MN 125 gradual training of wild elephant, Pali+Eng, B.Sujato trans

frankk · August 3, 2018, 3:02pm

Continuing the discussion from YARVVI Chronicles: V&V, Vitakka = directed-thoughts, Vicāra=Evaluation (of said Vitakka):

Hi @mikenz66, in response to your query from that thread. There is a distinction (regarding your comment on MN 19), but it’s not what you think. Look at what happens to first jhāna here in MN 125. I’ll do a deep dive on this sutta later, but I suspect after you study this one you won’t need to hear what I have to say.

(same as suttacentral version, but I filled in te peyalla section from MN 107)

Synopsis

MN 125 Danta-bhūmi (Tamed-level)


Dantabhūmisutta	The Level of the Tamed
	(trans. B.Sujato)
Evaṃ me sutaṃ— ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Tena kho pana samayena aciravato samaṇuddeso araññakuṭikāyaṃ viharati. Atha kho jayaseno rājakumāro jaṅghāvihāraṃ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno yena aciravato samaṇuddeso tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā aciravatena samaṇuddesena saddhiṃ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṃ kathaṃ sāraṇīyaṃ vītisāretvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho jayaseno rājakumāro aciravataṃ samaṇuddesaṃ etadavoca:	So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time the novice Aciravata was staying in a wilderness hut. Then as Prince Jayasena was going for a walk he approached Aciravata, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Aciravata:

“Sutaṃ metaṃ, bho aggivessana: ‘idha bhikkhu appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto phuseyya cittassa ekaggatan’”ti. “Evametaṃ, rājakumāra, evametaṃ, rājakumāra. Idha bhikkhu appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto phuseyya cittassa ekaggatan”ti. “Sādhu me bhavaṃ aggivessano yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ desetū”ti. “Na kho te ahaṃ, rājakumāra, sakkomi yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ desetuṃ. Ahañca hi te, rājakumāra, yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ deseyyaṃ, tvañca me bhāsitassa atthaṃ na ājāneyyāsi; so mamassa kilamatho, sā mamassa vihesā”ti. “Desetu me bhavaṃ aggivessano yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ. Appevanāmāhaṃ bhoto aggivessanassa bhāsitassa atthaṃ ājāneyyan”ti. “Deseyyaṃ kho te ahaṃ, rājakumāra, yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ. Sace me tvaṃ bhāsitassa atthaṃ ājāneyyāsi, iccetaṃ kusalaṃ; no ce me tvaṃ bhāsitassa atthaṃ ājāneyyāsi, yathāsake tiṭṭheyyāsi, na maṃ tattha uttariṃ paṭipuccheyyāsī”ti. “Desetu me bhavaṃ aggivessano yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ. Sace ahaṃ bhoto aggivessanassa bhāsitassa atthaṃ ājānissāmi, iccetaṃ kusalaṃ; no ce ahaṃ bhoto aggivessanassa bhāsitassa atthaṃ ājānissāmi, yathāsake tiṭṭhissāmi, nāhaṃ tattha bhavantaṃ aggivessanaṃ uttariṃ paṭipucchissāmī”ti.	“Master Aggivessana, I have heard that a mendicant who meditates diligently, keenly, and resolutely can experience unification of mind.” “That’s so true, Prince! That’s so true! A mendicant who meditates diligently, keenly, and resolutely can experience unification of mind.” “Master Aggivessana, please teach me the Dhamma as you have learned and memorized it.” “I’m not competent to do so, Prince. For if I was to teach you the Dhamma as I have learned and memorized it, you might not understand the meaning, which would be wearying and troublesome for me.’ “Master Aggivessana, please teach me the Dhamma as you have learned and memorized it. Hopefully I will understand the meaning of what you say.” “Then I shall teach you. If you understand the meaning of what I say, that’s good. If not, then leave each to his own, and do not question me about it further.” “Master Aggivessana, please teach me the Dhamma as you have learned and memorized it. If I understand the meaning of what you say, that’s good. If not, then I will leave each to his own, and not question you about it further.”

(prince J. doesn’t think that teaching can lead to ekagga citta)


Atha kho aciravato samaṇuddeso jayasenassa rājakumārassa yathāsutaṃ yathāpariyattaṃ dhammaṃ desesi. Evaṃ vutte, jayaseno rājakumāro aciravataṃ samaṇuddesaṃ etadavoca: “aṭṭhānametaṃ, bho aggivessana, anavakāso yaṃ bhikkhu appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto phuseyya cittassa ekaggatan”ti. Atha kho jayaseno rājakumāro aciravatassa samaṇuddesassa aṭṭhānatañca anavakāsatañca pavedetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.	Then the novice Aciravata taught Prince Jayasena the Dhamma as he had learned and memorized it. When he had spoken, Jayasena said to him: “It is impossible, Master Aggivessana, it cannot happen that a mendicant who meditates diligently, keenly, and resolutely can experience unification of mind.” Having declared that this was impossible, Jayasena got up from his seat and left.

