Kathavatthu 4.3: Anāsavakathā

4.3.1.1

Arahato sabbe dhammā anāsavāti?

Are all states of an arahant taintless?

Controverted Point: That all that belongs to the Arahant is devoid of intoxicants.

4.3.1.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

Controverted Point: That all that belongs to the Arahant is devoid of intoxicants.

4.3.1.3

Maggo phalaṃ nibbānaṃ, sotāpattimaggo sotāpattiphalaṃ, sakadāgāmimaggo sakadāgāmiphalaṃ, anāgāmimaggo anāgāmiphalaṃ, arahattamaggo arahattaphalaṃ, satipaṭṭhānaṃ sammappadhānaṃ iddhipādo indriyaṃ balaṃ bojjhaṅgoti?

[Then are they] the path, the fruit, unbinding, the path of stream-entry, the fruit of stream-entry, the path of once-returning, the fruit of once-returning, the path of non-returning, the fruit of non-returning, the path of arahantship, the fruit of arahantship, the establishment of mindfulness, the right exertion, the base of psychic power, the faculty, the power, the factor of awakening?

Theravādin: The things devoid of intoxicants are the Four Paths, the Four Fruits, Nibbāna, and the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment; but these do not constitute everything belonging to an Arahant. His five sense-organs, for instance, you do not call free from intoxicants—hence your proposition falls through.

4.3.1.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

4.3.2.1

Arahato sabbe dhammā anāsavāti?

Are all states of an arahant cankerless?

4.3.2.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.2.3

Arahato cakkhuṃ anāsavanti?

Is the eye of an arahant cankerless?

4.3.2.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

4.3.2.5

Arahato cakkhuṃ anāsavanti?

Is the eye of an arahant cankerless?

4.3.2.6

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.2.7

Maggo phalaṃ nibbānaṃ, sotāpattimaggo sotāpattiphalaṃ …pe… bojjhaṅgoti?

[Then is it] the path, the fruit, unbinding, the path of stream-entry, the fruit of stream-entry … [pe] … the factor of awakening?

4.3.2.8

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

4.3.3.1

Arahato sotaṃ …pe…

Is the ear of an arahant … [pe] …

4.3.3.2

arahato ghānaṃ …

the nose of an arahant …

4.3.3.3

arahato jivhā …

the tongue of an arahant …

4.3.3.4

arahato kāyo anāsavoti?

the body of an arahant cankerless?

4.3.3.5

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus … [pe] …

4.3.3.6

arahato kāyo anāsavoti?

is the body of an arahant cankerless?

4.3.3.7

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.3.8

Maggo phalaṃ nibbānaṃ, sotāpattimaggo sotāpattiphalaṃ …pe… bojjhaṅgoti?

[Then is it] the path, the fruit, unbinding, the path of stream-entry, the fruit of stream-entry … [pe] … the factor of awakening?

4.3.3.9

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

4.3.4.1

Arahato kāyo anāsavoti?

Is the body of an arahant cankerless?

His body, again, is destined to be seized and coerced, cut off and broken up, and shared by crows, vultures, and kites—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.4.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

His body, again, is destined to be seized and coerced, cut off and broken up, and shared by crows, vultures, and kites—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.4.3

Arahato kāyo paggahaniggahupago chedanabhedanupago kākehi gijjhehi kulalehi sādhāraṇoti?

Is the body of an arahant subject to honor and contempt, subject to cutting and breaking, shared in common by crows, vultures, and hawks?

His body, again, is destined to be seized and coerced, cut off and broken up, and shared by crows, vultures, and kites—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.4.4

Āmantā.

Yes.

His body, again, is destined to be seized and coerced, cut off and broken up, and shared by crows, vultures, and kites—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.4.5

Anāsavo dhammo paggahaniggahupago chedanabhedanupago kākehi gijjhehi kulalehi sādhāraṇoti?

Is a cankerless state subject to honor and contempt, subject to cutting and breaking, shared in common by crows, vultures, and hawks?

His body, again, is destined to be seized and coerced, cut off and broken up, and shared by crows, vultures, and kites—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.4.6

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

His body, again, is destined to be seized and coerced, cut off and broken up, and shared by crows, vultures, and kites—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.5.1

Arahato kāye visaṃ kameyya, satthaṃ kameyya, aggi kameyyāti?

Could poison affect the body of an arahant, could a weapon affect it, could fire affect it?

Into his body poison may get, and fire and the knife—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.5.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

Into his body poison may get, and fire and the knife—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.5.3

Anāsave dhamme visaṃ kameyya, satthaṃ kameyya, aggi kameyyāti?

Could poison affect a cankerless state, could a weapon affect it, could fire affect it?

Into his body poison may get, and fire and the knife—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.5.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

Into his body poison may get, and fire and the knife—is anything “free from intoxicants” to be so described?

