AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.157 Illness

Numbered Discourses 4.157 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.157

16. Faculties – 16. Indriyavagga

AN 4.157 Illness – Rogasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are two kinds of illness.

“Dveme, bhikkhave, rogā.

1.2

What two?

Katame dve?

1.3

Mental and physical.

Kāyiko ca rogo cetasiko ca rogo.

1.4

Some sentient beings are seen who can claim to be free of physical illness for a year, or two, or three years … even up to a hundred years or more.

Dissanti, bhikkhave, sattā kāyikena rogena ekampi vassaṁ ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, dvepi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, tīṇipi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, cattāripi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, pañcapi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, dasapi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, vīsatipi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, tiṁsampi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, cattārīsampi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, paññāsampi vassāni ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā, vassasatampi, bhiyyopi ārogyaṁ paṭijānamānā.

1.5

But it’s very hard to find any sentient beings in the world who can claim to be free of mental illness even for a moment, apart from those who have ended the defilements.

Te, bhikkhave, sattā sudullabhā lokasmiṁ ye cetasikena rogena muhuttampi ārogyaṁ paṭijānanti, aññatra khīṇāsavehi.

2.1

There are four kinds of illness for those gone forth.

Cattārome, bhikkhave, pabbajitassa rogā.

2.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

2.3

To start with, a bhikkhu has many wishes, is frustrated, and is not content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahiccho hoti vighātavā asantuṭṭho itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena.

2.4

Because of this, they focus their corrupt wishes on being looked up to, and on getting material possessions, honor, and popularity.

So mahiccho samāno vighātavā asantuṭṭho itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena pāpikaṁ icchaṁ paṇidahati anavaññappaṭilābhāya lābhasakkārasilokappaṭilābhāya.

2.5

They try hard, strive, and make an effort to get these things.

So uṭṭhahati ghaṭati vāyamati anavaññappaṭilābhāya lābhasakkārasilokappaṭilābhāya.

2.6

They have an ulterior motive when they visit families. They have an ulterior motive when they sit down, when they speak on Dhamma, and even when they hold it in when they need to go to the toilet.

So saṅkhāya kulāni upasaṅkamati, saṅkhāya nisīdati, saṅkhāya dhammaṁ bhāsati, saṅkhāya uccārapassāvaṁ sandhāreti.

2.7

These are the four kinds of illness for those gone forth.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro pabbajitassa rogā.

3.1

So you should train like this:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

3.2

‘We will not have many wishes or be frustrated. We will be content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. We won’t focus our corrupt wishes on being looked up to, and on getting material possessions, honor, and popularity. We won’t try hard, strive, and make an effort to get these things. We will endure cold, heat, hunger, and thirst. We will endure the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles. We will endure rude and unwelcome criticism. We will put up with physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening.’

‘na mahicchā bhavissāma vighātavanto asantuṭṭhā itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, na pāpikaṁ icchaṁ paṇidahissāma anavaññappaṭilābhāya lābhasakkārasilokappaṭilābhāya, na uṭṭhahissāma na ghaṭessāma na vāyamissāma anavaññappaṭilābhāya lābhasakkārasilokappaṭilābhāya, khamā bhavissāma sītassa uṇhassa jighacchāya pipāsāya ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ duruttānaṁ durāgatānaṁ vacanapathānaṁ, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsakajātikā bhavissāmā’ti.

3.3

That’s how you should train.”

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

3.4

Sattamaṁ.