At the city of Sāvatthi … There Venerable Sāriputta spoke to the monks saying, “Venerable, monks!”
“Venerable,” they replied.
Then venerable Sāriputta said, “Venerable monks, a monk should use these five methods to completely get rid of hate when it has arisen toward anyone. What five?
- In the case of a person whose behaviour by way of body is impure, but whose behaviour by way of speech is pure, you should get rid of hate for that kind of person.
- In the case of a person whose behaviour by way of speech is impure, but whose behaviour by way of body is pure, …
- In the case of a person whose behaviour by way of body and speech is impure, but who gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time, …
- In the case of a person whose behaviour by way of body and speech is impure, and who doesn’t get clarity and confidence of mind from time to time, …
- In the case of a person whose behaviour by way of body and speech is pure, and who gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time, you should get rid of hate for that kind of person.
Old cloth
“How should you get rid of hate for a person whose behaviour by way of body is impure, but whose behaviour by way of speech is pure? Suppose a monk wearing rag robes sees a rag by the side of the road. He’d hold it down with the left foot, spread it out with the right foot, tear out what was good, and take it away with him.
“In the same way, at that time you should ignore that person’s impure behaviour by way of body and focus on their pure behaviour by way of speech. That’s how to get rid of hate for that person.
Pond covered with plants
“How should you get rid of hate for a person whose behaviour by way of speech is impure, but whose behaviour by way of body is pure? Suppose there was a lotus pond covered with algae and water plants. Then along comes a person suffering in the terrible heat, tired, thirsty, and dried out. He’d go into the lotus pond, sweep apart the algae and water plants, drink from his cupped hands, and be on his way.
“In the same way, at that time you should ignore that person’s impure behaviour by way of speech and focus on their pure behaviour by way of body. That’s how to get rid of hate for that person.
Cow’s footprint
“How should you get rid of hate for a person whose behaviour by way of body and speech is impure, but who gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time? Suppose there was a little water in a cow’s footprint. Then along comes a person suffering in the terrible heat, tired, thirsty, and dried out. He might think, ‘This little bit of water is in a cow’s footprint. If I drink it with my cupped hands or a bowl, I’ll stir it and disturb it, making it so I can’t drink it. Why don’t I get down on my hands and knees and drink it up like a cow, then be on my way?’ So that’s what he does.
“In the same way, at that time you should ignore that person’s impure behaviour by way of body and speech, and focus on the fact that they get clarity and confidence of mind from time to time. That’s how to get rid of hate for that person.
Sick traveler
“How should you get rid of hate for a person whose behaviour by way of body and speech is impure, and who doesn’t get clarity and confidence of mind from time to time? Suppose a person was traveling along a road, and they were sick, suffering, seriously ill. And it was a long way to a village, whether ahead or behind. And he didn’t have any proper food or medicine, or a skilled person to take care of them, or someone to bring them to the neighborhood of a village.
Then another person traveling along the road sees him, and thinks of him with nothing but compassion, kindness, and sympathy: ‘Oh, may this person get proper food or medicine, or a skilled person to take care of him, or someone to bring him to the neighborhood of a village. Why is that? So that he doesn’t face misfortune right here.’
“In the same way, at that time you should ignore that person’s impure behaviour by way of speech and body, and the fact that he doesn’t get clarity and confidence of mind from time to time, and think of him with nothing but compassion, kindness, and sympathy: ‘Oh, may this person give up bad behavior by way of body, speech, and mind, and develop good behavior by way of body, speech, and mind. Why is that? So that, after death, he’s not reborn in a place of misery, hell.’ That’s how to get rid of hate for that person.
Lotus pond
“How should you get rid of hate for a person whose behaviour by way of body and speech is pure, and who gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time? Suppose there was a lotus pond with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful, and shaded by many trees. Then along comes a person suffering in the terrible heat, tired, thirsty, and dried out. He’d go into the lotus pond to bathe and drink. And after coming out he’d sit or lie down right there in the shade of the trees.
“In the same way, at that time you should focus on that person’s pure behaviour by way of body and speech, and on the fact that he gets clarity and confidence of mind from time to time. That’s how to get rid of hate for that person. Relying on a person who is impressive all around, the mind becomes confident.
“Venerables, a monk should use these five methods to completely get rid of hate when it has arisen toward anyone.”