Atha kho aciravato samaṇuddeso acirapakkante jayasene rājakumāre yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho aciravato samaṇuddeso yāvatako ahosi jayasenena rājakumārena saddhiṃ kathāsallāpo taṃ sabbaṃ bhagavato ārocesi.	Not long after he had left, Aciravata went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all they had discussed.

Evaṃ vutte, bhagavā aciravataṃ samaṇuddesaṃ etadavoca: “‘taṃ kutettha, aggivessana, labbhā. Yaṃ taṃ nekkhammena ñātabbaṃ nekkhammena daṭṭhabbaṃ nekkhammena pattabbaṃ nekkhammena sacchikātabbaṃ taṃ vata jayaseno rājakumāro kāmamajjhe vasanto kāme paribhuñjanto kāmavitakkehi khajjamāno kāmapariḷāhena pariḍayhamāno kāmapariyesanāya ussuko ñassati vā dakkhati vā sacchi vā karissatī’ti—netaṃ ṭhānaṃ vijjati.	When he had spoken, the Buddha said to him: “How could it possibly be otherwise, Aggivessana? Prince Jayasena dwells in the midst of sensual pleasures, enjoying them, consumed by thoughts of them, burning with fever for them, and eagerly seeking more. It’s simply impossible for him to know or see or realize what can only be known, seen, and realized by renunciation.

(simile of well trained elephants)

Seyyathāpissu, aggivessana, dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā, dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā adantā avinītā. Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, aggivessana, ye te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā, api nu te dantāva dantakāraṇaṃ gaccheyyuṃ, dantāva dantabhūmiṃ sampāpuṇeyyun”ti? “Evaṃ, bhante”. “Ye pana te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā adantā avinītā, api nu te adantāva dantakāraṇaṃ gaccheyyuṃ, adantāva dantabhūmiṃ sampāpuṇeyyuṃ, seyyathāpi te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā”ti? “No hetaṃ, bhante”. “Evameva kho, aggivessana, ‘yaṃ taṃ nekkhammena ñātabbaṃ nekkhammena daṭṭhabbaṃ nekkhammena pattabbaṃ nekkhammena sacchikātabbaṃ taṃ vata jayaseno rājakumāro kāmamajjhe vasanto kāme paribhuñjanto kāmavitakkehi khajjamāno kāmapariḷāhena pariḍayhamāno kāmapariyesanāya ussuko ñassati vā dakkhati vā sacchi vā karissatī’ti—netaṃ ṭhānaṃ vijjati.

Suppose there was a pair of elephants or horse or oxen in training who were well tamed and well trained. And there was a pair who were not tamed or trained. What do you think, Aggivessana? Wouldn’t the pair that was well tamed and well trained perform the tasks of the tamed and reach the level of the tamed?” “Yes, sir.” “But would the pair that was not tamed and trained perform the tasks of the tamed and reach the level of the tamed, just like the tamed pair?” “No, sir.” “In the same way, Prince Jayasena dwells in the midst of sensual pleasures, enjoying them, consumed by thoughts of them, burning with fever for them, and eagerly seeking more. It’s simply impossible for him to know or see or realize what can only be known, seen, and realized by renunciation.

(simile of standing on mountain seeing clearly)


Seyyathāpi, aggivessana, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre mahāpabbato. Tamenaṃ dve sahāyakā tamhā gāmā vā nigamā vā nikkhamitvā hatthavilaṅghakena yena so pabbato tenupasaṅkameyyuṃ; upasaṅkamitvā eko sahāyako heṭṭhā pabbatapāde tiṭṭheyya, eko sahāyako uparipabbataṃ āroheyya. Tamenaṃ heṭṭhā pabbatapāde ṭhito sahāyako uparipabbate ṭhitaṃ sahāyakaṃ evaṃ vadeyya: ‘yaṃ, samma, kiṃ tvaṃ passasi uparipabbate ṭhito’ti? So evaṃ vadeyya: ‘passāmi kho ahaṃ, samma, uparipabbate ṭhito ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṃ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṃ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṃ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.	Suppose there was a big mountain not far from a town or village. And two friends set out from that village or town, lending each other a hand up to the mountain. Once there, one friend would remain at the foot of the mountain, while the other would climb to the peak. Then the one standing at the foot would say to the one at the peak: ‘My friend, what do you see, standing there at the peak?’ They’d reply: ‘Standing at the peak, I see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds!’

