AN 5 The Book of the Fives – Pañcakanipāta > AN 5.57 Subjects for Regular Reviewing

Numbered Discourses 5.57 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.57

6. Hindrances – 6. Nīvaraṇavagga

AN 5.57 Subjects for Regular Reviewing – Abhiṇhapaccavekkhitabbaṭhānasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate should often review these five subjects.

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, ṭhānāni abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbāni itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

1.2

What five?

Katamāni pañca?

1.3

‘I am liable to grow old, I am not exempt from old age.’ A woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate should often review this.

‘Jarādhammomhi, jaraṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

1.4

‘I am liable to get sick, I am not exempt from sickness.’ …

‘Byādhidhammomhi, byādhiṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

1.5

‘I am liable to die, I am not exempt from death.’ …

‘Maraṇadhammomhi, maraṇaṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

1.6

‘I must be parted and separated from all I hold dear and beloved.’ …

‘Sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

1.7

‘I am the owner of my deeds and heir to my deeds. Deeds are my womb, my relative, and my refuge.

‘Kammassakomhi, kammadāyādo kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇo.

1.8

I shall be the heir of whatever deeds I do, whether good or bad.’

Yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi—kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā—

1.9

A woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate should often review this.

tassa dāyādo bhavissāmī’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

2.1

What is the advantage for a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate of often reviewing this: ‘I am liable to grow old, I am not exempt from old age’?

Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘jarādhammomhi, jaraṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā?

2.2

There are sentient beings who, intoxicated with the vanity of youth, do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

Atthi, bhikkhave, sattānaṁ yobbane yobbanamado, yena madena mattā kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti.

2.3

Reviewing this subject often, they entirely give up the vanity of youth, or at least reduce it.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato yo yobbane yobbanamado so sabbaso vā pahīyati tanu vā pana hoti.

2.4

This is the advantage for a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate of often reviewing this: ‘I am liable to grow old, I am not exempt from old age’.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘jarādhammomhi, jaraṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

3.1

What is the advantage of often reviewing this: ‘I am liable to get sick, I am not exempt from sickness’?

Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘byādhidhammomhi, byādhiṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā?

3.2

There are sentient beings who, drunk on the vanity of health, do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

Atthi, bhikkhave, sattānaṁ ārogye ārogyamado, yena madena mattā kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti.

3.3

Reviewing this subject often, they entirely give up the vanity of health, or at least reduce it.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato yo ārogye ārogyamado so sabbaso vā pahīyati tanu vā pana hoti.

3.4

This is the advantage of often reviewing this: ‘I am liable to get sick, I am not exempt from sickness’.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘byādhidhammomhi, byādhiṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

4.1

What is the advantage of often reviewing this: ‘I am liable to die, I am not exempt from death’?

Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘maraṇadhammomhi, maraṇaṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā?

4.2

There are sentient beings who, drunk on the vanity of life, do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

Atthi, bhikkhave, sattānaṁ jīvite jīvitamado, yena madena mattā kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti.

4.3

Reviewing this subject often, they entirely give up the vanity of life, or at least reduce it.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato yo jīvite jīvitamado so sabbaso vā pahīyati tanu vā pana hoti.

4.4

This is the advantage of often reviewing this: ‘I am liable to die, I am not exempt from death’.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘maraṇadhammomhi, maraṇaṁ anatīto’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

5.1

What is the advantage of often reviewing this: ‘I must be parted and separated from all I hold dear and beloved’?

Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā?

5.2

There are sentient beings who, aroused by desire and lust for their dear and beloved, do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

Atthi, bhikkhave, sattānaṁ piyesu manāpesu yo chandarāgo yena rāgena rattā kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti.

5.3

Reviewing this subject often, they entirely give up desire and lust for their dear and beloved, or at least reduce it.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato yo piyesu manāpesu chandarāgo so sabbaso vā pahīyati tanu vā pana hoti.

5.4

This is the advantage of often reviewing this: ‘I must be parted and separated from all I hold dear and beloved’.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

6.1

What is the advantage of often reviewing like this: ‘I am the owner of my deeds and heir to my deeds. Deeds are my womb, my relative, and my refuge.

Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘kammassakomhi, kammadāyādo kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇo, yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi—

6.2

I shall be the heir of whatever deeds I do, whether good or bad’?

kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā—tassa dāyādo bhavissāmī’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā?

6.3

There are sentient beings who do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.

Atthi, bhikkhave, sattānaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ vacīduccaritaṁ manoduccaritaṁ.

6.4

Reviewing this subject often, they entirely give up bad conduct, or at least reduce it.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato sabbaso vā duccaritaṁ pahīyati tanu vā pana hoti.

6.5

This is the advantage for a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate of often reviewing like this: ‘I am the owner of my deeds and heir to my deeds. Deeds are my womb, my relative, and my refuge.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, atthavasaṁ paṭicca ‘kammassakomhi, kammadāyādo kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇo, yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi—

6.6

I shall be the heir of whatever deeds I do, whether good or bad.’

kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā—

6.7

tassa dāyādo bhavissāmī’ti abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ itthiyā vā purisena vā gahaṭṭhena vā pabbajitena vā.

7.1

Then that noble disciple reflects:

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati:

7.2

‘It’s not just me who is liable to grow old, not being exempt from old age. For all sentient beings grow old according to their nature, as long as they come and go, pass away and are reborn.’

