AN 10 The Book of the Tens – Dasakanipāta > AN 10.72 Thorns

Numbered Discourses 10.72 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.72

8. If You Want – 8. Ākaṅkhavagga

AN 10.72 Thorns – Kaṇṭakasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof, together with several well-known senior disciples.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ sambahulehi abhiññātehi abhiññātehi therehi sāvakehi saddhiṁ—

1.2

They included Venerables Cāla, Upacāla, Kakkaṭa, Kaṭimbha, Kaṭa, Kaṭissaṅga,

āyasmatā ca cālena, āyasmatā ca upacālena, āyasmatā ca kukkuṭena, āyasmatā ca kaḷimbhena, āyasmatā ca nikaṭena, āyasmatā ca kaṭissahena;

1.3

and other well-known senior disciples.

aññehi ca abhiññātehi abhiññātehi therehi sāvakehi saddhiṁ.

2.1

Now at that time several well-known Licchavis plunged deep into the Great Wood to see the Buddha. Driving a succession of fine carriages, they made a dreadful racket.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi parapurāya uccāsaddā mahāsaddā mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhanti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya.

2.2

Then those venerables thought:

Atha kho tesaṁ āyasmantānaṁ etadahosi:

2.3

“These several well-known Licchavis have plunged deep into the Great Wood to see the Buddha. Driving a succession of fine carriages, they’re making a dreadful racket.

“ime kho sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi parapurāya uccāsaddā mahāsaddā mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhanti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya.

2.4

But the Buddha has said that sound is a thorn to absorption.

Saddakaṇṭakā kho pana jhānā vuttā bhagavatā.

2.5

Let’s go to the Gosiṅga Sal Wood.

Yannūna mayaṁ yena gosiṅgasālavanadāyo tenupasaṅkameyyāma.

2.6

There we can meditate comfortably, free of noise and crowds.”

Tattha mayaṁ appasaddā appākiṇṇā phāsuṁ vihareyyāmā”ti.

2.7

Then those venerables went to the Gosiṅga Sal Wood,

Atha kho te āyasmanto yena gosiṅgasālavanadāyo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;

2.8

where they meditated comfortably, free of noise and crowds.

tattha te āyasmanto appasaddā appākiṇṇā phāsuṁ viharanti.

3.1

Then the Buddha said to the bhikkhū:

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

3.2

“Bhikkhū, where are Cāla, Upacāla, Kakkaṭa, Kaṭimbha, Kaṭa, and Kaṭissaṅga?

“kahaṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, cālo, kahaṁ upacālo, kahaṁ kukkuṭo, kahaṁ kaḷimbho, kahaṁ nikaṭo, kahaṁ kaṭissaho;

3.3

Where have these senior disciples gone?”

kahaṁ nu kho te, bhikkhave, therā sāvakā gatā”ti?

4.1

And the bhikkhū told him what had happened.

“Idha, bhante, tesaṁ āyasmantānaṁ etadahosi:

4.2

‘ime kho sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi parapurāya uccāsaddā mahāsaddā mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhanti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya saddakaṇṭakā kho pana jhānā vuttā bhagavatā yannūna mayaṁ yena gosiṅgasālavanadāyo tenupasaṅkameyyāma tattha mayaṁ appasaddā appākiṇṇā phāsuṁ vihareyyāmā’ti.

4.3

Atha kho te, bhante, āyasmanto yena gosiṅgasālavanadāyo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.

4.4

Tattha te āyasmanto appasaddā appākiṇṇā phāsuṁ viharantī”ti.

5.1

“Good, good, bhikkhū! It’s just as those great disciples have so rightly explained. I have said that sound is a thorn to absorption.

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhave, yathā te mahāsāvakā sammā byākaramānā byākareyyuṁ, saddakaṇṭakā hi, bhikkhave, jhānā vuttā mayā.

6.1

Bhikkhū, there are these ten thorns.

Dasayime, bhikkhave, kaṇṭakā.

6.2

What ten?

Katame dasa?

6.3

Relishing company is a thorn for someone who loves seclusion. Focusing on the beautiful feature of things is a thorn for someone pursuing the meditation on ugliness. Seeing shows is a thorn to someone restraining the senses. Lingering in the neighborhood of females is a thorn to celibacy. Sound is a thorn to the first absorption. Placing the mind and keeping it connected are a thorn to the second absorption. Rapture is a thorn to the third absorption. Breathing is a thorn to the fourth absorption. Perception and feeling are a thorn to the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling. Greed, hate, and delusion are thorns.

Pavivekārāmassa saṅgaṇikārāmatā kaṇṭako, asubhanimittānuyogaṁ anuyuttassa subhanimittānuyogo kaṇṭako, indriyesu guttadvārassa visūkadassanaṁ kaṇṭako, brahmacariyassa mātugāmūpacāro kaṇṭako, paṭhamassa jhānassa saddo kaṇṭako, dutiyassa jhānassa vitakkavicārā kaṇṭakā, tatiyassa jhānassa pīti kaṇṭako, catutthassa jhānassa assāsapassāso kaṇṭako, saññāvedayitanirodhasamāpattiyā saññā ca vedanā ca kaṇṭako rāgo kaṇṭako doso kaṇṭako moho kaṇṭako.

7.1

Bhikkhū, live free of thorns!

Akaṇṭakā, bhikkhave, viharatha.

7.2

Live rid of thorns!

Nikkaṇṭakā, bhikkhave, viharatha.

7.3

Bhikkhū, live free of thorns and rid of thorns!

Akaṇṭakanikkaṇṭakā, bhikkhave, viharatha.

7.4

The perfected ones live free of thorns,

Akaṇṭakā, bhikkhave, arahanto;

7.5

rid of thorns,

nikkaṇṭakā, bhikkhave, arahanto;

7.6

free and rid of thorns.”

akaṇṭakanikkaṇṭakā, bhikkhave, arahanto”ti.

7.7

Dutiyaṁ.