So evaṃ vadeyya: ‘aṭṭhānaṃ kho etaṃ, samma, anavakāso yaṃ tvaṃ uparipabbate ṭhito passeyyāsi ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṃ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṃ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṃ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti. Tamenaṃ uparipabbate ṭhito sahāyako heṭṭhimapabbatapādaṃ orohitvā taṃ sahāyakaṃ bāhāyaṃ gahetvā uparipabbataṃ āropetvā muhuttaṃ assāsetvā evaṃ vadeyya: ‘yaṃ, samma, kiṃ tvaṃ passasi uparipabbate ṭhito’ti? So evaṃ vadeyya: ‘passāmi kho ahaṃ, samma, uparipabbate ṭhito ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṃ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṃ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṃ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti.	But the other would say: ‘It’s impossible, it cannot happen that, standing at the peak, you can see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds.’ So their friend would come down from the peak, take their friend by the arm, and make them climb to the peak. After giving them a moment to catch their breath, they’d say: ‘My friend, what do you see, standing here at the peak?’ They’d reply: ‘Standing at the peak, I see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds!’

So evaṃ vadeyya: ‘idāneva kho te, samma, bhāsitaṃ—mayaṃ evaṃ ājānāma—aṭṭhānaṃ kho etaṃ samma, anavakāso yaṃ tvaṃ uparipabbate ṭhito passeyyāsi ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṃ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṃ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṃ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti. Idāneva ca pana te bhāsitaṃ mayaṃ evaṃ ājānāma: ‘passāmi kho ahaṃ, samma, uparipabbate ṭhito ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṃ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṃ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṃ pokkharaṇīrāmaṇeyyakan’ti. So evaṃ vadeyya: ‘tathā hi panāhaṃ, samma, iminā mahatā pabbatena āvuto daṭṭheyyaṃ nāddasan’ti.	They’d say: ‘Just now I understood you to say: “It’s impossible, it cannot happen that, standing at the peak, you can see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds.” But now you say: “Standing at the peak, I see delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds!”’ They’d say: ‘But my friend, it was because I was obstructed by this big mountain that I didn’t see what could be seen.’

Ato mahantatarena, aggivessana, ‘avijjākhandhena jayaseno rājakumāro āvuto nivuto ophuṭo pariyonaddho. So vata yaṃ taṃ nekkhammena ñātabbaṃ nekkhammena daṭṭhabbaṃ nekkhammena pattabbaṃ nekkhammena sacchikātabbaṃ taṃ vata jayaseno rājakumāro kāmamajjhe vasanto kāme paribhuñjanto kāmavitakkehi khajjamāno kāmapariḷāhena pariḍayhamāno kāmapariyesanāya ussuko ñassati vā dakkhati vā sacchi vā karissatī’ti—netaṃ ṭhānaṃ vijjati. Sace kho taṃ, aggivessana, jayasenassa rājakumārassa imā dve upamā paṭibhāyeyyuṃ, anacchariyaṃ te jayaseno rājakumāro pasīdeyya, pasanno ca te pasannākāraṃ kareyyā”ti. “Kuto pana maṃ, bhante, jayasenassa rājakumārassa imā dve upamā paṭibhāyissanti anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā, seyyathāpi bhagavantan”ti?	But bigger than that is the mass of ignorance by which Prince Jayasena is hindered, obstructed, covered, and engulfed. Prince Jayasena dwells in the midst of sensual pleasures, enjoying them, consumed by thoughts of them, burning with fever for them, and eagerly seeking more. It’s simply impossible for him to know or see or realize what can only be known, seen, and realized by renunciation. It wouldn’t be surprising if, had these two similes occurred to you, Prince Jayasena would have gained confidence in you and shown his confidence.” “But sir, how could these two similes have occurred to me as they did to the Buddha, since they were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past?”

(simile of training wild elephant)


