AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.37 Non-decline

Numbered Discourses 4.37 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.37

4. Situations – 4. Cakkavagga

AN 4.37 Non-decline – Aparihāniyasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a bhikkhu who has four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya nibbānasseva santike.

1.2

What four?

Katamehi catūhi?

1.3

A bhikkhu is accomplished in ethics, guards the sense doors, eats in moderation, and is dedicated to wakefulness.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti, indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, bhojane mattaññū hoti, jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.

2.1

And how is a bhikkhu accomplished in ethics?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti?

2.2

It’s when a bhikkhu is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

2.3

That’s how a bhikkhu is accomplished in ethics.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti.

3.1

And how does a bhikkhu guard the sense doors?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti?

3.2

When a bhikkhu sees a sight with their eyes, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.

3.3

If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving restraint over it.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati cakkhundriyaṁ; cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.

3.4

Hearing a sound with their ears …

Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …

3.5

Smelling an odor with their nose …

ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …

3.6

Tasting a flavor with their tongue …

jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …

3.7

Feeling a touch with their body …

kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …

3.8

Knowing a thought with their mind, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.

manasā dhammaṁ viññāya na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.

3.9

If the faculty of mind were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving restraint over it.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati manindriyaṁ; manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.

3.10

That’s how a bhikkhu guards the sense doors.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti.

4.1

And how does a bhikkhu eat in moderation?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti?

4.2

It’s when a bhikkhu reflects properly on the food that they eat:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṁ āhāreti:

4.3

‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will live blamelessly and at ease.’

‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya; yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya. Iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati, anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.

4.4

That’s how a bhikkhu eats in moderation.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti.

5.1

And how is a bhikkhu dedicated to wakefulness?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti?

5.2

It’s when a bhikkhu practices walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying their mind from obstacles.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu divasaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti;

5.3

In the evening, they continue to practice walking and sitting meditation.

rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti;

5.4

In the middle of the night, they 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.

rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā;

5.5

In the last part of the night, they get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying their mind from obstacles.

rattiyā pacchimaṁ yāmaṁ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti.

5.6

This is how a bhikkhu is dedicated to wakefulness.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.

5.7

A bhikkhu who has these four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santiketi.

6.1

Established in ethics,

Sīle patiṭṭhito bhikkhu,

6.2

restrained in the sense faculties,

indriyesu ca saṁvuto;

6.3

eating in moderation,

Bhojanamhi ca mattaññū,

6.4

and dedicated to wakefulness;

jāgariyaṁ anuyuñjati.

7.1

a bhikkhu lives like this, with keen energy,

Evaṁ vihārī ātāpī,

7.2

tireless all night and day,

ahorattamatandito;

7.3

developing skillful qualities,

Bhāvayaṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ,

7.4

for the sake of finding sanctuary.

yogakkhemassa pattiyā.

8.1

A bhikkhu who loves to be diligent,

Appamādarato bhikkhu,

8.2

seeing fear in negligence,

pamāde bhayadassi vā;

8.3

can’t decline,

Abhabbo parihānāya,

8.4

and has drawn near to extinguishment.”

nibbānasseva santike”ti.

8.5

Sattamaṁ.