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Numbered Discourses · AN 9.1

  • Numbered Discourses 9.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 9.1
  • 1. Awakening1. Sambodhivagga

AwakeningSambodhisutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask:“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘Reverends, what is the vital condition for the development of the qualities on the same side as awakening?’ How would you answer them?”‘sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ kā upanisā bhāvanāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ kinti byākareyyāthā”ti?

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

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

“Yes, sir,” they replied.“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask:“Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘Reverends, what is the vital condition for the development of the qualities on the same side as awakening?’ You should answer them:‘sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ kā upanisā bhāvanāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:

‘It’s when a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates.‘Idhāvuso, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. This is the first vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ paṭhamā upanisā bhāvanāya.

Furthermore, 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.Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. This is the second vital condition for the development of the qualities on the same side as awakening.Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ dutiyā upanisā bhāvanāya.

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.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. This is the third vital condition for the development of the qualities on the same side as awakening.Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ tatiyā upanisā bhāvanāya.

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.Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. This is the fourth vital condition for the development of the qualities on the same side as awakening.Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ catutthī upanisā bhāvanāya.

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.Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. This is the fifth vital condition for the development of the qualities on the same side as awakening.’Sambodhipakkhikānaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ ayaṁ pañcamī upanisā bhāvanāya’.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect toKalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa— be ethical …sīlavā bhavissati, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharissati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhissati sikkhāpadesu.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect toKalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa— take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart …yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect toKalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa— live with energy roused up …āraddhavīriyo viharissati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect toKalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa— be wise …paññavā bhavissati udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

But then, a mendicant grounded on these five things should develop four further things.Tena ca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā imesu pañcasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya cattāro dhammā uttari bhāvetabbā— 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’.asubhā bhāvetabbā rāgassa pahānāya, mettā bhāvetabbā byāpādassa pahānāya, ānāpānassati bhāvetabbā vitakkupacchedāya, aniccasaññā bhāvetabbā asmimānasamugghātāya. When you perceive impermanence, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized.Aniccasaññino, bhikkhave, anattasaññā saṇṭhāti. Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain extinguishment in this very life.”Anattasaññī asmimānasamugghātaṁ pāpuṇāti diṭṭheva dhamme nibbānan”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 9.3 With Meghiya 0.94near 12.1be ethical … A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart … A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expec…
  2. Ud 4.1 With Meghiya 0.68near 12.1This is the fifth thing that, when the heart’s release is not ripe, helps it ripen. These are the five things that, when the heart’s release is not ripe, help it ripen. A mendicant with good friends, companions, and asso…
  3. AN 10.50 Fights 0.60near 7.1When a mendicant is ethical, this warm-hearted quality makes for fondness and respect, conducing to inclusion, harmony, and unity, without dispute. Furthermore, a mendicant is very learned, remembering and keeping what t…
  4. AN 10.17 A Protector (1st) 0.60near 7.1Furthermore, a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work. This too is a quality that se…
  5. DN 33 Reciting in Concert 0.57near 7.1This too is a quality that serves as protector. Furthermore, a mendicant loves the teachings and is a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training. This too is a quality that serves as protect…
  6. AN 5.90 A Trainee (2nd) 0.57near 7.1Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t enter the village too early or return too late in the day. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fourth thing that doesn’t lead…
  7. AN 10.69 Topics of Discussion (1st) 0.55near 0.1Numbered Discourses 10.69 7. Pairs Topics of Discussion (1st) At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time, after the meal, on return from almsround, sever…
  8. AN 9.4 With Nandaka 0.53near 0.1Numbered Discourses 9.4 1. Awakening With Nandaka At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time Venerable Nandaka was educating, encouraging, firing up, and…