AN 8.81 · Mindfulness and Situational Awareness
AN 8.81 · Satisampajaññasutta
“Mendicants, when there is no mindfulness and situational awareness, one who lacks mindfulness and situational awareness has destroyed a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is no conscience and prudence, one who lacks conscience and prudence has destroyed a vital condition for sense restraint. When there is no sense restraint, one who lacks sense restraint has destroyed a vital condition for ethical conduct. When there is no ethical conduct, one who lacks ethics has destroyed a vital condition for right immersion. When there is no right immersion, one who lacks right immersion has destroyed a vital condition for true knowledge and vision. When there is no true knowledge and vision, one who lacks true knowledge and vision has destroyed a vital condition for disillusionment and dispassion. When there is no disillusionment and dispassion, one who lacks disillusionment and dispassion has destroyed a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.
“Satisampajaññe, bhikkhave, asati satisampajaññavipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti hirottappaṁ. Hirottappe asati hirottappavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti indriyasaṁvaro. Indriyasaṁvare asati indriyasaṁvaravipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti sīlaṁ. Sīle asati sīlavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti sammāsamādhi. Sammāsamādhimhi asati sammāsamādhivipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ. Yathābhūtañāṇadassane asati yathābhūtañāṇadassanavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti nibbidāvirāgo. Nibbidāvirāge asati nibbidāvirāgavipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ.
Suppose there was a tree that lacked branches and foliage. Its shoots, bark, softwood, and heartwood would not grow to fullness.
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rukkho sākhāpalāsavipanno. Tassa papaṭikāpi na pāripūriṁ gacchati, tacopi … pheggupi … sāropi na pāripūriṁ gacchati.
In the same way, when there is no mindfulness and situational awareness, one who lacks mindfulness and situational awareness has destroyed a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is no conscience and prudence … One who lacks disillusionment and dispassion has destroyed a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.
Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, satisampajaññe asati satisampajaññavipannassa hatūpanisaṁ hoti hirottappaṁ; hirottappe asati hirottappavipannassa hatūpaniso hoti …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ.
When there is mindfulness and situational awareness, one who has fulfilled mindfulness and situational awareness has fulfilled a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is conscience and prudence, one who has fulfilled conscience and prudence has fulfilled a vital condition for sense restraint. When there is sense restraint, one who has fulfilled sense restraint has fulfilled a vital condition for ethical conduct. When there is ethical conduct, one who has fulfilled ethical conduct has fulfilled a vital condition for right immersion. When there is right immersion, one who has fulfilled right immersion has fulfilled a vital condition for true knowledge and vision. When there is true knowledge and vision, one who has fulfilled true knowledge and vision has fulfilled a vital condition for disillusionment and dispassion. When there is disillusionment and dispassion, one who has fulfilled disillusionment and dispassion has fulfilled a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.
Satisampajaññe, bhikkhave, sati satisampajaññasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti hirottappaṁ. Hirottappe sati hirottappasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti indriyasaṁvaro. Indriyasaṁvare sati indriyasaṁvarasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti sīlaṁ. Sīle sati sīlasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti sammāsamādhi. Sammāsamādhimhi sati sammāsamādhisampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti yathābhūtañāṇadassanaṁ. Yathābhūtañāṇadassane sati yathābhūtañāṇadassanasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti nibbidāvirāgo. Nibbidāvirāge sati nibbidāvirāgasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti vimuttiñāṇadassanaṁ.
Suppose there was a tree that was complete with branches and foliage. Its shoots, bark, softwood, and heartwood would grow to fullness.
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rukkho sākhāpalāsasampanno. Tassa papaṭikāpi pāripūriṁ gacchati, tacopi … pheggupi … sāropi pāripūriṁ gacchati.
In the same way, when there is mindfulness and situational awareness, one who has fulfilled mindfulness and situational awareness has fulfilled a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is conscience and prudence … One who has fulfilled disillusionment and dispassion has fulfilled a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.”
Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, satisampajaññe sati satisampajaññasampannassa upanisasampannaṁ hoti hirottappaṁ; hirottappe sati hirottappasampannassa upanisasampanno hoti …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanan”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
AN 8.82 · With Puṇṇiya
AN 8.82 · Puṇṇiyasutta
Then Venerable Puṇṇiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Atha kho āyasmā puṇṇiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā puṇṇiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes the Realized One feels inspired to teach, and other times not?”
“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo yena appekadā tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti, appekadā na paṭibhātī”ti?
