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MN 17PTS MN 1.1044 min read

Jungle Thickets

Vanapatthasutta

While living in the wilderness is great, not everyone is ready for it. The Buddha encourages meditators to reflect on whether one’s environment is genuinely supporting their meditation practice, and if not, to leave.

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

  • 0.1Majjhima Nikāya 17Middle Discourses 17

0.2VanapatthasuttaJungle Thickets

1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,1.4“bhikkhavo”ti.“Mendicants!”

1.5“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Venerable sir,” they replied.1.6Bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

2.1“vanapatthapariyāyaṁ vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi,“Mendicants, I will teach you an exposition about jungle thickets.12.2taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasikarotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

2.3“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Yes, sir,” they replied.2.4Bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

3.1PTS 1.105“Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati.“Mendicants, take the case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket.23.2Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti.As they do so, their mindfulness does not become established, their mind does not become immersed in samādhi, their defilements do not come to an end, and they do not arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.33.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te kasirena samudāgacchanti.And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—are hard to come by.3.4Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:That mendicant should reflect:3.5‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi, tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi.‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness does not become established, my mind does not become immersed in samādhi, my defilements do not come to an end, and I do not arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.3.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te kasirena samudāgacchantī’ti.And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—are hard to come by.’3.7Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā rattibhāgaṁ vā divasabhāgaṁ vā tamhā vanapatthā pakkamitabbaṁ, na vatthabbaṁ.That mendicant should leave that jungle thicket that very time of night or day; they should not stay there.

4.1Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati.Take another case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket.4.2Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti.Their mindfulness does not become established …4.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te appakasirena samudāgacchanti.But the necessities of life are easy to come by.4.4Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:That mendicant should reflect:4.5‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi.‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness does not become established …4.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te appakasirena samudāgacchanti.But the necessities of life are easy to come by.4.7Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito na piṇḍapātahetu …pe… na senāsanahetu …pe… na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.But I didn’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness for the sake of a robe, almsfood, lodgings, or medicines and supplies for the sick.4.8Atha ca pana me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmī’ti.Moreover, while living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness does not become established …’4.9Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi tamhā vanapatthā pakkamitabbaṁ, na vatthabbaṁ.That mendicant should, after appraisal, leave that jungle thicket; they should not stay there.4

5.1PTS 1.106Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati.Take another case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket.5.2Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti.As they do so, their mindfulness becomes established, their mind becomes immersed in samādhi, their defilements come to an end, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.5.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā, te kasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:But the necessities of life that a renunciate requires—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—are hard to come by. That mendicant should reflect:5.4‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi.5.5Tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi.‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness becomes established …5.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te kasirena samudāgacchanti.But the necessities of life are hard to come by.5.7Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na piṇḍapātahetu …pe… na senāsanahetu …pe… na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.But I didn’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness for the sake of a robe, almsfood, lodgings, or medicines and supplies for the sick.5.8Atha ca pana me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmī’ti.Moreover, while living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness becomes established …’5.9Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi tasmiṁ vanapatthe vatthabbaṁ, na pakkamitabbaṁ.That mendicant should, after appraisal, stay in that jungle thicket; they should not leave.5

6.1Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati.Take another case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket.6.2Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti.Their mindfulness becomes established …6.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te appakasirena samudāgacchanti.And the necessities of life are easy to come by.6.4Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:That mendicant should reflect:6.5‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi.‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness becomes established …6.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te appakasirena samudāgacchantī’ti.And the necessities of life are easy to come by.’6.7Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā yāvajīvampi tasmiṁ vanapatthe vatthabbaṁ, na pakkamitabbaṁ.That mendicant should stay in that jungle thicket for the rest of their life; they should not leave.

