Synopsis

AN 5.73 paṭhama-dhamma-vihārī

AN 5.73 paṭhama-dhamma-vihārī	One Who Dwells in the Dhamma (5:73)

♦ 73. atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṃ etadavoca — “‘dhammavihārī, dhammavihārī’ti, bhante, vuccati. kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu dhammavihārī hotī”ti?	Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, “‘One who dwells in the Dhamma, one who dwells in the Dhamma’: Thus it is said, lord. To what extent is a bhikkhu one who dwells in the Dhamma?”

(1. Not Dhamma-dweller: no samatha, excessive dhamma-study)

1. ♦ “idha, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammaṃ pariyāpuṇāti — suttaṃ, geyyaṃ, veyyākaraṇaṃ, gāthaṃ, udānaṃ, itivuttakaṃ, jātakaṃ, abbhutadhammaṃ, vedallaṃ. so tāya dhammapariyattiyā divasaṃ atināmeti, riñcati paṭisallānaṃ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṃ cetosamathaṃ. ayaṃ vuccati, bhikkhu — ‘bhikkhu pariyattibahulo, no dhammavihārī’”.

1. “Monk, there is the case where a monk studies the Dhamma: dialogues, narratives of mixed prose and verse, explanations, verses, spontaneous exclamations [udāna], quotations [itivuttaka], birth stories [jātaka], amazing events, question & answer sessions.1 He spends the day in Dhamma-study. He neglects seclusion. He doesn’t commit himself to internal tranquility of awareness. This is called a monk who is keen on study, not one who dwells in the Dhamma.

(2. Not Dhamma-dweller: no samatha, excessive teaching-dhamma to others)


2. ♦ “puna caparaṃ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ vitthārena paresaṃ deseti. so tāya dhammapaññattiyā divasaṃ atināmeti, riñcati paṭisallānaṃ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṃ cetosamathaṃ. ayaṃ vuccati, bhikkhu — ‘bhikkhu paññattibahulo, no dhammavihārī’”.	2. “Then there is the case where a monk takes the Dhamma as he has heard & studied it and teaches it in full detail to others. He spends the day in Dhamma-description. He neglects seclusion. He doesn’t commit himself to internal tranquility of awareness. This is called a monk who is keen on description, not one who dwells in the Dhamma.

(3. Not Dhamma-dweller: no samatha, excessive recitation)


3. ♦ “puna caparaṃ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ vitthārena sajjhāyaṃ karoti. so tena sajjhāyena divasaṃ atināmeti, riñcati paṭisallānaṃ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṃ cetosamathaṃ. ayaṃ vuccati, bhikkhu — ‘bhikkhu sajjhāyabahulo, no dhammavihārī’”.	3. “Then there is the case where a monk takes the Dhamma as he has heard & studied it and recites it in full detail. He spends the day in Dhamma-recitation. He neglects seclusion. He doesn’t commit himself to internal tranquility of awareness. This is called a monk who is keen on recitation, not one who dwells in the Dhamma.

(4. Not Dhamma-dweller: no samatha, excessive V&V)


4. ♦ “puna caparaṃ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu	4. “Then there is the case where a monk
yathā-sutaṃ	takes the Dhamma as he has heard
yathā-pariyattaṃ dhammaṃ	& studied it
cetasā anu-vitakketi anu-vicāreti	and thinks about it, evaluates it,
manas-ān-upekkhati.	and examines it with his intellect.
so tehi dhamma-vitakkehi divasaṃ atināmeti,	He spends the day in Dhamma-thinking.
riñcati paṭisallānaṃ,	He neglects seclusion.
nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṃ ceto-samathaṃ.	He doesn’t commit himself to internal tranquility of awareness.
ayaṃ vuccati, bhikkhu —	This is called
‘bhikkhu vitakka-bahulo,	a monk who is keen on thinking,
no dhammavihārī’”.	not one who dwells in the Dhamma.

(5. Dhamma-dweller: has samatha, memorized dhamma but not too much V&V)


5. ♦ “idha, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammaṃ pariyāpuṇāti — suttaṃ, geyyaṃ, veyyākaraṇaṃ, gāthaṃ, udānaṃ, itivuttakaṃ, jātakaṃ, abbhutadhammaṃ, vedallaṃ. so tāya dhammapariyattiyā na divasaṃ atināmeti, nāpi riñcati paṭisallānaṃ,	5. “Then there is the case where a monk studies the Dhamma: dialogues, narratives of mixed prose and verse, explanations, verses, spontaneous exclamations, quotations, birth stories, amazing events, question & answer sessions. He doesn’t spend the day in Dhamma-study. He doesn’t neglect seclusion.
anuyuñjati ajjhattaṃ cetosamathaṃ.	He commits himself to internal tranquility of awareness.
evaṃ kho, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammavihārī hoti.	This is called a monk who dwells in the Dhamma.

(conclusion: do jhāna!)


♦ “iti kho, bhikkhu, desito mayā pariyattibahulo, desito paññattibahulo, desito sajjhāyabahulo, desito vitakkabahulo, desito dhammavihārī.	“Now, monk, I have taught you the person who is keen on study, the one who is keen on description, the one who is keen on recitation, the one who is keen on thinking, and the one who dwells in the Dhamma.

yaṃ kho, bhikkhu VAR, satthārā karaṇīyaṃ sāvakānaṃ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṃ upādāya, kataṃ vo taṃ mayā.	Whatever a teacher should do—seeking the welfare of his disciples, out of sympathy for them—that have I done for you.

etāni, bhikkhu, rukkhamūlāni,	Over there are the roots of trees;
etāni suññāgārāni.	over there, empty dwellings.
jhāyatha, bhikkhu, mā pamādattha,	Practice jhāna, monk. Don’t be heedless.
mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha.	Don’t later fall into regret.
ayaṃ vo amhākaṃ anusāsanī”ti.	This is our message to you.”

tatiyaṃ.	(end of sutta)
	(translated by thanissaro)
	Note

	1. These are the earliest classifications of the Buddha’s teachings.
	See also: AN 6:46; AN 7:64; AN 10:24; Dhp 258–259

Table of Contents