sutta » an » an9 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 9.1

Sambodhisutta

Awakening

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:
“Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask:

‘sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ kā upanisā bhāvanāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ kinti byākareyyāthā”ti?
‘Reverends, what is the vital condition for the development of the awakening factors?’ How would you answer them?”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe… bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.
“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. … The mendicants will listen and remember it.”

“Tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha; bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Well then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:
The Buddha said this:

“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:
“Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask:

‘sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ kā upanisā bhāvanāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:
‘Reverends, what is the vital condition for the development of the awakening factors?’ You should answer them:

‘Idhāvuso, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.
‘It’s when a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ paṭhamā upanisā bhāvanāya.
This is the first vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.
Furthermore, 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.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ dutiyā upanisā bhāvanāya.
This is the second vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
Furthermore, a mendicant gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ tatiyā upanisā bhāvanāya.
This is the third vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.
Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ catutthī upanisā bhāvanāya.
This is the fourth vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
Furthermore, a mendicant is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ pañcamī upanisā bhāvanāya’.
This is the fifth vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.’

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

sīlavā bhavissati, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharissati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhissati sikkhāpadesu.
be ethical …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

āraddhavīriyo viharissati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.
live with energy roused up …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa—
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

paññavā bhavissati udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
be wise …

Tena ca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā imesu pañcasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya cattāro dhammā uttari bhāvetabbā—
But then, a mendicant grounded on these five things should develop four further things.

asubhā bhāvetabbā rāgassa pahānāya, mettā bhāvetabbā byāpādassa pahānāya, ānāpānassati bhāvetabbā vitakkupacchedāya, aniccasaññā bhāvetabbā asmimānasamugghātāya.
They should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, mindfulness of breathing to cut off thinking, and perception of impermanence to uproot the conceit ‘I am’.

Aniccasaññino, bhikkhave, anattasaññā saṇṭhāti.
When you perceive impermanence, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized.

Anattasaññī asmimānasamugghātaṁ pāpuṇāti diṭṭheva dhamme nibbānan”ti.
Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain extinguishment in this very life.”

Paṭhamaṁ.