SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 47 Linked Discourses on Mindfulness Meditation – Satipaṭṭhānasaṁyutta > SN 47.7 A Monkey

Linked Discourses 47.7 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 47.7

1. In Ambapālī’s Wood – 1. Ambapālivagga

SN 47.7 A Monkey – Makkaṭasutta

“Bhikkhū, in the Himalayas there are regions that are rugged and impassable. In some such regions, neither monkeys nor humans can go,

“Atthi, bhikkhave, himavato pabbatarājassa duggā visamā desā, yattha neva makkaṭānaṁ cārī na manussānaṁ.

while in others, monkeys can go but not humans.

Atthi, bhikkhave, himavato pabbatarājassa duggā visamā desā, yattha makkaṭānañhi kho cārī, na manussānaṁ.

There are also level, pleasant places where both monkeys and humans can go.

Atthi, bhikkhave, himavato pabbatarājassa samā bhūmibhāgā ramaṇīyā, yattha makkaṭānañceva cārī manussānañca.

There hunters lay snares of tar on the monkey trails to catch the monkeys.

Tatra, bhikkhave, luddā makkaṭavīthīsu lepaṁ oḍḍenti makkaṭānaṁ bādhanāya.

The monkeys who are not foolhardy and reckless see the tar and avoid it from afar.

Tatra, bhikkhave, ye te makkaṭā abālajātikā alolajātikā, te taṁ lepaṁ disvā ārakā parivajjanti.

But a foolish and reckless monkey goes up to the tar and grabs it with a hand.

Yo pana so hoti makkaṭo bālajātiko lolajātiko, so taṁ lepaṁ upasaṅkamitvā hatthena gaṇhāti.

He gets stuck there.

So tattha bajjhati.

Thinking to free his hand, he grabs it with his other hand.

‘Hatthaṁ mocessāmī’ti dutiyena hatthena gaṇhāti.

He gets stuck there.

So tattha bajjhati.

Thinking to free both hands, he grabs it with a foot.

‘Ubho hatthe mocessāmī’ti pādena gaṇhāti.

He gets stuck there.

So tattha bajjhati.

Thinking to free both hands and foot, he grabs it with his other foot.

‘Ubho hatthe mocessāmi pādañcā’ti dutiyena pādena gaṇhāti.

He gets stuck there.

So tattha bajjhati.

Thinking to free both hands and feet, he grabs it with his snout.

‘Ubho hatthe mocessāmi pāde cā’ti tuṇḍena gaṇhāti.

He gets stuck there.

So tattha bajjhati.

And so the monkey, trapped at five points, just lies there screeching. He’d meet with tragedy and disaster, and the hunter can do what he wants with him.

Evañhi so, bhikkhave, makkaṭo pañcoḍḍito thunaṁ seti anayaṁ āpanno byasanaṁ āpanno yathākāmakaraṇīyo luddassa.

The hunter spears him, pries him off that tarred block of wood, and goes wherever he wants.

Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, luddo vijjhitvā tasmiṁyeva kaṭṭhakataṅgāre avassajjetvā yena kāmaṁ pakkamati.

That’s what happens when you roam out of your territory into the domain of others.

Evaṁ so taṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yo agocare carati paravisaye.

So, bhikkhū, don’t roam out of your own territory into the domain of others.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, mā agocare carittha paravisaye.

If you roam out of your own territory into the domain of others, Māra will find a vulnerability and get hold of you.

Agocare, bhikkhave, carataṁ paravisaye lacchati māro otāraṁ, lacchati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

And what is not a bhikkhu’s own territory but the domain of others?

Ko ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno agocaro paravisayo?

Yadidaṁ—

It’s the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

pañca kāmaguṇā.

What five?

Katame pañca?

Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā,

Sounds known by the ear …

sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe…

Smells known by the nose …

ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …pe…

Tastes known by the tongue …

jivhāviññeyyā rasā …pe…

Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

This is not a bhikkhu’s own territory but the domain of others.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno agocaro paravisayo.

You should roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers.

Gocare, bhikkhave, caratha sake pettike visaye.

If you roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers, Māra won’t find a vulnerability or get hold of you.

Gocare, bhikkhave, carataṁ sake pettike visaye na lacchati māro otāraṁ, na lacchati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

And what is a bhikkhu’s own territory, the domain of the fathers?

Ko ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno gocaro sako pettiko visayo?

Yadidaṁ—

It’s the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.

What four?

Katame cattāro?

It’s when a bhikkhu meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

vedanāsu …pe…

mind …

citte …pe…

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

This is a bhikkhu’s own territory, the domain of the fathers.”

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno gocaro sako pettiko visayo”ti.