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AN 5.90PTS AN 3.1162 min read

A Trainee (2nd)

Dutiyasekhasutta

Even if a mendicant is a trainee, they won’t progress if they don’t focus on practice. In detail.

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

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.90Numbered Discourses 5.90
  • 0.29. Theravagga9. Senior Mendicants

0.3DutiyasekhasuttaA Trainee (2nd)

1.1“Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.“These five things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.1.2Katame pañca?What five?

1.3Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu bahukicco hoti bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu;Firstly, a mendicant trainee has many duties and responsibilities, and is competent in many tasks.1.4riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.1.5Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.This is the first thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

2.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti;Furthermore, a mendicant trainee spends too much time doing trivial work.2.2riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.2.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.This is the second thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

3.1PTS 3.117Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu saṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena;Furthermore, a mendicant trainee mixes closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson.3.2riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.3.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.This is the third thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

4.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu akālena gāmaṁ pavisati, atidivā paṭikkamati;Furthermore, a mendicant trainee enters the town at the wrong time, and returns too late in the day.4.2riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.4.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.This is the fourth thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

5.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t get to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is,5.2appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya na nikāmalābhī hoti na akicchalābhī na akasiralābhī;talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.5.3riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart.5.4Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.This is the fifth thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

5.5Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.These five things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

6.1Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.These five things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.6.2Katame pañca?What five?

6.3Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na bahukicco hoti na bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu;Firstly, a mendicant trainee doesn’t have many duties and responsibilities, even though they are competent in many tasks.6.4na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.6.5Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.This is the first thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

7.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti;Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t waste their day doing trivial work.7.2na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.7.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.This is the second thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

8.1PTS 3.118Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu asaṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena;Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t mix closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson.8.2na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.8.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.This is the third thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

9.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na atikālena gāmaṁ pavisati, nātidivā paṭikkamati;Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t enter the village too early or return too late in the day.9.2na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.9.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.This is the fourth thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

10.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—Furthermore, a mendicant trainee gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is,10.2appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī;talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.10.3na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ.They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart.10.4Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.This is the fifth thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

10.5Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.These five things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.”

10.6Dasamaṁ.

10.7Theravaggo catuttho.

11.0Tassuddānaṁ

11.1Rajanīyo vītarāgo,11.2kuhakāssaddhaakkhamā;11.3Paṭisambhidā ca sīlena,11.4thero sekhā pare duveti.