The Great Chapter · AN 7.69–7.71

AN 7.69 · The Shady Orchid Tree

AN 7.69 · Pāricchattakasutta

“Mendicants, when the leaves on the Shady Orchid Tree belonging to the gods of the thirty-three turn brown, the gods are elated. They think: ‘Now the leaves on the Shady Orchid Tree have turned brown! It won’t be long until they fall.’

“Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro paṇḍupalāso hoti, attamanā, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā tasmiṁ samaye honti: ‘paṇḍupalāso dāni pāricchattako koviḷāro nacirasseva dāni pannapalāso bhavissatī’ti.

When the leaves have fallen, the gods are elated. They think: ‘Now the leaves on the Shady Orchid Tree have fallen. It won’t be long until its foliage starts to regrow.’

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro pannapalāso hoti, attamanā, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā tasmiṁ samaye honti: ‘pannapalāso dāni pāricchattako koviḷāro nacirasseva dāni jālakajāto bhavissatī’ti.

When the foliage starts to regrow, the gods are elated. They think: ‘Now the foliage of the Shady Orchid Tree has started to regrow. It won’t be long until it’s ready to grow flowers and leaves separately.’

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro jālakajāto hoti, attamanā, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā tasmiṁ samaye honti: ‘jālakajāto dāni pāricchattako koviḷāro nacirasseva dāni khārakajāto bhavissatī’ti.

When it’s ready to grow flowers and leaves separately, the gods are elated. They think: ‘Now the Shady Orchid Tree is ready to grow flowers and leaves separately. It won’t be long until buds start to form.’

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro khārakajāto hoti, attamanā, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā tasmiṁ samaye honti: ‘khārakajāto dāni pāricchattako koviḷāro nacirasseva dāni kuṭumalakajāto bhavissatī’ti.

When the buds start to form, the gods are elated. They think: ‘Now the buds of the Shady Orchid Tree have started to form. It won’t be long until the buds burst.’

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro kuṭumalakajāto hoti, attamanā, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā tasmiṁ samaye honti: ‘kuṭumalakajāto dāni pāricchattako koviḷāro nacirasseva dāni korakajāto bhavissatī’ti.

When the buds have burst, the gods are elated. They think: ‘Now the buds of the Shady Orchid Tree have burst. It won’t be long until it fully blossoms.’

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro korakajāto hoti, attamanā, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā tasmiṁ samaye honti: ‘korakajāto dāni pāricchattako koviḷāro nacirasseva dāni sabbaphāliphullo bhavissatī’ti.

When the Shady Orchid Tree of the gods of the thirty-three has fully blossomed, the gods are elated. For four heavenly months they amused themselves at the root of the tree, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. When the Shady Orchid Tree has fully blossomed, its radiance spreads for fifty leagues, while its fragrance wafts for a hundred leagues. Such is the majesty of the Shady Orchid Tree.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro sabbaphāliphullo hoti, attamanā, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā pāricchattakassa koviḷārassa mūle dibbe cattāro māse pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitā samaṅgībhūtā paricārenti. Sabbaphāliphullassa kho pana, bhikkhave, pāricchattakassa koviḷārassa samantā paññāsayojanāni ābhāya phuṭaṁ hoti, anuvātaṁ yojanasataṁ gandho gacchati, ayamānubhāvo pāricchattakassa koviḷārassa.

In the same way, when a noble disciple plans to go forth from the lay life to homelessness, they’re like the Shady Orchid Tree when its leaves turn brown.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye ariyasāvako agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjāya ceteti, paṇḍupalāso, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tasmiṁ samaye hoti devānaṁva tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro.

When a noble disciple shaves off their hair and beard, dresses in ocher robes, and goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, they’re like the Shady Orchid Tree when its leaves fall.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, pannapalāso, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tasmiṁ samaye hoti devānaṁva tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro.

When a noble disciple, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected, they’re like the Shady Orchid Tree when its foliage starts to regrow.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, jālakajāto, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tasmiṁ samaye hoti devānaṁva tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro.

When, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a noble disciple enters and remains in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected, they’re like the Shady Orchid Tree when it’s ready to grow flowers and leaves separately.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, khārakajāto, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tasmiṁ samaye hoti devānaṁva tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro.

When, with the fading away of rapture, a noble disciple enters and remains in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss’, they’re like the Shady Orchid Tree when its buds start to form.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, kuṭumalakajāto, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tasmiṁ samaye hoti devānaṁva tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro.

When, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a noble disciple enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness, they’re like the Shady Orchid Tree when its buds burst.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, korakajāto, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tasmiṁ samaye hoti devānaṁva tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro.

When a noble disciple realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements, they’re like the Shady Orchid Tree when it fully blossoms.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati, sabbaphāliphullo, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tasmiṁ samaye hoti devānaṁva tāvatiṁsānaṁ pāricchattako koviḷāro.

At that time the earth gods raise the cry: ‘This venerable named so-and-so, from such-and-such village or town, the protégé of the venerable named so-and-so, went forth from the lay life to homelessness. They’ve realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.’

Tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye bhummā devā saddamanussāventi: ‘eso itthannāmo āyasmā itthannāmassa āyasmato saddhivihāriko amukamhā gāmā vā nigamā vā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī’ti.

Hearing the cry of the earth gods, the gods of the four great kings … the gods of the thirty-three … the gods of Yama … the joyful gods … the gods who love to create … the gods who control what is created by others … the gods of the Divinity’s host raise the cry: ‘This venerable named so-and-so, from such-and-such village or town, the protégé of the venerable named so-and-so, went forth from the lay life to homelessness. They’ve realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.’ And so at that moment, that hour, the cry soars up to the realm of divinity. Such is the majesty of a mendicant who has ended the defilements.”

Bhummānaṁ devānaṁ saddaṁ sutvā cātumahārājikā devā …pe… tāvatiṁsā devā … yāmā devā … tusitā devā … nimmānaratī devā … paranimmitavasavattī devā … brahmakāyikā devā saddamanussāventi: ‘eso itthannāmo āyasmā itthannāmassa āyasmato saddhivihāriko amukamhā gāmā vā nigamā vā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī’ti. Itiha tena khaṇena tena muhuttena yāva brahmalokā saddo abbhuggacchati, ayamānubhāvo khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno”ti.

AN 7.70 · Honor

AN 7.70 · Sakkaccasutta

Then as Venerable Sāriputta was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “What should a mendicant honor and respect and rely on, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful?”

Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “kiṁ nu kho, bhikkhu, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyyā”ti?

Then he thought, “A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on the Teacher … the teaching … the Saṅgha … the training … immersion … diligence … A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on hospitality, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful.”

Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa etadahosi: “satthāraṁ kho, bhikkhu, sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyya. Dhammaṁ kho, bhikkhu …pe… saṅghaṁ kho, bhikkhu …pe… sikkhaṁ kho, bhikkhu …pe… samādhiṁ kho, bhikkhu …pe… appamādaṁ kho, bhikkhu …pe… paṭisanthāraṁ kho, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyyā”ti.

Then he thought, “These qualities are pure and bright in me. Why don’t I go and tell them to the Buddha? Then these qualities will not only be purified in me, but will be better known as purified. Suppose a man were to acquire a gold ingot, pure and bright. They’d think, ‘My gold ingot is pure and bright. Why don’t I take it to show the smiths? Then it will not only be purified, but will be better known as purified.’ In the same way, these qualities are pure and bright in me. Why don’t I go and tell them to the Buddha? Then these qualities will not only be purified in me, but will be better known as purified.”

Atha kho āyasmato sāriputtassa etadahosi: “ime kho me dhammā parisuddhā pariyodātā, yannūnāhaṁ ime dhamme gantvā bhagavato āroceyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā ceva bhavissanti parisuddhasaṅkhātatarā ca. Seyyathāpi nāma puriso suvaṇṇanikkhaṁ adhigaccheyya parisuddhaṁ pariyodātaṁ. Tassa evamassa: ‘ayaṁ kho me suvaṇṇanikkho parisuddho pariyodāto, yannūnāhaṁ imaṁ suvaṇṇanikkhaṁ gantvā kammārānaṁ dasseyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ayaṁ suvaṇṇanikkho sakammāragato parisuddho ceva bhavissati parisuddhasaṅkhātataro ca. Evamevaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā pariyodātā, yannūnāhaṁ ime dhamme gantvā bhagavato āroceyyaṁ. Evaṁ me ime dhammā parisuddhā ceva bhavissanti parisuddhasaṅkhātatarā cā’”ti.

Then in the late afternoon, Sāriputta came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and told the Buddha of his thoughts while on retreat.

