Itivuttaka 39

So It Was Said 39

The Book of the Twos

Chapter Two

Teaching

1 This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

2 “Mendicants, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha has two approaches to teaching Dhamma. What two? ‘See evil as evil’—this is the first approach to teaching Dhamma. ‘Having seen evil as evil, be disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed from it’—this is the second approach to teaching Dhamma. The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha has these two approaches to teaching Dhamma.”

The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

3 “See the two approaches for

explaining the Dhamma

used by the Realized One, the Buddha,

compassionate for all beings:

4 see that that is evil,

and be dispassionate toward it.

Then, with a mind free of desire,

you’ll make an end of suffering.”

5 This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.