AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.38 Withdrawn

Numbered Discourses 4.38 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.38

4. Situations – 4. Cakkavagga

AN 4.38 Withdrawn – Patilīnasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a bhikkhu has eliminated idiosyncratic interpretations of the truth, has totally given up searching, has stilled the physical process, and is said to be ‘withdrawn’.

“Panuṇṇapaccekasacco, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘samavayasaṭṭhesano passaddhakāyasaṅkhāro patilīno’ti vuccati.

1.2

And how has a bhikkhu eliminated idiosyncratic interpretations of the truth?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu panuṇṇapaccekasacco hoti?

1.3

Different ascetics and brahmins have different idiosyncratic interpretations of the truth. For example:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno yāni tāni puthusamaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ puthupaccekasaccāni, seyyathidaṁ—

1.4

the cosmos is eternal, or not eternal, or finite, or infinite; the soul and the body are the same thing, or they are different things; after death, a Realized One exists, or doesn’t exist, or both exists and doesn’t exist, or neither exists nor doesn’t exist.

sassato lokoti vā, asassato lokoti vā, antavā lokoti vā, anantavā lokoti vā, taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīranti vā, aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīranti vā, hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇāti vā, na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇāti vā, hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇāti vā, neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇāti vā;

1.5

A bhikkhu has dispelled, eliminated, thrown out, rejected, let go of, given up, and relinquished all these.

sabbāni tāni nuṇṇāni honti panuṇṇāni cattāni vantāni muttāni pahīnāni paṭinissaṭṭhāni.

1.6

That’s how a bhikkhu has eliminated idiosyncratic interpretations of the truth.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu panuṇṇapaccekasacco hoti.

2.1

And how has a bhikkhu totally given up searching?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu samavayasaṭṭhesano hoti?

2.2

It’s when they’ve given up searching for sensual pleasures, for continued existence, and for a spiritual path.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno kāmesanā pahīnā hoti, bhavesanā pahīnā hoti, brahmacariyesanā paṭippassaddhā.

2.3

That’s how a bhikkhu has totally given up searching.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu samavayasaṭṭhesano hoti.

3.1

And how has a bhikkhu stilled the physical process?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu passaddhakāyasaṅkhāro hoti?

3.2

It’s when, giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

3.3

That’s how a bhikkhu has stilled the physical process.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu passaddhakāyasaṅkhāro hoti.

4.1

And how is a bhikkhu withdrawn?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu patilīno hoti?

4.2

It’s when they’ve given up the conceit ‘I am’, cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it, so it’s unable to arise in the future.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno asmimāno pahīno hoti ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo.

4.3

That’s how a bhikkhu is withdrawn.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu patilīno hoti.

4.4

A bhikkhu has eliminated idiosyncratic interpretations of the truth, has totally given up searching, has stilled the physical process, and is said to be ‘withdrawn’.

Panuṇṇapaccekasacco, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘samavayasaṭṭhesano passaddhakāyasaṅkhāro patilīno’ti vuccatīti.

5.1

The search for sensual pleasures, for a good rebirth,

Kāmesanā bhavesanā,

5.2

and the search for a spiritual path;

brahmacariyesanā saha;

5.3

the holding tight to the notion ‘this is the truth’,

Iti saccaparāmāso,

5.4

and the mass of grounds for views—

diṭṭhiṭṭhānā samussayā.

6.1

for one detached from all lusts,

Sabbarāgavirattassa,

6.2

freed by the ending of craving,

taṇhakkhayavimuttino;

6.3

that searching has been relinquished,

Esanā paṭinissaṭṭhā,

6.4

and those viewpoints eradicated.

diṭṭhiṭṭhānā samūhatā.

7.1

That bhikkhu is peaceful and mindful,

Sa ve santo sato bhikkhu,

7.2

a tranquil champion.

passaddho aparājito;

7.3

And when they’re awakened by comprehending conceit,

Mānābhisamayā buddho,

7.4

they’re called ‘withdrawn’.”

patilīnoti vuccatī”ti.

7.5

Aṭṭhamaṁ.