DISCUSSING THREE CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE ON SPRING DAYS

We tend to look for someone who loves us, serves us, pampers us, and caresses our ego. Even though they did something wrong but we love them or we accidentally received someone's love, we have to "repay" our emotional debt by being silent about their mistakes. We automatically become accomplices without realizing it. But what can we do? It's very awkward in the situation when the person we're hiding is our friend or relative.

On Spring days, near the Lunar New Year of Dragon Year, a young Buddhist came to the temple to tell me the story of being deceived and betrayed by her lover. She said, "While I tried my best to care for, love, and support him, what I got in return were two or three pairs of huge horns. While I was taking care of him, he contacted and talked about loving with other girls.” 

After listening to the story, I thought to myself: "Lunar New Year is coming, people should be happy but they are sad about love affairs. Is this because the mind is wrong or the heart is wrong? Since I knew this Buddhist lady liked to read Buddhist scriptures, I sent her a short sutra that the Buddha taught about three types of people. What are the three types of people? It is very practical and close, please invite the public to recite the prayer together.

“The Anguttara Nikaya Sutra, Chapter Three Dharma, Disgusting

 There are three types of people, Bhiksus, being present and appearing in the world.

Who are these three? 

There are disgusting people who do not need to be close, do not need to live together, do not need to be served or made offerings to. There are people, Bhiksus, who need to look at them calmly, without needing to be close, without needing to live together, without needing to be served or made offerings to. There are people, monks, who need to be close, need to live together, need to serve and make offerings.

Dear Bhiksus, what kind of person is disgusting, who does not need to be close, does not need to live together, does not need to serve or make offerings?

Here, Bhiksus, there are people with evil precepts, cruel personalities, impure and hidden actions, who are not Sramanas but show the appearance of Sramanas, who do not live holy lives, but show such appearances. They do not lead holy lives, their inside is foul, full of desires, and their character is impure.

Such people, Bhiksus, are disgusting, we do not need to be close, do not need to live together, do not need to serve them, or make offerings to.

Why?

Even though one does not follow the views of such a person at all, the bad reputation is spread far and wide about that person having evil friends, and worshiping evil people. It is just like a snake entering a pile of dung. Even if it does not bite anyone, the pile of dung will still make it unclean.

In the same way, Bhiksus, even if one does not follow the views of such a person in the slightest, people still think that they are worshiping evil people. Therefore, such people are disgusting, they should not be close and live together, should not be served or made offerings to.

Bhiksus, what kind of person should be looked at dispassionately, should not be close and live together, should not be served or made offerings to?

Here, Bhiksus, there are people who are angry, full of hatred, even if they are blamed the least bit, they are still angry, indignant, clearly showing anger and frustration. For example, Bhiksus, if a wound causes pus, and it is hit by a stick or a piece of clay, more pus will flow out.

Likewise, Bhiksus, there are people who are angry. For example, Bhiksus, if a fire stick made of tindukā wood is hit by a stick or a piece of ceramic, it will release more fire and smoke.

In the same way, Bhiksus, if a dung hole is dug into by a stick or a piece of clay, the stench will become even greater.

Likewise, Bhiksus, there are people who are angry and resentful. Such people need to be looked at with calm eyes, and we should not be close, should not live together, should not be served or made offerings to.

Why?

 Because I think

 That person can insult me.

 That person can scold me.

 That person can harm me.

Therefore, such people need to be looked at calmly, should not be close, should not live together, should not be served or made offerings to.

And, Bhiksus, who are people who need to be close, need to live together, need to be served and made offerings to?

Here, Bhiksus, there are people who uphold the precepts and have a good character. Such persons, dear Bhiksus, need to be close, need to live together, need to be served and made offerings to.

Why?

Because, even though one does not at all agree with the views of such people, a good reputation is spread far and wide about such persons as having good friends, and worshiping good people. Therefore, such people need to be close, need to live together, need to be served and made offerings to. These three types of people, Bhiksus, are present and appear in the world.

‘People who are close to inferior people

Then he was also abjection

Close to peers

Be protected from corruption

Whoever is close to the especially excellent people

Get promoted quickly

So let's live together

One who is superior to me.”

I don't know after reading the sutra, the young Buddhist will have any connection to her own story told above or not. I just hope that she could understand. We also felt relieved when we were able to give some good fortune for her to read Buddhist scriptures. Now it is possible to understand but not yet accept the words and meaning of the sutra. So, maybe 5 years, 10 years from now, will she be absorbed in it?

So, just read the Buddhist scriptures, keep sowing good blessings, the future will meet good fate and gain good fruits which belong to us, not to others.

Tâm Cung

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Khanh Phung.