Kimatthiya Sutta

 

Thus have I heard,

 

Once the Awakened One was living at Sāvatthi

In Jeta’s grove, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Then the Venerable Ānanda came up to him

Paid loving respects, sat to the side and asked:

 

(1) “Bhante, what is the purpose of wholesome virtues,

what is their advantage?” [1]

 

(2) “Having a good conscience is the purpose

of wholesome virtues Ānanda,

            having a good conscience is their advantage.” [2]

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of having a good conscience,

            what is its advantage?”

 

(3) “Ease of mind is the purpose

of having a good conscience Ānanda,

                        ease of mind is its advantage.”

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of ease of mind,

            what is its advantage?”

 

(4) “Joy is the purpose of ease of mind Ānanda,

                        Joy is its advantage.”

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of Joy,

            what is its advantage?”

 

(5) “Tranquility is the purpose of joy Ānanda,

                        tranquility is its advantage.”

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of tranquility

            what is its advantage?”

 

(6) “Delight is the purpose of tranquility Ānanda,

                        delight is its advantage.”

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of delight,

            what is its advantage?”

 

(7) “Collected mental harmony is the purpose of delight,

                        Collected mental harmony is its advantage.”

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of collected mental harmony,

            what is its advantage?”

 

(8) “Seeing and understanding clearly is the purpose

of collected mental harmony Ānanda,

                        seeing and understanding clearly is its advantage.

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of seeing and understanding clearly,

            what is its advantage?”

 

(9) “Letting go is the purpose

 of seeing and understanding clearly Ānanda,

                        letting go is its advantage.”

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of letting go

            what is its advantage?”

 

(10) “Relaxation is the purpose of letting go,

                        relaxation is its advantage.”

 

“Bhante, what is the purpose of relaxation

            what is its advantage?”

 

(11) “Seeing and experiencing liberation is the purpose

of relaxation Ānanda,

                        seeing and experiencing liberation is its advantage.” [3]

 

“Thus Ānanda

(1) Wholesome virtues are for the sake

of having a good conscience,

            having a good conscience is their advantage.

(2) Having a good conscience is for the sake of ease of mind,

            ease of mind is its advantage.

(3) Ease of mind is for the sake of joy,

            Joy is its advantage.

(4) Joy is for the sake of Tranquility,

            tranquility is its advantage.

(5) Tranquility is for the sake of delight,

            delight is its advantage.

(6) Delight is for the sake of collected mental harmony,

            collected mental harmony is its advantage.

(7) Collected mental harmony is for the sake of

seeing and understanding clearly,

            seeing and understanding clearly is its advantage.

(8) Seeing and understanding clearly is for the sake of letting go,

            letting go is its advantage.

(9) Letting go is for the sake of relaxation,

            relaxation is its advantage.

(10) Relaxation is for the sake of

seeing and experiencing liberation, (11)

            seeing and experiencing liberation is its advantage.

 

 

This is how Ānanda,

those wholesome virtues gradually lead to the highest.” [4]