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Numbered Discourses 10.61 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.61

7. Pairs – 7. Yamakavagga

AN 10.61 Ignorance – Avijjāsutta

 

1.1

“Bhikkhū, it is said that no first point of ignorance is evident, before which there was no ignorance, and afterwards it came to be.

“Purimā, bhikkhave, koṭi na paññāyati avijjāya: ‘ito pubbe avijjā nāhosi, atha pacchā samabhavī’ti.

1.2

And yet it is evident that there is a specific condition for ignorance.

Evañcetaṁ, bhikkhave, vuccati, atha ca pana paññāyati: ‘idappaccayā avijjā’ti.

2.1

I say that ignorance is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Avijjampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

2.2

And what is the fuel for ignorance?

Ko cāhāro avijjāya?

2.3

You should say: ‘The five hindrances.’

‘Pañca nīvaraṇā’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

2.4

I say that the five hindrances are fueled by something, they’re not unfueled.

Pañcapāhaṁ, bhikkhave, nīvaraṇe sāhāre vadāmi, no anāhāre.

2.5

And what is the fuel for the five hindrances?

Ko cāhāro pañcannaṁ nīvaraṇānaṁ?

2.6

You should say: ‘The three kinds of misconduct.’

‘Tīṇi duccaritānī’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

2.7

I say that the three kinds of misconduct are fueled by something, they’re not unfueled.

Tīṇipāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duccaritāni sāhārāni vadāmi, no anāhārāni.

2.8

And what is the fuel for the three kinds of misconduct?

Ko cāhāro tiṇṇaṁ duccaritānaṁ?

2.9

You should say: ‘Lack of sense restraint.’

‘Indriyaasaṁvaro’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

2.10

I say that lack of sense restraint is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Indriyaasaṁvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

2.11

And what is the fuel for lack of sense restraint?

Ko cāhāro indriyaasaṁvarassa?

2.12

You should say: ‘Lack of mindfulness and situational awareness.’

‘Asatāsampajaññan’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

2.13

I say that lack of mindfulness and situational awareness is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Asatāsampajaññampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

2.14

And what is the fuel for lack of mindfulness and situational awareness?

Ko cāhāro asatāsampajaññassa?

2.15

You should say: ‘Improper attention.’

‘Ayonisomanasikāro’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

2.16

I say that improper attention is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Ayonisomanasikārampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

2.17

And what is the fuel for improper attention?

Ko cāhāro ayonisomanasikārassa?

2.18

You should say: ‘Lack of faith.’

‘Assaddhiyan’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

2.19

I say that lack of faith is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Assaddhiyampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

2.20

And what is the fuel for lack of faith?

Ko cāhāro assaddhiyassa?

2.21

You should say: ‘Listening to an untrue teaching.’

‘Asaddhammassavanan’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

2.22

I say that listening to an untrue teaching is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Asaddhammassavanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

2.23

And what is the fuel for listening to an untrue teaching?

Ko cāhāro asaddhammassavanassa?

2.24

You should say: ‘Associating with bad people.’

‘Asappurisasaṁsevo’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

3.1

In this way, when the factor of associating with bad people is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of listening to an untrue teaching. When the factor of listening to an untrue teaching is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of lack of faith … improper attention … lack of mindfulness and situational awareness … lack of sense restraint …the three kinds of misconduct … the five hindrances. When the five hindrances are fulfilled, they fulfill ignorance.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, asappurisasaṁsevo paripūro asaddhammassavanaṁ paripūreti, asaddhammassavanaṁ paripūraṁ assaddhiyaṁ paripūreti, assaddhiyaṁ paripūraṁ ayonisomanasikāraṁ paripūreti, ayonisomanasikāro paripūro asatāsampajaññaṁ paripūreti, asatāsampajaññaṁ paripūraṁ indriyaasaṁvaraṁ paripūreti, indriyaasaṁvaro paripūro tīṇi duccaritāni paripūreti, tīṇi duccaritāni paripūrāni pañca nīvaraṇe paripūrenti, pañca nīvaraṇā paripūrā avijjaṁ paripūrenti;

3.2

That’s the fuel for ignorance, and that’s how it’s fulfilled.

evametissā avijjāya āhāro hoti, evañca pāripūri.