“Seyyathāpi, aggivessana, rājā khattiyo muddhāvasitto nāgavanikaṃ āmanteti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, samma nāgavanika, rañño nāgaṃ abhiruhitvā nāgavanaṃ pavisitvā āraññakaṃ nāgaṃ atipassitvā rañño nāgassa gīvāyaṃ upanibandhāhī’ti. ‘Evaṃ, devā’ti kho, aggivessana, nāgavaniko rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa paṭissutvā rañño nāgaṃ abhiruhitvā nāgavanaṃ pavisitvā āraññakaṃ nāgaṃ atipassitvā rañño nāgassa gīvāyaṃ upanibandhati. Tamenaṃ rañño nāgo abbhokāsaṃ nīharati. Ettāvatā kho, aggivessana, āraññako nāgo abbhokāsaṃ gato hoti. Etthagedhā hi, aggivessana, āraññakā nāgā yadidaṃ—nāgavanaṃ. Tamenaṃ nāgavaniko rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa ārocesi: ‘abbhokāsagato kho, deva, āraññako nāgo’ti. Atha kho aggivessana, tamenaṃ rājā khattiyo muddhāvasitto hatthidamakaṃ āmantesi: ‘ehi tvaṃ, samma hatthidamaka, āraññakaṃ nāgaṃ damayāhi āraññakānañceva sīlānaṃ abhinimmadanāya āraññakānañceva sarasaṅkappānaṃ abhinimmadanāya āraññakānañceva darathakilamathapariḷāhānaṃ abhinimmadanāya gāmante abhiramāpanāya manussakantesu sīlesu samādapanāyā’ti.	“Suppose, Aggivessana, an anointed king was to address his elephant tracker: ‘Please, my good elephant tracker, mount the royal bull elephant and enter the elephant wood. When you see a wild bull elephant, tether it by the neck to the royal elephant.’ ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied the elephant tracker, and did as he was asked. The royal elephant leads the wild elephant out into the open; and it’s only then that it comes out into the open, for a wild bull elephant clings to the elephant wood. Then the elephant tracker informs the king: ‘Sire, the wild elephant has come out in the open.’ Then then king addresses his elephant trainer: ‘Please, my good elephant trainer, tame the wild bull elephant. Subdue its wild behaviors, its wild memories and thoughts, and its wild stress, weariness, and fever. Make it happy to be in the neighborhood of a village, and instill behaviors congenial to humans.’

‘Evaṃ, devā’ti kho, aggivessana, hatthidamako rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa paṭissutvā mahantaṃ thambhaṃ pathaviyaṃ nikhaṇitvā āraññakassa nāgassa gīvāyaṃ upanibandhati āraññakānañceva sīlānaṃ abhinimmadanāya āraññakānañceva sarasaṅkappānaṃ abhinimmadanāya āraññakānañceva darathakilamathapariḷāhānaṃ abhinimmadanāya gāmante abhiramāpanāya manussakantesu sīlesu samādapanāya. Tamenaṃ hatthidamako yā sā vācā nelā kaṇṇasukhā pemanīyā hadayaṅgamā porī bahujanakantā bahujanamanāpā tathārūpāhi vācāhi samudācarati. Yato kho, aggivessana, āraññako nāgo hatthidamakassa yā sā vācā nelā kaṇṇasukhā pemanīyā hadayaṅgamā porī bahujanakantā bahujanamanāpā tathārūpāhi vācāhi samudācariyamāno sussūsati, sotaṃ odahati, aññā cittaṃ upaṭṭhāpeti; tamenaṃ hatthidamako uttari tiṇaghāsodakaṃ anuppavecchati.	‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied the elephant trainer. He dug a large post into the earth and tethered the elephant to it by the neck, so as to subdue its wild behaviors, its wild memories and thoughts, and its wild stress, weariness, and fever, and to make it happy to be in the neighborhood of a village, and instill behaviors congenial to humans. He spoke in a way that’s mellow, pleasing to the ear, lovely, going to the heart, polite, likable and agreeable to the people. Spoken to in such a way by the elephant trainer, the wild elephant wanted to listen. It paid attention and applied its mind to understand. So the elephant trainer rewards it with grass, fodder, and water.

