AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.7 Sensual Pleasures

Numbered Discourses 5.7 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.7

1. Powers of a Trainee – 1. Sekhabalavagga

AN 5.7 Sensual Pleasures – Kāmasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, sentient beings are mostly charmed by sensual pleasures.

“Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, sattā kāmesu laḷitā.

1.2

When a gentleman has abandoned the scythe and flail and gone forth from the lay life to homelessness, they’re qualified to be called ‘a faithful renunciate from a good family’.

Asitabyābhaṅgiṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputto ohāya agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, ‘saddhāpabbajito kulaputto’ti alaṁvacanāya.

1.3

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

1.4

Because a youth can get sensual pleasures of this kind or that.

Labbhā, bhikkhave, yobbanena kāmā te ca kho yādisā vā tādisā vā.

1.5

Now, all sensual pleasures are just reckoned as ‘sensual pleasures’, regardless of whether they’re inferior, average, or superior.

Ye ca, bhikkhave, hīnā kāmā ye ca majjhimā kāmā ye ca paṇītā kāmā, sabbe kāmā ‘kāmā’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti.

1.6

Suppose there was a little baby boy who, because of his nurse’s negligence, puts a stick or stone in his mouth.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, daharo kumāro mando uttānaseyyako dhātiyā pamādamanvāya kaṭṭhaṁ vā kaṭhalaṁ vā mukhe āhareyya.

1.7

The nurse would very quickly notice

Tamenaṁ dhāti sīghaṁ sīghaṁ manasi kareyya;

1.8

and try to take it out.

sīghaṁ sīghaṁ manasi karitvā sīghaṁ sīghaṁ āhareyya.

1.9

If that didn’t work, she’d cradle his head with her left hand, and take it out using a hooked finger of her right hand, even if it drew blood.

No ce sakkuṇeyya sīghaṁ sīghaṁ āharituṁ, vāmena hatthena sīsaṁ pariggahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena vaṅkaṅguliṁ karitvā salohitampi āhareyya.

1.10

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

1.11

I admit she’d know, ‘This will distress the child,

‘Atthesā, bhikkhave, kumārassa vihesā;

1.12

there’s no denying.’

nesā natthī’ti vadāmi.

1.13

Still, it should be done by a nurse who wants what’s best for him, out of kindness and compassion.

Karaṇīyañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, dhātiyā atthakāmāya hitesiniyā anukampikāya, anukampaṁ upādāya.

1.14

And when the boy has grown up and has enough sense, his nurse would not worry about him, thinking:

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, so kumāro vuddho hoti alaṁpañño, anapekkhā dāni, bhikkhave, dhāti tasmiṁ kumāre hoti:

1.15

‘The boy can look after himself. He won’t be negligent.’

‘attagutto dāni kumāro nālaṁ pamādāyā’ti.

2.1

In the same way, I still need to look after a bhikkhu who hasn’t finished developing faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yāvakīvañca bhikkhuno saddhāya akataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, hiriyā akataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, ottappena akataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyena akataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, paññāya akataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, anurakkhitabbo tāva me so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu hoti.

2.2

But when a bhikkhu has finished developing faith, conscience, prudence, energy, and wisdom regarding skillful qualities, I need not be concerned, thinking:

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno saddhāya kataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, hiriyā kataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, ottappena kataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyena kataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, paññāya kataṁ hoti kusalesu dhammesu, anapekkho dānāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tasmiṁ bhikkhusmiṁ homi:

2.3

‘They can look after themselves. They won’t be negligent.’”

‘attagutto dāni bhikkhu nālaṁ pamādāyā’”ti.

2.4

Sattamaṁ.