4.1

It’s like when the rain pours down on a mountain top, and the water flows downhill to fill the hollows, crevices, and creeks. As they become full, they fill up the pools. The pools fill up the lakes, the lakes fill up the streams, and the streams fill up the rivers. And as the rivers become full, they fill up the ocean.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, uparipabbate thullaphusitake deve vassante (…) taṁ udakaṁ yathāninnaṁ pavattamānaṁ pabbatakandarapadarasākhā paripūreti, pabbatakandarapadarasākhā paripūrā kusobbhe paripūrenti. Kusobbhā paripūrā mahāsobbhe paripūrenti, mahāsobbhā paripūrā kunnadiyo paripūrenti, kunnadiyo paripūrā mahānadiyo paripūrenti, mahānadiyo paripūrā mahāsamuddaṁ sāgaraṁ paripūrenti;

4.2

That’s the fuel for the ocean, and that’s how it’s filled up.

evametassa mahāsamuddassa sāgarassa āhāro hoti, evañca pāripūri.

5.1

In the same way, when the factor of associating with bad people is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of listening to an untrue teaching. When the factor of listening to an untrue teaching is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of lack of faith … improper attention … lack of mindfulness and situational awareness … lack of sense restraint …the three kinds of misconduct … the five hindrances. When the five hindrances are fulfilled, they fulfill ignorance.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, asappurisasaṁsevo paripūro asaddhammassavanaṁ paripūreti, asaddhammassavanaṁ paripūraṁ assaddhiyaṁ paripūreti, assaddhiyaṁ paripūraṁ ayonisomanasikāraṁ paripūreti, ayonisomanasikāro paripūro asatāsampajaññaṁ paripūreti, asatāsampajaññaṁ paripūraṁ indriyaasaṁvaraṁ paripūreti, indriyaasaṁvaro paripūro tīṇi duccaritāni paripūreti, tīṇi duccaritāni paripūrāni pañca nīvaraṇe paripūrenti, pañca nīvaraṇā paripūrā avijjaṁ paripūrenti;

5.2

That’s the fuel for ignorance, and that’s how it’s fulfilled.

evametissā avijjāya āhāro hoti, evañca pāripūri.

6.1

I say that knowledge and freedom are fueled by something, they’re not unfueled.

Vijjāvimuttimpāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

6.2

And what is the fuel for knowledge and freedom?

Ko cāhāro vijjāvimuttiyā?

6.3

You should say: ‘The seven awakening factors.’

‘Satta bojjhaṅgā’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.4

I say that the seven awakening factors are fueled by something, they’re not unfueled.

Sattapāhaṁ, bhikkhave, bojjhaṅge sāhāre vadāmi, no anāhāre.

6.5

And what is the fuel for the seven awakening factors?

Ko cāhāro sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ?

6.6

You should say: ‘The four kinds of mindfulness meditation.’

‘Cattāro satipaṭṭhānā’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.7

I say that the four kinds of mindfulness meditation are fueled by something, they’re not unfueled.

Cattāropāhaṁ, bhikkhave, satipaṭṭhāne sāhāre vadāmi, no anāhāre.

6.8

And what is the fuel for the four kinds of mindfulness meditation?

Ko cāhāro catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ?

6.9

You should say: ‘The three kinds of good conduct.’

‘Tīṇi sucaritānī’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.10

I say that the three kinds of good conduct are fueled by something, they’re not unfueled.

Tīṇipāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sucaritāni sāhārāni vadāmi, no anāhārāni.

6.11

And what is the fuel for the three kinds of good conduct?

Ko cāhāro tiṇṇaṁ sucaritānaṁ?

6.12

You should say: ‘Sense restraint.’

‘Indriyasaṁvaro’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.13

I say that sense restraint is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Indriyasaṁvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

6.14

And what is the fuel for sense restraint?

Ko cāhāro indriyasaṁvarassa?

6.15

You should say: ‘Mindfulness and situational awareness.’

‘Satisampajaññan’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.16

I say that mindfulness and situational awareness is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Satisampajaññampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

6.17

And what is the fuel for mindfulness and situational awareness?

Ko cāhāro satisampajaññassa?

6.18

You should say: ‘Proper attention.’