Yato kho, aggivessana, āraññako nāgo hatthidamakassa tiṇaghāsodakaṃ paṭiggaṇhāti, tatra hatthidamakassa evaṃ hoti: ‘jīvissati kho dāni āraññako nāgo’ti. Tamenaṃ hatthidamako uttari kāraṇaṃ kāreti: ‘ādiya, bho, nikkhipa, bho’ti. Yato kho, aggivessana, āraññako nāgo hatthidamakassa ādānanikkhepe vacanakaro hoti ovādappaṭikaro, tamenaṃ hatthidamako uttari kāraṇaṃ kāreti: ‘abhikkama, bho, paṭikkama, bho’ti. Yato kho, aggivessana, āraññako nāgo hatthidamakassa abhikkamapaṭikkamavacanakaro hoti ovādappaṭikaro, tamenaṃ hatthidamako uttari kāraṇaṃ kāreti: ‘uṭṭhaha, bho, nisīda, bho’ti. Yato kho, aggivessana, āraññako nāgo hatthidamakassa uṭṭhānanisajjāya vacanakaro hoti ovādappaṭikaro, tamenaṃ hatthidamako uttari āneñjaṃ nāma kāraṇaṃ kāreti, mahantassa phalakaṃ soṇḍāya upanibandhati, tomarahattho ca puriso uparigīvāya nisinno hoti, samantato ca tomarahatthā purisā parivāretvā ṭhitā honti, hatthidamako ca dīghatomarayaṭṭhiṃ gahetvā purato ṭhito hoti. So āneñjaṃ kāraṇaṃ kāriyamāno neva purime pāde copeti na pacchime pāde copeti, na purimakāyaṃ copeti na pacchimakāyaṃ copeti, na sīsaṃ copeti, na kaṇṇe copeti, na dante copeti, na naṅguṭṭhaṃ copeti, na soṇḍaṃ copeti. So hoti āraññako nāgo khamo sattippahārānaṃ asippahārānaṃ usuppahārānaṃ sarapattappahārānaṃ bheripaṇavavaṃsasaṅkhaḍiṇḍimaninnādasaddānaṃ sabbavaṅkadosanihitaninnītakasāvo rājāraho rājabhoggo rañño aṅganteva saṅkhaṃ gacchati.	When the wild elephant accepts the grass, fodder, and water, the trainer knows: ‘Now the wild elephant will survive!’ Then he sets it a further task: ‘Pick it up, sir! Put it down, sir!’ When the wild elephant picks up and puts down when the trainer says, following instructions, the trainer sets it a further task: ‘Forward, sir! Back, sir!’ When the wild elephant goes forward and back when the trainer says, following instructions, the trainer sets it a further task: ‘Stand, sir! Sit, sir!’ When the wild elephant stands and sits when the trainer says, following instructions, the trainer sets the task called imperturbability. He fastens a large plank to its trunk; a lancer sits on its neck; other lancers surround it on all sides; and the trainer himself stands in front with a long lance. While practicing this task, it doesn’t budge its fore-feet or hind-feet, its fore-quarters or hind-quarters, its head, ears, tusks, tail, or trunk. The wild bull elephant endures being struck by spears, swords, arrows, and axes; it endures the thunder of the drums, kettledrums, horns, and cymbals. Rid of all crooks and flaws, and purged of defects, it is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and considered a factor of kingship.

(Buddha is like the wild elephant trainer)

Evameva kho, aggivessana, idha tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṃ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṃ buddho bhagavā. So imaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṃ pajaṃ sadevamanussaṃ sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṃ deseti ādikalyāṇaṃ majjhekalyāṇaṃ pariyosānakalyāṇaṃ sātthaṃ sabyañjanaṃ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṃ parisuddhaṃ brahmacariyaṃ pakāseti. Taṃ dhammaṃ suṇāti gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā aññatarasmiṃ vā kule paccājāto. So taṃ dhammaṃ sutvā tathāgate saddhaṃ paṭilabhati. So tena saddhāpaṭilābhena samannāgato iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Nayidaṃ sukaraṃ agāraṃ ajjhāvasatā ekantaparipuṇṇaṃ ekantaparisuddhaṃ saṅkhalikhitaṃ brahmacariyaṃ carituṃ. Yannūnāhaṃ kesamassuṃ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajeyyan’ti.

In the same way, Aggivessana, a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. He realizes with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. A householder hears that teaching, or a householder’s child, or someone reborn in some clan. They gain faith in the Realized One, and reflect: ‘Living in a house is cramped and dirty, but the life of one gone forth is wide open. It’s not easy for someone living at home to lead the spiritual life utterly full and pure, like a polished shell. Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’

(renounce, shave head, work on sīla)


So aparena samayena appaṃ vā bhogakkhandhaṃ pahāya mahantaṃ vā bhogakkhandhaṃ pahāya appaṃ vā ñātiparivaṭṭaṃ pahāya mahantaṃ vā ñātiparivaṭṭaṃ pahāya kesamassuṃ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajati. Ettāvatā kho, aggivessana, ariyasāvako abbhokāsagato hoti. Etthagedhā hi, aggivessana, devamanussā yadidaṃ—pañca kāmaguṇā. Tamenaṃ tathāgato uttariṃ vineti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, bhikkhu, sīlavā hohi, pātimokkhasaṃvarasaṃvuto viharāhi ācāragocarasampanno, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhassu sikkhāpadesū’ti.	After some time they give up a large or small fortune, and a large or small family circle. They shave off hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness. And it’s only then that a noble disciple comes out into the open, for gods and humans cling to the five kinds of sensual stimulation. Then the Realized One guides them further: ‘Come, mendicant, be ethical and restrained in the monastic code, with appropriate behavior and means of collecting alms. Seeing danger in the slightest flaw, keep the rules you’ve undertaken.’

