4.3. The Eight on the Corruptions of the Mind (SNP4.3)

Some speak with wicked intent,
while others are convinced their words are due,
but whatever talk there is the sage enters no debate,
therefore nowhere barren is the silent sage.

But a person led by his own desires,
and then continuing accordingly finds it hard,
to let them go, accepting his own thoughts as true,
becomes one who speaks as a believer.

So if a person without being asked,
having practiced and praised virtues,
even those of himself, invented by himself,
the good say this is an ignoble act indeed.

But that bhikkhu who’s serene at heart
and praises neither his own practices or virtue,
not labelling himself “I” in “this”, the good praise him:
“No arrogance has he for anything in the world”.

Who’s thoughts, imagined and put together, then prefer
even though their source is not purified,
seeing advantage for himself, he relies upon this,
depending on what is imagined,
constructed and conventional.

When one has grasped
from among many Dharma-doctrines,
after due considerations one clings to a View,
or condemns those of others,
hence it’s not easy to transcend those Dharmas.

There is not in the world such a purified person
who continues in these views about existential states,
for this person of purity, let go of illusion and conceit,
how can he be in any way reckoned?

Who is attached still enters into doctrinal debates,
but one unattached, how could he take sides?
For him nothing is taken up or put down,
With all views shaken off, relying on none.

Translated by Laurence Khantipalo Mills.

This translation was edited by Bhikkhu Sujato as part of the full translation of the Sutta Nipāta with commentary prepared from a draft handwritten and typed manuscript of Laurence Khantipalo Mills in 2015. The project was managed by Laurence’s students Michael Wells and Gary Dellora, and initial digitizing of the text was by Sean Read. Full text is available at https://suttacentral.net/downloads

In addition to the suttas noted, Bhikkhu Sujato also translated verses 46, 78, 232, 465, 500, 589–597, 865, 885–890, 894–5, 897–901, 902–916, and 919–921.

This text is released dedicated to the Public Domain by way of Creative Commons Zero. No rights reserved.