34d: The 20th Rains Retreat (Sudinna) – 1174 

 

Friend, did not the master teach us, in various ways, to separate from lust, to 
give up conceit, to remove hunger or thirst that are moral defilements, to 
eliminate attachment that is lingering through craving, to cut the source of 
suffering, to cease craving, to have no passionate desires, to stop craving and to 
extinguish moral defilements? 

Friend, did the master not teach us, in various ways, the removal of sensuality? 
Did he not teach us the analytical knowledge of perception concerning 
sensuality? Did he not teach us the elimination of craving that is hunger or thirst 
for sensuality? Did he not teach us the cutting off of thoughts connected with 
sensuality? Did he not teach us the cooling of the heat that is sensuality? 

[740]

 

Friend, the wrong deed you have done cannot cause the faithless to become 
faithful nor can it cause the faithful to become more faithful. In fact, friend, the 
wrong deed of yours will make the faithless remain faithless and will lead to the 
destruction of the faith of the faithful.” Then they reported the matter to the 
Buddha. 

On account of this incident the Buddha held a meeting of the Saṅgha and asked 
Ven. Sudinna: “Is it true, Sudinna, that you have committed sexual misconduct 
with your ex-wife?” When he replied: “Yes, venerable sir,” the Buddha rebuked 
Sudinna in the following manner: “You foolish man (

mogha purisa

), who have 

failed to attain the paths and fruitions, achieving nothing! It is not befitting a 
monk! It is not the practice of a monk. It is improper. It should not be done! You 
good for nothing! Why are you incapable of practising in perfection, in purity 
for life, the noble practice of the threefold training after receiving ordination in 
the Dispensation the Dhamma and the Vinaya proclaimed so well? 

You foolish man, did I not teach you, in various ways, to separate yourself from 
lust, and not to combine with lust? Did I not teach you to dissociate from 
sensuality and not to associate with sensuality? Did I not teach you to be 
detached from craving and wrong view and not to be attached through craving 
and wrong view. Though I teach you to separate yourself from lust, you have 
striven to combine with lust! Though I teach you to dissociate from sensuality, 
you have striven to associate with sensuality! Though I teach you to be detached 
from craving and wrong view, you have striven to be attached through craving 
and wrong view. 

You foolish man, did I not teach you, in various ways, to be free from lust, not 
to be intoxicated with conceit, to remove hunger or thirst that is a defilement, to