sn.35.151 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

A Student

“Bhikkhus, this holy life is lived without students and without a teacher. A bhikkhu who has students and a teacher dwells in suffering, not in comfort. A bhikkhu who has no students and no teacher dwells happily, in comfort.

“And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu who has students and a teacher dwell in suffering, not in comfort? Here, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu has seen a form with the eye, there arise in him evil unwholesome states, memories and intentions connected with the fetters. They dwell within him. Since those evil unwholesome states dwell within him, he is called ‘one who has students.’ They assail him. Since evil unwholesome states assail him, he is called ‘one who has a teacher.’

“Further, when a bhikkhu has heard a sound with the ear … cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind … he is called ‘one who has a teacher.’

“It is in this way that a bhikkhu who has students and a teacher dwells in suffering, not in comfort.

“And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu who has no students and no teacher dwell happily, in comfort? Here, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu has seen a form with the eye, there do not arise in him evil unwholesome states, memories and intentions connected with the fetters. They do not dwell within him. Since those evil unwholesome states do not dwell within him, he is called ‘one who has no students.’ They do not assail him. Since evil unwholesome states do not assail him, he is called ‘one who has no teacher.’

“Further, when a bhikkhu has heard a sound with the ear … cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind … he is called ‘one who has no teacher.’

“It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu who has no students and no teacher dwells happily, in comfort.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

A Student

“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.”