EthicsSīlasutta

“Mendicants, when a mendicant is accomplished in ethics, immersion, knowledge, freedom, or the knowledge and vision of freedom, even the sight of them is very helpful, I say.“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sīlasampannā samādhisampannā ñāṇasampannā vimuttisampannā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampannā, dassanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi; Even to hear them,savanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi; approach them,upasaṅkamanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi; pay homage to them,payirupāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi; recollect them,anussatimpāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi; or go forth following them is very helpful, I say.anupabbajjampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because after hearing the teaching of such mendicants, a mendicant will live withdrawn in both body and mind,Tathārūpānaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ dhammaṁ sutvā dvayena vūpakāsena vūpakaṭṭho viharati—kāyavūpakāsena ca cittavūpakāsena ca. as they recollect and think about that teaching.So tathā vūpakaṭṭho viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ anussarati anuvitakketi.

At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of mindfulness;Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathā vūpakaṭṭho viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ anussarati anuvitakketi, satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; they develop itsatisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; and perfect it.satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. As they live mindfully in this way they investigate, explore, and inquire into that teaching with wisdom.So tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati.

At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of investigation of principles;Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; they develop itdhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; and perfect it.dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. As they investigate principles with wisdom in this way their energy is roused up and unflagging.Tassa taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ.

At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of energy; they develop it and perfect it.Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. When they’re energetic, rapture not of the flesh arises.Āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā.

At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of rapture; they develop it and perfect it.Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā, pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. When the mind is full of rapture, the body and mind become tranquil.Pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati.

At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of tranquility; they develop it and perfect it.Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati cittampi passambhati, passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. When the body is tranquil and one feels bliss, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.Passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of immersion; they develop it and perfect it.Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati, samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. They closely watch over that mind immersed in samādhi.So tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti.

At such a time, a mendicant has initiated the awakening factor of equanimity; they develop it and perfect it.Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

When the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated in this way they can expect seven fruits and benefits.Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, sattasu sambojjhaṅgesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā. What seven?Katame satta phalā sattānisaṁsā? They attain enlightenment early on in this very life.Diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti. If not, they attain enlightenment at the time of death.No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, atha maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti. If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters, they’re extinguished between one life and the next.No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti. If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished upon landing.No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti. If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished without extra effort.No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti. If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished with extra effort.No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti. If not, with the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm.No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī. When the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated in this way these are the seven fruits and benefits they can expect.”Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, sattasu bojjhaṅgesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu ime satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.