"Disciples, suppose a cloth were stained and dirty [from outside sources], and a dyer
dipped it in some dye or other, whether blue or yellow or red or pink, it would take the dye
badly and be impure in color. And why is that? Because the cloth was not clean. So too,
disciples, when the mind is defiled, an unhappy destination [in a future existence, 'the
next world' or 'the world to come'] may be expected.
"Disciples, suppose a cloth were clean and bright, and a dyer dipped it in some dye or
other, whether blue or yellow or red or pink, it would take the dye well and be pure in
color. And why is that? Because the cloth was clean. So too, disciples, when the mind is
undefiled, a happy destination [in a future existence, 'the next world' or 'the world to
come'] may be expected.
"And what, disciples, are [some of] the defilements of the mind?
(1) Covetousness and unrighteous greed are a defilement of the mind;
(2) ill will is a defilement of the mind;
(3) anger is a defilement of the mind;
(4) hostility..
(5) denigration...
(6) domineering...
(7) envy...
(8) jealousy...
(9) hypocrisy...
(10) fraud...
(11) obstinacy...
(12) presumption...
(13) conceit...
(14) arrogance...
(15) vanity...
(16) negligence is a defilement of the mind.
"Knowing, disciples, these things to be defilements of the mind, the disciple abandons them.
-- he thereupon gains unwavering confidence in the Lord, thus:
'Well proclaimed by the Lord, the Blessed One is the Doctrine, realizable
here and now, possessed of immediate result, bidding you come and see,
accessible and knowable individually by the wise.
-- he gains unwavering confidence in the Elders [of doctrines] thus:
in part, he knows:
"Just as cloth that is stained and dirty becomes clean and bright with the help of pure
water, or just as gold becomes clean and bright with the help of a furnace, so too, for a
disciple of such virtue, such concentration and such wisdom very little will be an obstacle for him.
"When he knows and sees in this way, his mind becomes liberated from the canker of
sensual desire, liberated from the canker of becoming, liberated from the canker of
ignorance. When liberated, there is knowledge: 'It is liberated'; and he knows:
This is a simple comparative teaching, not a call to syncretism. How many Bible verses can YOU relate to this teaching?
dipped it in some dye or other, whether blue or yellow or red or pink, it would take the dye
badly and be impure in color. And why is that? Because the cloth was not clean. So too,
disciples, when the mind is defiled, an unhappy destination [in a future existence, 'the
next world' or 'the world to come'] may be expected.
"Disciples, suppose a cloth were clean and bright, and a dyer dipped it in some dye or
other, whether blue or yellow or red or pink, it would take the dye well and be pure in
color. And why is that? Because the cloth was clean. So too, disciples, when the mind is
undefiled, a happy destination [in a future existence, 'the next world' or 'the world to
come'] may be expected.
"And what, disciples, are [some of] the defilements of the mind?
(1) Covetousness and unrighteous greed are a defilement of the mind;
(2) ill will is a defilement of the mind;
(3) anger is a defilement of the mind;
(4) hostility..
(5) denigration...
(6) domineering...
(7) envy...
(8) jealousy...
(9) hypocrisy...
(10) fraud...
(11) obstinacy...
(12) presumption...
(13) conceit...
(14) arrogance...
(15) vanity...
(16) negligence is a defilement of the mind.
"Knowing, disciples, these things to be defilements of the mind, the disciple abandons them.
-- he thereupon gains unwavering confidence in the Lord, thus:
'Thus indeed is the Lord, the Blessed One: he is accomplished, fully
enlightened, endowed with [clear] vision and [virtuous] conduct, sublime,
knower of the worlds, the incomparable guide of men who are tractable, the
teacher of gods and men, enlightened and blessed.'
-- he gains unwavering confidence in the Teachings [of doctrines] thus:enlightened, endowed with [clear] vision and [virtuous] conduct, sublime,
knower of the worlds, the incomparable guide of men who are tractable, the
teacher of gods and men, enlightened and blessed.'
'Well proclaimed by the Lord, the Blessed One is the Doctrine, realizable
here and now, possessed of immediate result, bidding you come and see,
accessible and knowable individually by the wise.
'The Elders of the Lord, the Blessed One's disciples has entered on the good
way, has entered on the straight way, has entered on the true way, has
entered on the proper way; this Elder of the Lord, the Blessed One's
disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy
of reverential salutation, the incomparable field of merit for the world.'
(A worker is worthy of his wages)
"When he has given up, renounced, let go, abandoned and relinquished [the defilements] way, has entered on the straight way, has entered on the true way, has
entered on the proper way; this Elder of the Lord, the Blessed One's
disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy
of reverential salutation, the incomparable field of merit for the world.'
(A worker is worthy of his wages)
in part, he knows:
'I am endowed with unwavering confidence in the Lord... in the
Teachings [of Doctrine]... in the Elders; and he gains enthusiasm for the
goal, gains enthusiasm for the Teachings [of doctrines], gains gladness
connected with the Teachings. When he is gladdened, joy is born in him;
being joyous in mind, his body becomes tranquil; his body being tranquil, he
feels happiness; and the mind of him who is happy becomes concentrated.
Teachings [of Doctrine]... in the Elders; and he gains enthusiasm for the
goal, gains enthusiasm for the Teachings [of doctrines], gains gladness
connected with the Teachings. When he is gladdened, joy is born in him;
being joyous in mind, his body becomes tranquil; his body being tranquil, he
feels happiness; and the mind of him who is happy becomes concentrated.
"Just as cloth that is stained and dirty becomes clean and bright with the help of pure
water, or just as gold becomes clean and bright with the help of a furnace, so too, for a
disciple of such virtue, such concentration and such wisdom very little will be an obstacle for him.
"When he knows and sees in this way, his mind becomes liberated from the canker of
sensual desire, liberated from the canker of becoming, liberated from the canker of
ignorance. When liberated, there is knowledge: 'It is liberated'; and he knows:
'Temptations are exhausted, the life of purity is being lived, the task is set
before us, the old self is put off and a new cloth, clean and bright has been
put on.' Such a disciple is called 'one bathed with the inner bathing."
Adapted (badly, by me) from the Pali Canon - MN 007before us, the old self is put off and a new cloth, clean and bright has been
put on.' Such a disciple is called 'one bathed with the inner bathing."
This is a simple comparative teaching, not a call to syncretism. How many Bible verses can YOU relate to this teaching?