Philosophy of language in the Five Nikayas
by K.T.S. Sarao | 2013 | 141,449 words
This page relates ‘Twelve Stains for a Recluse’ of the study of the Philosophy of language in the Five Nikayas, from the perspective of linguistics. The Five Nikayas, in Theravada Buddhism, refers to the five books of the Sutta Pitaka (“Basket of Sutra”), which itself is the second division of the Pali Tipitaka of the Buddhist Canon (literature).
12.3. Twelve Stains for a Recluse
There are twelve stains for a recluse brought out by the Blessed One in the Majjhima Nikāya, Sutta number 40 that a bhikkhu must abandon.
These twelve are
- covetousness;
- ill will;
- anger;
- revenge;
- contempt;
- domineering attitude;
- envy;
- avarice;
- fraud;
- deceit;
- evil wishes; and
- wrong view.
In these twelve stains, the first ten are included among the sixteen imperfections of mind. For so long as a bhikkhu who has not abandoned these twelve stains is said to be one who does not practice the way proper to the recluse. In contrast, any bhikkhu who has abandoned these twelve stains and dregs is said to be one who does practice the way proper to the recluse. It is said that he himself has purified all these evil unwholesome states and liberated from them. This is great benefit of one who knows to abandon stains of mind (Majjhima Nikāya, Sutta number 40. 3, 7).