The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha - Bhikkhu Nanamoli [347]
11. “Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of verbal behaviour is censured by wise recluses and brahmins?” “Any verbal behaviour that is unwholesome...(complete as in §10, substituting “verbal behaviour” for “bodily behaviour”)…”
12. “Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of mental behaviour is censured by wise recluses and brahmins?”
“Any mental behaviour that is unwholesome...(complete as in §10, substituting “mental behaviour” for “bodily behaviour”) [115]…”
13. “Now, venerable Ānanda, does the Blessed One praise only the abandoning of all unwholesome states?” “The Tathāgata, great king, has abandoned all unwholesome states and he possesses wholesome states.”833
14. “Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of bodily behaviour is uncensured by wise recluses and brahmins?”
“Any bodily behaviour that is wholesome, great king.”
“Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of bodily behaviour is wholesome?”
“Any bodily behaviour that is blameless, great king.”
“Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of bodily behaviour is blameless?”
“Any bodily behaviour that does not bring affliction, great king.”
“Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of bodily behaviour does not bring affliction?”
“Any bodily behaviour that has pleasant results, great king.”
“Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of bodily behaviour has pleasant results?”
“Any bodily behaviour, great king, that does not lead to one’s own affliction, or to the affliction of others, or to the affliction of both, and on account of which unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase. Such bodily behaviour, great king, is uncensured by wise recluses and brahmins.”
15. “Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of verbal behaviour is uncensured by wise recluses and brahmins?”
“Any verbal behaviour that is wholesome...(complete as in §14, substituting “verbal behaviour” for “bodily behaviour”)…”
16. “Now, venerable Ānanda, what kind of mental behaviour is uncensured by wise recluses and brahmins?” “Any mental behaviour that is wholesome...(complete as in §14, substituting “mental behaviour” for “bodily behaviour”) [116]…”
17. “Now, venerable Ānanda, does the Blessed One praise only the undertaking of all wholesome states?”
“The Tathāgata, great king, has abandoned all unwholesome states and possesses wholesome states.”
18. “It is wonderful, venerable sir, it is marvellous how well that has been expressed by the venerable Ānanda! And we are satisfied and pleased by what has been so well expressed by him. Venerable sir, we are so satisfied and pleased with what has been so well expressed by the venerable Ānanda that if the elephant-treasure were allowed to him, we would give it to him; if the horse-treasure were allowed to him, we would give it to him; if the boon of a village were allowed to him, we would give it to him. But we know, venerable sir, that these are not allowable for the venerable Ānanda. But there is this cloak of mine,834 venerable sir, which was sent to me packed in a royal umbrella case by King Ajātasattu of Magadha, sixteen hands long and eight hands wide. Let the venerable Ānanda accept it out of compassion.”
“It is not necessary, great king. My triple robe is complete.” [117]
19. “Venerable sir, this river Aciravatī has been seen both by the venerable Ānanda and by ourselves when a great cloud has rained heavily on the mountains; then this river Aciravatī overflows both its banks. So too, venerable sir, the venerable Ānanda can make a triple robe for himself out of this cloak, and he can share out his old triple robe among his companions in the holy life. In this way, our offering will overflow. Venerable sir, let the venerable Ānanda accept the cloak.”
20. The venerable Ānanda accepted the cloak. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala said: “And now, venerable sir, we depart. We are busy and have much to do.”
“You may go, great king, at your own convenience.”
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Ānanda’s words, rose from his seat, and after