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### Sutta Nipata IV.7

# Tissa Metteyya Sutta

# Tissa Metteyya

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

> "Tell the danger, dear sir,
> for one given over
> to sexual intercourse.
> Having heard your teaching,
> we'll train in seclusion."

The Buddha:

> "In one given over
> to sexual intercourse,
> the teaching's confused
> and he practices wrongly:
> this is ignoble
> in him.
> Whoever once went alone,
> but then resorts
> to sexual intercourse
> -- like a carriage out of control --
> is called vile in the world,
> a person run-of-the-mill.
> His earlier honor & dignity:
> lost.
> Seeing this,
> he should train himself
> to abandon sexual intercourse.

> Overcome by resolves,
> he broods
> like a miserable wretch.
> Hearing the scorn of others,
> he's chagrined.
> He makes weapons,
> attacked by the words of others.
> This, for him, is a great entanglement.
> He
> sinks
> into lies.

> They thought him wise
> when he committed himself
> to the life alone,
> but now that he's given
> to sexual intercourse
> they declare him a fool.

> Seeing these drawbacks, the sage
> here -- before & after --
> stays firm in the life alone;
> doesn't resort to sexual intercourse;
> would train himself
> in seclusion --
> this, for the noble ones, is
> supreme.
> He wouldn't, because of that,
> think himself
> better than others:
> He's on the verge
> of Unbinding.

> People enmeshed
> in sensual pleasures,
> envy him: free,
> a sage
> leading his life
> unconcerned for sensual pleasures
> -- one who's crossed over the flood."

See also: AN IV.159; AN V.75; AN V.76

Revised: Wed 16 May 2001