HeartDhamma

AN 4.50 Occultations of the Moon and Sun

Upakkilesa Sutta

 

[Sun and Moon]

 

“Monks,

there are four kinds of occultations of the Sun and the moon.

Tarnished and darkened by these,

The sun and moon lose

their splendor,

their radiance,

And their magnificence. [1]

 

 

What are they?

 

(1) Heavy clouds [2] monks,

Are an occultation of the sun and moon

 

(2) Dense fog [3] monks,

is an occultation of the sun and moon

 

(3) Dust and smoke [4] monks,

Are an occultation of the sun and moon

 

(4) Eclipses [5] monks,

Are an occultation of the sun and moon

 

Monks,

these are the four kinds of occultations.

Tarnished and darkened by them

The sun and moon lose

their splendor,

their radiance,

And their magnificence.

 

[Seekers and Priests]

 

In the same ways monks,

there are four occultations of spiritual seekers and teachers. [6]

Tarnished and darkened by them

Spiritual seekers and teachers lose

their splendor,

their radiance,

And their magnificence.

 

What are they?

 

Monks,

(1) Some spiritual seekers and teachers drink alcohol and strong liquor

They indulge in them without holding back. [7]

 

This is the first occultation for them.

 

(2) Some spiritual seekers and teachers give themselves to sexual activities, [8]

They indulge in them without holding back.

 

This is the second occultation for them.

 

(3) Some spiritual seekers and teachers consent to the use of money, [9]

They handle money without holding back from it.

 

This is the third occultation for them.

 

(4) Some spiritual seekers and teachers give themselves to wrong modes of living [10]

They indulge in them without holding back.

 

This is the fourth occultation for them.

 

These are the four occultations of spiritual seekers and teachers,

Tarnished and darkened by those,

These spiritual seekers and teachers

loose their splendor,

their radiance,

And their magnificence.

 

Obsessed by likes and dislikes

Some spiritual seekers and teachers live;

Shrouded in carelessness,

Drawing their pleasure only in pretty things. [11]

 

Wines and spirits they drink,

Looking for and indulging in sexual relations;

Money and gold they accept,

Those who do not see;

Some spiritual seekers and teachers also,

Live by means of depraved livelihood. [12]

 

These the Buddha called occultations,

he, the descendent of the sun;

Because of those occultations

These spiritual seekers and teachers

do not glow, they do not shine,

Defiled and impure like beasts. [13]

 

Engulfed and covered over by darkness

slaves to discontent, they are led around

Swelling the dreadful cemeteries,

Taking birth after birth. [14]

 

 

[1] “Cattārome, bhikkhave, candimasūriyānaṁ upakkilesā, yehi upakkilesehi upakkiliṭṭhā candimasūriyā na tapanti na bhāsanti na virocanti.

[2] Abbhā

[3] Mahikā

[4] Dhūmo rajo

[5] Rāhu

[6] samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ

[7] Santi, bhikkhave, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā suraṁ pivanti merayaṁ, surāmerayapānā appaṭiviratā.

[8] methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevanti,

[9] jātarūparajataṁ sādiyanti

[10] micchājīvena jīvanti

[11] Rāgadosaparikkiṭṭhā, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā; Avijjānivutā posā, piyarūpābhinandino.

[12] Suraṁ pivanti merayaṁ, paṭisevanti methunaṁ; Rajataṁ jātarūpañca, sādiyanti aviddasū; Micchājīvena jīvanti, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā.

[13] Ete upakkilesā vuttā, buddhenādiccabandhunā; Yehi upakkilesehi,  eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā; Na tapanti na bhāsanti, asuddhā sarajā magā.

[14] Andhakārena onaddhā, taṇhādāsā sanettikā; Vaḍḍhenti kaṭasiṁ ghoraṁ, ādiyanti punabbhavan”ti.

 

This is a gift of Dhamma

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