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AN 4.37PTS AN 2.392 min read

Non-decline

Aparihāniyasutta

A mendicant who has morality, guards the sense doors, eats in moderation, and is committed to wakefulness can’t decline.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.37Numbered Discourses 4.37
  • 0.24. Cakkavagga4. Situations

0.3AparihāniyasuttaNon-decline

1.1“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya nibbānasseva santike.“Mendicants, a mendicant who possesses four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.1.2Katamehi catūhi?What four?1.3Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti, indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, bhojane mattaññū hoti, jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.A mendicant is accomplished in ethics, guards the sense doors, eats in moderation, and is dedicated to wakefulness.

2.1Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti?And how is a mendicant accomplished in ethics?2.2Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.2.3Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti.That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics.

3.1PTS 2.40Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti?And how does a mendicant guard the sense doors?3.2Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.When a mendicant sees a sight with their eyes, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.3.3Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati cakkhundriyaṁ; cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving its restraint.3.4Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …Hearing a sound with their ears …3.5ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …Smelling an odor with their nose …3.6jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …Tasting a flavor with their tongue …3.7kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …Encountering a touch with their body …3.8manasā dhammaṁ viññāya na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.Knowing an idea with their mind, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.3.9Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati manindriyaṁ; manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.If the faculty of mind were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving its restraint.3.10Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti.That’s how a mendicant guards the sense doors.

4.1Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti?And how does a mendicant eat in moderation?4.2Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṁ āhāreti:It’s when a mendicant reflects rationally on the food that they eat:4.3‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya; yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya. Iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati, anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will have the means to keep going, blamelessness, and a comfortable abiding.’4.4Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti.That’s how a mendicant eats in moderation.

5.1Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti?And how is a mendicant dedicated to wakefulness?5.2Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu divasaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti;It’s when a mendicant practices walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying their mind from obstacles.5.3rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti;In the first watch of the night, they continue to practice walking and sitting meditation.5.4rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā;In the middle watch, they lie down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.5.5rattiyā pacchimaṁ yāmaṁ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti.In the last watch, they get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying their mind from obstacles.5.6Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.This is how a mendicant is dedicated to wakefulness.5.7Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santiketi.A mendicant who possesses these four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.

6.1Sīle patiṭṭhito bhikkhu,Established in ethics,6.2indriyesu ca saṁvuto;restrained in the sense faculties,6.3Bhojanamhi ca mattaññū,eating in moderation,6.4jāgariyaṁ anuyuñjati.and dedicated to wakefulness;

7.1Evaṁ vihārī ātāpī,a mendicant lives like this, with keen energy,7.2ahorattamatandito;tireless all night and day,7.3Bhāvayaṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ,developing skillful qualities,7.4yogakkhemassa pattiyā.for the sake of sanctuary from the yoke.

8.1Appamādarato bhikkhu,A mendicant who loves diligence,8.2pamāde bhayadassi vā;seeing fear in negligence,8.3Abhabbo parihānāya,can’t decline,8.4nibbānasseva santike”ti.and has drawn near to extinguishment.”

8.5Sattamaṁ.