sutta » an » an4 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.37

Aparihāniyasutta

Non-decline

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya nibbānasseva santike.
“Mendicants, a mendicant who has four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.

Katamehi catūhi?
What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti, indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, bhojane mattaññū hoti, jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.
A mendicant is accomplished in ethics, guards the sense doors, eats in moderation, and is dedicated to wakefulness.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti?
And how is a mendicant accomplished in ethics?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.
It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti.
That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti?
And how does a mendicant guard the sense doors?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.
When a mendicant sees a sight with their eyes, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati cakkhundriyaṁ; cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.
If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving restraint over it.

Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …
Hearing a sound with their ears …

ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …
Smelling an odor with their nose …

jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …
Tasting a flavor with their tongue …

kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …
Feeling a touch with their body …

manasā dhammaṁ viññāya na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.
Knowing an idea with their mind, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati manindriyaṁ; manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.
If the faculty of mind were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving restraint over it.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti.
That’s how a mendicant guards the sense doors.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti?
And how does a mendicant eat in moderation?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṁ āhāreti:
It’s when a mendicant reflects rationally on the food that they eat:

‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya; yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya. Iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati, anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.
‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will live blamelessly and at ease.’

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti.
That’s how a mendicant eats in moderation.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti?
And how is a mendicant dedicated to wakefulness?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu divasaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti;
It’s when a mendicant practices walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying their mind from obstacles.

rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti;
In the evening, they continue to practice walking and sitting meditation.

rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā;
In the middle of the night, they lie down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.

rattiyā pacchimaṁ yāmaṁ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti.
In the last part of the night, they get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying their mind from obstacles.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.
This is how a mendicant is dedicated to wakefulness.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santiketi.
A mendicant who has these four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.

Sīle patiṭṭhito bhikkhu,
Established in ethics,

indriyesu ca saṁvuto;
restrained in the sense faculties,

Bhojanamhi ca mattaññū,
eating in moderation,

jāgariyaṁ anuyuñjati.
and dedicated to wakefulness;

Evaṁ vihārī ātāpī,
a mendicant lives like this, with keen energy,

ahorattamatandito;
tireless all night and day,

Bhāvayaṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ,
developing skillful qualities,

yogakkhemassa pattiyā.
for the sake of finding sanctuary from the yoke.

Appamādarato bhikkhu,
A mendicant who loves to be diligent,

pamāde bhayadassi vā;
seeing fear in negligence,

Abhabbo parihānāya,
can’t decline,

nibbānasseva santike”ti.
and has drawn near to extinguishment.”

Sattamaṁ.