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Sutta Nipāta 2.9 Sutta Nipāta 2.9Anthology of Discourses 2.9
Kiṁsīlasutta With What Virtue?This sutta mentions the metaphorical notion of ‘heartwood’ (sāra) three times. Although sāra as a metaphor is often translated as ‘essence,’ this misses some of the metaphor’s implications. When x is said to have y as its heartwood, that means that the proper development of x yields y, and that y is the most valuable part of x—just as a tree, as it matures, develops heartwood, and the heartwood is the most valuable part of the tree.What Morality?
“Kiṁsīlo kiṁsamācāro, “With what virtue,“With what morality, what conduct,
kāni kammāni brūhayaṁ; what behavior, nurturing what actions,fostering what deeds,
Naro sammā niviṭṭhassa, would a person become rightly basedwould a person lay the foundations right,
uttamatthañca pāpuṇe”. and attain the ultimate goal?”and reach the highest goal?”
“Vuḍḍhāpacāyī anusūyako siyā, “One should be respectful of one’s superiors1 & not envious;According to SnA, one’s superiors include those who have more wisdom than oneself, more skill in concentration and other aspects of the path than oneself, and those senior to oneself.“Honoring elders without jealousy,
Kālaññū cassa garūnaṁ dassanāya; should have a sense of the time for seeing teachers;2SnA says that the right time to see a teacher is when one is overcome with passion, aversion, and delusion, and cannot find a way out on one’s own. This echoes a passage in AN 6:26, in which Ven. Mahā Kaccāna says that the right time to visit a ‘monk worthy of esteem’ is when one needs help in overcoming any of the five hindrances or when one doesn’t yet have an appropriate theme to focus on to put an end to the mind’s effluents.they’d know the time to visit their respected teachers.
Dhammiṁ kathaṁ erayitaṁ khaṇaññū, should value the opportunity when a talk on Dhamma’s in progress;Treasuring the chance for a Dhamma talk,
Suṇeyya sakkacca subhāsitāni. should listen intently to well-spoken words;they’d listen carefully to the well-spoken words.
Kālena gacche garūnaṁ sakāsaṁ, should go at the proper time,At the right time, they’d enter the vicinity of their respected teachers
Thambhaṁ niraṅkatvā nivātavutti; humbly, casting off arrogance, to one’s teacher’s presence;in placid manner, leaving obstinacy behind.
Atthaṁ dhammaṁ saṁyamaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, the Dhamma, its meaning, restraint, & the holy life—They’d call to mind and put into practice
Anussare ceva samācare ca. should both recollect & follow.the meaning, the teaching, self-control, and the spiritual life.
Dhammārāmo dhammarato, Delighting in Dhamma, savoring Dhamma,Delighting in the teaching, enjoying the teaching,
Dhamme ṭhito dhammavinicchayaññū; established in Dhamma, with a sense of how to investigate Dhamma,standing on the teaching, evaluating the teaching,
Nevācare dhammasandosavādaṁ, one should not speak in ways destructive of Dhamma,3SnA equates ‘words destructive of the Dhamma’ with ‘animal talk.’ See the discussion under Pācittiya 85 in The Buddhist Monastic Code.they’d never say anything that degraded the teaching,
Tacchehi nīyetha subhāsitehi. should guide oneself with true, well-spoken words.but would be guided by genuine words well-spoken.
Hassaṁ jappaṁ paridevaṁ padosaṁ, Shedding laughter, chattering, lamentation, & hatred,Giving up mirth, muttered prayer, weeping, ill will,
Māyākataṁ kuhanaṁ giddhi mānaṁ; deception, deviousness, greed, & pride,deceit, fawning, greed, conceit,
Sārambhaṁ kakkasaṁ kasāvañca mucchaṁ, confrontation, roughness, astringency, & infatuation,aggression, crudeness, stains, and indulgence,
Hitvā care vītamado ṭhitatto. one should go about free of intoxication, with steadfast mind.they’d wander free of vanity, steadfast.
Viññātasārāni subhāsitāni, Understanding’s the heartwood of well-spoken words;Understanding is the essence of well-spoken words,
Sutañca viññātasamādhisāraṁ; concentration, the heartwood of learning & understanding.stillness is the essence of learning and understanding.
Na tassa paññā ca sutañca vaḍḍhati, When a person is hasty & heedlessWisdom and learning do not flourish
Yo sāhaso hoti naro pamatto. his discernment & learning don’t grow.in a hasty and negligent person.
Dhamme ca ye ariyapavedite ratā, While those who delight in the Dhamma taught by the noble ones,Those happy with the teaching proclaimed by the Noble One
Anuttarā te vacasā manasā kammunā ca; are unsurpassed in word, action, & mind.are supreme in speech, mind, and deed.
Te santisoraccasamādhisaṇṭhitā, They, established in calm, composure, & concentration,Abiding in peace, gentleness, and stillness,
Sutassa paññāya ca sāramajjhagū”ti. have reached what discernment & learning have as their heartwood.”4The heartwood of learning & discernment is release. See MN 29 and 30.they’ve realized the essence of learning and wisdom.”
Kiṁsīlasuttaṁ navamaṁ. The Kiṁsīla Sutta, the ninth.vv. 324–330. See also: MN 29–30; AN 5:151; AN 5:202; AN 6:86; AN 8:53; AN 10:58; Thag 5:10.