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Good, good, Sāriputta! A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on the Teacher, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful. A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on the teaching … the Saṅgha … the training … immersion … diligence … A mendicant should honor and respect and rely on hospitality, to give up the unskillful and develop the skillful.”

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Satthāraṁ kho, sāriputta, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyya. Dhammaṁ kho, sāriputta, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyya. Saṅghaṁ kho …pe… sikkhaṁ kho … samādhiṁ kho … appamādaṁ kho … paṭisanthāraṁ kho, sāriputta, bhikkhu sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharanto akusalaṁ pajaheyya, kusalaṁ bhāveyyā”ti.

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Buddha:

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, this is how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement. It is quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher to respect the teaching. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher disrespects the teaching.

“imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhammepi so agāravo.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher and the teaching to respect the Saṅgha. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher and the teaching disrespects the Saṅgha.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghepi so agāravo.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, and the Saṅgha to respect the training. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, and the Saṅgha disrespects the training.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāyapi so agāravo.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and the training to respect immersion. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, and the training disrespects immersion.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismimpi so agāravo.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion to respect diligence. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion disrespects diligence.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamādepi so agāravo.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence to respect hospitality. A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence disrespects hospitality.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde agāravo paṭisanthāre sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari agāravo …pe… appamāde agāravo paṭisanthārepi so agāravo.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who does respect the Teacher to disrespect the teaching. …

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo …pe….

A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo …pe… appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthāre agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo …pe… appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravo.

It’s quite possible for a mendicant who respects the Teacher to respect the teaching. …

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo …pe….

A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

So vata, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo …pe… appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme sagāravo saṅghe sagāravo sikkhāya sagāravo samādhismiṁ sagāravo appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravoti.

That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.”

Imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

“Good, good, Sāriputta! It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this.

“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, imassa mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who doesn’t respect the Teacher to respect the teaching. …

So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati …pe… yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamādepi so agāravo.

A mendicant who disrespects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence disrespects hospitality.

So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde agāravo paṭisanthāre sagāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari agāravo dhamme agāravo saṅghe agāravo sikkhāya agāravo samādhismiṁ agāravo appamāde agāravo paṭisanthārepi so agāravo.

It is quite impossible for a mendicant who does respect the Teacher to disrespect the teaching. …

So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati …pe… yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo …pe….

A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhamme sagāravo …pe… appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthāre agāravo bhavissatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo …pe… appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravo.

It’s quite possible for a mendicant who does respect the Teacher to respect the teaching. …

So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo dhammepi so sagāravo …pe….

A mendicant who respects the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, immersion, and diligence respects hospitality.

So vata, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo …pe… appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravo bhavissatīti ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Yo so, sāriputta, bhikkhu satthari sagāravo …pe… appamāde sagāravo paṭisanthārepi so sagāravoti.

This is how to see the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.”

Imassa kho, sāriputta, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.

AN 7.71 · Committed to Development

AN 7.71 · Bhāvanāsutta

“Mendicants, when a mendicant is not committed to development, they might wish: ‘If only my mind were freed from the defilements by not grasping!’ Even so, their mind is not freed from defilements by not grasping. Why is that? You should say: ‘It’s because they’re undeveloped.’ Undeveloped in what? The four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.

“Bhāvanaṁ ananuyuttassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno viharato kiñcāpi evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya: ‘aho vata me anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimucceyyā’ti, atha khvassa neva anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuccati. Taṁ kissa hetu? ‘Abhāvitattā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Kissa abhāvitattā? Catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ sammappadhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ, pañcannaṁ balānaṁ, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa.

Suppose there was a chicken with eight or ten or twelve eggs. But she had not properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated. Even if that chicken might wish: ‘If only my chicks could break out of the eggshell with their claws and beak and hatch safely!’ Still they can’t break out and hatch safely. Why is that? Because she has not properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni aṭṭha vā dasa vā dvādasa vā. Tānassu kukkuṭiyā na sammā adhisayitāni, na sammā pariseditāni, na sammā paribhāvitāni. Kiñcāpi tassā kukkuṭiyā evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya: ‘aho vata me kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjeyyun’ti, atha kho abhabbāva te kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjituṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathā hi, bhikkhave, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni na sammā adhisayitāni, na sammā pariseditāni, na sammā paribhāvitāni.

