AN 8.2 Wisdom – Paññāsutta

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AN 8.2 Wisdom – Paññāsutta

Numbered Discourses 8.2 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.2

1. Love – 1. Mettāvagga

AN 8.2 Wisdom – Paññāsutta

 

1.1

Bhikkhū, there are eight causes and reasons that lead to acquiring the wisdom fundamental to the spiritual life, and to its increase, growth, and full development once it has been acquired.

“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, hetū aṭṭha paccayā ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattanti.

1.2

What eight?

Katame aṭṭha?

1.3

It’s when a bhikkhu lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role. And they set up a keen sense of conscience and prudence for them, with warmth and respect.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthāraṁ upanissāya viharati aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca.

1.4

This is the first cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo hetu paṭhamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

2.1

When a bhikkhu lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role—with a keen sense of conscience and prudence for them, with warmth and respect—from time to time they go and ask them questions:

So taṁ satthāraṁ upanissāya viharanto aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca, te kālena kālaṁ upasaṅkamitvā paripucchati paripañhati:

2.2

‘Why, sir, does it say this? What does that mean?’

‘idaṁ, bhante, kathaṁ; imassa ko attho’ti?

2.3

Those venerables clarify what is unclear, reveal what is obscure, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters.

Tassa te āyasmanto avivaṭañceva vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ paṭivinodenti.

2.4

This is the second cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo hetu dutiyo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

3.1

After hearing that teaching they perfect withdrawal of both body and mind.

So taṁ dhammaṁ sutvā dvayena vūpakāsena sampādeti—kāyavūpakāsena ca cittavūpakāsena ca.

3.2

This is the third cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo hetu tatiyo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

4.1

A bhikkhu is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

4.2

This is the fourth cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho hetu catuttho paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

5.1

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically.

Bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo. Ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

5.2

This is the fifth cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo hetu pañcamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

6.1

They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

6.2

This is the sixth cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho hetu chaṭṭho paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

7.1

When in the Saṅgha they don’t engage in motley talk or unworthy talk.

Saṅghagato kho pana anānākathiko hoti atiracchānakathiko.

7.2

Either they talk on Dhamma, or they invite someone else to do so, or they respect noble silence.

Sāmaṁ vā dhammaṁ bhāsati paraṁ vā ajjhesati ariyaṁ vā tuṇhībhāvaṁ nātimaññati.

7.3

This is the seventh cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo hetu sattamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

8.1

They meditate observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates.

Pañcasu kho pana upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassī viharati:

8.2

‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the ending of form.

‘iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo;

8.3

Such is feeling, such is the origin of feeling, such is the ending of feeling.

iti vedanā, iti vedanāya samudayo, iti vedanāya atthaṅgamo;

8.4

Such is perception, such is the origin of perception, such is the ending of perception.

iti saññā …pe…

8.5

Such are saṅkhāra, such is the origin of saṅkhāra, such is the ending of saṅkhāra.

iti saṅkhārā …

8.6

Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the ending of consciousness.’

iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti.

8.7

This is the eighth cause.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo hetu aṭṭhamo paccayo ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattati.

9.1

Their spiritual companions esteem them:

Tamenaṁ sabrahmacārī evaṁ sambhāventi:

9.2

‘This venerable lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role. They set up a keen sense of conscience and prudence for them, with warmth and respect.

‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā satthāraṁ upanissāya viharati aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca.

9.3

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

9.4

This quality leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

10.1

‘This venerable lives relying on the Teacher or a spiritual companion in a teacher’s role, and from time to time they go and ask them questions …

‘Taṁ kho panāyamāyasmā satthāraṁ upanissāya viharanto aññataraṁ vā garuṭṭhāniyaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ, yatthassa tibbaṁ hirottappaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ hoti pemañca gāravo ca, te kālena kālaṁ upasaṅkamitvā paripucchati paripañhati:

10.2

“idaṁ, bhante, kathaṁ; imassa ko attho”ti?

10.3

Tassa te āyasmanto avivaṭañceva vivaranti, anuttānīkatañca uttānīkaronti, anekavihitesu ca kaṅkhāṭhāniyesu dhammesu kaṅkhaṁ paṭivinodenti.

10.4

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

10.5

This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

11.1

‘After hearing that teaching they perfect withdrawal of both body and mind.

‘Taṁ kho panāyamāyasmā dhammaṁ sutvā dvayena vūpakāsena sampādeti—kāyavūpakāsena ca cittavūpakāsena ca.

11.2

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

11.3

This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

12.1

‘This venerable is ethical …

‘Sīlavā kho panāyamāyasmā pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

12.2

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

12.3

This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

13.1

‘This venerable is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. …

‘Bahussuto kho panāyamāyasmā sutadharo sutasannicayo. Ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

13.2

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

13.3

This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

14.1

‘This venerable lives with energy roused up …

‘Āraddhavīriyo kho panāyamāyasmā viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

14.2

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

14.3

This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

15.1

‘When in the Saṅgha they don’t engage in motley talk or unworthy talk.

‘Saṅghagato kho panāyamāyasmā anānākathiko hoti atiracchānakathiko.

15.2

Either they talk on Dhamma, or they invite someone else to do so, or they respect noble silence.

Sāmaṁ vā dhammaṁ bhāsati paraṁ vā ajjhesati ariyaṁ vā tuṇhībhāvaṁ nātimaññati.

15.3

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

15.4

This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

16.1

‘They meditate observing rise and fall in the five grasping aggregates. …

‘Pañcasu kho panāyamāyasmā upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassī viharati—

16.2

iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo;

16.3

iti vedanā …pe…

16.4

iti saññā …

16.5

iti saṅkhārā …

16.6

iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamoti.

16.7

Clearly this venerable knows and sees.’

Addhā ayamāyasmā jānaṁ jānāti passaṁ passatī’ti.

16.8

This quality also leads to fondness, respect, esteem, harmony, and unity.

Ayampi dhammo piyattāya garuttāya bhāvanāya sāmaññāya ekībhāvāya saṁvattati.

17.1

These are the eight causes and reasons that lead to acquiring the wisdom fundamental to the spiritual life, and to its increase, growth, and full development once it has been acquired.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha hetū aṭṭha paccayā ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattantī”ti.

17.2

Dutiyaṁ.