Kāmabhogīsutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.91

Numbered Discourses 10.91

10. Upālivagga

10. With Upāli

Kāmabhogīsutta

Pleasure Seekers

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho anāthapiṇḍikaṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Buddha said to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika:

“Dasayime, gahapati, kāmabhogī santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

“These ten pleasure seekers are found in the world.

Katame dasa?

What ten?

Idha, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasena;

First, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using illegitimate, coercive means.

adhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasena na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti.

They don’t make themselves happy and pleased, nor share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasena;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using illegitimate, coercive means.

adhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti.

They make themselves happy and pleased, but don’t share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasena;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using illegitimate, coercive means.

adhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti.

They make themselves happy and pleased, and they share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenapi asāhasenapi;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using means both legitimate and illegitimate, and coercive and non-coercive.

dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasenapi asāhasenapi na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti.

They don’t make themselves happy and pleased, nor share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenapi asāhasenapi;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using means both legitimate and illegitimate, and coercive and non-coercive.

dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasenapi asāhasenapi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti.

They make themselves happy and pleased, but don’t share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenapi asāhasenapi;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using means both legitimate and illegitimate, and coercive and non-coercive.

dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasenapi asāhasenapi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti.

They make themselves happy and pleased, and they share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means.

dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti.

They don’t make themselves happy and pleased, nor share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means.

dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti, na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti.

They make themselves happy and pleased, but don’t share it and make merit.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means.

dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti.

They make themselves happy and pleased, and they share it and make merit.

Te ca bhoge gathito mucchito ajjhosanno anādīnavadassāvī anissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

But they enjoy that wealth tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape.

Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena;

Next, a pleasure seeker seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means.

dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti.

They make themselves happy and pleased, and they share it and make merit.

Te ca bhoge agathito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati.

And they enjoy that wealth untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasena, adhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasena na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī tīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using illegitimate, coercive means, and who doesn’t make themselves happy and pleased, nor share it and make merit. They may be criticized on three grounds.

‘Adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena gārayho.

They seek for wealth using illegitimate, coercive means. This is the first ground for criticism.

‘Na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇetī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for criticism.

‘Na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karotī’ti, iminā tatiyena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t share it and make merit. This is the third ground for criticism.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī imehi tīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

This pleasure seeker may be criticized on these three grounds.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasena, adhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī dvīhi ṭhānehi gārayho ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using illegitimate, coercive means, and who makes themselves happy and pleased, but doesn’t share it and make merit. They may be criticized on two grounds, and praised on one.

‘Adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena gārayho.

They seek for wealth using illegitimate, coercive means. This is the first ground for criticism.

‘Attānaṁ sukheti pīṇetī’ti, iminā ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the one ground for praise.

‘Na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karotī’ti iminā dutiyena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t share it and make merit. This is the second ground for criticism.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī imehi dvīhi ṭhānehi gārayho iminā ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

This pleasure seeker may be criticized on these two grounds, and praised on this one.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasena, adhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī ekena ṭhānena gārayho dvīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using illegitimate, coercive means, and who makes themselves happy and pleased, and shares it and makes merit. They may be criticized on one ground, and praised on two.

‘Adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenā’ti, iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

They seek for wealth using illegitimate, coercive means. This is the one ground for criticism.

‘Attānaṁ sukheti pīṇetī’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the first ground for praise.

‘Saṁvibhajati puññāni karotī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They share it and make merit. This is the second ground for praise.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho, imehi dvīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso.

This pleasure seeker may be criticized on this one ground, and praised on these two.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenapi asāhasenapi, dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasenapi asāhasenapi na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso tīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using means both legitimate and illegitimate, and coercive and non-coercive, and who doesn’t make themselves happy and pleased, nor share it and make merit. They may be praised on one ground, and criticized on three.

‘Dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasenā’ti, iminā ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They seek for wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means. This is the one ground for praise.

‘Adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena gārayho.

They seek for wealth using illegitimate, coercive means. This is the first ground for criticism.

‘Na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇetī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for criticism.

‘Na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karotī’ti, iminā tatiyena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t share it and make merit. This is the third ground for criticism.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī iminā ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso imehi tīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

This pleasure seeker may be praised on this one ground, and criticized on these three.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenapi asāhasenapi, dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasenapi asāhasenapi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī dvīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso dvīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using means both legitimate and illegitimate, and coercive and non-coercive, and who makes themselves happy and pleased, but doesn’t share it and make merit. They may be praised on two grounds, and criticized on two.

‘Dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They seek for wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means. This is the first ground for praise.

‘Adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena gārayho.

They seek for wealth using illegitimate, coercive means. This is the first ground for criticism.

‘Attānaṁ sukheti pīṇetī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for praise.

‘Na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karotī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t share it and make merit. This is the second ground for criticism.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī imehi dvīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso imehi dvīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

This pleasure seeker may be praised on these two grounds, and criticized on these two.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenapi asāhasenapi, dhammādhammena bhoge pariyesitvā sāhasenapi asāhasenapi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using means both legitimate and illegitimate, and coercive and non-coercive, and who makes themselves happy and pleased, and shares it and makes merit. They may be praised on three grounds, and criticized on one.