(guard sense doors)

Yato kho, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṃvarasaṃvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu, tamenaṃ tathāgato uttariṃ vineti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, bhikkhu, indriyesu guttadvāro hohi, cakkhunā rūpaṃ disvā mā nimittaggāhī hohi mānubyañjanaggāhī. Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ cakkhundriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjāhi; rakkhāhi cakkhundriyaṃ, cakkhundriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjāhi. Sotena saddaṃ sutvā … pe … ghānena gandhaṃ ghāyitvā … pe … jivhāya rasaṃ sāyitvā … pe … kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṃ phusitvā … pe … manasā dhammaṃ viññāya mā nimittaggāhī hohi mānubyañjanaggāhī. Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ manindriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjāhi; rakkhāhi manindriyaṃ, manindriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjāhī’ti.

When they have ethical conduct, the Realized One guides them further: ‘Come, mendicant, guard your sense doors. When you see a sight with your eyes, don’t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of sight was left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, practice restraint, protect the faculty of sight, and achieve restraint over it. When you hear a sound with your ears … When you smell an odor with your nose … When you taste a flavor with your tongue … When you feel a touch with your body … When you know a phenomenon with your mind, don’t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of mind was left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, practice restraint, protect the faculty of mind, and achieve its restraint.’

(moderation in eating)

Yato kho, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, tamenaṃ tathāgato uttariṃ vineti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, bhikkhu, bhojane mattaññū hohi. Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṃ āhāreyyāsi—neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṃsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya—iti purāṇañca vedanaṃ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṃ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.

When they guard their sense doors, the Realized One guides them further: ‘Come, mendicant, eat in moderation. Reflect properly on the food that you eat: ‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to continue and sustain this body, avoid harm, and support spiritual practice. So that I will put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and so that I will keep on living blamelessly and at ease.’

(wakefulness)

Yato kho, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti, tamenaṃ tathāgato uttariṃ vineti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, bhikkhu, jāgariyaṃ anuyutto viharāhi, divasaṃ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṃ parisodhehi, rattiyā paṭhamaṃ yāmaṃ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṃ parisodhehi, rattiyā majjhimaṃ yāmaṃ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṃ kappeyyāsi pāde pādaṃ accādhāya sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṃ manasikaritvā, rattiyā pacchimaṃ yāmaṃ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṃ parisodhehī’ti.

When they eat in moderation, the Realized One guides them further: ‘Come, mendicant, be committed to wakefulness. Practice walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying your mind from obstacles. In the evening, continue to practice walking and sitting meditation. In the middle of the night, lie down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up. In the last part of the night, get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying your mind from obstacles.’

(S&S: sati & sampajāno)

Yato kho, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu jāgariyaṃ anuyutto hoti, tamenaṃ tathāgato uttariṃ vineti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, bhikkhu, satisampajaññena samannāgato hohi, abhikkante paṭikkante sampajānakārī, ālokite vilokite sampajānakārī, samiñjite pasārite sampajānakārī, saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇe sampajānakārī, asite pīte khāyite sāyite sampajānakārī, uccārapassāvakamme sampajānakārī, gate ṭhite nisinne sutte jāgarite bhāsite tuṇhībhāve sampajānakārī’ti.

When they are committed to wakefulness, the Realized One guides them further: ‘Come, mendicant, have mindfulness and situational awareness. Act with situational awareness when going out and coming back; when looking ahead and aside; when bending and extending the limbs; when bearing the outer robe, bowl and robes; when eating, drinking, chewing, and tasting; when urinating and defecating; when walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, waking, speaking, and keeping silent.’

(5niv hindrance removal)