In the same way, when a mendicant is not committed to development, they might wish: ‘If only my mind were freed from the defilements by not grasping!’ Even so, their mind is not freed from defilements by not grasping. Why is that? You should say: ‘It’s because they’re undeveloped.’ Undeveloped in what? The four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhāvanaṁ ananuyuttassa bhikkhuno viharato kiñcāpi evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya: ‘aho vata me anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimucceyyā’ti, atha khvassa neva anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuccati. Taṁ kissa hetu? ‘Abhāvitattā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Kissa abhāvitattā? Catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ sammappadhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ, pañcannaṁ balānaṁ, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa.

When a mendicant is committed to development, they might not wish: ‘If only my mind were freed from the defilements by not grasping!’ Even so, their mind is freed from defilements by not grasping. Why is that? You should say: ‘It’s because they are developed.’ Developed in what? The four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.

Bhāvanaṁ anuyuttassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno viharato kiñcāpi na evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya: ‘aho vata me anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimucceyyā’ti, atha khvassa anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuccati. Taṁ kissa hetu? ‘Bhāvitattā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Kissa bhāvitattā? Catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ sammappadhānānaṁ, catunnaṁ iddhipādānaṁ, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ, pañcannaṁ balānaṁ, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa.

Suppose there was a chicken with eight or ten or twelve eggs. And she properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated. Even if that chicken doesn’t wish: ‘If only my chicks could break out of the eggshell with their claws and beak and hatch safely!’ Still they can break out and hatch safely. Why is that? Because she properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni aṭṭha vā dasa vā dvādasa vā. Tānassu kukkuṭiyā sammā adhisayitāni, sammā pariseditāni, sammā paribhāvitāni. Kiñcāpi tassā kukkuṭiyā na evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya: ‘aho vata me kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjeyyun’ti, atha kho bhabbāva te kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjituṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathā hi, bhikkhave, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni sammā adhisayitāni, sammā pariseditāni, sammā paribhāvitāni.

In the same way, when a mendicant is committed to development, they might not wish: ‘If only my mind were freed from the defilements by not grasping!’ Even so, their mind is freed from defilements by not grasping. Why is that? You should say: ‘It’s because they are developed.’ Developed in what? The four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhāvanaṁ anuyuttassa bhikkhuno viharato kiñcāpi na evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya: ‘aho vata me anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimucceyyā’ti, atha khvassa anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuccati. Taṁ kissa hetu? ‘Bhāvitattā’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Kissa bhāvitattā? Catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ …pe… ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa.

Suppose a mason or their apprentice sees the marks of his fingers and thumb on the handle of his adze. They don’t know how much of the handle was worn away today, how much yesterday, and how much previously. They just know what has been worn away. In the same way, when a mendicant is committed to development, they don’t know how much of the defilements were worn away today, how much yesterday, and how much previously. They just know what has been worn away.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, phalagaṇḍassa vā phalagaṇḍantevāsikassa vā dissanteva vāsijaṭe aṅgulipadāni dissati aṅguṭṭhapadaṁ. No ca khvassa evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘ettakaṁ me ajja vāsijaṭassa khīṇaṁ, ettakaṁ hiyyo, ettakaṁ pare’ti, atha khvassa khīṇe ‘khīṇan’teva ñāṇaṁ hoti. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhāvanaṁ anuyuttassa bhikkhuno viharato kiñcāpi na evaṁ ñāṇaṁ hoti: ‘ettakaṁ me ajja āsavānaṁ khīṇaṁ, ettakaṁ hiyyo, ettakaṁ pare’ti, atha khvassa khīṇe ‘khīṇan’teva ñāṇaṁ hoti.

Suppose there was a sea-faring ship bound together with ropes. For six months they deteriorated in the water. Then in the cold season it was hauled up on dry land, where the ropes were weathered by wind and sun. When the monsoon clouds soaked it with rain, the ropes would readily collapse and rot away. In the same way, when a mendicant is committed to development their fetters readily collapse and rot away.”

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sāmuddikāya nāvāya vettabandhanabaddhāya cha māsāni udake pariyādāya hemantikena thale ukkhittāya vātātapaparetāni bandhanāni, tāni pāvussakena meghena abhippavuṭṭhāni appakasireneva parihāyanti, pūtikāni bhavanti. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhāvanaṁ anuyuttassa bhikkhuno viharato appakasireneva saṁyojanāni paṭippassambhanti, pūtikāni bhavantī”ti.