‘na kho ahaññeveko jarādhammo jaraṁ anatīto, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbe sattā jarādhammā jaraṁ anatītā’ti.

7.3

When they review this subject often, the path is born in them.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato maggo sañjāyati.

7.4

They cultivate, develop, and make much of it.

So taṁ maggaṁ āsevati bhāveti bahulīkaroti.

7.5

By doing so, they give up the fetters and eliminate the underlying tendencies.

Tassa taṁ maggaṁ āsevato bhāvayato bahulīkaroto saṁyojanāni sabbaso pahīyanti anusayā byantīhonti.

8.1

‘It’s not just me who is liable to get sick, not being exempt from sickness. For all sentient beings get sick according to their nature, as long as they come and go, pass away and are reborn.’

‘Na kho ahaññeveko byādhidhammo byādhiṁ anatīto, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbe sattā byādhidhammā byādhiṁ anatītā’ti.

8.2

When they review this subject often, the path is born in them.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato maggo sañjāyati.

8.3

They cultivate, develop, and make much of it.

So taṁ maggaṁ āsevati bhāveti bahulīkaroti.

8.4

By doing so, they give up the fetters and eliminate the underlying tendencies.

Tassa taṁ maggaṁ āsevato bhāvayato bahulīkaroto saṁyojanāni sabbaso pahīyanti, anusayā byantīhonti.

9.1

‘It’s not just me who is liable to die, not being exempt from death. For all sentient beings die according to their nature, as long as they come and go, pass away and are reborn.’

‘Na kho ahaññeveko maraṇadhammo maraṇaṁ anatīto, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbe sattā maraṇadhammā maraṇaṁ anatītā’ti.

9.2

When they review this subject often, the path is born in them.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato maggo sañjāyati.

9.3

They cultivate, develop, and make much of it.

So taṁ maggaṁ āsevati bhāveti bahulīkaroti.

9.4

By doing so, they give up the fetters and eliminate the underlying tendencies.

Tassa taṁ maggaṁ āsevato bhāvayato bahulīkaroto saṁyojanāni sabbaso pahīyanti, anusayā byantīhonti.

10.1

‘It’s not just me who must be parted and separated from all I hold dear and beloved. For all sentient beings must be parted and separated from all they hold dear and beloved, as long as they come and go, pass away and are reborn.’

‘Na kho mayhevekassa sabbehi piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo’ti.

10.2

When they review this subject often, the path is born in them.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato maggo sañjāyati.

10.3

They cultivate, develop, and make much of it.

So taṁ maggaṁ āsevati bhāveti bahulīkaroti.

10.4

By doing so, they give up the fetters and eliminate the underlying tendencies.

Tassa taṁ maggaṁ āsevato bhāvayato bahulīkaroto saṁyojanāni sabbaso pahīyanti, anusayā byantīhonti.

11.1

‘It’s not just me who shall be the owner of my deeds and heir to my deeds.

‘Na kho ahaññeveko kammassako kammadāyādo kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇo, yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi—kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā—tassa dāyādo bhavissāmi;

11.2

For all sentient beings shall be the owners of their deeds and heirs to their deeds, as long as they come and go, pass away and are reborn.’

atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbe sattā kammassakā kammadāyādā kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇā, yaṁ kammaṁ karissanti—kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā—tassa dāyādā bhavissantī’ti.

11.3

When they review this subject often, the path is born in them.

Tassa taṁ ṭhānaṁ abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhato maggo sañjāyati.

11.4

They cultivate, develop, and make much of it.

So taṁ maggaṁ āsevati bhāveti bahulīkaroti.

11.5

By doing so, they give up the fetters and eliminate the underlying tendencies.

Tassa taṁ maggaṁ āsevato bhāvayato bahulīkaroto saṁyojanāni sabbaso pahīyanti, anusayā byantīhontīti.

12.1

For others, sickness is natural,

Byādhidhammā jarādhammā,

12.2

and so are old age and death.

atho maraṇadhammino;

12.3

Though this is how their nature is,

Yathā dhammā tathā sattā,

12.4

ordinary people feel disgusted.

jigucchanti puthujjanā.

13.1

If I were to be disgusted

Ahañce taṁ jiguccheyyaṁ,

13.2

with creatures whose nature is such,

evaṁ dhammesu pāṇisu;

13.3

it would not be appropriate for me,

Na metaṁ patirūpassa,

13.4

since my life is just the same.

mama evaṁ vihārino.

14.1

Living in such a way,

Sohaṁ evaṁ viharanto,

14.2

I understood the reality without attachments.

ñatvā dhammaṁ nirūpadhiṁ;

14.3

I mastered all vanities—

Ārogye yobbanasmiñca,

14.4

of health, of youth,

jīvitasmiñca ye madā.

15.1

and even of life—

Sabbe made abhibhosmi,

15.2

seeing renunciation as sanctuary.

Nekkhammaṁ daṭṭhu khemato;

15.3

Zeal sprang up in me

Tassa me ahu ussāho,

15.4

as I looked to extinguishment.

Nibbānaṁ abhipassato.

16.1

Now I’m unable

Nāhaṁ bhabbo etarahi,

16.2

to indulge in sensual pleasures;

Kāmāni paṭisevituṁ;

16.3

there’s no turning back,

Anivatti bhavissāmi,

16.4

I’m committed to the spiritual life.”

Brahmacariyaparāyaṇo”ti.

16.5

Sattamaṁ.