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Numbered Discourses 10.54 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.54

6. Your Own Mind – 6. Sacittavagga

AN 10.54 Serenity – Samathasutta

 

1.1

“Bhikkhū, if a bhikkhu isn’t skilled in the ways of another’s mind, then they should train themselves: ‘I will be skilled in the ways of my own mind.’

“No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paracittapariyāyakusalo hoti, atha ‘sacittapariyāyakusalo bhavissāmī’ti—

1.2

 

evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.

2.1

And how is a bhikkhu skilled in the ways of their own mind?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sacittapariyāyakusalo hoti?

2.2

Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and they check their own reflection in a clean bright mirror or a clear bowl of water. If they see any dirt or blemish there, they’d try to remove it.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, itthī vā puriso vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātiko ādāse vā parisuddhe pariyodāte acche vā udapatte sakaṁ mukhanimittaṁ paccavekkhamāno sace tattha passati rajaṁ vā aṅgaṇaṁ vā, tasseva rajassa vā aṅgaṇassa vā pahānāya vāyamati.

2.3

But if they don’t see any dirt or blemish there, they’re happy with that, as they’ve got all they wished for:

No ce tattha passati rajaṁ vā aṅgaṇaṁ vā, tenevattamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo:

2.4

‘How fortunate that I’m clean!’

‘lābhā vata me, parisuddhaṁ vata me’ti.

2.5

In the same way, checking is very helpful for a bhikkhu’s skillful qualities.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno paccavekkhaṇā bahukārā hoti kusalesu dhammesu:

2.6

‘Do I have internal serenity of heart or not? Do I have the higher wisdom of discernment of dhamma or not?’

‘lābhī nu khomhi ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, na nu khomhi lābhī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, lābhī nu khomhi adhipaññādhammavipassanāya, na nu khomhi lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti.

3.1

Suppose that, upon checking, a bhikkhu knows this:

Sace, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti:

3.2

‘I have serenity but not discernment.’ Grounded on serenity, they should practice meditation to get discernment.

‘lābhīmhi ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, na lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ajjhattaṁ cetosamathe patiṭṭhāya adhipaññādhammavipassanāya yogo karaṇīyo.

3.3

After some time they have both serenity and discernment.

So aparena samayena lābhī ceva hoti ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa lābhī ca adhipaññādhammavipassanāya.

4.1

But suppose that, upon checking, a bhikkhu knows this:

Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti:

4.2

‘I have discernment but not serenity.’ Grounded on discernment, they should practice meditation to get serenity.

‘lābhīmhi adhipaññādhammavipassanāya, na lābhī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā adhipaññādhammavipassanāya patiṭṭhāya ajjhattaṁ cetosamathe yogo karaṇīyo.

4.3

After some time they have both serenity and discernment.

So aparena samayena lābhī ceva hoti adhipaññādhammavipassanāya lābhī ca ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa.

5.1

But suppose that, upon checking, a bhikkhu knows this:

Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti:

5.2

‘I have neither serenity nor discernment.’ In order to get those skillful qualities, they should apply intense enthusiasm, effort, zeal, vigor, perseverance, mindfulness, and situational awareness.

‘na lābhī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, na lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā tesaṁyeva kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ paṭilābhāya adhimatto chando ca vāyāmo ca ussāho ca ussoḷhī ca appaṭivānī ca sati ca sampajaññañca karaṇīyaṁ.

5.3

Suppose your clothes or head were on fire. In order to extinguish it, you’d apply intense enthusiasm, effort, zeal, vigor, perseverance, mindfulness, and situational awareness.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ādittacelo vā ādittasīso vā.

5.4

 

Tasseva celassa vā sīsassa vā nibbāpanāya adhimattaṁ chandañca vāyāmañca ussāhañca ussoḷhiñca appaṭivāniñca satiñca sampajaññañca kareyya.

5.5

In the same way, in order to get those skillful qualities, that person should apply intense enthusiasm …

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tena bhikkhunā tesaṁyeva kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ paṭilābhāya adhimatto chando ca vāyāmo ca ussāho ca ussoḷhī ca appaṭivānī ca sati ca sampajaññañca karaṇīyaṁ.

5.6

After some time they have both serenity and discernment.

So aparena samayena lābhī ceva hoti ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa lābhī ca adhipaññādhammavipassanāya.

6.1

But suppose that, upon checking, a bhikkhu knows this:

Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti:

6.2

‘I have both serenity and discernment.’ Grounded on those skillful qualities, they should practice meditation further to end the defilements.

‘lābhīmhi ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā tesuyeva kusalesu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya uttari āsavānaṁ khayāya yogo karaṇīyo.

7.1

I say that there are two kinds of robes:

Cīvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

7.2

those you should wear, and those you shouldn’t wear.

sevitabbampi asevitabbampi.

