8(8)Uttara on Failing
On one occasion the Venerable Uttara was dwelling at Mahisa-vatthu,in Dhavajālikā on Mount Sankheyya.
There the Venerable Uttara addressed the bhikkhus...
"Friends,it is good fora bhikkhu from time to time to review his own failings.
It is good for a bhikkhu from time to time to review the failings of others.
It is good for a bhikkhu from time to time to review his own achievements.
It is good for a bhikkhu from time to time to review the achievements of others."
Now on that occasion the great [deva]king Vessavana was traveling from north to south on some business.
He heard the Venerable Uttara at Mahisavatthu,in Dhavajalikā on Mount Sankheyya,teaching the Dhamma to the bhikkhus thus:
Friends,it is good for a bhikkhu from time to time to review his own failings
...the failings of others
...his own achievements
...the achievements of others.'
Then,just as a strongman might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended
arm,Vessavana disappeared from'Mount Sankheyya and reappeared among the Tavatimsa devas.
He approached Sakka,ruler of the devas,
and said to him:
"Respected sir,you should know
that the Venerable Uttara,at Mahisavatthu,[163]in Dhavajalikā on Mount Sankheyya,has been teaching the Dhamma to the bhikkhus thus:
'Friends,it is good for a bhikkhu from time to time to review his own failings
...the failings of others...his own achievements...the achievements of others.'"
Then,just as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm,Sakka disappeared from among the Tavatimsa devas and reappeared at Mahisavatthu,in Dhavajalikā on Mount Sankheyya,in front of the Venerable Uttara.
He approached the Venerable Uttara,
paid homage to
him,stood to one side,
and said to him:
"Is it true,Bhante,as is said,that you have been teaching the Dhamma to the bhikkhus thus:
'Friends,it is good for a bhikkhu from time to time to review his own failings...the failings of others..his own achievements...the achievements of others'?"
'Yes,ruler of the devas."
"But,Bhante,was this your own discernment,or was it the word of the Blessed One,the Arahant,the Perfectly Enlightened One?"
"Well then,ruler of the devas,I will give you a simile;
even by means of a simile,some intelligent people understand the meaning of what has been said.
Suppose not far from a village or town there was a great heap of grain,
and a large crowd of people were to take away grain with carrying-poles,baskets,hip-sacks,[164]and their cupped hands.
If someone were to approach that large crowd of people and ask them:
'Where did you get this grain?'what should they say?"
"Bhante,those people should say:'We got it from that greatheap of grain.'"
"So too,ruler of the devas,whatever is well spoken is all the word of the Blessed One,the Arahant,the Perfectly Enlightened One.
I myself and others derive our good words from
him."
Yam kinci subhasitam sabbam tam tassa bhagavato vacanam ara- hato sammasambuddhassa.Tato upaday'upadaya mayan c'anne ca bhanama.This could not be translated,"Whatever is the word of the Blessed One...is well spoken."As stated,it expresses the idea that whatever good teachings the disciples speak,even when they themselves have originated them,can be regarded as buddhavacana because they are based on the Buddha's own teachings."It's astounding and amazing,Bhante,
how well you stated this:
'Whatever is well spoken is all the word of the Blessed
One,the Arahant,the Perfectly Enlightened One.
I myself andothers derive our good words from him.'
"On one occasion,Bhante Uttara,the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha,on Mount Vulture Peak,not long after Devadatta had left.
There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus with reference to Devadatta:
Bhikkhus,it is good for a bhikkhu from time to time to review his own failings....[Sakka here cites the Buddha's entire discourse of 8:7,down to:][165-66]...
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It is in such a way,bhikkhus,that you should train yourselves.'
It is probable that this sutta was put in the Eights because of the eight bad conditions mentioned in the discourse about Devadatta."Bhante Uttara,this exposition of the Dhamma has not been promulgated anywhere among the four human assemblies:thatis,among bhikkhus,bhikkhunis,male lay followers,and femalelay followers.
It is hard to see on what basis Sakka says that this exposition of the Dhamma had not been established anywhere among the four assemblies(n'ayam dhammapariyayo kisminci patitthito).The discourse on knowing one's own failings and achievements had already been taught to the bhikkhus,who are likely to have taught it to the other three assemblies.--
Bhante,learn this exposition of the Dhamma,
master this exposition of the Dhamma,
and retain this exposition of the Dhamna in mind.
This exposition of the Dhamma is beneficial;it pertains to the fundamentals of the spiritual
life."