭhakā nikkhāmetvā sūcighaṭikaṁ datvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “I have ejected that person. “nikkhāmito so, bhante, puggalo mayā. The assembly is pure. Parisuddhā parisā. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. “It’s incredible, Moggallāna, it’s amazing, “Acchariyaṁ, moggallāna, abbhutaṁ, moggallāna. how that silly man waited to be taken by the arm!” Yāva bāhā gahaṇāpi nāma so moghapuriso āgamissatī”ti. Then the Buddha said to the monks: Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Now, monks, you should perform the sabbath and recite the monastic code. “tumheva dāni, bhikkhave, uposathaṁ kareyyātha, pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyyātha. From this day forth, I will not perform the sabbath or recite the monastic code. Na dānāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ajjatagge uposathaṁ karissāmi, pātimokkhaṁ uddisissāmi. It’s impossible, monks, it can’t happen that a Realized One could recite the monastic code in an impure assembly. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ tathāgato aparisuddhāya parisāya pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyya. Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean. Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. What eight? Katame aṭṭha? The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice. Mahāsamuddo, bhikkhave, anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto; This is the first thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti (yathā purime tathā vitthāro.) Furthermore, the ocean is consistent and doesn’t overflow its boundaries. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati; This is the second thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Furthermore, the ocean doesn’t accommodate a carcass, but quickly carries it to the shore and strands it on the beach. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati. Yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti, thalaṁ ussāreti. Variant: khippameva → khippaññeva (bj); khippaṁyeva (pts-vp-pli1, mr) Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati, yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti thalaṁ ussāreti; This is the third thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Furthermore, when they reach the ocean, all the great rivers—that is, the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—lose their names and clans and are simply considered ‘the ocean’. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni; ‘mahāsamuddo’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti. Variant: patvā → pattā (sya-all, pts-vp-pli1, mr) Yampi, bhikkhave, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti; This is the fourth thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Furthermore, for all the world’s streams that reach it, and the rain that falls from the sky, the ocean never empties or fills up. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti, yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati. Yampi, bhikkhave, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti, yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati; This is the fifth thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Furthermore, the ocean has just one taste, the taste of salt. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso; This is the sixth thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Furthermore, the ocean is full of many kinds of treasures, such as pearls, gems, beryl, conch, quartz, coral, silver, gold, rubies, and emeralds. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano. Tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitaṅgo masāragallaṁ. Variant: lohitaṅgo → lohitaṅko (bj, pts-vp-pli1); lohitako (?) Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano, tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitaṅgo masāragallaṁ; This is the seventh thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Furthermore, many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā. Vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā; vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; This is the eighth thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean. Ime kho, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. In the same way, seeing eight incredible and amazing things, mendicants, the mendicants love this teaching and training. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha imasmiṁ dhammavinaye acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. What eight? Katame aṭṭha? The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto; In the same way in this teaching and training the penetration to enlightenment comes from gradual training, progress, and practice, not abruptly. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho. Yampi, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho; This is the first thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training. … ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti …pe… Many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long. seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā, vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; In the same way, great beings live in this teaching and training, and these are those beings. The stream-enterer and the one practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry. The once-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of once-return. The non-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of non-return. The perfected one, and the one practicing for perfection. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno …pe… arahā arahattāya paṭipanno. Yampi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno …pe… arahā arahattāya paṭipanno; This is the eighth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things, the mendicants love this teaching and training.” Ime kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī”ti.