Meaning(s) of anākulā

In Maṅgalasutta, the word anākulā is translated as not stressful by both Bhante @sujato and Ajahn @Brahmali.

Interestingly, the official Thai-language dictionary (Thai words with meanings used in Thailand) translates the word ākula as unsettled; unfinished; overdue; behind schedule; piled up.

Venerable P.A. Payutto gives a footnote that it refers to spheres of work which are free from such unprofitableness as dilatoriness and tardiness (as per the commentary?).

Any comments?

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Unfortunately this word is quite rare in the early Buddhist texts. Still, here are three definitions of (an)ākula, respectively from The Critical Pali Dictionary (online), Dictionary of Pali (Cone), and Pali English Dictionary (Stede and Rhys Davids):

An-ākula … not beset, not crowded, not confused; unembarrassed, calm, quiet
Anākula … not confused; not crowded; not agitated; calm
Ākula … entangled, confused, upset, twisted, bewildered

So, anākula kammanta means work that is free of confusion, crowds, agitation, upset, and bewilderment, but is instead calm. “Not stressful” seems like a reasonable summary of all this! :grinning_face:

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Thank you, kha. :folded_hands:

So, the teachings refers to ‘having a job that is without stress’, not ‘don’t pile up work’?

:folded_hands::folded_hands::folded_hands:

:vulcan_salute:

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Yes, that’s what to looks like to me! I mean, piling up work can also be stressful. So they are not entirely different either. :slightly_smiling_face:

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Thank you so much, kha.

:folded_hands::folded_hands::folded_hands:

:vulcan_salute:

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