SN.35.151. Antevāsikasutta ("A Student")

Saṁyutta Nikāya ("The Linked Discourses")

“Mendicants, this spiritual life is lived without a resident student and without a teaching master. A mendicant who lives with a resident student and a teaching master lives in suffering and discomfort. A mendicant who lives without a resident student and a teaching master lives in happiness and comfort.

And how does a mendicant who lives with a resident student and a teaching master live in suffering and discomfort?

When a mendicant sees a sight with the eye, bad, unskillful phenomena arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities reside within. Since they have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to have a resident student. Those qualities master them. Since they’re mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to have a teaching master.

Furthermore, when a mendicant hears … smells … tastes … touches …

knows a thought with the mind, bad, unskillful phenomena arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities reside within. Since they have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to have a resident student. Those qualities master them. Since they’re mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to have a teaching master. That’s how a mendicant who lives with a resident student and a teaching master lives in suffering and discomfort.

And how does a mendicant who lives without a resident student and a teaching master live in happiness and comfort?

When a mendicant sees a sight with the eye, bad, unskillful phenomena don’t arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities don’t reside within. Since they don’t have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to not have a resident student. Those qualities don’t master them. Since they’re not mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to not have a teaching master.

Furthermore, when a mendicant hears … smells … tastes … touches …

knows a thought with the mind, bad, unskillful phenomena don’t arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities don’t reside within. Since they don’t have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to not have a resident student. Those qualities don’t master them. Since they’re not mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to not have a teaching master.

That’s how a mendicant who lives without a resident student and a teaching master lives in happiness and comfort.

This spiritual life is lived without a resident student and without a teaching master. A mendicant who lives with a resident student and a teaching master lives in suffering and discomfort. A mendicant who lives without a resident student and a teaching master lives in happiness and comfort.”



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