AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.58 Defilements

Numbered Discourses 6.58 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.58

6. The Great Chapter – 6. Mahāvagga

AN 6.58 Defilements – Āsavasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a bhikkhu with six qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.

“Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

2.1

What six?

Katamehi chahi?

2.2

It’s a bhikkhu who, by restraint, has given up the defilements that should be given up by restraint.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ye āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā te saṁvarena pahīnā honti,

2.3

By using, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by using.

ye āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā te paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti,

2.4

By enduring, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by enduring.

ye āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā te adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti,

2.5

By avoiding, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by avoiding.

ye āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā te parivajjanāya pahīnā honti,

2.6

By getting rid, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by getting rid.

ye āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā te vinodanāya pahīnā honti,

2.7

By developing, they’ve given up the defilements that should be given up by developing.

ye āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā te bhāvanāya pahīnā honti.

3.1

And what are the defilements that should be given up by restraint?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā ye saṁvarena pahīnā honti?

3.2

Take a bhikkhu who, reflecting properly, lives restraining the eye faculty.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso cakkhundriyasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati.

3.3

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without restraint of the eye faculty do not arise when there is such restraint.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, cakkhundriyasaṁvaraṁ asaṁvutassa viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, cakkhundriyasaṁvaraṁ saṁvutassa viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

3.4

Reflecting properly, they live restraining the ear faculty …

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso sotindriya …pe…

3.5

the nose faculty …

ghānindriya …

3.6

the tongue faculty …

jivhindriya …

3.7

the body faculty …

kāyindriya …

3.8

the mind faculty.

manindriyasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati.

3.9

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without restraint of the mind faculty do not arise when there is such restraint.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, manindriyasaṁvaraṁ asaṁvutassa viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, manindriyasaṁvaraṁ saṁvutassa viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

3.10

These are called the defilements that should be given up by restraint.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā saṁvarā pahātabbā ye saṁvarena pahīnā honti.

4.1

And what are the defilements that should be given up by using?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā ye paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti?

4.2

Take a bhikkhu who, reflecting properly, makes use of robes:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso cīvaraṁ paṭisevati:

4.3

‘Only for the sake of warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; and for covering up the private parts.’

‘yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva hirikopīnapaṭicchādanatthaṁ’.

4.4

Reflecting properly, they make use of almsfood:

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso piṇḍapātaṁ paṭisevati:

4.5

‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will live blamelessly and at ease.’

‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya, vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya, iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro ca’.

4.6

Reflecting properly, they make use of lodgings:

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso senāsanaṁ paṭisevati:

4.7

‘Only for the sake of warding off cold and heat; for warding off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; to shelter from harsh weather and to enjoy retreat.’

‘yāvadeva sītassa paṭighātāya, uṇhassa paṭighātāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ paṭighātāya, yāvadeva utuparissayavinodanapaṭisallānārāmatthaṁ’.

4.8

Reflecting properly, they make use of medicines and supplies for the sick:

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso gilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhāraṁ paṭisevati:

4.9

‘Only for the sake of warding off the pains of illness and to promote good health.’

‘yāvadeva uppannānaṁ veyyābādhikānaṁ vedanānaṁ paṭighātāya, abyābajjhaparamatāyā’ti.

4.10

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without using these things do not arise when they are used.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, appaṭisevato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, paṭisevato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

4.11

These are called the defilements that should be given up by using.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā paṭisevanā pahātabbā ye paṭisevanāya pahīnā honti.

5.1

And what are the defilements that should be given up by enduring?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā ye adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti?

5.2

Take a bhikkhu who, reflecting properly, endures cold, heat, hunger, and thirst. They endure the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles. They endure rude and unwelcome criticism. And they put up with physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso khamo hoti sītassa uṇhassa, jighacchāya, pipāsāya, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassānaṁ, duruttānaṁ durāgatānaṁ vacanapathānaṁ, uppannānaṁ sārīrikānaṁ vedanānaṁ dukkhānaṁ tibbānaṁ kharānaṁ kaṭukānaṁ asātānaṁ amanāpānaṁ pāṇaharānaṁ adhivāsakajātiko hoti.

5.3

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without enduring these things do not arise when they are endured.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, anadhivāsato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, adhivāsato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

5.4

These are called the defilements that should be given up by enduring.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā adhivāsanā pahātabbā ye adhivāsanāya pahīnā honti.

6.1

And what are the defilements that should be given up by avoiding?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā ye parivajjanāya pahīnā honti?

6.2

Take a bhikkhu who, reflecting properly, avoids a wild elephant, a wild horse, a wild ox, a wild dog, a snake, a stump, thorny ground, a pit, a cliff, a swamp, and a sewer. Reflecting properly, they avoid sitting on inappropriate seats, walking in inappropriate neighborhoods, and mixing with bad friends—whatever sensible spiritual companions would believe to be a bad setting.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso caṇḍaṁ hatthiṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ assaṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ goṇaṁ parivajjeti, caṇḍaṁ kukkuraṁ parivajjeti, ahiṁ khāṇuṁ kaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ sobbhaṁ papātaṁ candanikaṁ oḷigallaṁ, yathārūpe anāsane nisinnaṁ, yathārūpe agocare carantaṁ, yathārūpe pāpake mitte bhajantaṁ viññū sabrahmacārī pāpakesu ṭhānesu okappeyyuṁ, so tañca anāsanaṁ tañca agocaraṁ te ca pāpake mitte paṭisaṅkhā yoniso parivajjeti.

6.3

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without avoiding these things do not arise when they are avoided.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, aparivajjayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, parivajjayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

6.4

These are called the defilements that should be given up by avoiding.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā parivajjanā pahātabbā ye parivajjanāya pahīnā honti.

7.1

And what are the defilements that should be given up by getting rid?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā ye vinodanāya pahīnā honti?

7.2

Take a bhikkhu who, reflecting properly, doesn’t tolerate a sensual,

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso uppannaṁ kāmavitakkaṁ nādhivāseti pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti,

7.3

malicious,

paṭisaṅkhā yoniso uppannaṁ byāpādavitakkaṁ …

7.4

or cruel thought that has arisen.

uppannaṁ vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ …

7.5

They don’t tolerate any bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen, but give them up, get rid of them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.

uppannuppanne pāpake akusale dhamme nādhivāseti pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti.

7.6

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without getting rid of these things do not arise when they are gotten rid of.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, avinodayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, vinodayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

7.7

These are called the defilements that should be given up by getting rid.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā vinodanā pahātabbā ye vinodanāya pahīnā honti.

8.1

And what are the defilements that should be given up by developing?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā ye bhāvanāya pahīnā honti?

8.2

Take a bhikkhu who, reflecting properly, develops the awakening factors of mindfulness,

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vosaggapariṇāmiṁ,

8.3

investigation of dhamma,

paṭisaṅkhā yoniso dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …

8.4

energy,

vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …

8.5

rapture,

pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …

8.6

tranquility,

passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …

8.7

samādhi,

samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …

8.8

and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vosaggapariṇāmiṁ.

8.9

For the distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without developing these things do not arise when they are developed.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, abhāvayato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, bhāvayato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

8.10

These are called the defilements that should be given up by developing.

Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, āsavā bhāvanā pahātabbā ye bhāvanāya pahīnā honti.

9.1

A bhikkhu with these six qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

9.2

Catutthaṁ.