“Puṇṇiya, when a mendicant has faith but doesn’t approach, the Realized One doesn’t feel inspired to teach. But when a mendicant has faith and approaches, the Realized One feels inspired to teach. When a mendicant has faith and approaches, but doesn’t pay homage … they pay homage, but don’t ask questions … they ask questions, but don’t actively listen to the teaching … they actively listen to the teaching, but don’t remember the teaching they’ve heard … they remember the teaching they’ve heard, but don’t examine the meaning of the teachings they’ve remembered … they examine the meaning of the teachings they’ve remembered, but, not having understood the meaning and the teaching, they don’t practice in line with the principle of the teaching. The Realized One doesn’t feel inspired to teach.
“Saddho ca, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu hoti, no cupasaṅkamitā; neva tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti. Yato ca kho, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu saddho ca hoti, upasaṅkamitā ca; evaṁ tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti. Saddho ca, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu hoti, upasaṅkamitā ca, no ca payirupāsitā …pe… payirupāsitā ca, no ca paripucchitā … paripucchitā ca, no ca ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti … ohitasoto ca dhammaṁ suṇāti, no ca sutvā dhammaṁ dhāreti … sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhāreti, no ca dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati … dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, no ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti. Neva tāva tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti.
But when a mendicant has faith, approaches, pays homage, asks questions, actively listens to the teachings, remembers the teachings, examines the meaning, and practices in line with the principle of the teaching, the Realized One feels inspired to teach. When someone possesses these eight qualities, the Realized One feels totally inspired to teach.”
Yato ca kho, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu saddho ca hoti, upasaṅkamitā ca, payirupāsitā ca, paripucchitā ca, ohitasoto ca dhammaṁ suṇāti, sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhāreti, dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno ca hoti; evaṁ tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti. Imehi kho, puṇṇiya, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgatā ekantapaṭibhānā tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā hotī”ti.
Dutiyaṁ.
AN 8.83 · Rooted
AN 8.83 · Mūlakasutta
“Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: ‘Reverends, all things have what as their root? What produces them? What is their origin? What is their meeting place? What is their chief? What is their ruler? What is their overseer? What is their core?’ How would you answer them?”
“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘kiṁmūlakā, āvuso, sabbe dhammā, kiṁsambhavā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamudayā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamosaraṇā sabbe dhammā, kiṁpamukhā sabbe dhammā, kiṁadhipateyyā sabbe dhammā, kiṁuttarā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsārā sabbe dhammā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ kinti byākareyyāthā”ti?
“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”
“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā, bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.
“Well then, mendicants, I will teach it. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”
“Tena hi, bhikkhave, desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: ‘Reverends, all things have what as their root? What produces them? What is their origin? What is their meeting place? What is their chief? What is their ruler? What is their overseer? What is their core?’ You should answer them: ‘Reverends, all things are rooted in desire. They are produced by application of mind. Contact is their origin. Feeling is their meeting place. Immersion is their chief. Mindfulness is their ruler. Wisdom is their overseer. Freedom is their core.’ When questioned by wanderers of other religions, that’s how you should answer them.”
“sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘kiṁmūlakā, āvuso, sabbe dhammā, kiṁsambhavā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamudayā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamosaraṇā sabbe dhammā, kiṁpamukhā sabbe dhammā, kiṁadhipateyyā sabbe dhammā, kiṁuttarā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsārā sabbe dhammā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘chandamūlakā, āvuso, sabbe dhammā, manasikārasambhavā sabbe dhammā, phassasamudayā sabbe dhammā, vedanāsamosaraṇā sabbe dhammā, samādhippamukhā sabbe dhammā, satādhipateyyā sabbe dhammā, paññuttarā sabbe dhammā, vimuttisārā sabbe dhammā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyāthā”ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
AN 8.84 · A Master Thief
AN 8.84 · Corasutta
“Mendicants, a master thief with eight factors is soon executed, and doesn’t have long to live. What eight? He attacks unprovoked. He steals everything without exception. He kills a woman. He rapes a girl. He robs a monk. He robs the royal treasury. He works close to home. He’s not skilled at hiding his booty. A master thief with these eight factors is soon executed, and doesn’t have long to live.
“Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro khippaṁ pariyāpajjati, na ciraṭṭhitiko hoti. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Appaharantassa paharati, anavasesaṁ ādiyati, itthiṁ hanati, kumāriṁ dūseti, pabbajitaṁ vilumpati, rājakosaṁ vilumpati, accāsanne kammaṁ karoti, na ca nidhānakusalo hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahaṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro khippaṁ pariyāpajjati, na ciraṭṭhitiko hoti.