7.3

I say that there are two kinds of almsfood:

Piṇḍapātampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

7.4

that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn’t eat.

sevitabbampi asevitabbampi.

7.5

I say that there are two kinds of lodging:

Senāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

7.6

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.

sevitabbampi asevitabbampi.

7.7

I say that there are two kinds of market town:

Gāmanigamampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

7.8

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.

sevitabbampi asevitabbampi.

7.9

I say that there are two kinds of country:

Janapadapadesampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

7.10

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.

sevitabbampi asevitabbampi.

7.11

I say that there are two kinds of people:

Puggalampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

7.12

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.

sevitabbampi asevitabbampi.

8.1

‘I say that there are two kinds of robes:

‘Cīvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

8.2

those you should wear, and those you shouldn’t wear.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

8.3

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

8.4

Well, should you know of a robe:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā cīvaraṁ:

8.5

‘When I wear this robe, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not wear that kind of robe.

‘idaṁ kho me cīvaraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpaṁ cīvaraṁ na sevitabbaṁ.

8.6

Whereas, should you know of a robe:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā cīvaraṁ:

8.7

‘When I wear this robe, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should wear that kind of robe.

‘idaṁ kho me cīvaraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpaṁ cīvaraṁ sevitabbaṁ.

8.8

‘I say that there are two kinds of robes:

‘Cīvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

8.9

those you should wear, and those you shouldn’t wear.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

8.10

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

9.1

‘I say that there are two kinds of almsfood:

‘Piṇḍapātampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

9.2

that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn’t eat.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

9.3

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

9.4

Well, should you know of almsfood:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā piṇḍapātaṁ:

9.5

‘When I eat this almsfood, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not eat that kind of almsfood.

‘imaṁ kho me piṇḍapātaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo piṇḍapāto na sevitabbo.

9.6

Whereas, should you know of almsfood:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā piṇḍapātaṁ:

9.7

‘When I eat this almsfood, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should eat that kind of almsfood.

‘imaṁ kho me piṇḍapātaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo piṇḍapāto sevitabbo.

9.8

‘I say that there are two kinds of almsfood:

‘Piṇḍapātampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

9.9

that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn’t eat.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

9.10

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

10.1

‘I say that there are two kinds of lodging:

‘Senāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

10.2

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

10.3

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

10.4

Well, should you know of a lodging:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā senāsanaṁ:

10.5

‘When I frequent this lodging, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of lodging.

‘idaṁ kho me senāsanaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpaṁ senāsanaṁ na sevitabbaṁ.

10.6

Whereas, should you know of a lodging:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā senāsanaṁ:

10.7

‘When I frequent this lodging, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of lodging.

‘idaṁ kho me senāsanaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpaṁ senāsanaṁ sevitabbaṁ.

10.8

‘I say that there are two kinds of lodging:

‘Senāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

10.9

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

10.10

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

11.1

‘I say that there are two kinds of market town:

‘Gāmanigamampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

11.2

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

11.3

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

11.4

Well, should you know of a market town:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā gāmanigamaṁ:

11.5

‘When I frequent this market town, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of market town.

‘imaṁ kho me gāmanigamaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo gāmanigamo na sevitabbo.

11.6

Whereas, should you know of a market town:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā gāmanigamaṁ:

11.7

‘When I frequent this market town, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of market town.

‘imaṁ kho me gāmanigamaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo gāmanigamo sevitabbo.

11.8

‘I say that there are two kinds of market town:

‘Gāmanigamampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

11.9

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

11.10

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

12.1

‘I say that there are two kinds of country:

‘Janapadapadesampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

12.2

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

12.3

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

12.4

Well, should you know of a country:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā janapadapadesaṁ:

12.5

‘When I frequent this country, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of country.

‘imaṁ kho me janapadapadesaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo janapadapadeso na sevitabbo.

12.6

Whereas, should you know of a country:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā janapadapadesaṁ:

12.7

‘When I frequent this country, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of country.

‘imaṁ kho me janapadapadesaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo janapadapadeso sevitabbo.

12.8

‘I say that there are two kinds of country:

‘Janapadapadesampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

12.9

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

12.10

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

13.1

‘I say that there are two kinds of people:

‘Puggalampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

13.2

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

13.3

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

13.4

Well, should you know of a person:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā puggalaṁ:

13.5

‘When I frequent this person, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of person.

‘imaṁ kho me puggalaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo puggalo na sevitabbo.

13.6

Whereas, should you know of a person:

Tattha yaṁ jaññā puggalaṁ:

13.7

‘When I frequent this person, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of person.

‘imaṁ kho me puggalaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo puggalo sevitabbo.

13.8

‘I say that there are two kinds of people:

‘Puggalampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi—

13.9

those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’

sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti,

13.10

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.”

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttan”ti.

13.11

 

Catutthaṁ.