AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.28 The Noble Traditions

Numbered Discourses 4.28 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.28

3. At Uruvelā – 3. Uruvelavagga

AN 4.28 The Noble Traditions – Ariyavaṁsasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, these four noble traditions are primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now, nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, ariyavaṁsā aggaññā rattaññā vaṁsaññā porāṇā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

1.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.3

Firstly, a bhikkhu is content with any kind of robe, and praises such contentment. They don’t try to get hold of a robe in an improper way. They don’t get upset if they don’t get a robe. And if they do get a robe, they use it untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca cīvarahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati;

1.4

But they don’t glorify themselves or put others down on account of their contentment.

tāya ca pana itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

1.5

A bhikkhu who is deft, tireless, aware, and mindful in this is said to stand in the ancient, primordial noble tradition.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

2.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is content with any kind of almsfood …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca piṇḍapātahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati;

2.2

tāya ca pana itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

2.3

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

3.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is content with any kind of lodgings …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca senāsanahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca senāsanaṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca senāsanaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati;

3.2

tāya ca pana itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

3.3

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

4.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu enjoys meditation and loves to meditate. They enjoy giving up and love to give up.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhāvanārāmo hoti bhāvanārato, pahānārāmo hoti pahānarato;

4.2

But they don’t glorify themselves or put down others on account of their love for meditation and giving up.

tāya ca pana bhāvanārāmatāya bhāvanāratiyā pahānārāmatāya pahānaratiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

4.3

A bhikkhu who is deft, tireless, aware, and mindful in this is said to stand in the ancient, primordial noble tradition.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

4.4

These four noble traditions are primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro ariyavaṁsā aggaññā rattaññā vaṁsaññā porāṇā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

5.1

When a bhikkhu has these four noble traditions, if they live in the east they prevail over discontent, and discontent doesn’t prevail over them.

Imehi ca pana, bhikkhave, catūhi ariyavaṁsehi samannāgato bhikkhu puratthimāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati;

5.2

If they live in the west …

pacchimāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati;

5.3

the north …

uttarāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati;

5.4

the south, they prevail over discontent, and discontent doesn’t prevail over them.

dakkhiṇāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati.

5.5

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

5.6

Because a wise one prevails over desire and discontent.

Aratiratisaho hi, bhikkhave, dhīroti.

6.1

Discontent doesn’t prevail over a wise one;

Nārati sahati dhīraṁ,

6.2

for the wise one is not beaten by discontent.

nārati dhīraṁ sahati;

6.3

A wise one prevails over discontent,

Dhīrova aratiṁ sahati,

6.4

for the wise one is a beater of discontent.

dhīro hi aratissaho.

7.1

Who can hold back the dispeller,

Sabbakammavihāyīnaṁ,

7.2

who’s thrown away all karma?

panuṇṇaṁ ko nivāraye;

7.3

Like a pendant of river gold,

Nekkhaṁ jambonadasseva,

7.4

who is worthy to criticize them?

ko taṁ ninditumarahati;

7.5

Even the gods praise them,

Devāpi naṁ pasaṁsanti,

7.6

and by Brahmā, too, they’re praised.”

brahmunāpi pasaṁsito”ti.

7.7

Aṭṭhamaṁ.