A master thief with eight factors is not soon executed, and lives long. What eight? He doesn’t attack unprovoked. He doesn’t steal everything without exception. He doesn’t kill a woman. He doesn’t rape a girl. He doesn’t rob a monk. He doesn’t rob the royal treasury. He doesn’t work close to home. He’s skilled at hiding his booty. A master thief with these eight factors is not soon executed, and lives long.”
Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro na khippaṁ pariyāpajjati, ciraṭṭhitiko hoti. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Na appaharantassa paharati, na anavasesaṁ ādiyati, na itthiṁ hanati, na kumāriṁ dūseti, na pabbajitaṁ vilumpati, na rājakosaṁ vilumpati, na accāsanne kammaṁ karoti, nidhānakusalo ca hoti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahaṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro na khippaṁ pariyāpajjati, ciraṭṭhitiko hotī”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
AN 8.85 · Terms for the Realized One
AN 8.85 · Samaṇasutta
“‘Ascetic’ is a term for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. ‘Brahmin’, ‘Knowledge Master’, ‘Healer’, ‘Unstained’, ‘Immaculate’, ‘Knower’, and ‘Freed’ are terms for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.
“‘Samaṇo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Brāhmaṇo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Vedagū’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Bhisakko’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Nimmalo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Vimalo’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Ñāṇī’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Vimutto’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassāti.
The supreme should be attained by an ascetic,a brahmin who has lived the life;it should be attained by a knowledge master,a healer.
Yaṁ samaṇena pattabbaṁ,brāhmaṇena vusīmatā;Yaṁ vedagunā pattabbaṁ,bhisakkena anuttaraṁ.
The supreme should be attained by the unstained,stainless and pure;it should be attained by a knower,who is free.
Yaṁ nimmalena pattabbaṁ,vimalena sucīmatā;Yaṁ ñāṇinā ca pattabbaṁ,vimuttena anuttaraṁ.
I am victorious in battle!Released, I release others from their chains.I am a giant completely tamed,an adept, I am quenched.”
Sohaṁ vijitasaṅgāmo,mutto mocemi bandhanā;Nāgomhi paramadanto,asekho parinibbuto”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
AN 8.86 · With Nāgita
AN 8.86 · Yasasutta
At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Icchānaṅgala. He stayed in a forest near Icchānaṅgala. The brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala heard:
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena icchānaṅgalaṁ nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Assosuṁ kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā:
“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Icchānaṅgala. He is staying in a forest near Icchānaṅgala. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ … It’s good to see such perfected ones.”
“samaṇo khalu bho gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito icchānaṅgalaṁ anuppatto icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī’”ti.
Then, when the night had passed, they took abundant fresh and cooked foods and went to the forest near Icchānaṅgala, where they stood outside the gates making a colossal racket.
Atha kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā tassā rattiyā accayena pahutaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya yena icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhaṁsu uccāsaddā mahāsaddā.
Now, at that time Venerable Nāgita was the Buddha’s attendant. Then the Buddha said to Nāgita, “Nāgita, who’s making that colossal racket? You’d think it was fishermen hauling in a catch!”
Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nāgito bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti. Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ āmantesi: “ke pana te, nāgita, uccāsaddā mahāsaddā kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope”ti?
“Sir, it’s these brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala. They’ve brought abundant fresh and cooked foods, and they’re standing outside the gates wanting to offer it specially to the Buddha and the mendicant Saṅgha.”
“Ete, bhante, icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā pahutaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā bhagavantaṁyeva uddissa bhikkhusaṅghañcā”ti.
“Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me. There are those who can’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity.”
“Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, mā ca mayā yaso. Yo kho, nāgita, nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī assa akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, so taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyyā”ti.
“Sir, may the Blessed One please relent now! May the Holy One relent! Now is the time for the Buddha to relent. Wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country will incline the same way. It’s like when the heavens rain heavily and the water flows downhill. In the same way, wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country will incline the same way. Why is that? Because of the Buddha’s ethics and wisdom.”
“Adhivāsetu dāni, bhante, bhagavā. Adhivāsetu sugato. Adhivāsanakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato. Yena yeneva dāni, bhante, bhagavā gamissati tanninnāva bhavissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca. Seyyathāpi, bhante, thullaphusitake deve vassante yathāninnaṁ udakāni pavattanti; evamevaṁ kho, bhante, yena yeneva dāni bhagavā gamissati tanninnāva bhavissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca. Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathā hi, bhante, bhagavato sīlapaññāṇan”ti.
“Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me. There are those who can’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity.
“Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, mā ca mayā yaso. Yo kho, nāgita, nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī assa akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, so taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyya.
Even some of the deities can’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. When you all come together to enjoy each other’s company, I think: ‘These venerables mustn’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they come together to enjoy each other’s company.’
devatāpi kho, nāgita, ekaccā nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhiniyo assu akicchalābhiniyo akasiralābhiniyo, yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tumhākampi kho, nāgita, saṅgamma samāgamma saṅgaṇikavihāraṁ anuyuttānaṁ viharataṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘na hi nūname āyasmanto imassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhino assu akicchalābhino akasiralābhino. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tathā hi paname āyasmanto saṅgamma samāgamma saṅgaṇikavihāraṁ anuyuttā viharanti’.
Take mendicants I see poking each other with their fingers, giggling and playing together. I think to myself: ‘These venerables mustn’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they’re poking each other with their fingers, giggling and playing together.’
Idhāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhū passāmi aññamaññaṁ aṅgulipatodakena sañjagghante saṅkīḷante. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘na hi nūname āyasmanto imassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhino assu akicchalābhino akasiralābhino. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tathā hi paname āyasmanto aññamaññaṁ aṅgulipatodakena sañjagghanti saṅkīḷanti’.
Take mendicants I see eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing. I think to myself: ‘These venerables mustn’t get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing.’
Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhū passāmi yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutte viharante. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘na hi nūname āyasmanto imassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhino assu akicchalābhino akasiralābhino. Yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Tathā hi paname āyasmanto yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyuttā viharanti’.
Take a mendicant living within a village who I see sitting immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: ‘Now a monastery worker, a novice, or a fellow practitioner will make this venerable fall from immersion.’ So I’m not pleased that that mendicant is living within a village.
Idhāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi gāmantavihāriṁ samāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni imaṁ āyasmantaṁ ārāmiko vā upaṭṭhahissati samaṇuddeso vā. Taṁ tamhā samādhimhā cāvessatī’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno na attamano homi gāmantavihārena.
Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting nodding in meditation. I think to myself: ‘Now this venerable, having dispelled that sleepiness and weariness, will focus just on the unified perception of wilderness.’ So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.
Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe pacalāyamānaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni ayamāyasmā imaṁ niddākilamathaṁ paṭivinodetvā araññasaññaṁyeva manasi karissati ekattan’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.
Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting without being immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: ‘Now if this venerable’s mind is not immersed in samādhi they will immerse it; or if it is immersed in samādhi, they will preserve it.’ So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.
Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe asamāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni ayamāyasmā asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ samādahissati, samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ anurakkhissatī’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.
Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: ‘Now this venerable will free the unfreed mind or preserve the freed mind.’ So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.
Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe samāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti: ‘idāni ayamāyasmā avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccissati, vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ anurakkhissatī’ti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.
Take a mendicant who I see living within a village receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Enjoying possessions, honor, and popularity they neglect retreat, and they neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. They come down to villages, towns, and capital cities and make their home there. So I’m not pleased that that mendicant is living within a village.
Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi gāmantavihāriṁ lābhiṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. So taṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ nikāmayamāno riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, riñcati araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni; gāmanigamarājadhāniṁ osaritvā vāsaṁ kappeti. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno na attamano homi gāmantavihārena.
Take a mendicant who I see in the wilderness receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Fending off possessions, honor, and popularity they don’t neglect retreat, and they don’t neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. So I’m pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.
Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ lābhiṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. So taṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ paṭipaṇāmetvā na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, na riñcati araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni. Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.
Nāgita, when I’m walking along a road and I don’t see anyone ahead or behind I feel relaxed, even if I need to urinate or defecate.”
Yasmāhaṁ, nāgita, samaye addhānamaggappaṭipanno na kañci passāmi purato vā pacchato vā, phāsu me, nāgita, tasmiṁ samaye hoti antamaso uccārapassāvakammāyā”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
AN 8.87 · Turning the Bowl Upside Down
AN 8.87 · Pattanikujjanasutta
“Mendicants, the Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upside down for a lay follower on eight grounds. What eight? They try to prevent the mendicants from getting material things. They try to harm mendicants. They try to drive mendicants from a monastery. They insult and abuse mendicants. They divide mendicants against each other. They criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upside down for a lay follower on these eight grounds.
“Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgatassa upāsakassa ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho pattaṁ nikkujjeyya. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Bhikkhūnaṁ alābhāya parisakkati, bhikkhūnaṁ anatthāya parisakkati, bhikkhūnaṁ avāsāya parisakkati, bhikkhū akkosati paribhāsati, bhikkhū bhikkhūhi bhedeti, buddhassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, saṅghassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahaṅgehi samannāgatassa upāsakassa ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho pattaṁ nikkujjeyya.
The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upright for a lay follower on eight grounds. What eight? They don’t try to prevent the mendicants from getting material things. They don’t try to harm mendicants. They don’t try to drive mendicants from a monastery. They don’t insult and abuse mendicants. They don’t divide mendicants against each other. They don’t criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upright for a lay follower on these eight grounds.”
Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgatassa upāsakassa ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho pattaṁ ukkujjeyya. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Na bhikkhūnaṁ alābhāya parisakkati, na bhikkhūnaṁ anatthāya parisakkati, na bhikkhūnaṁ avāsāya parisakkati, na bhikkhū akkosati paribhāsati, na bhikkhū bhikkhūhi bhedeti, buddhassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahaṅgehi samannāgatassa upāsakassa ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho pattaṁ ukkujjeyyā”ti.
Sattamaṁ.
AN 8.88 · A Proclamation of No Confidence
AN 8.88 · Appasādapavedanīyasutta
“Mendicants, the lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of no confidence in a mendicant who has eight qualities. What eight? They try to prevent laypeople from getting material things. They try to harm laypeople. They insult and abuse laypeople. They divide lay people against each other. They criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They’re seen at an inappropriate place for collecting alms. The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of no confidence in a mendicant who possesses these eight qualities.
“Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamānā upāsakā appasādaṁ pavedeyyuṁ. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Gihīnaṁ alābhāya parisakkati, gihīnaṁ anatthāya parisakkati, gihī akkosati paribhāsati, gihī gihīhi bhedeti, buddhassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, saṅghassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, agocare ca naṁ passanti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamānā upāsakā appasādaṁ pavedeyyuṁ.
The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of confidence in a mendicant who has eight qualities. What eight? They don’t try to prevent laypeople from getting material things. They don’t try to harm laypeople. They don’t insult and abuse laypeople. They don’t divide laypeople against each other. They don’t criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They’re not seen at an inappropriate place for collecting alms. The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of confidence in a mendicant who possesses these eight qualities.”
Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamānā upāsakā pasādaṁ pavedeyyuṁ. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Na gihīnaṁ alābhāya parisakkati, na gihīnaṁ anatthāya parisakkati, na gihī akkosati paribhāsati, na gihī gihīhi bhedeti, buddhassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, gocare ca naṁ passanti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamānā upāsakā pasādaṁ pavedeyyun”ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.
AN 8.89 · Reconciliation
AN 8.89 · Paṭisāraṇīyasutta
“Mendicants, the Saṅgha may, if it wishes, perform an act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation. What eight? They try to prevent laypeople from getting material things. They try to harm laypeople. They insult and abuse lay people. They divide laypeople against each other. They criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don’t keep a legitimate promise made to a layperson. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, perform an act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation.
“Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho paṭisāraṇīyakammaṁ kareyya. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Gihīnaṁ alābhāya parisakkati, gihīnaṁ anatthāya parisakkati, gihī akkosati paribhāsati, gihī gihīhi bhedeti, buddhassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, saṅghassa avaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammikañca gihipaṭissavaṁ na saccāpeti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho paṭisāraṇīyaṁ kammaṁ kareyya.
The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, revoke the act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation. What eight? They don’t try to prevent the laypeople from getting material things. They don’t try to harm laypeople. They don’t insult and abuse laypeople. They don’t divide laypeople against each other. They don’t criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They keep a legitimate promise made to a layperson. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, revoke the act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation.”
Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho paṭisāraṇīyakammaṁ paṭippassambheyya. Katamehi aṭṭhahi? Na gihīnaṁ alābhāya parisakkati, na gihīnaṁ anatthāya parisakkati, na gihī akkosati paribhāsati, na gihī gihīhi bhedeti, buddhassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, dhammikañca gihipaṭissavaṁ saccāpeti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgatassa bhikkhuno ākaṅkhamāno saṅgho paṭisāraṇīyakammaṁ paṭippassambheyyā”ti.
Navamaṁ.