​MN 33 Mahagopalaka Sutta: The Greater Discourse on the Cowherd 

Thus have i heard. 

On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. There he addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus, when a cowherd possesses eleven factors, he is incapable of keeping and rearing a herd of cattle. What eleven? "
1. Here a cowherd has no knowledge of form
2. He is unskilled in characteristics
3. He fails to pick out flies' eggs
4. He fails to dress wounds
5. He fails to smoke out the sheds
6. He does not know the watering place
7. He does not know what it is to have drunk
8. He does not know the road
9. He is unskilled in pastures
10. He milks dry
11. He shows no extra veneration to those bulls who are fathers and leaders of the herd.

When a cowherd possesses these eleven factors, he is incapable of keeping and rearing a herd of cattle.

"So too, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu possesses eleven qualities, he is incapable of growth, increase, and fulfillment in this Dhamma and Discipline. What eleven?
1. Here a cowherd has no knowledge of form
2. He is unskilled in characteristics
3. He fails to pick out flies' eggs 
4. He fails to dress wounds 
5. He fails to smoke out the sheds
6. He does not know the watering place
7. He does not know what it is to have drunk
8. He does not know the road
9. He is unskilled in pastures
10. He milks dry
11. He shows no extra veneration to those elder bhikkhus of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of the Sangha.

1. "How has a bhikkhu no knowledge of form?
​Here a bhikkhu does not understand as it actually is thus: 'All material form of whatever kind consists of the four great elements and the material form derived from the four great elements.'  "

2. "How is a bhikkhu unskilled in characteristics?
Here a bhikkhu does not understand as it actually is thus: 'A fool is characterized by his actions; a wise man is characterized by his actions. "

3. "How does a bhikkhu fail to pick out flies' eggs?
Here, when a thought of sensual desire/ill-will/ cruelty has arisen, a bhikkhu tolerates it; he does not abandon it, remove it, do away with it, and annihilate it. When evil unwholesome states have arisen, a bhikkhu tolerates them; he does not abandon them, remove them, do away with them, and annihilate them."

4. "How does a bhikkhu fail to dress wounds?"
Here, on seeing a form with the eye, a bhikkhu grasps at its signs and features. Even though, when he leaves the eye faculty unguarded, evil unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might invade him, he does not practice the way of its restraint, he does not guard the eye faculty, he does not undertake the restraint of the eye faculty. Similarly upon hearing a sound with the ear...smelling an odor with the nose.. .tasting a flavor with the tongue.. . touching a tangible with the body...cognizing a mind-object with the mind, he grasps at its signs and features. Even though, when he leaves the mind faculty unguarded, evil unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might invade him, he does not practice the way of its restraint, he does not guard the mind faculty, he does not undertake the restraint of the mind faculty. "

5. "How does a bhikkhu fail to smoke out the sheds?
Here a bhikkhu does not teach others in detail the Dhamma as he has learned it and mastered it. "

6. "How does a bhikkhu not know the watering place?
Here a bhikkhu does not go from time to time to those bhikkhus who have learned much, who are well versed in the tradition, who maintain the Dhamma, the Discipline, and the Codes, and he does not inquire and ask questions of them thus: 'How is this, venerable sir? What is the meaning of this?' These venerable ones do not reveal to him what has not been revealed, do not clarify what is not clear, or remove his doubts about the numerous things that give rise to doubt. "

7. "How does a bhikkhu not know what it is to have drunk?
Here, when the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata is being taught, a bhikkhu does not gain inspiration in the meaning, does not gain inspiration in the Dhamma, does not gain gladness connected with the Dhamma."

8. "How does a bhikkhu not know the road?
Here a bhikkhu does not understand the Noble Eightfold Path as it actually is.

9. "How is a bhikkhu unskilled in pastures?
Here a bhikkhu does not understand the four foundations of mindfulness as they actually are. "

10. "How does a bhikkhu milk dry?
Here, when faithful householders invite a bhikkhu to take as much as he likes of robes, alms food, resting places, and medicinal requisites, the bhikkhu does not know moderation in accepting. "

11. "How does a bhikkhu show no extra veneration to those elder bhikkhus of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of the Sangha?
Here a bhikkhu does not maintain bodily acts of loving-kindness both openly and privately towards those elder bhikkhus; he does not maintain verbal acts of loving-kindness towards them both openly and privately; he does not maintain mental acts of loving-kindness towards them both openly and privately."

"When a bhikkhu possesses these eleven qualities, he is incapable of growth, increase, and fulfillment in this Dhamma and Discipline.

"Bhikkhus, when a cowherd possesses eleven factors, he is capable of keeping and rearing a herd of cattle. What eleven? "

1. Here a cowherd has knowledge of form
2. He is skilled in characteristics
3. He picks out flies' eggs
4. He dresses wounds
5. He smokes out the sheds
6. He knows the watering place
7. He knows what it is to have drunk
8. He knows the road
9. He is skilled in pastures
10. He does not milk dry
11. He shows extra veneration to those bulls who are fathers and leaders of the herd.

