Herein three kinds of study of the three Pitakas should be considered:
study after the manner of one catching a snake, study
for the purpose of salvation, and study as of a treasurer. 0£
these, that .study which is badly acquired out of a desire to be
vexatious to others, etc.,1 is like catching a snake. Concerning
which it is said: 'Just as, bhikkhus, a person desirous of
catching a snake goes out in search of one. He sees a big snake
and catches it either by the body or the tail. And the snake
turning back bites him on the hand, the arm, or any other part
of the body big or small. On that account he dies or suffers
pain approaching death. And why 1 Because, bhi~hus,
of his bad catching of the snake. In the same way, bhikkhus,
in the religion some good-for-nothing persons improperly
study the doctrine in its various branches. Having studied
the doctrine they do not intelligently consider the meaning
of the text. And the meaning not being considered with
understanding, those acquired doctrines do not lend themselves
to close insight. These people study the doctrine for the
purpose of annoying others or of freeing themselves from the
criticism or scoffing of others.* For whatever Good right-minded people study the doctrine, that Good these good-for nothing people
do not experience; and the doctrines being bad'ly
acquired are conducive to their disadvantage and misery for
a long time. Wherefore ? Because, bhikkhus, of their being
badly acquire:i.'1 But that study, which is well acquire::l. by
one desirous of fulfilling _a body of precepts, etc., and not for
the sake of annoying others, is for the sake of salvation, concerning
which it is i3aid: ' The doctrines being well acquired
. conduce to advantage and happiness for a long time. Wherefore
? Because, bhikkhus, of their being well acquired.2
Finally, the saint, who has acquired a complete knowledge
of the aggregates, got rid of the corruptions, developed the
Path, [24] penetrated the Fruition of Arahantship, realized the
Truth of Cessation, and extinguished the intoxicants, studies_
merely for the purpose of preserving the tradition, and of
guarding the lineo,ge of the doctrine. This is the study of the
treasurer.
T
he bhikkhu, who is well practised in the Vinaya, arrives,
by fulfilling the precepts, at the three kinds of knowledge,
which are fully treated of therein. ·
The bhikkhu, who is well
versed in the Suttas, arrives, by his attainment of concentration,
at the six branches of super-knowledge, which are
fully treated of therein
. T
he bhikkhu, who is well cultivated in
the Abhidhamma, arrives, by his attainment of understanding,
at the four analyses, whi<;h are fully treated of therein. Thus
the bhikkhu, who is well trained in the three Pitakas, in due
course arrives at the attainment of the three kinds of knowledge,
the six branches of super-knowledge, and the four analyses.
But the bhikkb.u, who is ill trained in the Vinaya, imagines
that there is . no fault in the forbidden sensations of touch,
because the touch of these is similar to that of blankets and
cloaks, etc., which are pleasurable and are permitted by the ·
Buddha. And it has been said:3 'I know the doctrine taught'by the Blessed One, namely, that certain things are inimical
(to progress), but that they are incapable of doing any harm
to one who uses them in certain ways.' Consequently the
bhikkhu arrives at evil practices. The bhikkhu, who is ill
trained in the Sutta, gets a wrong idea, not. knowing the
meaning of such passages as, ' There are,- bhikkhus, four
persons1 in the world,' concerning which it has been said,
' Owing to his wrong ideas,2 he accuses us, harms himself and
pro:luces much demerit.' Consequently he arrives at wrong
views. The bhikkhu, who is ill trained in the Abhidhamma,
makes his mind run to excess in metaphysical abstractions
and thinks of the unthinkable. Consequrntly he gets mental
distractiom. For it has been said, ' Bhikkhus, there are four
unthinkables, things that should not be thought of. Madness
or vexation will be the portion of him who does so.'3
Thus the bhikkhu, who is ill traine;d in the three Pi~akas,
in due course arrives at failure of different sorts, such as evil
principles, wrong views, mental derangement.