4.3.6.1

Labbhā arahato kāyo addubandhanena bandhituṃ, rajjubandhanena bandhituṃ, saṅkhalikabandhanena bandhituṃ, gāmabandhanena bandhituṃ, nigamabandhanena bandhituṃ, nagarabandhanena bandhituṃ, janapadabandhanena bandhituṃ, kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitunti?

Is it possible to bind the body of an arahant with a thong-binding, to bind it with a rope-binding, to bind it with a chain-binding, to bind it with a village-confinement, to bind it with a town-confinement, to bind it with a city-confinement, to bind it with a country-confinement, to bind it with the fivefold bindings including the neck?

His body may get bound by captivity, by ropes, by chains, may be interned in a village, town, city, or province, may be imprisoned by the fourfold bondage, the fifth being strangling—is anything “free from intoxicants” liable to this?

4.3.6.2

Āmantā.

Yes.

His body may get bound by captivity, by ropes, by chains, may be interned in a village, town, city, or province, may be imprisoned by the fourfold bondage, the fifth being strangling—is anything “free from intoxicants” liable to this?

4.3.6.3

Labbhā anāsavo dhammo addubandhanena bandhituṃ, rajjubandhanena bandhituṃ, saṅkhalikabandhanena bandhituṃ, gāmanigamanagarajanapadabandhanena bandhituṃ, kaṇṭhapañcamehi bandhanehi bandhitunti?

Is it possible to bind a cankerless state with a thong-binding, to bind it with a rope-binding, to bind it with a chain-binding, to bind it with a village-, town-, city-, or country-confinement, to bind it with the fivefold bindings including the neck?

His body may get bound by captivity, by ropes, by chains, may be interned in a village, town, city, or province, may be imprisoned by the fourfold bondage, the fifth being strangling—is anything “free from intoxicants” liable to this?

4.3.6.4

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

His body may get bound by captivity, by ropes, by chains, may be interned in a village, town, city, or province, may be imprisoned by the fourfold bondage, the fifth being strangling—is anything “free from intoxicants” liable to this?

4.3.7.1

Yadi arahā puthujjanassa cīvaraṃ deti, anāsavaṃ hutvā sāsavaṃ hotīti?

If an arahant gives a robe to an ordinary person, having been cankerless does it become with cankers?

Moreover, if an Arahant give his robe to a man of the world, does that which was free from intoxicants thereby become co-intoxicant? You may admit this in general terms, but do you admit that that which is free from intoxicants may also be the opposite? If you say “yes”, then, by the analogy of the robe, anything else about the Arahant—his religious characters: Path, Fruit, etc.—having been free from intoxicants, may become co-intoxicant. The analogy may also be based on the gift of food, lodging, or medicine.

4.3.7.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus … [pe] …

4.3.7.3

anāsavaṃ hutvā sāsavaṃ hotīti?

having been cankerless does it become with cankers?

4.3.7.4

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.7.5

Taññeva anāsavaṃ taṃ sāsavanti?

Is that very thing which is cankerless the [same] thing with cankers?

4.3.7.6

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus … [pe] …

4.3.7.7

taññeva anāsavaṃ taṃ sāsavanti?

is that very thing which is cankerless the [same] thing with cankers?

4.3.7.8

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.7.9

Maggo anāsavo hutvā sāsavo hotīti?

Does the path, having been cankerless, become with cankers?

4.3.7.10

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus … [pe] …

4.3.7.11

phalaṃ …

the fruit …

4.3.7.12

satipaṭṭhānaṃ …

the establishment of mindfulness …

4.3.7.13

sammappadhānaṃ …

the right exertion …

4.3.7.14

iddhipādo …

the base of psychic power …

4.3.7.15

indriyaṃ …

the faculty …

4.3.7.16

balaṃ …

the power …

4.3.7.17

bojjhaṅgo anāsavo hutvā sāsavo hotīti?

does the factor of awakening, having been cankerless, become with cankers?

4.3.7.18

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus … [pe] ….

4.3.8.1

Yadi arahā puthujjanassa piṇḍapātaṃ deti, senāsanaṃ deti, gilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṃ deti, anāsavo hutvā sāsavo hotīti?

If an arahant gives almsfood to an ordinary person, gives lodging, gives medicinal requisites for the sick, having been taintless, does it become tainted?

4.3.8.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.8.3

anāsavo hutvā sāsavo hotīti?

Having been taintless, does it become tainted?

4.3.8.4

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.8.5

Taññeva anāsavaṃ taṃ sāsavanti?

Is that which is taintless itself that which is tainted?

4.3.8.6

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.8.7

taññeva anāsavaṃ taṃ sāsavanti?

Is that which is taintless itself that which is tainted?

4.3.8.8

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.8.9

Maggo anāsavo hutvā sāsavo hotīti?

Having been taintless, does the path become tainted?