‘Dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They seek for wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means. This is the first ground for praise.

‘Adhammena bhoge pariyesati sāhasenā’ti, iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

They seek for wealth using illegitimate, coercive means. This is the one ground for criticism.

‘Attānaṁ sukheti pīṇetī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for praise.

‘Saṁvibhajati puññāni karotī’ti, iminā tatiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They share it and make merit. This is the third ground for praise.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī imehi tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

This pleasure seeker may be praised on these three grounds, and criticized on this one.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena, dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso dvīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means, and who doesn’t make themselves happy and pleased, nor share it and make merit. They may be praised on one ground and criticized on two.

‘Dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasenā’ti, iminā ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They seek for wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means. This is the one ground for praise.

‘Na attānaṁ sukheti na pīṇetī’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t make themselves happy and pleased. This is the first ground for criticism.

‘Na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karotī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t share it and make merit. This is the second ground for criticism.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī iminā ekena ṭhānena pāsaṁso imehi dvīhi ṭhānehi gārayho.

This pleasure seeker may be praised on this one ground, and criticized on these two.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena, dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karoti, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī dvīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means, and who makes themselves happy and pleased, but doesn’t share it and make merit. They may be praised on two grounds and criticized on one.

‘Dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They seek for wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means. This is the first ground for praise.

‘Attānaṁ sukheti pīṇetī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for praise.

‘Na saṁvibhajati na puññāni karotī’ti iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

They don’t share it and make merit. This is the one ground for criticism.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī imehi dvīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

This pleasure seeker may be praised on these two grounds, and criticized on this one.

Tatra, gahapati yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena, dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti, te ca bhoge gathito mucchito ajjhosanno anādīnavadassāvī anissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means, and who makes themselves happy and pleased, and shares it and makes merit. But they enjoy that wealth tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. They may be praised on three grounds and criticized on one.

‘Dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They seek for wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means. This is the first ground for praise.

‘Attānaṁ sukheti pīṇetī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for praise.

‘Saṁvibhajati puññāni karotī’ti, iminā tatiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They share it and make merit. This is the third ground for praise.

‘Te ca bhoge gathito mucchito ajjhosanno anādīnavadassāvī anissaraṇapañño paribhuñjatī’ti, iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

They enjoy that wealth tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. This is the one ground for criticism.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī imehi tīhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso iminā ekena ṭhānena gārayho.

This pleasure seeker may be praised on these three grounds, and criticized on this one.

Tatra, gahapati, yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena, dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti, te ca bhoge agathito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati, ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī catūhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso.

Now, consider the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means, and who makes themselves happy and pleased, and shares it and makes merit. And they enjoy that wealth untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape. They may be praised on four grounds.

‘Dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasenā’ti, iminā paṭhamena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They seek for wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means. This is the first ground for praise.

‘Attānaṁ sukheti pīṇetī’ti, iminā dutiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for praise.

‘Saṁvibhajati puññāni karotī’ti, iminā tatiyena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They share it and make merit. This is the third ground for praise.

‘Te ca bhoge agathito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjatī’ti, iminā catutthena ṭhānena pāsaṁso.

They enjoy that wealth untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape. This is the fourth ground for praise.

Ayaṁ, gahapati, kāmabhogī imehi catūhi ṭhānehi pāsaṁso.

This pleasure seeker may be praised on these four grounds.

Ime kho, gahapati, dasa kāmabhogī santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

These are the ten pleasure seekers found in the world.

Imesaṁ kho, gahapati, dasannaṁ kāmabhogīnaṁ yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena, dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti, te ca bhoge agathito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati, ayaṁ imesaṁ dasannaṁ kāmabhogīnaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca pāmokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca.

The pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means, who makes themselves happy and pleased, and shares it and makes merit, and who uses that wealth untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape is the foremost, best, chief, highest, and finest of the ten.

Seyyathāpi, gahapati, gavā khīraṁ, khīramhā dadhi, dadhimhā navanītaṁ, navanītamhā sappi, sappimhā sappimaṇḍo. Sappimaṇḍo tattha aggamakkhāyati.

From a cow comes milk, from milk comes curds, from curds come butter, from butter comes ghee, and from ghee comes cream of ghee. And the cream of ghee is said to be the best of these.

Evamevaṁ kho, gahapati, imesaṁ dasannaṁ kāmabhogīnaṁ yvāyaṁ kāmabhogī dhammena bhoge pariyesati asāhasena, dhammena bhoge pariyesitvā asāhasena attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti saṁvibhajati puññāni karoti, te ca bhoge agathito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati, ayaṁ imesaṁ dasannaṁ kāmabhogīnaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca pāmokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro cā”ti.

In the same way, the pleasure seeker who seeks wealth using legitimate, non-coercive means, who makes themselves happy and pleased, and shares it and makes merit, and who uses that wealth untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape is the foremost, best, chief, highest, and finest of the ten.”

Paṭhamaṁ.