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SN 46.3PTS SN 5.672 min read

Ethics

Sīlasutta

Here the awakening factors are described in the context of hearing the teachings and reflecting on them. This leads to full enlightenment, or at least to some lesser attainment.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 46.3Linked Discourses 46.3
  • 0.21. Pabbatavagga1. Mountains

0.3SīlasuttaEthics

1.1“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sīlasampannā samādhisampannā ñāṇasampannā vimuttisampannā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampannā, dassanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;“Mendicants, when a mendicant is accomplished in ethics, immersion, knowledge, freedom, or the knowledge and vision of freedom, even the sight of them is very helpful, I say.11.2savanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;Even to hear them,1.3upasaṅkamanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;approach them,1.4payirupāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;pay homage to them,1.5anussatimpāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;recollect them,1.6anupabbajjampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi.or go forth following them is very helpful, I say.1.7Taṁ kissa hetu?Why is that?1.8Tathārūpānaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ dhammaṁ sutvā dvayena vūpakāsena vūpakaṭṭho viharati—kāyavūpakāsena ca cittavūpakāsena ca.Because after hearing the teaching of such mendicants, a mendicant will live withdrawn in both body and mind,1.9So tathā vūpakaṭṭho viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ anussarati anuvitakketi.as they recollect and think about that teaching.2

2.1PTS 5.68Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathā vūpakaṭṭho viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ anussarati anuvitakketi, satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti;At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of mindfulness;2.2satisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti;they develop it2.3satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.and perfect it.2.4So tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati.As they live mindfully in this way they investigate, explore, and inquire into that teaching with wisdom.3

3.1Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti;At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of investigation of principles;3.2dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti;they develop it3.3dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.and perfect it.3.4Tassa taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ.As they investigate principles with wisdom in this way their energy is roused up and unflagging.

4.1Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of energy; they develop it and perfect it.4.2Āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā.When they’re energetic, rapture not of the flesh arises.

5.1Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā, pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of rapture; they develop it and perfect it.5.2Pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati.When the mind is full of rapture, the body and mind become tranquil.

6.1PTS 5.69Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati cittampi passambhati, passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of tranquility; they develop it and perfect it.6.2Passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.When the body is tranquil and one feels bliss, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.4

7.1Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati, samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of immersion; they develop it and perfect it.7.2So tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti.They closely watch over that mind immersed in samādhi.

8.1Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of equanimity; they develop it and perfect it.

9.1PTS 5.70Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, sattasu sambojjhaṅgesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā.When the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated in this way they can expect seven fruits and benefits.9.2Katame satta phalā sattānisaṁsā?What seven?9.3Diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti.They attain enlightenment early on in this very life.9.4No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, atha maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti.If not, they attain enlightenment at the time of death.9.5No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters, they’re extinguished between one life and the next.59.6No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti.If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished upon landing.69.7No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished without extra effort.79.8No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished with extra effort.89.9No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī.If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm.99.10Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, sattasu bojjhaṅgesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu ime satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.When the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated in this way these are the seven fruits and benefits they can expect.”

9.11Tatiyaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The “sight of ascetics” was held to be an inspiration that can set one on the path. In the absence of written books, it was also a prerequisite for hearing the teachings (DN 14:2.14.1, MN 81:6.5, SN 46.3:1.1, AN 6.30, Snp 2.4:10.2, Snp 4.4:1.1).

    ↩ sn46.3:1.1

  2. In this discourse, the role of mindfulness as “recollection” of the teachings is emphasized (SN 48.9:3.2).

    ↩ sn46.3:1.9

  3. Accordingly, the text emphasizes the investigation into the “teachings” that one has heard. The previous discourse emphasized the discernment between right and wrong. Of course, these are never really separate, as the Buddha teaches us to discern what is right and what is wrong (DN 19:7.1).

    ↩ sn46.3:2.4

  4. This line shows the close relationship between “tranquillity” and “bliss” in the development of meditation.

    ↩ sn46.3:6.2

  5. From here we the standard five-fold classification of non-returners, graded by the swiftness of their insight.

    The first is an individual who dies as a non-returner, but their insight is so swift that they abandon all defilements before taking rebirth in the Pure Abodes. See SN 44.9:6.4 and note.

    ↩ sn46.3:9.5

  6. That is, at the moment of being reborn in the Pure Abodes.

    ↩ sn46.3:9.6

  7. Their past practice sustains their further development so that remaining defilements are shed easily.

    ↩ sn46.3:9.7

  8. They must practice further after rebirth in the Pure Abodes in order to realize arahantship in that life.

    ↩ sn46.3:9.8

  9. They pass from one Pure Abode to another, still as non-returners.

    ↩ sn46.3:9.9