4.3.8.10

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.8.11

phalaṃ …

The fruit …

4.3.8.12

satipaṭṭhānaṃ …

The establishment of mindfulness …

4.3.8.13

sammappadhānaṃ …

The right exertion …

4.3.8.14

iddhipādo …

The basis for psychic power …

4.3.8.15

indriyaṃ …

The faculty …

4.3.8.16

balaṃ …

The power …

4.3.8.17

bojjhaṅgo anāsavo hutvā sāsavo hotīti?

Having been taintless, does the factor of awakening become tainted?

4.3.8.18

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.3.9.1

Yadi puthujjano arahato cīvaraṃ deti, sāsavaṃ hutvā anāsavaṃ hotīti?

If an ordinary person gives a robe to an arahant, having been tainted, does it become taintless?

Or, conversely, if a man of the world give a robe or other requisite to an Arahant, does that which is co-intoxicant become thereby the opposite? Does that which has been co-intoxicant become free from intoxicants—lust, for instance, hate, delusion … indiscretion such as beset and characterize the man of the world?

4.3.9.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.9.3

sāsavaṃ hutvā anāsavaṃ hotīti?

Having been tainted, does it become taintless?

4.3.9.4

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.9.5

Taññeva sāsavaṃ taṃ anāsavanti?

Is that which is tainted itself that which is taintless?

4.3.9.6

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.9.7

taññeva sāsavaṃ taṃ anāsavanti?

Is that which is tainted itself that which is taintless?

4.3.9.8

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.9.9

Rāgo sāsavo hutvā anāsavo hotīti?

Having been tainted, does lust become taintless?

4.3.9.10

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.9.11

doso …pe…

Hatred …pe…

4.3.9.12

moho …pe…

Delusion …pe…

4.3.9.13

anottappaṃ sāsavaṃ hutvā anāsavaṃ hotīti?

Having been tainted, does lack of moral dread become taintless?

4.3.9.14

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.10.1

Yadi puthujjano arahato piṇḍapātaṃ deti, senāsanaṃ deti, gilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṃ deti, sāsavo hutvā anāsavo hotīti?

If an ordinary person gives almsfood to an arahant, gives lodging, gives medicinal requisites for the sick, having been tainted, does it become taintless?

4.3.10.2

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.10.3

sāsavo hutvā anāsavo hotīti?

Having been tainted, does it become taintless?

4.3.10.4

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.10.5

Taññeva sāsavaṃ taṃ anāsavanti?

Is that which is tainted itself that which is taintless?

4.3.10.6

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.10.7

taññeva sāsavaṃ taṃ anāsavanti?

Is that which is tainted itself that which is taintless?

4.3.10.8

Āmantā.

Yes.

4.3.10.9

Rāgo sāsavo hutvā anāsavo hotīti?

Having been tainted, does lust become taintless?

4.3.10.10

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe…

It should not be said thus …pe…

4.3.10.11

doso …pe…

Hatred …pe…

4.3.10.12

moho …pe…

Delusion …pe…

4.3.10.13

anottappaṃ sāsavaṃ hutvā anāsavaṃ hotīti?

Having been tainted, does lack of moral dread become taintless?

4.3.10.14

Na hevaṃ vattabbe …pe….

It should not be said thus …pe….

4.3.11.1

Na vattabbaṃ—

Should it not be said—

Uttarāpathaka: You condemn my proposition. But is not the Arahant free from intoxicants? If he is, then I say that everything connected with him is so.

4.3.11.2

“arahato sabbe dhammā anāsavā”ti?

“All states of an arahant are taintless”?

Uttarāpathaka: You condemn my proposition. But is not the Arahant free from intoxicants? If he is, then I say that everything connected with him is so.

4.3.11.3

Āmantā.

Yes.

Uttarāpathaka: You condemn my proposition. But is not the Arahant free from intoxicants? If he is, then I say that everything connected with him is so.

4.3.11.4

Nanu arahā anāsavoti?

Is not an arahant taintless?

Uttarāpathaka: You condemn my proposition. But is not the Arahant free from intoxicants? If he is, then I say that everything connected with him is so.

4.3.11.5

Āmantā.

Yes.

Uttarāpathaka: You condemn my proposition. But is not the Arahant free from intoxicants? If he is, then I say that everything connected with him is so.

4.3.11.6

Hañci arahā anāsavo, tena vata re vattabbe—

If an arahant is taintless, then indeed, sir, you should say—

Uttarāpathaka: You condemn my proposition. But is not the Arahant free from intoxicants? If he is, then I say that everything connected with him is so.

4.3.11.7

“arahato sabbe dhammā anāsavā”ti.

“All states of an arahant are taintless.”

Uttarāpathaka: You condemn my proposition. But is not the Arahant free from intoxicants? If he is, then I say that everything connected with him is so.

4.3.11.8

Anāsavakathā niṭṭhitā.

Discussion on taintlessness is finished.