AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.92 Urgent

Numbered Discourses 3.92 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.92

10. A Lump of Salt – 10. Loṇakapallavagga

AN 3.92 Urgent – Accāyikasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a farmer has three urgent duties.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, kassakassa gahapatissa accāyikāni karaṇīyāni.

1.2

What three?

Katamāni tīṇi?

1.3

A farmer swiftly makes sure the field is well ploughed and tilled.

Idha, bhikkhave, kassako gahapati sīghaṁ sīghaṁ khettaṁ sukaṭṭhaṁ karoti sumatikataṁ.

1.4

Next they swiftly plant seeds in season.

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ khettaṁ sukaṭṭhaṁ karitvā sumatikataṁ sīghaṁ sīghaṁ bījāni patiṭṭhāpeti.

1.5

When the time is right, they swiftly irrigate or drain the field.

Sīghaṁ sīghaṁ bījāni patiṭṭhāpetvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ udakaṁ abhinetipi apanetipi.

1.6

These are the three urgent duties of a farmer.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi kassakassa gahapatissa accāyikāni karaṇīyāni.

1.7

That farmer has no special power or ability to say:

Tassa kho taṁ, bhikkhave, kassakassa gahapatissa natthi sā iddhi vā ānubhāvo vā:

1.8

‘Let the crops germinate today! Let them flower tomorrow! Let them ripen the day after!’

‘ajjeva me dhaññāni jāyantu, sveva gabbhīni hontu, uttarasveva paccantū’ti.

1.9

But there comes a time when that farmer’s crops germinate, flower, and ripen as the seasons change.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, hoti so samayo yaṁ tassa kassakassa gahapatissa tāni dhaññāni utupariṇāmīni jāyantipi gabbhīnipi honti paccantipi.

2.1

In the same way, a bhikkhu has three urgent duties.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīṇimāni bhikkhussa accāyikāni karaṇīyāni.

2.2

What three?

Katamāni tīṇi?

2.3

Undertaking the training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.

Adhisīlasikkhāsamādānaṁ, adhicittasikkhāsamādānaṁ, adhipaññāsikkhāsamādānaṁ—

2.4

These are the three urgent duties of a bhikkhu.

imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi bhikkhussa accāyikāni karaṇīyāni.

2.5

That bhikkhu has no special power or ability to say:

Tassa kho taṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno natthi sā iddhi vā ānubhāvo vā:

2.6

‘Let my mind be freed from defilements by not grasping today! Or tomorrow! Or the day after!’

‘ajjeva me anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuccatu sve vā uttarasve vā’ti.

2.7

But there comes a time—as that bhikkhu trains in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom—that their mind is freed from defilements by not grasping.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, hoti so samayo yaṁ tassa bhikkhuno adhisīlampi sikkhato adhicittampi sikkhato adhipaññampi sikkhato anupādāya āsavehi cittaṁ vimuccati.

3.1

So you should train like this:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

3.2

‘We will have keen enthusiasm for undertaking the training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.’

‘tibbo no chando bhavissati adhisīlasikkhāsamādāne, tibbo chando bhavissati adhicittasikkhāsamādāne, tibbo chando bhavissati adhipaññāsikkhāsamādāne’ti.

3.3

That’s how you should train.”

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

3.4

Paṭhamaṁ.