Snp. 2.6 — Dhammacariya Sutta

Snp. 2.6

Dhammacariya Sutta

“Living According to the Dhamma”

274. “Living according to the Dhamma is to be living the ideal; truly what is referred to as ‘living the Holy Life.’ “However, in the case of those who, although having gone forth to live the Holy Life,

275. “If they enjoy abusing others in any way they can, much like ferocious beasts who have been set loose, intent on harming others, then the lives of such people become even worse, and their evil causes much greater damage to themselves and to others, than what it might have been if they were to stay in lay life.

276. “There is the evil Bhikkhu who, drowning in his delusion, delights in starting quarrels and breaking up friendships. He neither understands the Dhamma of the Awakened One, nor has any clue about what has been explained to him.

277. “Led by ignorance, whether through his action or inaction, he goes on injuring and harming those who have indeed developed in their practice. Being on such a wrong path, the magnitude of damage he has caused, he does not

realize, especially how such evil will take him straight to hell.

278. “Going to states of depravation, moving from womb to womb, and from darkness to darkness, such a Bhikkhu sooner or later finds himself fallen into suffering, right after his death.

279. “Just as trying to clean up a cesspool that has been full to the brim (and for a long time) would only prove to be a futile effort, similarly, it is very difficult to try and clean such a Bhikkhu, who has been impure in his heart, and full of depravity.

280. “And if you come to know of such Bhikkhus, who in reality live the household life, with evil desires, evil thoughts and behavior that is the product of his evil conduct,

281. “Then, all of you must come together and with one voice, kick him out! Sweep out the trash, by getting rid of the impure from your midst, and throw out the garbage!

282. “Therefore, expel all those who, in fact, are non-recluses but simply disguise themselves as Bhikkhus. So, blow away those with evil desires, evil thoughts, and behavior that is the product of their evil conduct!

283. “Live with purity, for it is absolutely necessary that the pure should live mindfully with the pure. Thus, by staying vigilant, resolute, and united, you will all put an end to suffering.”

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