iti.103 Itivuttaka

Recluses and Brahmins

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, whatever recluses and brahmins do not understand as it actually is: ‘This is suffering’; ‘This is the origin of suffering’; ‘This is the cessation of suffering’; ‘This is the course leading to the cessation of suffering’—these recluses and brahmins are not considered by me to be true recluses among recluses, to be true brahmins among brahmins. These venerable ones live without having realized and achieved here and now by their own direct knowledge the aim of being a recluse, the aim of being a brahmin.

“But, bhikkhus, whatever recluses and brahmins understand as it actually is: ‘This is suffering’; ‘This is the origin of suffering’; ‘This is the cessation of suffering’; ‘This is the course leading to the cessation of suffering’—these recluses and brahmins are considered by me to be true recluses among recluses, to be true brahmins among brahmins. These venerable ones indeed live having achieved and realized here and now by their own direct knowledge the aim of being a recluse, the aim of being a brahmin.”

Those who do not understand suffering,
Or how suffering is produced,
Or where suffering finally stops
Altogether without remainder,
And who do not know that path
Leading to relief from suffering—
They are destitute of mind-release
And lack release by wisdom too;
Unable to make an end of it,
They fare on in birth and decay.

But those who understand suffering,
And how suffering is produced,
And where suffering finally stops
Altogether without remainder,
And who also know that path
Leading to relief from suffering—
They possess that mind-release
And the release by wisdom too;
Able to make an end of it
They never come back to birth and decay.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Ascetics and Brahmins

Able to make an end,
they don’t continue to be reborn and grow old.”
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
I don’t regard them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables don’t realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and don’t live having realized it with their own insight.
There are ascetics and brahmins who truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
“There are those who don’t understand suffering
and suffering’s cause,
and where all suffering
cease with nothing left over;
And they don’t know the path
that leads to the stilling of suffering.
They lack the heart’s release,
as well as the release by wisdom.
Unable to make an end,
they continue to be reborn and grow old.
But there are those who understand suffering
and suffering’s cause,
and where all suffering
cease with nothing left over;
And they understand the path
that leads to the stilling of suffering.
They’re endowed with the heart’s release,
as well as the release by wisdom.
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.