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← Saṃyutta Nikāya

A Resident Pupil

SN 35.151 · Antevāsikasutta

Pale pink wild roses open along a green woodland hedge.

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

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

When a mendicant sees a sight with their eyes, bad, unskillful phenomena arise: memories and thoughts that tighten the fetters. Those qualities reside within. Since they have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to have a resident pupil. 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 an idea with their mind, bad, unskillful phenomena arise: memories and thoughts that tighten the fetters. Those qualities reside within. Since they have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to have a resident pupil. 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 pupil and a teaching master lives in suffering and discomfort.

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

When a mendicant sees a sight with their eyes, bad, unskillful phenomena don’t arise: memories and thoughts that tighten the 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 pupil. 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 an idea with their mind, bad, unskillful phenomena don’t arise: memories and thoughts that tighten the 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 pupil. 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 pupil and a teaching master lives in happiness and comfort.

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

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About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.