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Numbered Discourses · AN 10.98

  • Numbered Discourses 10.98Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.98
  • 10. With Upāli10. Upālivagga

A Senior MendicantTherasutta

“Mendicants, a senior mendicant with ten qualities lives comfortably in whatever region they live.“Dasahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu yassaṁ yassaṁ disāyaṁ viharati, phāsuyeva viharati. What ten?Katamehi dasahi?

They are long standing and have long gone forth.Thero hoti rattaññū cirapabbajito,

They’re ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.sīlavā hoti …pe…

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu, bahussuto hoti …pe…

Both monastic codes have been passed down to them in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material.diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdho, ubhayāni kho panassa pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso,

They’re skilled in the instigation and settlement of disciplinary issues.adhikaraṇasamuppādavūpasamakusalo hoti,

They love the teachings and are a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training.dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo,

They’re content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.santuṭṭho hoti itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena,

They look impressive when going out and coming back, and are well restrained when sitting in an inhabited area.pāsādiko hoti abhikkantapaṭikkante susaṁvuto antaraghare nisajjāya,

They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī,

They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.āsavānañca khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

A senior mendicant with these ten qualities lives comfortably in whatever region they live.”Imehi kho, bhikkhave, dasahi dhammehi samannāgato thero bhikkhu yassaṁ yassaṁ disāyaṁ viharati, phāsuyeva viharatī”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 5.88 Senior Mendicants 0.80near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.88 9. Senior Mendicants Senior Mendicants “Mendicants, a senior mendicant who has five qualities is acting for the detriment and unhappiness of the people, against the people, for the harm, detrimen…
  2. AN 5.87 Ethical 0.80near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.87 9. Senior Mendicants Ethical “A senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. What five? They’re ethical, restrained in the monast…
  3. AN 5.166 Cessation 0.76near 0.1“Sir, a senior mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. What five? It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves w…
  4. AN 10.33 A Judge 0.72near 0.1Numbered Discourses 10.33 4. With Upāli A Judge “Sir, how many qualities should a mendicant have to be deemed a judge?” “Upāli, a mendicant should have ten qualities to be deemed a judge. What ten? It’s when a mendicant…
  5. AN 5.232 Liked 0.71near 0.1Numbered Discourses 5.232 24. A Resident Mendicant Liked “Mendicants, a resident mendicant with five qualities is dear and beloved to their spiritual companions, respected and admired. What five? They’re ethical, restrai…
  6. AN 8.58 Worthy of Offerings Dedicated to the Gods (2nd) 0.67near 1.10They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they li…
  7. AN 4.22 At Uruvelā (2nd) 0.59near 1.10Then you’ll be reckoned a ‘childish senior’. Now suppose you’re a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life. But your speech is timely, true, meaningful, and in line with the teachi…