Non-declineAparihāniyasutta

“Mendicants, a mendicant who possesses four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.“Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya nibbānasseva santike. What four?Katamehi catūhi? A mendicant is accomplished in ethics, guards the sense doors, eats in moderation, and is dedicated to wakefulness.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti, indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, bhojane mattaññū hoti, jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.

And how is a mendicant accomplished in ethics?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti? It’s when a mendicant is 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.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti.

And how does a mendicant guard the sense doors?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti? When a mendicant sees a sight with their eyes, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī. 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 its restraint.Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati cakkhundriyaṁ; cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati. Hearing a sound with their ears …Sotena saddaṁ sutvā … Smelling an odor with their nose …ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā … Tasting a flavor with their tongue …jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā … Encountering a touch with their body …kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā … Knowing an idea with their mind, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.manasā dhammaṁ viññāya na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī. 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 its restraint.Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati manindriyaṁ; manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati. That’s how a mendicant guards the sense doors.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti.

And how does a mendicant eat in moderation?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti? It’s when a mendicant reflects rationally on the food that they eat:Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṁ āhāreti: ‘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 have the means to keep going, blamelessness, and a comfortable abiding.’‘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. That’s how a mendicant eats in moderation.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti.

And how is a mendicant dedicated to wakefulness?Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti? It’s when a mendicant practices walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying their mind from obstacles.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu divasaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti; In the first watch of the night, they continue to practice walking and sitting meditation.rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti; In the middle watch, 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 majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā; In the last watch, they get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying their mind from obstacles.rattiyā pacchimaṁ yāmaṁ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti. This is how a mendicant is dedicated to wakefulness.Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti. A mendicant who possesses these four qualities can’t decline, and has drawn near to extinguishment.Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santiketi.

Established in ethics,Sīle patiṭṭhito bhikkhu, restrained in the sense faculties,indriyesu ca saṁvuto; eating in moderation,Bhojanamhi ca mattaññū, and dedicated to wakefulness;jāgariyaṁ anuyuñjati.

a mendicant lives like this, with keen energy,Evaṁ vihārī ātāpī, tireless all night and day,ahorattamatandito; developing skillful qualities,Bhāvayaṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ, for the sake of sanctuary from the yoke.yogakkhemassa pattiyā.

A mendicant who loves diligence,Appamādarato bhikkhu, seeing fear in negligence,pamāde bhayadassi vā; can’t decline,Abhabbo parihānāya, and has drawn near to extinguishment.”nibbānasseva santike”ti.