The Related Suttas Collection 35.151

15. The Old and the New

A Student

“Bhikkhus, this spiritual life is lived without a resident student and without a teaching master. A bhikkhu who lives with a resident student and a teaching master lives in suffering and discomfort. A bhikkhu who lives without a resident student and a teaching master lives in happiness and comfort.

And how does a bhikkhu who lives with a resident student and a teaching master live in suffering and discomfort?

When a bhikkhu sees a sight with the eye, bad, unskillful phenomena arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities reside within. Since they have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to have a resident student. Those qualities master them. Since they’re mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to have a teaching master.

Furthermore, when a bhikkhu hears … smells … tastes … touches … knows a thought with the mind, bad, unskillful phenomena arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities reside within. Since they have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to have a resident student. Those qualities master them. Since they’re mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to have a teaching master. That’s how a bhikkhu who lives with a resident student and a teaching master lives in suffering and discomfort.

And how does a bhikkhu who lives without a resident student and a teaching master live in happiness and comfort?

When a bhikkhu sees a sight with the eye, bad, unskillful phenomena don’t arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities don’t reside within. Since they don’t have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to not have a resident student. Those qualities don’t master them. Since they’re not mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to not have a teaching master.

Furthermore, when a bhikkhu hears … smells … tastes … touches … knows a thought with the mind, bad, unskillful phenomena don’t arise: memories and thoughts prone to fetters. Those qualities don’t reside within. Since they don’t have bad unskillful qualities residing within, they’re said to not have a resident student. Those qualities don’t master them. Since they’re not mastered by bad unskillful qualities, they’re said to not have a teaching master.

That’s how a bhikkhu who lives without a resident student and a teaching master lives in happiness and comfort.

This spiritual life is lived without a resident student and without a teaching master. A bhikkhu who lives with a resident student and a teaching master lives in suffering and discomfort. A bhikkhu who lives without a resident student and a teaching master lives in happiness and comfort.”