1.1“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, hetū aṭṭha paccayā ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattanti.“Mendicants, there are eight causes and reasons that lead to acquiring the wisdom fundamental to the spiritual life, and to its increase, growth, and full development once it has been acquired.1.2Katame aṭṭha?What eight?

1.3Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthāraṁ upanissāya viharati aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca.It’s when a mendicant lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role. And they set up a keen sense of conscience and prudence for them, with warmth and respect.1.4Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo hetu paṭhamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the first cause.

2.1PTS 4.152So taṁ satthāraṁ upanissāya viharanto aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca, te kālena kālaṁ upasaṅkamitvā paripucchati paripañhati:When a mendicant lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role—with a keen sense of conscience and prudence for them, with warmth and respect—from time to time they go and ask them questions:2.2‘idaṁ, bhante, kathaṁ; imassa ko attho’ti?‘Why, sir, does it say this? What does that mean?’2.3Tassa te āyasmanto avivaṭañceva vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ paṭivinodenti.Those venerables reveal what is hidden, clarify what is unclear, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters.2.4Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo hetu dutiyo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the second cause.

3.1So taṁ dhammaṁ sutvā dvayena vūpakāsena sampādeti—kāyavūpakāsena ca cittavūpakāsena ca.After hearing that teaching they perfect withdrawal of both body and mind.3.2Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo hetu tatiyo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the third cause.

4.1Sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.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.4.2Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho hetu catuttho paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the fourth cause.

5.1Bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo. Ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.5.2Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo hetu pañcamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the fifth cause.

6.1PTS 4.153Āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.6.2Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho hetu chaṭṭho paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the sixth cause.

7.1Saṅghagato kho pana anānākathiko hoti atiracchānakathiko.When in the Saṅgha they don’t engage in motley talk or low talk.7.2Sāmaṁ vā dhammaṁ bhāsati paraṁ vā ajjhesati ariyaṁ vā tuṇhībhāvaṁ nātimaññati.Either they talk on Dhamma, or they invite someone else to do so, or they respect noble silence.7.3Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo hetu sattamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the seventh cause.

8.1Pañcasu kho pana upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassī viharati:They meditate observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates.8.2‘iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo;‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form.8.3iti vedanā, iti vedanāya samudayo, iti vedanāya atthaṅgamo;Such is feeling, such is the origin of feeling, such is the disappearance of feeling.8.4iti saññā …pe…Such is perception, such is the origin of perception, such is the disappearance of perception.8.5iti saṅkhārā …Such are choices, such is the origin of choices, such is the disappearance of choices.8.6iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti.Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’8.7Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo hetu aṭṭhamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.This is the eighth cause.

9.1Tamenaṁ sabrahmacārī evaṁ sambhāventi:Their spiritual companions esteem them:9.2‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā satthāraṁ upanissāya viharati aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca.‘This venerable lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role. They set up a keen sense of conscience and prudence for them, with warmth and respect.9.3Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’9.4Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

10.1PTS 4.154‘Taṁ kho panāyamāyasmā satthāraṁ upanissāya viharanto aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca, te kālena kālaṁ upasaṅkamitvā paripucchati paripañhati:‘This venerable lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role, and from time to time they go and ask them questions …10.2“idaṁ, bhante, kathaṁ; imassa ko attho”ti?10.3Tassa te āyasmanto avivaṭañceva vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ paṭivinodenti.10.4Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’10.5Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

11.1‘Taṁ kho panāyamāyasmā dhammaṁ sutvā dvayena vūpakāsena sampādeti—kāyavūpakāsena ca cittavūpakāsena ca.‘After hearing that teaching they perfect withdrawal of both body and mind.11.2Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’11.3Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

12.1‘Sīlavā kho panāyamāyasmā pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.‘This venerable is ethical …12.2Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’12.3Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

13.1‘Bahussuto kho panāyamāyasmā sutadharo sutasannicayo. Ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.‘This venerable is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. …13.2Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’13.3Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

14.1‘Āraddhavīriyo kho panāyamāyasmā viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.‘This venerable lives with energy roused up …14.2Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’14.3Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

15.1PTS 4.155‘Saṅghagato kho panāyamāyasmā anānākathiko hoti atiracchānakathiko.‘When in the Saṅgha they don’t engage in motley talk or low talk.15.2Sāmaṁ vā dhammaṁ bhāsati paraṁ vā ajjhesati ariyaṁ vā tuṇhībhāvaṁ nātimaññati.Either they talk on Dhamma, or they invite someone else to do so, or they respect noble silence.15.3Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’15.4Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

16.1‘Pañcasu kho panāyamāyasmā upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassī viharati—‘They meditate observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates. …16.2iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo;16.3iti vedanā …pe…16.4iti saññā …16.5iti saṅkhārā …16.6iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamoti.16.7Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’16.8Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

17.1Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha hetū aṭṭha paccayā ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattantī”ti.These are the eight causes and reasons that lead to acquiring the wisdom fundamental to the spiritual life, and to its increase, growth, and full development once it has been acquired.”

17.2Dutiyaṁ.