7-10.1Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ gāmaṁ upanissāya viharati …pe…Take the case of a mendicant who lives supported by a village …611-14.1aññataraṁ nigamaṁ upanissāya viharati …pe…town …15-18.1aññataraṁ nagaraṁ upanissāya viharati …pe…city …19-22.1aññataraṁ janapadaṁ upanissāya viharati …pe…country …23.1aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati.an individual.23.2Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti.As they do so, their mindfulness does not become established, their mind does not become immersed in samādhi, their defilements do not come to an end, and they do not arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.23.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te kasirena samudāgacchanti.And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—are hard to come by.23.4Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:That mendicant should reflect:23.5‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi.‘… my mindfulness does not become established …23.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te kasirena samudāgacchantī’ti.And the necessities of life are hard to come by.’23.7Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā rattibhāgaṁ vā divasabhāgaṁ vā so puggalo anāpucchā pakkamitabbaṁ, nānubandhitabbo.That mendicant should leave that individual at any time of the day or night, without taking leave; they should not follow them. …7

24.1PTS 1.107Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati.Take another case of a mendicant who lives supported by an individual.24.2Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti.Their mindfulness does not become established …24.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā, te appakasirena samudāgacchanti.But the necessities of life are easy to come by.24.4Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:That mendicant should reflect:24.5‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi.‘… my mindfulness does not become established …24.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te appakasirena samudāgacchanti.But the necessities of life are easy to come by.’ …24.7Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na piṇḍapātahetu …pe… na senāsanahetu …pe… na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.24.8Atha ca pana me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmī’ti.24.9Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi so puggalo āpucchā pakkamitabbaṁ, nānubandhitabbo.That mendicant should, after appraisal, leave that individual having taken leave; they should not follow them. …

25.1Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati.Take another case of a mendicant who lives supported by an individual.25.2Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti.Their mindfulness becomes established …25.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te kasirena samudāgacchanti.But the necessities of life are hard to come by.25.4Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:That mendicant should reflect:25.5‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi.‘… my mindfulness becomes established …25.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te kasirena samudāgacchanti.But the necessities of life are hard to come by.’ …25.7Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na piṇḍapātahetu …pe… na senāsanahetu …pe… na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.25.8Atha ca pana me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmī’ti.25.9Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi so puggalo anubandhitabbo, na pakkamitabbaṁ.That mendicant should, after appraisal, follow that individual; they should not leave.

26.1PTS 1.108Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati.Take another case of a mendicant who lives supported by an individual.26.2Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti.As they do so, their mindfulness becomes established, their mind becomes immersed in samādhi, their defilements come to an end, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.26.3Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te appakasirena samudāgacchanti.And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires—robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick—are easy to come by.26.4Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ:That mendicant should reflect:26.5‘ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi.‘While living supported by this individual, my mindfulness becomes established …26.6Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā—cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā—te appakasirena samudāgacchantī’ti.And the necessities of life are easy to come by.’26.7Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā yāvajīvampi so puggalo anubandhitabbo, na pakkamitabbaṁ, api panujjamānenapī”ti.That mendicant should follow that individual for the rest of their life; they should not leave them, even if driven away.”8

26.8Idamavoca bhagavā.That is what the Buddha said.26.9Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

26.10Vanapatthasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. This sutta acts as a counterbalance to the many places where the Buddha encourages living secluded in the forest. The purpose of the life of solitude is to develop meditation and find freedom. But life is complicated and people are complicated, and sometimes what we think will support us becomes a hindrance. So regardless of how secluded and inspiring a place may be, it is crucial to always reflect on one’s actual progress in developing the wholesome.

    ↩ mn17:2.1
  2. Here I translate upanissaya as “close by”.

    ↩ mn17:3.1
  3. This gives a brief summary of the path of meditation. First one “establishes mindfulness”, i.e. undertakes meditation based on the four satipaṭṭhānas. This leads to samādhi as the mind becomes immersed in the four jhānas. Then, seeing reality with the unclouded clarity of a purified mind, defilements are abandoned and one is freed from transmigration.

    ↩ mn17:3.2
  4. In this case they should leave after reflection, not necessarily “that very day”, since at least they can live comfortably and healthily, which is no small thing.

    ↩ mn17:4.9
  5. Even if life is hard, meditation progress is more important.

    ↩ mn17:5.9
  6. In the remaining cases I translate upanissaya as “supported by”.

    ↩ mn17:7-10.1
  7. The mendicant’s supporters have not fulfilled their duty to provide adequate requisites, so the mendicant is not obliged to take leave from them.

    ↩ mn17:23.7
  8. The idiom “even if driven away” (api panujjamānena) occurs a few times in this sense (MN 122:19.2, AN 7.37:1.1, AN 9.6:6.4).

    ↩ mn17:26.7