AN 9 The Book of the Nines – Navakanipāta > AN 9.1 Awakening

Numbered Discourses 9.1 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 9.1

1. Awakening – 1. Sambodhivagga

AN 9.1 Awakening – Sambodhisutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.3

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū:

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, if wanderers who follow other paths were to ask:

“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:

2.2

‘Reverends, what is the vital condition for the development of the awakening factors?’ How would you answer them?”

‘sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ kā upanisā bhāvanāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ kinti byākareyyāthā”ti?

2.3

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. … The bhikkhū will listen and remember it.”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe… bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

3.1

“Well then, bhikkhū, listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha; bhāsissāmī”ti.

3.2

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

3.3

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

4.1

“Bhikkhū, if wanderers who follow other paths were to ask:

“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:

4.2

‘Reverends, what is the vital condition for the development of the awakening factors?’ You should answer them:

‘sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ kā upanisā bhāvanāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:

5.1

‘It’s when a bhikkhu has good friends, companions, and associates.

‘Idhāvuso, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

5.2

This is the first vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ paṭhamā upanisā bhāvanāya.

6.1

Furthermore, 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.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

6.2

This is the second vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ dutiyā upanisā bhāvanāya.

7.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, samādhi, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

7.2

This is the third vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ tatiyā upanisā bhāvanāya.

8.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

8.2

This is the fourth vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ catutthī upanisā bhāvanāya.

9.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

9.2

This is the fifth vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.’

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ pañcamī upanisā bhāvanāya’.

10.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—

10.2

be ethical …

sīlavā bhavissati, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharissati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhissati sikkhāpadesu.

11.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—

11.2

take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart …

yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

12.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—

12.2

live with energy roused up …

āraddhavīriyo viharissati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

13.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—

13.2

be wise …

paññavā bhavissati udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

14.1

But then, a bhikkhu grounded on these five things should develop four further things.

Tena ca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā imesu pañcasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya cattāro dhammā uttari bhāvetabbā—

14.2

They should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, mindfulness of breathing to cut off thinking, and perception of anicca to uproot the conceit ‘I am’.

asubhā bhāvetabbā rāgassa pahānāya, mettā bhāvetabbā byāpādassa pahānāya, ānāpānassati bhāvetabbā vitakkupacchedāya, aniccasaññā bhāvetabbā asmimānasamugghātāya.

14.3

When you perceive anicca, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized.

Aniccasaññino, bhikkhave, anattasaññā saṇṭhāti.

14.4

Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain extinguishment in this very life.”

Anattasaññī asmimānasamugghātaṁ pāpuṇāti diṭṭheva dhamme nibbānan”ti.

14.5

Paṭhamaṁ.