A Resident Pupil (SN35.151)

Linked Discourses 35.151

15. The Old and the New

A Resident Pupil

“Mendicants, this spiritual life is lived without a resident pupil and without a teaching master.¹

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,²

they’re said to have a resident pupil.

Those qualities master them. Since they’re mastered by bad unskillful qualities,³

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.”