57(3)Six Classes
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha on Mount Vulture Peak.
Then the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One,
paid homage to him,sat down to one side,
and said:
"Bhante,Pūrana Kassapa has described six classes:
Chalabhijatiyo.Parana Kassapa is one of the six teachers contemporary with the Buddha.This is the only place where he is associated with the doctrine of the six classes,which are not mentioned elsewhere in the Nikayas.In DN 2.17,I52,22-53,4,he is depicted as a proponent of the doctrine of non-doing(akiriyavada),but at SN 46:56,V.126,26-30,the doctrine of non-causality(ahetukavada) is ascribed to him.a blackclass,a blue class,a red class,a yellow class,a white class,and a supreme white class."He has described the black class as butchers of sheep,pigs,poultry,and deer;hunters and fishermen;thieves,executioners,and prison wardens;or those who follow any other such cruel occupation.
"He has described the blue class as bhikkhus who live on thorns
Bhikkhu kantakavuttika.The exact intent is not clear,but the tone is pejorative.Mp says only that these are samanasor any others who profess the doctrine of kamma,the doctrine of the efficacy of deeds:"He has described the red class as the Niganthas [384]wearing a single garment.
"He has described the yellow class as the white-robed lay disciples of the naked ascetics.
"He has described the white class as the male and female Ajīvakas.
"He has described the supreme white class as Nanda Vaccha,Kisa Sankicca,and Makkhali Gosala.
"Pūrana Kassapa,Bhante,has described these six classes."
"But,Ananda,has the whole world authorized Pūrana Kassapa to describe these six classes?"
"Certainly not,Bhante."
"Suppose,Ananda,there was a poor,destitute,indigent person.They might force a cut [of meat]on him against his will,saying:
'Good man,you must eat this piece of meat and pay for it.'
In the same way,without the consent of those ascetics and brahmins,Pūrana Kassapa has described these six classes in a foolish,incompetent,inexpert,and unskilled way.
But
I,Ananda,describe six [different]classes.
Listen and attend closely.
I will speak."
"Yes,Bhante,"the Venerable Ananda replied.
The Blessed
One said this:
"And what,Ananda,are the six classes?
(1)Here,someone of the black class produces a black state.
(2)Someone of the black class produces a white state.
(3)Someone of the blackclass produces nibbana;
Nibbanam abhijayati.Mp:"Produces nibbāna:that is,he attains nibbāna,or he is born into the class of nibbāna consisting in the plane of the noble ones"(nibbanam abhijayatiti nibbanam pāpunati, ariyabhūmisankhatāya vā nibbānajatiya jāyati).This explanation is given because in strict doctrinal terms nibbana,being ajāta and akata,"unborn"and"unmade,"is without birth or production. which is neither black nor white.(4)Then,someone [385]of the white class produces a black state.
(5)Someone of the whiteclass produces a white state.
(6)And someone of the white class produces nibbāna,which is neither black nor white.
(1)"And how is it,Ananda,that someone of the black class produces a black state?
Here,someone has been reborn in a low family—a family of candalas,hunters,bamboo workers,cart makers,or flower scavengers—one that is poor,with little food and drink,that subsists with difficulty,where food and clothing are obtained with difficulty;
and he is ugly,unsightly,dwarfish,with much illness—blind,crippled,lame,or paralyzed.
As at 3:13,4:85,but here all three editions put nesadakule before venakule. He does not obtain food,drink,clothing,and vehicles;garlands,scents,and unguents;bedding,housing,and lighting.He engages in misconduct by body,speech,and mind.
In consequence,with the breakup of the body,after death,he isreborn in the plane of misery,in a bad destination,in the lower world,in hell.
It is in such a way that someone of the black class produces a black state.
(2)"And how is it,Ananda,that someone of the black class produces a white state?
Here,someone has been reborn in a low family....He does not obtain food...and lighting.
He engages in good conduct by body,speech,and mind.
In consequence,with the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in a good destination,in a heavenly world.
It is in such a way that someone of the black class produces a white state.
(3)“And how is it,Ananda,that someone of the black class produces nibbana,which is neither black nor white?
Here,someone has been reborn in a low family...[386]...He doesnot obtain food...and lighting.
Having shaved off his hair and beard,he puts on ochre robes and goes forth from the household life into homelessness.
When he has thus gone forth,he abandons the five hindrances,defilements of the mind,things that weaken wisdom;and then,with his mind well established in the four establishmenits of mindfulness,he correctly develops the seven factors of enlightenment and produces nibbāna,which is neither black nor white.
It is in such a way that someone of the black class produces nibbana,which is neither black nor white.
(4)"And how is it,Ananda,that someone of the white class produces a black state?
Here,someone has been reborn in a high family-an affluent khattiya family,an affluent brahmin family,or an affluent householder family—one that is rich,with great wealth and property,abundant gold and silver,abundant treasures and commodities,abundant wealth and grain;
and he is handsome,attractive,graceful,possessing supreme beauty of complexion.He obtains food,drink,clothing,and vehicles;garlands,scents,and unguents;bedding,housing;and lighting.
He engages in misconduct by body,speech,and mind.
In consequence,with the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in the plane of misery,in a bad destination,in the lower world,in hell.
It is in such a way that someone of the white class produces a black state.
(5)·"And how is it,Ananda,that someone of the white class produces a white state?
Here,someone has been reborn in ahigh family....He obtains food...and lighting.
He engages in good conduct by body,speech,and mind.
In consequence,with the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn in a good destination,in a heavenly world.
It is in such a way that someone of the white class produces a white state.
(6)"And how is it,Ananda,that someone of the white class produces nibbāna,which is neither black nor white?
[387]Here,someone has been reborn in a high family....He obtains food...and lighting.
...
Having shaved off his hair and beard,he puts on ochre robes and goes forth from the household life intohomelessness.
When he has thus gone forth,he abandons the five hindrances,defilements of the mind,things that weakenwisdom;and then,with his mind well established in the four establishments of mindfulness,he correctly develops the sevenfactorsofenlightenment and produces nibbāna,which is neither black nor white.
It is in such a way that someone of the whiteclass produces nibbāna,which is neither black nor white.
"These,Ananda,are the six classes."