Yato kho, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu satisampajaññena samannāgato hoti, tamenaṃ tathāgato uttariṃ vineti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, bhikkhu, vivittaṃ senāsanaṃ bhajāhi araññaṃ rukkhamūlaṃ pabbataṃ kandaraṃ giriguhaṃ susānaṃ vanapatthaṃ abbhokāsaṃ palālapuñjan’ti. So vivittaṃ senāsanaṃ bhajati araññaṃ rukkhamūlaṃ pabbataṃ kandaraṃ giriguhaṃ susānaṃ vanapatthaṃ abbhokāsaṃ palālapuñjaṃ. So pacchābhattaṃ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto nisīdati pallaṅkaṃ ābhujitvā, ujuṃ kāyaṃ paṇidhāya, parimukhaṃ satiṃ upaṭṭhapetvā. So abhijjhaṃ loke pahāya vigatābhijjhena cetasā viharati, abhijjhāya cittaṃ parisodheti; byāpādapadosaṃ pahāya abyāpannacitto viharati sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī, byāpādapadosā cittaṃ parisodheti; thinamiddhaṃ pahāya vigatathinamiddho viharati ālokasaññī sato sampajāno, thinamiddhā cittaṃ parisodheti; uddhaccakukkuccaṃ pahāya anuddhato viharati ajjhattaṃ vūpasantacitto, uddhaccakukkuccā cittaṃ parisodheti; vicikicchaṃ pahāya tiṇṇavicikiccho viharati akathaṃkathī kusalesu dhammesu, vicikicchāya cittaṃ parisodheti.	When they have mindfulness and situational awareness, the Realized One guides them further: ‘Come, mendicant, frequent a secluded lodging—a wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw.’ And they do so. After the meal, they return from alms-round, sit down cross-legged with their body straight, and establish mindfulness right there. Giving up desire for the world, they meditate with a heart rid of desire, cleansing the mind of desire. Giving up ill will and malevolence, they meditate with a mind rid of ill will, full of compassion for all living beings, cleansing the mind of ill will. Giving up dullness and drowsiness, they meditate with a mind rid of dullness and drowsiness, perceiving light, mindful and aware, cleansing the mind of dullness and drowsiness. Giving up restlessness and remorse, they meditate without restlessness, their mind peaceful inside, cleansing the mind of restlessness and remorse. Giving up doubt, they meditate having gone beyond doubt, not undecided about skillful qualities, cleansing the mind of doubt.

(4sp satipatthana nonstop, like elephant tethered to post)

So ime pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṃ. Vedanāsu … pe … citte … dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṃ. Seyyathāpi, aggivessana, hatthidamako mahantaṃ thambhaṃ pathaviyaṃ nikhaṇitvā āraññakassa nāgassa gīvāyaṃ upanibandhati āraññakānañceva sīlānaṃ abhinimmadanāya āraññakānañceva sarasaṅkappānaṃ abhinimmadanāya āraññakānañceva darathakilamathapariḷāhānaṃ abhinimmadanāya gāmante abhiramāpanāya manussakantesu sīlesu samādapanāya; evameva kho, aggivessana, ariyasāvakassa ime cattāro satipaṭṭhānā cetaso upanibandhanā honti gehasitānañceva sīlānaṃ abhinimmadanāya gehasitānañceva sarasaṅkappānaṃ abhinimmadanāya gehasitānañceva darathakilamathapariḷāhānaṃ abhinimmadanāya ñāyassa adhigamāya nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya.

They give up these five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. Then they meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. It’s like when the elephant trainer dug a large post into the earth and tethered the elephant to it by the neck, so as to subdue its wild behaviors, its wild memories and thoughts, and its wild stress, weariness, and fever, and to make it happy to be in the neighborhood of a village, and instill behaviors congenial to humans. In the same way, a noble disciple has these four kinds of mindfulness meditation as tethers for the mind so as to subdue behaviors of the lay life, memories and thoughts of the lay life, the stress, weariness, and fever of the lay life, to complete the procedure and to realize extinguishment.

(do 4sp with no kāma-vitakka/thoughts of sensuality)


Tamenaṃ tathāgato uttariṃ vineti: ‘ehi tvaṃ, bhikkhu, kāye kāyānupassī viharāhi, mā ca kāmūpasaṃhitaṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkesi. Vedanāsu … citte … dhammesu dhammānupassī viharāhi, mā ca kāmūpasaṃhitaṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkesī’ti.	Then the Realized One guides them further: ‘Come, mendicant, meditate observing an aspect of the body, but don’t think thoughts connected with sensual pleasures. Meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles, but don’t think thoughts connected with sensual pleasures.’

(skip first jhāna, go directly to 2nd jhāna, since first jhāna can have thoughts connected to Dhamma)


So vitakkavicārānaṃ vūpasamā ajjhattaṃ sampasādanaṃ cetaso ekodibhāvaṃ avitakkaṃ avicāraṃ samādhijaṃ pītisukhaṃ dutiyaṃ jhānaṃ … tatiyaṃ jhānaṃ … catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati.	As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption.

(imperturbability/āneñjappatte, the dynamic form of 4th jhāna)


So evaṃ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṃ abhininnāmeti.	When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, spotless, rid of taints, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—

(#4 of 6: higher knowledge of reviewing past lives)

So anekavihitaṃ pubbenivāsaṃ anussarati, seyyathidaṃ—ekampi jātiṃ dvepi jātiyo … pe … iti sākāraṃ sauddesaṃ anekavihitaṃ pubbenivāsaṃ anussarati.

they extend it toward recollection of past lives. They recollect many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world evolving, many eons of the world contracting and evolving. And so they recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details.

