[Note: This is a very small part of a much longer sutta. In it, the Buddha refutes the doctrine of the Niganthas and converts one of their most famous followers.]
…When this was said, Dīgha Tapassī said to the Buddha, “But Reverend Gotama, how many kinds of rod do you describe for performing bad deeds?”
“Tapassī, the Realized One doesn’t usually speak in terms of ‘rods’. He usually speaks in terms of ‘deeds’.”
“Then how many kinds of deed do you describe for performing bad deeds?”
“I describe three kinds of deed for performing bad deeds: physical deeds, verbal deeds, and mental deeds.”
“But are these kinds of deed all distinct from each other?”
“Yes, each is quite distinct.”
“Of the three deeds thus analyzed and differentiated, which deed do you describe as being the most blameworthy for performing bad deeds: physical deeds, verbal deeds, or mental deeds?”
“I describe mental deeds as being the most blameworthy for performing bad deeds, not so much physical deeds or verbal deeds.”
“Do you say mental deeds, Reverend Gotama?”
“I say mental deeds, Tapassī.”
“Do you say mental deeds, Reverend Gotama?”
“I say mental deeds, Tapassī.”
“Do you say mental deeds, Reverend Gotama?”
“I say mental deeds, Tapassī.”
Thus the Jain ascetic Dīgha Tapassī made the Buddha stand by this point up to the third time, after which he got up from his seat and went to see the Jain Ñātika.
…
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