AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.54 Times Good for Meditation

Numbered Discourses 5.54 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.54

6. Hindrances – 6. Nīvaraṇavagga

AN 5.54 Times Good for Meditation – Samayasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are five times that are not good for meditation.

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, asamayā padhānāya.

1.2

What five?

Katame pañca?

1.3

Firstly, a bhikkhu is old, overcome with old age.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jiṇṇo hoti jarāyābhibhūto.

1.4

This is the first time that’s not good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo asamayo padhānāya.

2.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is sick, overcome by sickness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu byādhito hoti byādhinābhibhūto.

2.2

This is the second time that’s not good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo asamayo padhānāya.

3.1

Furthermore, there’s a famine, a bad harvest, so it’s hard to get almsfood, and not easy to keep going by collecting alms.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dubbhikkhaṁ hoti dussassaṁ dullabhapiṇḍaṁ, na sukaraṁ uñchena paggahena yāpetuṁ.

3.2

This is the third time that’s not good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo asamayo padhānāya.

4.1

Furthermore, there’s peril from wild savages, and the countryfolk mount their vehicles and flee everywhere.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhayaṁ hoti aṭavisaṅkopo, cakkasamārūḷhā jānapadā pariyāyanti.

4.2

This is the fourth time that’s not good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho asamayo padhānāya.

5.1

Furthermore, there’s a schism in the Saṅgha.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, saṅgho bhinno hoti.

5.2

When the Saṅgha is split, they abuse, insult, block, and reject each other.

Saṅghe kho pana, bhikkhave, bhinne aññamaññaṁ akkosā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ paribhāsā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ parikkhepā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ pariccajā ca honti.

5.3

This doesn’t inspire confidence in those without it, and it causes some with confidence to change their minds.

Tattha appasannā ceva nappasīdanti, pasannānañca ekaccānaṁ aññathattaṁ hoti.

5.4

This is the fifth time that’s not good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo asamayo padhānāya.

5.5

These are the five times that are not good for meditation.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca asamayā padhānāyāti.

6.1

There are five times that are good for meditation.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, samayā padhānāya.

6.2

What five?

Katame pañca?

6.3

Firstly, a bhikkhu is a youth, young, black-haired, blessed with youth, in the prime of life.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu daharo hoti yuvā susu kāḷakeso bhadrena yobbanena samannāgato paṭhamena vayasā.

6.4

This is the first time that’s good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samayo padhānāya.

7.1

Furthermore, they are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu appābādho hoti appātaṅko, samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya.

7.2

This is the second time that’s good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo samayo padhānāya.

8.1

Furthermore, there’s plenty of food, a good harvest, so it’s easy to get almsfood, and easy to keep going by collecting alms.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, subhikkhaṁ hoti susassaṁ sulabhapiṇḍaṁ, sukaraṁ uñchena paggahena yāpetuṁ.

8.2

This is the third time that’s good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo samayo padhānāya.

9.1

Furthermore, people live in harmony, appreciating each other, without quarreling, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, manussā samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti.

9.2

This is the fourth time that’s good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho samayo padhānāya.

10.1

Furthermore, the Saṅgha lives comfortably, in harmony, appreciating each other, without quarreling, with one recitation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, saṅgho samaggo sammodamāno avivadamāno ekuddeso phāsu viharati.

10.2

When the Saṅgha is in harmony, they don’t abuse, insult, block, or reject each other.

Saṅghe kho pana, bhikkhave, samagge na ceva aññamaññaṁ akkosā honti, na ca aññamaññaṁ paribhāsā honti, na ca aññamaññaṁ parikkhepā honti, na ca aññamaññaṁ pariccajā honti.

10.3

This inspires confidence in those without it, and increases confidence in those who have it.

Tattha appasannā ceva pasīdanti, pasannānañca bhiyyobhāvo hoti.

10.4

This is the fifth time that’s good for meditation.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo samayo padhānāya.

10.5

These are the five times that are good for meditation.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca samayā padhānāyā”ti.

10.6

Catutthaṁ.