(#5 of 6: higher knowledge of divine eye sees kamma and rebirth of beings)

So evaṃ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṃ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṃ abhininnāmeti. So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate … pe … yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.

When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, spotless, rid of taints, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings. With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. They understand how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds.

(#6 of 6: higher knowledge of destruction of āsavas, i.e. arahant)

So evaṃ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṃ khayañāṇāya cittaṃ abhininnāmeti. So ‘idaṃ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti, ‘ayaṃ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti, ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti, ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti; ‘ime āsavā’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti, ‘ayaṃ āsavasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti, ‘ayaṃ āsavanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti, ‘ayaṃ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti. Tassa evaṃ jānato evaṃ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṃ vimuccati, bhavāsavāpi cittaṃ vimuccati, avijjāsavāpi cittaṃ vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṃ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṃ hoti. ‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṃ brahmacariyaṃ, kataṃ karaṇīyaṃ, nāparaṃ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.

When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, spotless, rid of taints, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements. They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. They truly understand: ‘These are defilements’ … ‘This is the origin of defilements’ … ‘This is the cessation of defilements’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements’. Knowing and seeing like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When freed, they know ‘it is freed’. They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is no return to any state of existence.’

(mark of sammā samādhi is khamo/patient endurance of any unpleasant experience)


So hoti bhikkhu khamo sītassa uṇhassa jighacchāya pipāsāya ḍaṃsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṃ duruttānaṃ durāgatānaṃ vacanapathānaṃ, uppannānaṃ sārīrikānaṃ vedanānaṃ dukkhānaṃ tibbānaṃ kharānaṃ kaṭukānaṃ asātānaṃ amanāpānaṃ pāṇaharānaṃ adhivāsakajātiko hoti sabbarāgadosamohanihitaninnītakasāvo āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassa.	Such a mendicant endures cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; rude and unwelcome criticism; and puts up with physical pain—intense, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening. Rid of all greed, hate, and delusion, and purged of defects, they are worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a teacher’s offering, and worthy of greeting with joined palms. They are the supreme field of merit for the world.

Mahallako cepi, aggivessana, rañño nāgo adanto avinīto kālaṃ karoti, ‘adantamaraṇaṃ mahallako rañño nāgo kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati; majjhimo cepi, aggivessana, rañño nāgo. Daharo cepi, aggivessana, rañño nāgo adanto avinīto kālaṃ karoti, ‘adantamaraṇaṃ daharo rañño nāgo kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati; evameva kho, aggivessana, thero cepi bhikkhu akhīṇāsavo kālaṃ karoti, ‘adantamaraṇaṃ thero bhikkhu kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati; majjhimo cepi, aggivessana, bhikkhu. Navo cepi, aggivessana, bhikkhu akhīṇāsavo kālaṃ karoti, ‘adantamaraṇaṃ navo bhikkhu kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati.	If a royal bull elephant passes away untamed and untrained—whether in their old age, middle age, or youth—they’re considered a royal bull elephant who passed away untamed. In the same way, if a mendicant passes away without having ended the defilements—whether as a senior, middle, or junior—they’re considered as a mendicant who passed away untamed.

Mahallako cepi, aggivessana, rañño nāgo sudanto suvinīto kālaṃ karoti, ‘dantamaraṇaṃ mahallako rañño nāgo kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati; majjhimo cepi, aggivessana, rañño nāgo … daharo cepi, aggivessana, rañño nāgo sudanto suvinīto kālaṃ karoti, ‘dantamaraṇaṃ daharo rañño nāgo kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati; evameva kho, aggivessana, thero cepi bhikkhu khīṇāsavo kālaṃ karoti, ‘dantamaraṇaṃ thero bhikkhu kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati; majjhimo cepi, aggivessana, bhikkhu. Navo cepi, aggivessana, bhikkhu khīṇāsavo kālaṃ karoti, ‘dantamaraṇaṃ navo bhikkhu kālaṅkato’tveva saṅkhaṃ gacchatī”ti.	If a royal bull elephant passes away tamed and trained—whether in their old age, middle age, or youth—they’re considered a royal bull elephant who passed away tamed. In the same way, if a mendicant passes away having ended the defilements—whether as a senior, middle, or junior—they’re considered as a mendicant who passed away tamed.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano aciravato samaṇuddeso bhagavato bhāsitaṃ abhinandīti.	That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the novice Aciravata was happy with what the Buddha said.

Dantabhūmisuttaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ pañcamaṃ.	(end of sutta)