​When a cowherd ​possesses these eleven factors, he is capable of keeping and rearing a herd of cattle.

"So too, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu possesses these eleven qualities, he is capable of growth, increase, and fulfillment in this Dhamma and Discipline. What eleven?

1. Here a bhikkhu has knowledge of form
2. He is skilled in characteristics
3. He picks out flies' eggs
4. He dresses wounds
5. He smokes out the sheds
6. He knows the watering place
​7. He knows what it is to have drunk
8. He knows the road
9. He is skilled in pastures
10. He does not milk dry
11. He shows extra veneration to those elder bhikkhus of longstanding who have long since gone forth, the fathers and leaders of the Sangha.

1. "How does a bhikkhu have knowledge of form?
Here a bhikkhu understands as it actually is thus: 'All material form of whatever kind consists of the four great elements and the material form derived from the four great elements.'  "

2. "How is a bhikkhu skilled in characteristics?
Here a bhikkhu understands as it actually is thus: 'A fool is characterized by his actions; a wise man is characterized by his actions. "

3. "How does a bhikkhu pick out flies' eggs?
Here, when a thought of sensual desire/ill-will/ cruelty has arisen, a bhikkhu does not tolerate it; he abandons it, remove it, do away with it, and annihilate it. When evil unwholesome states have arisen, a bhikkhu does not tolerates them; he abandons them, remove them, do away with them, and annihilate them."

4. "How does a bhikkhu dress wounds?"
Here, on seeing a form with the eye, a bhikkhu does not grasps at its signs and features. Even though, when he leaves the eye faculty unguarded, evil unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might invade him, he practices the way of its restraint, he guards the eye faculty, he undertakes the restraint of the eye faculty. Similarly upon hearing a sound with the ear...smelling an odor with the nose.. .tasting a flavor with the tongue.. . touching a tangible with the body...cognizing a mind-object with the mind, he does not grasp at its signs and features. Even though, when he leaves the mind faculty unguarded, evil unwholesome states of covetousness and grief might invade him, he practices the way of its restraint, he guards the mind faculty, he undertakes the restraint of the mind faculty. "

5. "How does a bhikkhu smoke out the sheds?
Here a bhikkhu teaches others in detail the Dhamma as he has learned it and mastered it. "


6. "How does a bhikkhu know the watering place?
Here a bhikkhu goes from time to time to those bhikkhus who have learned much, who are well versed in the tradition, who maintain the Dhamma, the Discipline, and the Codes, and he inquires and ask questions of them thus: 'How is this, venerable sir? What is the meaning of this?' These venerable ones reveal to him what has not been revealed, clarify what is not clear, remove his doubts about the numerous things that give rise to doubt. "

7. "How does a bhikkhu know what it is to have drunk?
Here, when the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata is being taught, a bhikkhu gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma."

8. "How does a bhikkhu know the road? 
Here a bhikkhu understands the Noble Eightfold Path as it actually is.

9. "How is a bhikkhu skilled in pastures?
Here a bhikkhu understands the four foundations of mindfulness as they actually are. "

10. "How does a bhikkhu not milk dry? 
Here, when faithful householders invite a bhikkhu to take as much as he likes of robes, alms food, resting places, and medicinal requisites, the bhikkhu knows moderation in accepting. "

11. "How does a bhikkhu show extra veneration to those elder bhikkhus of long-standing who have long gone forth, the fathers and leaders of the Sangha? 
Here a bhikkhu maintains bodily acts of loving-kindness both openly and privately towards those elder bhikkhus; he maintains verbal acts of loving-kindness towards them both openly and privately; he maintains mental acts of loving-kindness towards them both openly and privately."

"When a bhikkhu possesses these eleven qualities, he is capable of growth, increase, and fulfilment in this Dhamma and Discipline." 

That is what the Blessed One said. The bhikkhus were satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One's words. 

​In summary, the Buddha teaches eleven qualities that prevent a bhikkhu's growth in the Dhamma and eleven qualities that contribute to his growth. What are the qualities that help them progress in the dhamma path? They are understanding four great elements, noble eightfold path, four foundations of mindfulness,  know that one is hier of own's kamma, abandon unwholesome thoughts of ill-will, cruelty, sensual desires, let go of grasping, teach others the dhamma, consults senior venerable to clear doubts, gain inspiration from the dhamma and vinaya taught by the Tathagatha , accept requisites in moderation and exhibit loving kindness. 

​By WHH

References: 
1. www.accesstoinsight.org
2. https://suttacentral.net/
3. The middle length discourses of the Buddha (Bhikkhu Bodhi)