sutta » an » an4 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.25

Brahmacariyasutta

The Spiritual Life

“Nayidaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaṁ vussati janakuhanatthaṁ, na janalapanatthaṁ, na lābhasakkārasilokānisaṁsatthaṁ, na itivādappamokkhānisaṁsatthaṁ, na ‘iti maṁ jano jānātū’ti.
“Mendicants, this spiritual life is not lived for the sake of deceiving people or flattering them, nor for the benefit of possessions, honor, or popularity, nor for the benefit of winning debates, nor thinking, ‘So let people know about me!’

Atha kho idaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmacariyaṁ vussati saṁvaratthaṁ pahānatthaṁ virāgatthaṁ nirodhatthanti.
This spiritual life is lived for the sake of restraint, giving up, fading away, and cessation.

Saṁvaratthaṁ pahānatthaṁ,
The Buddha taught the spiritual life

brahmacariyaṁ anītihaṁ;
not because of tradition,

Adesayi so bhagavā,
but for the sake of restraint and giving up,

nibbānogadhagāminaṁ;
and because it culminates in extinguishment.

Esa maggo mahantehi,
This is the path followed by the great souls,

anuyāto mahesibhi.
the great seers.

Ye ca taṁ paṭipajjanti,
Those who practice it

yathā buddhena desitaṁ;
as it was taught by the Buddha,

Dukkhassantaṁ karissanti,
doing the teacher’s bidding,

satthusāsanakārino”ti.
make an end of suffering.”

Pañcamaṁ.