• Numbered Discourses 3.29 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 3.29
  • 3. Individuals 3. Puggalavagga

Blind Andhasutta

ā€œThese three individuals are found in the world. ā€œTayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. What three? Katame tayo? The blind, the one-eyed, and the two-eyed. Andho, ekacakkhu, dvicakkhu.

Who is the blind individual? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo andho? It’s someone who doesn’t have the kind of vision that’s needed to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired. Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa tathārÅ«paṁ cakkhu na hoti yathārÅ«pena cakkhunā anadhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ adhigaccheyya adhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ phātiṁ kareyya; Nor do they have the kind of vision that’s needed to know the difference between qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, and those on the side of dark and bright. tathārÅ«pampissa cakkhu na hoti yathārÅ«pena cakkhunā kusalākusale dhamme jāneyya, sāvajjānavajje dhamme jāneyya, hÄ«nappaṇīte dhamme jāneyya, kaṇhasukkasappaį¹­ibhāge dhamme jāneyya. This is called a blind individual. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, puggalo andho.

Who is the individual with one eye? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo ekacakkhu? It’s someone who has the kind of vision that’s needed to acquire more wealth and to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired. Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa tathārÅ«paṁ cakkhu hoti yathārÅ«pena cakkhunā anadhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ adhigaccheyya adhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ phātiṁ kareyya; But they don’t have the kind of vision that’s needed to know the difference between qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, and those on the side of dark and bright. tathārÅ«paṁ panassa cakkhu na hoti yathārÅ«pena cakkhunā kusalākusale dhamme jāneyya, sāvajjānavajje dhamme jāneyya, hÄ«nappaṇīte dhamme jāneyya, kaṇhasukkasappaį¹­ibhāge dhamme jāneyya. This is called a one-eyed individual. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, puggalo ekacakkhu.

Who is the individual with two eyes? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo dvicakkhu? It’s someone who has the kind of vision that’s needed to acquire more wealth and to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired. Idha, bhikkhave, ekaccassa puggalassa tathārÅ«paṁ cakkhu hoti yathārÅ«pena cakkhunā anadhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ adhigaccheyya, adhigataṁ vā bhogaṁ phātiṁ kareyya; And they have the kind of vision that’s needed to know the difference between skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, or qualities on the side of dark and bright. tathārÅ«pampissa cakkhu hoti yathārÅ«pena cakkhunā kusalākusale dhamme jāneyya; sāvajjānavajje dhamme jāneyya, hÄ«nappaṇīte dhamme jāneyya, kaṇhasukkasappaį¹­ibhāge dhamme jāneyya. This is called a two-eyed individual. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, puggalo dvicakkhu.

These are the three individuals found in the world. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

Neither suitable wealth, Na ceva bhogā tathārūpā, nor merit do they make. na ca puññāni kubbati; They hold a losing hand on both counts, Ubhayattha kaliggāho, those who are blind, with ruined eyes. andhassa hatacakkhuno.

And now the one-eyed Athāparāyaṁ akkhāto, individual is explained. Ekacakkhu ca puggalo; By methods good and bad, Dhammādhammena saṭhoso, that devious person seeks wealth. Bhogāni pariyesati.

Both by fraudulent, thieving deeds, Theyyena kūṭakammena, and also by lies, musāvādena cÅ«bhayaṁ; the young man’s skilled at piling up money, Kusalo hoti saį¹…ghātuṁ, and enjoying sensual pleasures. kāmabhogÄ« ca mānavo; From here they go to hell—Ito so nirayaṁ gantvā, the one-eyed person is ruined. ekacakkhu vihaƱƱati.

And now the two-eyed is explained, Dvicakkhu pana akkhāto, the best individual. seṭṭho purisapuggalo; Their wealth is earned legitimately, Dhammaladdhehi bhogehi, money acquired by their own hard work. uṭṭhānādhigataṁ dhanaṁ.

They give with best of intentions, Dadāti seį¹­į¹­hasaį¹…kappo, that peaceful-hearted man. abyaggamānaso naro; They go to a good place, Upeti bhaddakaṁ į¹­hānaṁ, where there is no sorrow. yattha gantvā na socati.

The blind and the one-eyed, AndhaƱca ekacakkhuƱca, you should avoid from afar. ārakā parivajjaye; But you should keep the two-eyed close, Dvicakkhuṁ pana sevetha, the best individual.ā€ seį¹­į¹­haṁ purisapuggalanā€ti.

Navamaṁ.