14:(4)A Good Death
There the Venerable Sariputta addressed the bhikkhus:
"Friends,bhikkhus!"
"Friend!"those bhikkhus [293]replied.
The Venerable Sariputta said this:
"Friends,a bhikkhu passes his time
Viharam kappeti.Lit.,"arranges his dwelling."Kappeti,as suggesting a way to pass time,occurs in such expressions as jivitam kappeti,"to make a living,"vasam kappeti,"to make a dwelling, to dwell,"nisajjam kappeti,"to take a seat,to sit down,"etc. in such a way that he does not have a good death.Na bhaddakam maranam hoti,no bhaddika kalakiriya.Pali often pairs two words for death,marana and kālakiriyā.Since such a manner of expression sounds odd in English,I use one word.Mp says that what is meant by"not a good death"is rebirth in the plane of misery(apaye patisandhim ganhati)And how does a bhikkhu pass his time in such a way that he does not have a good death?
"Here,(1)a bhikkhu delights in work,takes delight in work,is devoted to delight in work;
Kammarāmo hoti kammarato kammārāmatam anuyutto.In this context,kamma means construction work,common at monasteries,such as putting up new buildings and renovating existing facilities.(2)he delights in talk,takes delight in talk,is devoted to delight in talk;(3)he delights in sleep,takes delight in sleep,is devoted to delight in sleep;(4)he delights in company,takes delight in company,is devotedto delight in company;(5)he delights in bonding,takes delight in bonding,is devoted to delight in bonding;(6)he delightsin proliferation,takes delight in proliferation,is devoted to delight in proliferation.
Paparicaramo hoti papanicarato papanicaramatam anuyutto.Mp says: "Proliferation is the proliferation of defilements,occurring by way of craving,views,and conceit and inducing intoxication" (paparico ti tanhaditthimanavasena pavatto madanakarasanthito kilesa- papaico).For more on papaica,see pp.1710-11,note 881.When a bhikkhu passes his time in such a way he does not have a good death.
This is called
a bhikkhu who delights in personal existence,
Sakkaya.Mp:"The round of existence with its three planes" (tebhiinmakavattar).who has not abandoned personal existence to completely make an end of suffering."Friends,a bhikkhu passes his time in such a way that he has a good death.
And how does a bhikkhu pass his time in such away that he has a good death?
"Here,(1)a bhikkhu does not delight in work,does not take delight in work,is not devoted to delight in work;(2)he does not delight in talk,does not take delight in talk,is not devoted to delight in talk;(3)he does not delight in sleep,does not take delight in sleep,is not devoted to delight in sleep;(4)he doesnot delight in company,does not take delight in company,isnot devoted to delight in company;(5).he does not delight in bonding,does not take delight in bonding,is not devoted to delight in bonding;(6)he does not delight in proliferation,does not take delight in proliferation,is not devoted to delightin pro-liferation.
When a bhikkhu [294]passes his time in such a way he has a good death.
This is called
a bhikkhu who delights in nibbāna,who has abandoned personal existence to completely make an end of suffering."
The creature
Mago.Lit.,"a beast."Mp:"One like a beast"(magasadiso).devoted to proliferation,who is delighted with proliferation,
has failed to attain nibbāna,the unsurpassed security from bondage.
But one who has abandoned proliferation,who finds delight in non-proliferation,
has attained nibbāna,the unsurpassed security from bondage.