‘Yonisomanasikāro’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.19

I say that proper attention is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Yonisomanasikārampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

6.20

And what is the fuel for proper attention?

Ko cāhāro yonisomanasikārassa?

6.21

You should say: ‘Faith.’

‘Saddhā’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.22

I say that faith is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Saddhampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

6.23

And what is the fuel for faith?

Ko cāhāro saddhāya?

6.24

You should say: ‘Listening to the true teaching.’

‘Saddhammassavanan’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

6.25

I say that listening to the true teaching is fueled by something, it’s not unfueled.

Saddhammassavanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sāhāraṁ vadāmi, no anāhāraṁ.

6.26

And what is the fuel for listening to the true teaching?

Ko cāhāro saddhammassavanassa?

6.27

You should say: ‘Associating with good people.’

‘Sappurisasaṁsevo’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

7.1

In this way, when the factor of associating with good people is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of listening to the true teaching. When the factor of listening to the true teaching is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of faith … proper attention … mindfulness and situational awareness … sense restraint …the three kinds of good conduct … the four kinds of mindfulness meditation … the seven awakening factors. When the seven awakening factors are fulfilled, they fulfill knowledge and freedom.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, sappurisasaṁsevo paripūro saddhammassavanaṁ paripūreti, saddhammassavanaṁ paripūraṁ saddhaṁ paripūreti, saddhā paripūrā yonisomanasikāraṁ paripūreti, yonisomanasikāro paripūro satisampajaññaṁ paripūreti, satisampajaññaṁ paripūraṁ indriyasaṁvaraṁ paripūreti, indriyasaṁvaro paripūro tīṇi sucaritāni paripūreti, tīṇi sucaritāni paripūrāni cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrenti, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā paripūrā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti, satta bojjhaṅgā paripūrā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti;

7.2

That’s the fuel for knowledge and freedom, and that’s how it’s fulfilled.

evametissā vijjāvimuttiyā āhāro hoti, evañca pāripūri.

8.1

It’s like when it rains heavily on a mountain top, and the water flows downhill to fill the hollows, crevices, and creeks. As they become full, they fill up the pools. The pools fill up the lakes, the lakes fill up the streams, and the streams fill up the rivers. And as the rivers become full, they fill up the ocean.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, uparipabbate thullaphusitake deve vassante taṁ udakaṁ yathāninnaṁ pavattamānaṁ pabbatakandarapadarasākhā paripūreti, pabbatakandarapadarasākhā paripūrā kusobbhe paripūrenti, kusobbhā paripūrā mahāsobbhe paripūrenti, mahāsobbhā paripūrā kunnadiyo paripūrenti, kunnadiyo paripūrā mahānadiyo paripūrenti, mahānadiyo paripūrā mahāsamuddaṁ sāgaraṁ paripūrenti;

8.2

That’s the fuel for the ocean, and that’s how it’s filled up.

evametassa mahāsamuddassa sāgarassa āhāro hoti, evañca pāripūri.

9.1

In the same way, when the factor of associating with good people is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of listening to the true teaching. When the factor of listening to the true teaching is fulfilled, it fulfills the factor of faith … proper attention … mindfulness and situational awareness … sense restraint …the three kinds of good conduct … the four kinds of mindfulness meditation … the seven awakening factors. When the seven awakening factors are fulfilled, they fulfill knowledge and freedom.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sappurisasaṁsevo paripūro saddhammassavanaṁ paripūreti, saddhammassavanaṁ paripūraṁ saddhaṁ paripūreti, saddhā paripūrā yonisomanasikāraṁ paripūreti, yonisomanasikāro paripūro satisampajaññaṁ paripūreti, satisampajaññaṁ paripūraṁ indriyasaṁvaraṁ paripūreti, indriyasaṁvaro paripūro tīṇi sucaritāni paripūreti, tīṇi sucaritāni paripūrāni cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūrenti, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā paripūrā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti, satta bojjhaṅgā paripūrā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti;

9.2

That’s the fuel for knowledge and freedom, and that’s how it’s fulfilled.”

evametissā vijjāvimuttiyā āhāro hoti, evañca pāripūrī”ti.

9.3

 

Paṭhamaṁ.