Content

“Mendicants, Kassapa is content with any kind of robe, and praises such contentment.*This is of course Mahākassapa, “Kassapa the Great”. This chapter paints an indelible personal picture of this great disciple, although I suspect he would have scorned the fame he achieved. He doesn’t employ improper solicitation for the sake of a robe. He doesn’t worry if he doesn’t get a robe. And if he does get a robe, he uses it untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.*“Improper solicitation” such as hinting, flattery, cosying up to the wealthy, etc.

“Santuṭṭhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kassapo itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī;*Santuṭṭhāyaṁ → santuṭṭhoyaṁ (bj) na ca cīvarahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati; aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na paritassati; laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhāpanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.*agadhito → agathito (bj)

“Mendicants, Kassapa is content with any kind of robe, and praises such contentment.*This is of course Mahākassapa, “Kassapa the Great”. This chapter paints an indelible personal picture of this great disciple, although I suspect he would have scorned the fame he achieved.“Santuṭṭhāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kassapo itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī;*Santuṭṭhāyaṁ → santuṭṭhoyaṁ (bj)He doesn’t employ improper solicitation for the sake of a robe. He doesn’t worry if he doesn’t get a robe. And if he does get a robe, he uses it untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.*“Improper solicitation” such as hinting, flattery, cosying up to the wealthy, etc.na ca cīvarahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati; aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na paritassati; laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhāpanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.*agadhito → agathito (bj)

So you should train like this: ‘We will be content with any kind of robe, and praise such contentment. We won’t employ improper solicitation for the sake of a robe. We won’t worry if we don’t get a robe. And if we do get a robe, we’ll use it untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.’

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādino; na ca cīvarahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjissāma; aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na ca paritassissāma; laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhitā amucchitā anajjhāpannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjissāma’.

So you should train like this: ‘We will be content with any kind of robe, and praise such contentment. We won’t employ improper solicitation for the sake of a robe. Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādino; na ca cīvarahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjissāma; We won’t worry if we don’t get a robe. And if we do get a robe, we’ll use it untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.’ aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na ca paritassissāma; laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhitā amucchitā anajjhāpannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjissāma’.

‘We will be content with any kind of almsfood …’ ‘We will be content with any kind of lodging …’ ‘We will be content with any kind of medicines and supplies for the sick …’ That’s how you should train. I will exhort you with the example of Kassapa or someone like him. You should practice accordingly.”

‘Santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena piṇḍapātena …pe… santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena senāsanena …pe… santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, itarītaragilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādino; na ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjissāma aladdhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ na paritassissāma; laddhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ agadhitā amucchitā anajjhāpannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjissāmā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ. Kassapena vā hi vo, bhikkhave, ovadissāmi yo vā panassa kassapasadiso, ovaditehi ca pana vo tathattāya paṭipajjitabban”ti.*ovadissāmi yo vā panassa → yo vā pana (bj); yo vā (pts1ed, pts2ed)

‘We will be content with any kind of almsfood …’ ‘Santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena piṇḍapātena …pe… ‘We will be content with any kind of lodging …’ santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena senāsanena …pe… ‘We will be content with any kind of medicines and supplies for the sick …’ santuṭṭhā bhavissāma itarītarena gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, itarītaragilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādino; na ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjissāma aladdhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ na paritassissāma; laddhā ca gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ agadhitā amucchitā anajjhāpannā ādīnavadassāvino nissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjissāmā’ti. That’s how you should train. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ. I will exhort you with the example of Kassapa or someone like him. You should practice accordingly.” Kassapena vā hi vo, bhikkhave, ovadissāmi yo vā panassa kassapasadiso, ovaditehi ca pana vo tathattāya paṭipajjitabban”ti.*ovadissāmi yo vā panassa → yo vā pana (bj); yo vā (pts1ed, pts2ed)