AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.13 Elements of Escape

Numbered Discourses 6.13 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.13

2. Warm-hearted – 2. Sāraṇīyavagga

AN 6.13 Elements of Escape – Nissāraṇīyasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these six elements of escape.

“Chayimā, bhikkhave, nissāraṇīyā dhātuyo.

1.2

What six?

Katamā cha?

1.3

Take a bhikkhu who says:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

1.4

‘I’ve developed the heart’s release by love. I’ve cultivated it, made it my vehicle and my basis, kept it up, consolidated it, and properly implemented it.

‘mettā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā;

1.5

Yet somehow ill will still occupies my mind.’

atha ca pana me byāpādo cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti.

1.6

They should be told, ‘Not so, venerable! Don’t say that. Don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for misrepresentation of the Buddha is not good. And the Buddha would not say that.

So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya.

1.7

It’s impossible, reverend, it cannot happen that the heart’s release by love has been developed and properly implemented,

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ mettāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya;

1.8

yet somehow ill will still occupies the mind.

atha ca panassa byāpādo cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

1.9

For it is the heart’s release by love that is the escape from ill will.’

Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, byāpādassa yadidaṁ mettācetovimuttī’ti.

2.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

2.2

‘I’ve developed the heart’s release by compassion. I’ve cultivated it, made it my vehicle and my basis, kept it up, consolidated it, and properly implemented it.

‘karuṇā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā;

2.3

Yet somehow the thought of harming still occupies my mind.’

atha ca pana me vihesā cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti.

2.4

They should be told, ‘Not so, venerable! …

So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya.

2.5

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ karuṇāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya;

2.6

atha ca panassa vihesā cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

2.7

For it is the heart’s release by compassion that is the escape from thoughts of harming.’

Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, vihesāya yadidaṁ karuṇācetovimuttī’ti.

3.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

3.2

‘I’ve developed the heart’s release by rejoicing. I’ve cultivated it, made it my vehicle and my basis, kept it up, consolidated it, and properly implemented it.

‘muditā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā;

3.3

Yet somehow discontent still occupies my mind.’

atha ca pana me arati cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti.

3.4

They should be told, ‘Not so, venerable! …

So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya.

3.5

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ muditāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya;

3.6

atha ca panassa arati cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

3.7

For it is the heart’s release by rejoicing that is the escape from discontent.’

Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, aratiyā yadidaṁ muditācetovimuttī’ti.

4.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

4.2

‘I’ve developed the heart’s release by equanimity. I’ve cultivated it, made it my vehicle and my basis, kept it up, consolidated it, and properly implemented it.

‘upekkhā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā;

4.3

Yet somehow desire still occupies my mind.’

atha ca pana me rāgo cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti.

4.4

They should be told, ‘Not so, venerable! …

So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya.

4.5

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ upekkhāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya;

4.6

atha ca panassa rāgo cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

4.7

For it is the heart’s release by equanimity that is the escape from desire.’

Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, rāgassa yadidaṁ upekkhācetovimuttī’ti.

5.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

5.2

‘I’ve developed the signless release of the heart. I’ve cultivated it, made it my vehicle and my basis, kept it up, consolidated it, and properly implemented it.

‘animittā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā;

5.3

Yet somehow my consciousness still follows after signs.’

atha ca pana me nimittānusāri viññāṇaṁ hotī’ti.

5.4

They should be told, ‘Not so, venerable! …

So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya.

5.5

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ animittāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya;

5.6

atha ca panassa nimittānusāri viññāṇaṁ bhavissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

5.7

For it is the signless release of the heart that is the escape from all signs.’

Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, sabbanimittānaṁ yadidaṁ animittācetovimuttī’ti.

6.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

6.2

‘I’m rid of the conceit “I am”. And I don’t regard anything as “I am this”.

‘asmīti kho me vigataṁ, ayamahamasmīti ca na samanupassāmi;

6.3

Yet somehow the dart of doubt and indecision still occupies my mind.’

atha ca pana me vicikicchākathaṅkathāsallaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti.

6.4

They should be told, ‘Not so, venerable! Don’t say that. Don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for misrepresentation of the Buddha is not good. And the Buddha would not say that.

So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya.

6.5

It’s impossible, reverend, it cannot happen that the conceit “I am” has been done away with, and nothing is regarded as “I am this”,

Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ asmīti vigate ayamahamasmīti ca na samanupassato;

6.6

yet somehow the dart of doubt and indecision still occupies the mind.

atha ca panassa vicikicchākathaṅkathāsallaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

6.7

For it is the uprooting of the conceit “I am” that is the escape from the dart of doubt and indecision.’

Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, vicikicchākathaṅkathāsallassa yadidaṁ asmīti mānasamugghāto’ti.

7.1

These are the six elements of escape.”

Imā kho, bhikkhave, cha nissāraṇīyā dhātuyo”ti.

7.2

Tatiyaṁ.