19.10 The Story about a Company of Bhikkhus Endowed with Virtue and So On
Sambahulasīlādisampannabhikkhuvatthu

“Not merely through virtue or vows,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a company of bhikkhus who maintained their virtue and so on. {3.398}

It seems that some of these bhikkhus considered thus within themselves: “We have acquired virtue; we have taken upon ourselves the ascetic practices; we are exceedingly learned; we dwell in places of abode that are solitary and remote; we have developed the absorptions. For us it would be no hard matter to attain Arahatship; indeed we can attain Arahatship any day we wish.” Likewise those of the bhikkhus who had attained Non-returning, considered thus within themselves: “For us it would be no hard matter now to attain Arahatship.” One day all of them {3.399} approached the Teacher, saluted him, and seated themselves respectfully on one side.

The Teacher asked them: “But, bhikkhus, have you brought your religious duties to consummation?” The bhikkhus replied: “Venerable Sir, we have attained such and such degrees of sanctity. Therefore, whenever we wish, we are able to attain Arahatship. With this thought in our minds, we keep residence.”

When the Teacher heard [30.148] their reply, he said: “Bhikkhus, it is never proper for a bhikkhu, merely because he has kept the precepts whole and undefiled, or because he has attained the happiness of a Non-returner, to think: ‘But little suffering is involved in our present existence.’ On the contrary, not until he has attained destruction of the pollutants, should he allow himself to think: ‘I have attained true happiness ” So saying, he pronounced the following verses:

271-272. Na sīlabbatamattena, bāhusaccena vā pana,
atha vā samādhilābhena, vivittasayanena vā,
phusāmi nekkhammasukhaṁ, aputhujjanasevitaṁ;
bhikkhu vissāsa’ māpādi appatto āsavakkhayaṁ.

Not merely through virtue or vows,
or through great learning, or through the
attainment of concentration,
or through a secluded dwelling,
do I attain the happiness
not practised by worldly people;
let a monk not be confident
as long as the destruction of
the pollutants is unattained.

At the end of the teaching those bhikkhus were established in Arahatship, and those who had assembled also had benefit from the Dhamma teaching.