A Master Thief (AN3.50)

Numbered Discourses 3.50

5. The Lesser Chapter

A Master Thief

“Mendicants, a master thief with three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.

What three?

A master thief relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful.

And how does a master thief rely on uneven ground?

It’s when a master thief relies on inaccessible riverlands or rugged mountains.

That’s how a master thief relies on uneven ground.

And how does a master thief rely on thick cover?

It’s when a master thief relies on thick grass, thick trees, a blind spot, or a large forest grove.

That’s how a master thief relies on thick cover.

And how does a master thief rely on the powerful?

It’s when a master thief relies on rulers or their chief ministers.

They think:

‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’

And that’s exactly what happens.

That’s how a master thief relies on the powerful.

A master thief with these three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.

In the same way, when a bad mendicant has three factors, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.

What three?

A bad mendicant relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful.

And how does a bad mendicant rely on uneven ground?

It’s when a bad mendicant has unethical conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

That’s how a bad mendicant relies on uneven ground.

And how does a bad mendicant rely on thick cover?

It’s when a bad mendicant has wrong view, he’s attached to an extremist view.

That’s how a bad mendicant relies on thick cover.

And how does a bad mendicant rely on the powerful?

It’s when a bad mendicant relies on rulers or their chief ministers.

They think:

‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’

And that’s exactly what happens.

That’s how a bad mendicant relies on the powerful.

When a bad mendicant has these three qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.”