MN 16 Emotional Barrenness

Medium Discourses Collection 16 – Majjhima Nikāya 16

MN 16 Emotional Barrenness – Cetokhilasutta

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:

1.4

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

1.5

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.6

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, when a bhikkhu has not given up five kinds of emotional barrenness and cut off five emotional shackles, it’s not possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

“Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pañca cetokhilā appahīnā, pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

3.1

What are the five kinds of emotional barrenness they haven’t given up?

Katamāssa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti?

3.2

Firstly, a bhikkhu has doubts about the Teacher. They’re uncertain, undecided, and lacking confidence.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati.

3.3

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

3.4

This is the first kind of emotional barrenness they haven’t given up.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

4.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu has doubts about the teaching …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati …pe…

4.2

This is the second kind of emotional barrenness.

evamassāyaṁ dutiyo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

5.1

They have doubts about the Saṅgha …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saṅghe kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati …pe…

5.2

This is the third kind of emotional barrenness.

evamassāyaṁ tatiyo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

6.1

They have doubts about the training …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sikkhāya kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati.

6.2

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sikkhāya kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

6.3

This is the fourth kind of emotional barrenness.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

7.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is angry and upset with their spiritual companions, resentful and closed off.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto.

7.2

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

7.3

This is the fifth kind of emotional barrenness they haven’t given up.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

7.4

These are the five kinds of emotional barrenness they haven’t given up.

Imāssa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti.

8.1

What are the five emotional shackles they haven’t cut off?

Katamāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti?

8.2

Firstly, a bhikkhu isn’t free of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho.

8.3

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

8.4

This is the first emotional shackle they haven’t cut off.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

9.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu isn’t free of greed for the body …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye avītarāgo hoti …pe…

9.2

This is the second emotional shackle.

evamassāyaṁ dutiyo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

10.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu isn’t free of greed for form …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu rūpe avītarāgo hoti …pe…

10.2

This is the third emotional shackle.

evamassāyaṁ tatiyo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

11.1

They eat as much as they like until their belly is full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati.

11.2

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

11.3

This is the fourth emotional shackle.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

12.1

They lead the spiritual life hoping to be reborn in one of the orders of gods, thinking: ‘By this precept or observance or mortification or spiritual life, may I become one of the gods!’

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti.

12.2

This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

12.3

This is the fifth emotional shackle they haven’t cut off.

Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

12.4

These are the five emotional shackles they haven’t cut off.

Imāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti.

13.1

When a bhikkhu has not given up these five kinds of emotional barrenness and cut off these five emotional shackles, it’s not possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ime pañca cetokhilā appahīnā, ime pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

14.1

When a bhikkhu has given up these five kinds of emotional barrenness and cut off these five emotional shackles, it is possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pañca cetokhilā pahīnā, pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

15.1

What are the five kinds of emotional barrenness they’ve given up?

Katamāssa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti?

15.2

Firstly, a bhikkhu has no doubts about the Teacher. They’re not uncertain, undecided, or lacking confidence.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati.

15.3

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

15.4

This is the first kind of emotional barrenness they’ve given up.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

16.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu has no doubts about the teaching …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati …pe…

16.2

evamassāyaṁ dutiyo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

17.1

They have no doubts about the Saṅgha …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saṅghe na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati …pe…

17.2

evamassāyaṁ tatiyo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

18.1

They have no doubts about the training …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sikkhāya na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati …pe…

18.2

evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

19.1

They’re not angry and upset with their spiritual companions, not resentful or closed off.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti na anattamano anāhatacitto akhilajāto.

19.2

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti na anattamano anāhatacitto akhilajāto, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

19.3

This is the fifth kind of emotional barrenness they’ve given up.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

19.4

These are the five kinds of emotional barrenness they’ve given up.

Imāssa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti.

20.1

What are the five emotional shackles they’ve cut off?

Katamāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti?

20.2

Firstly, a bhikkhu is rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho.

20.3

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

20.4

This is the first emotional shackle they’ve cut off.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

21.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is rid of greed for the body …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye vītarāgo hoti …pe…

22.1

They’re rid of greed for form …

rūpe vītarāgo hoti …pe…

23.1

They don’t eat as much as they like until their belly is full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing …

na yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati.

23.2

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

23.3

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

24.1

They don’t lead the spiritual life hoping to be reborn in one of the orders of gods, thinking: ‘By this precept or observance or mortification or spiritual life, may I become one of the gods!’

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti.

24.2

This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving.

Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya.

24.3

This is the fifth emotional shackle they’ve cut off.

Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

24.4

These are the five emotional shackles they’ve cut off.

Imāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti.

25.1

When a bhikkhu has given up these five kinds of emotional barrenness and cut off these five emotional shackles, it is possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training.

Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ime pañca cetokhilā pahīnā, ime pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

26.1

They develop the basis of psychic power that has samādhi due to enthusiasm, and active effort …

So chandasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti,

26.2

the basis of psychic power that has samādhi due to energy, and active effort …

vīriyasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti,

26.3

the basis of psychic power that has samādhi due to mental development, and active effort …

cittasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti,

26.4

the basis of psychic power that has samādhi due to inquiry, and active effort. And the fifth is sheer vigor.

vīmaṁsāsamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, ussoḷhīyeva pañcamī.

27.1

A bhikkhu who possesses these fifteen factors, including vigor, is capable of breaking out, becoming awakened, and reaching the supreme sanctuary.

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, evaṁ ussoḷhipannarasaṅgasamannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo abhinibbidāya, bhabbo sambodhāya, bhabbo anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

27.2

Suppose there was a chicken with eight or ten or twelve eggs.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni aṭṭha vā dasa vā dvādasa vā.

27.3

And she properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated.

Tānassu kukkuṭiyā sammā adhisayitāni sammā pariseditāni sammā paribhāvitāni.

27.4

Even if that chicken doesn’t wish:

Kiñcāpi tassā kukkuṭiyā na evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya:

27.5

‘If only my chicks could break out of the eggshell with their claws and beak and hatch safely!’

‘aho vatime kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjeyyun’ti.

27.6

Still they can break out and hatch safely.

Atha kho bhabbāva te kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjituṁ.

27.7

In the same way, a bhikkhu who possesses these fifteen factors, including vigor, is capable of breaking out, becoming awakened, and reaching the supreme sanctuary.”

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, evaṁ ussoḷhipannarasaṅgasamannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo abhinibbidāya, bhabbo sambodhāya, bhabbo anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāyā”ti.

27.8

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

27.9

Satisfied, the bhikkhū were happy with what the Buddha said.

Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

27.10

Cetokhilasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.