Snp 4.12 · Sn 878–894
The Lesser Battle
Cūḷaviyūhasutta
"Settled in their own views, each of them,"
*(an inquirer says,)*
"the experts argue, disagreeing:
'Whoever sees it this way understands the teaching;
rejecting this, they're incomplete.'
Arguing this way, they fight —
'The other is a fool, an amateur!'
Which of them, then, speaks true?
They all claim expertise."
"If not accepting another's teaching"
*(the Buddha replies,)*
"makes you a fool without wisdom —
well, they're all fools without wisdom.
They're all settled in their views.
But if having your own view makes you spotless —
pure-minded, skilled, intelligent —
then none of them lacks wisdom.
Their views are all alike: equally held.
I don't call this correct —
calling each other 'fool.'
They've each made their own view the truth,
so they label the other a fool."
"What some call 'true and correct,'
others call 'empty, false.'
Arguing this way, they fight —
why don't ascetics speak as one?"
"The truth is one, there's no second.
Knowing it, people wouldn't argue.
But they each boast their own truths —
that's why ascetics don't speak as one."
"Why do they speak so many different truths,
these proponents who claim expertise?
Are there really so many truths
— or do they just follow their own reasoning?"
"No, there aren't many truths —
none lasting in the world apart from perception.
Forming their reasoning into views,
they say there are two: 'true' and 'false.'
Belief, tradition, practice, reasoning —
leaning on these, they look down.
Standing in judgment, scoffing —
'the other is a fool, an amateur!'
They call the other 'fool' on the very ground
they claim themselves 'expert.'
By their own authority an expert —
they look down on the other and say the same thing.
Full of an extreme view,
drunk on conceit, swollen with self-importance,
self-anointed in their own mind —
that view of theirs is what they've taken up.
If your opponent's word makes you deficient,
they too lack wisdom.
But if on your own you truly know — wise —
then no ascetic is a fool.
'Those who proclaim a teaching other than ours
have failed of purity, are imperfect' —
thus each of the sectarians speaks,
inflamed with passion for their own view.
'Purity is here alone' — so they declare,
'no purity in other teachings.'
Each sectarian is settled,
speaking firmly inside their own path.
But speaking firmly inside their own path —
whom can they take as a fool?
They themselves provoke the conflict
when they call the other a fool with impure teaching.
Standing in judgment, measuring by themselves,
they fall further into the world's disputes.
But the one who let go of all judgments —
they do no fighting in the world."