[24] "But in what way, venerable sir, does the Blessed One speak of the many kinds of defects (upakkilesa) in the disgust of evil through austerity (tapojigucchā) thus perfected?"
"Here, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities (tapassī) undertakes an austerity (tapa); through that austerity he is pleased, his intention fulfilled. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity and through that austerity is pleased, his intention fulfilled—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity; through that austerity he exalts himself and disparages others. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity and through that austerity exalts himself and disparages others—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity; through that austerity he becomes intoxicated, infatuated, and falls into vainglory. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity and through that austerity becomes intoxicated, infatuated, and falls into vainglory—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity; through that austerity he generates gain, honor, and fame, and through that gain, honor, and fame he is pleased, his intention fulfilled. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity, through that austerity generates gain, honor, and fame, and through that gain, honor, and fame is pleased, his intention fulfilled—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity; through that austerity he generates gain, honor, and fame, and through that gain, honor, and fame he exalts himself and disparages others. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity, through that austerity generates gain, honor, and fame, and through that gain, honor, and fame exalts himself and disparages others—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity; through that austerity he generates gain, honor, and fame, and through that gain, honor, and fame he becomes intoxicated, infatuated, and falls into vainglory. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity, through that austerity generates gain, honor, and fame, and through that gain, honor, and fame becomes intoxicated, infatuated, and falls into vainglory—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity and falls into making discriminations regarding foods: 'This suits me; this does not suit me.' What does not suit him he abandons with lingering longing; but what suits him he eats tied to it, infatuated, attached, not seeing the danger, without the wisdom of escape. This, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities undertakes an austerity out of desire for gain, honor, and fame, thinking, 'Kings, kings' chief ministers, khattiyas, brahmins, householders, and sectarian teachers will honor me.' This too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities is one who on any occasion whatever disparages some ascetic or brahmin, saying, 'And what of this one, who lives on all manner of things, devouring anything and everything—namely, plants propagated from roots, propagated from stems, propagated from joints, propagated from cuttings, and propagated from seeds as the fifth—his tooth-hammer a whirling thunderbolt, and this under the designation of an ascetic!' This too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities sees some ascetic or brahmin being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated among families. It occurs to him thus: 'This one, indeed, who lives on all manner of things, they honor, respect, esteem, and venerate among families; but me, a practitioner of austerities living a rough life, they do not honor, do not respect, do not esteem, do not venerate.' Thus he is one who gives rise to envy and stinginess regarding families. This too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities is one who sits where he can be seen. This too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities goes about among families without showing himself openly, intimating, 'This too is part of my austerity; this too is part of my austerity.' This too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities indulges in something concealed. When asked, 'Does this suit you?', of what does not suit him he says, 'It suits me,' and of what suits him he says, 'It does not suit me.' Thus he is one who speaks deliberate falsehood. This too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, when the Tathāgata or a disciple of the Tathāgata is teaching Dhamma, a practitioner of austerities does not approve of an existing presentation that deserves approval. This too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities is angry and bears grudges. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities is angry and bears grudges—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
Furthermore, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities is denigrating and domineering; envious and stingy; crafty and deceitful; obstinate and excessively conceited; of evil wishes, gone under the sway of evil wishes; of wrong view, possessed of an extremist view; an adherent of his own views, holding them tightly, relinquishing them with difficulty. In that, Nigrodha, a practitioner of austerities is an adherent of his own views, holding them tightly, relinquishing them with difficulty—this too, Nigrodha, is a defect in the practitioner of austerities.
What do you think, Nigrodha—are these forms of the disgust of evil through austerity defects, or are they not defects?"
"Certainly, venerable sir, these forms of the disgust of evil through austerity are defects, not non-defects. This is indeed possible, venerable sir, that some practitioner of austerities here might be endowed with every one of these defects—what need is there to speak of one or another of them?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.