: that evil touches him himself, corrupted in mind, disrespectful. Whoever might think of polluting the ocean with a pot of poison, couldnât succeed, for the mass of water is great. So it is when anyone attacks with abuse the Tathṅgata –rightly-gone, of peaceful mind– for abuse doesnât grow on him. A wise person should make friends, should associate, with a person like him– whose path a monk can pursue and reach the ending of suffering & stress. Note 1. Devadatta, one of the Buddhaâs cousins, plotted to take over the Saṃgha, and ended up causing a schism. His story is told in Cv VII. See also §18. His "lower modicum of distinctive attainment" was his mastery of psychic powers. - --> - - - -