Numbered Discourses 5.103
- Living Comfortably
A Master Thief
“Mendicants, a master thief with five factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.
What five?
A master thief relies on rough ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful; they pay bribes, and they act alone.
And how does a master thief rely on rough ground?
It’s when a master thief relies on inaccessible riverlands or rugged mountains.
That’s how a master thief relies on rough 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.
And how does a master thief pay bribes?
It’s when a master thief is rich, affluent, and wealthy.
They think:
‘If anyone accuses me of anything, I’ll settle it with a bribe.’
And that’s exactly what happens.
That’s how a master thief pays bribes.
And how does a master thief act alone?
It’s when a master thief carries out robbery all alone.
Why is that?
So that their secret plans are not leaked to others.
That’s how a master thief acts alone.
A master thief with these five factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.
In the same way, when a bad mendicant has five qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they brim with much wickedness.
What five?
A bad mendicant relies on rough ground, on thick cover, and on the powerful; they pay bribes, and they act alone.
And how does a bad mendicant rely on rough 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 rough 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.
And how does a bad mendicant pay bribes?
It’s when a bad mendicant receives robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
They think:
‘If anyone accuses me of anything, I’ll settle it with a bribe.’
And that’s exactly what happens.
That’s how a bad mendicant pays bribes.
And how does a bad mendicant act alone?
It’s when a bad mendicant dwells alone in the borderlands.
They visit families there to acquire material things.
That’s how a bad mendicant acts alone.
When a bad mendicant possesses these five qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they create much wickedness.”