One should not attack one who has abandoned viewpoints

 

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“In the past, Brahmin Dhammika, there was a teacher named Sunetta, the founder of a spiritual sect, one without lust for sensual pleasures. The teacher Sunetta had many hundreds of disciples. He taught a Dhamma to his disciples for companionship with the brahmā world. When he was teaching such a Dhamma, those who did not place confidence in him were, with the breakup of the body, after death, reborn in the plane of misery, in a bad destination, in the lower world, in hell; but those who placed confidence in him were reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world.

(2) “In the past, there was a teacher named Mūgapakkha … (3) … a teacher named Aranemi … (4) … a teacher named Kuddālaka … (5) … a teacher named Hatthipāla … (6) … [372] a teacher named Jotipāla, the founder of a spiritual sect, one without lust for sensual pleasures…. When he was teaching such a Dhamma, those who did not place confidence in him were, with the breakup of the body, after death, reborn in the plane of misery, in a bad destination, in the lower world, in hell; but those who placed confidence in him were reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world.

“What do you think, Brahmin Dhammika? These six teachers were founders of spiritual sects, men without lust for sensual pleasures who had retinues of many hundreds of disciples. If, with a mind of hatred, one had insulted and reviled them and their communities of disciples, wouldn’t one have generated much demerit?”

“Yes, Bhante.”

“If, with a mind of hatred, one had insulted and reviled these six teachers together with their communities of disciples, one would have generated much demerit. But if, with a mind of hatred, one reviles and insults a single person accomplished in view, one generates even more demerit. For what reason? I say, Brahmin Dhammika, there is no injury against outsiders like that against [your] fellow monks. Therefore, Brahmin Dhammika, you should train yourself thus: ‘We will not let hatred arise in our minds toward our fellow monks.’  Thus, Brahmin Dhammika, should you train yourself.”

Sunetta, Mūgapakkha,
the brahmin Aranemi,
Kuddālaka, and Hatthipāla,
the brahmin youth, were teachers.
And Jotipāla [known as] Govinda
the chaplain of seven [kings]:
these were harmless ones in the past,
six teachers possessed of fame.
Unspoiled, liberated by compassion,
these men had transcended the fetter of sensuality.
Having expunged sensual lust,
they were reborn in the brahmā world.
Their disciples too
numbering many hundreds
were unspoiled, liberated in compassion,
men who had transcended the fetter of sensuality.
Having expunged sensual lust,
they were reborn in the brahmā world.
That man who, with thoughts of hatred,
reviles these outside seers devoid of lust
[whose minds] were concentrated,
generates abundant demerit.
But the man who, with thoughts of hatred,
reviles a disciple of the Buddha,
a bhikkhu accomplished in view,
generates even more demerit.
One should not attack a holy person
one who has abandoned viewpoints.
This one is called the seventh person
of the Saṅgha of noble ones,
one not devoid of lust for sensual pleasures,
whose five faculties are weak:
faith, mindfulness, energy,
serenity, and insight.
If one attacks such a bhikkhu,
one first harms oneself;
then, having harmed oneself,
one afterward harms the other.
When one protects oneself,
the other person is also protected.
Therefore one should protect oneself;
the wise person is always unhurt.

AN 6: 54