Part 6 - Power of the deceitful/deceit-free to transform

Q. 107. Bhante! Is the deceitful capable to transform? Or, is the deceit-free capable to transform?

A, 107. Gautama! The deceitful transforms, not the deceit-free.

Q. 108. Bhante! How do you say,...till not the deceit-free transform?

A. 108. Gautama! One who is deceitful takes rich food and drink. He takes rich food again and again, and vomits it. With the help of that rich food, his bones and marrows become thick, (but) his flesh and blood become thin. The coarse matter in that food transforms into respective forms, like the organ of audition,...till the organ of touch, into bones, marrows, hairs, flesh, pore-hairs, nails, semen and blood. One who is deceit-free takes coarse (ordinary) food and drink and vomits not. Because of his coarse intake of food and drink, his bones and marrows become thin, (but) his flesh and blood, are thick. The coarse matter in his intake transforms into stool, urine,...till blood. It is for this that the deceit-free does not transform.

If the deceitful dies without discussing his activities and without saying pratikramaṇa, he is not entitled to be called a devotee (ārādhaka); (but) if the deceipt-free dies after discussing activities and after saying pratikramaṇa, then he is entitled to be called a devotee.

Bhante! So it is. Glory be to the Lord!

So saying, Bhagavān Gautama paid his homage and obeisance to the Lord, and having done so, he withdrew to his seat

Chapter Four ends.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

(There is no commentary available for this section).