Numbered Discourses 3.50
- The Lesser Chapter
A Master Thief
“Mendicants, a master thief with three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.
What three?
A master thief relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful.
And how does a master thief rely on uneven ground?
It’s when a master thief relies on inaccessible riverlands or rugged mountains.
That’s how a master thief relies on uneven ground.
And how does a master thief rely on thick cover?
It’s when a master thief relies on thick grass, thick trees, a blind spot, or a large forest grove.
That’s how a master thief relies on thick cover.
And how does a master thief rely on the powerful?
It’s when a master thief relies on rulers or their chief ministers.
They think:
‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’
And that’s exactly what happens.
That’s how a master thief relies on the powerful.
A master thief with these three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.
In the same way, when a bad mendicant has three factors, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.
What three?
A bad mendicant relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful.
And how does a bad mendicant rely on uneven ground?
It’s when a bad mendicant has unethical conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
That’s how a bad mendicant relies on uneven ground.
And how does a bad mendicant rely on thick cover?
It’s when a bad mendicant has wrong view, he’s attached to an extremist view.
That’s how a bad mendicant relies on thick cover.
And how does a bad mendicant rely on the powerful?
It’s when a bad mendicant relies on rulers or their chief ministers.
They think:
‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their chief ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’
And that’s exactly what happens.
That’s how a bad mendicant relies on the powerful.
When a bad mendicant possesses these three qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.”