sutta » an » an4 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.28

Ariyavaṁsasutta

The Noble Traditions

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, ariyavaṁsā aggaññā rattaññā vaṁsaññā porāṇā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
“Mendicants, these four noble traditions are primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now, nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.

Katame cattāro?
What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca cīvarahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati;
Firstly, a mendicant is content with any kind of robe, and praises such contentment. They don’t try to get hold of a robe in an improper way. They don’t get upset if they don’t get a robe. And if they do get a robe, they use it untied, uninfatuated, unattached, seeing the drawback, and understanding the escape.

tāya ca pana itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.
But they don’t glorify themselves or put others down on account of their contentment.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.
A mendicant who is deft, tireless, aware, and mindful in this is said to stand in the ancient, primordial noble tradition.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca piṇḍapātahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati;
Furthermore, a mendicant is content with any kind of almsfood …

tāya ca pana itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca senāsanahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca senāsanaṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca senāsanaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati;
Furthermore, a mendicant is content with any kind of lodgings …

tāya ca pana itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhāvanārāmo hoti bhāvanārato, pahānārāmo hoti pahānarato;
Furthermore, a mendicant enjoys meditation and loves to meditate. They enjoy giving up and love to give up.

tāya ca pana bhāvanārāmatāya bhāvanāratiyā pahānārāmatāya pahānaratiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.
But they don’t glorify themselves or put down others on account of their love for meditation and giving up.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.
A mendicant who is deft, tireless, aware, and mindful in this is said to stand in the ancient, primordial noble tradition.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro ariyavaṁsā aggaññā rattaññā vaṁsaññā porāṇā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
These four noble traditions are primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.

Imehi ca pana, bhikkhave, catūhi ariyavaṁsehi samannāgato bhikkhu puratthimāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati;
When a mendicant has these four noble traditions, if they live in the east they prevail over discontent, and discontent doesn’t prevail over them.

pacchimāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati;
If they live in the west …

uttarāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati;
the north …

dakkhiṇāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati.
the south, they prevail over discontent, and discontent doesn’t prevail over them.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Aratiratisaho hi, bhikkhave, dhīroti.
Because the attentive prevail over desire and discontent.

Nārati sahati dhīraṁ,
Discontent cannot prevail over the attentive;

nārati dhīraṁ sahati;
the attentive are not prevailed over by discontent.

Dhīrova aratiṁ sahati,
The attentive can prevail over discontent,

dhīro hi aratissaho.
for the attentive are those who prevail over discontent.

Sabbakammavihāyīnaṁ,
Who can hold back the dispeller,

panuṇṇaṁ ko nivāraye;
who’s thrown away all deeds?

Nekkhaṁ jambonadasseva,
Like a pendant of Black Plum River gold,

ko taṁ ninditumarahati;
who is worthy to criticize them?

Devāpi naṁ pasaṁsanti,
Even the gods praise them,

brahmunāpi pasaṁsito”ti.
and by the Divinity, too, they’re praised.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.