AN 4.37 (A ii 39)
Aparihāniya Sutta
— No Falling Away —

Four simple practices that make one incapable of falling away, right in the presence of Nibbāna.



Note: info·bubbles on "underdotted" English words


Pāḷi


English




“catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya nibbānasseva santike. katamehi catūhi?

"Endowed with four qualities, a monk is incapable of falling away and is right in the presence of Unbinding. Which four?

idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti, indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, bhojane mattaññū hoti, jāgariyaṃ anuyutto hoti.

There is the case where a monk is consummate in virtue, guards the doors to his sense faculties, knows moderation in eating, & is devoted to wakefulness.

“kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti pātimokkhasaṃvarasaṃvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti.

"And how is a monk consummate in virtue? There is the case where a monk is virtuous. He dwells restrained in accordance with the Patimokkha, consummate in his behavior & sphere of activity. He trains himself, having undertaken the training rules, seeing danger in the slightest faults. This is how a monk is consummate in virtue.

“kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṃ disvā na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī. yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ cakkhundriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ, tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati cakkhundriyaṃ; cakkhundriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjati.

"And how does a monk guard the doors to his sense faculties? There is the case where a monk, on seeing a form with the eye, does not grasp at any theme or variations by which — if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the eye — evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. He practices with restraint. He guards the faculty of the eye. He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the eye.

sotena saddaṃ sutvā na nimitta·ggāhī hoti n·ānubyañjana·ggāhī yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ sotindriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ, abhijjhā·domanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ, tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati sotindriyaṃ; sotindriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjati.

"On hearing a sound with the ear, he does not grasp at any theme or variations by which — if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the ear — evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. He practices with restraint. He guards the faculty of the ear. He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the ear.

ghāṇena gandhaṃ ghāyitvā na nimitta·ggāhī hoti n·ānubyañjana·ggāhī yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ ghāṇindriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ, abhijjhā·domanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ, tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati ghāṇindriyaṃ; ghāṇindriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjati.

"On smelling an aroma with the nose, he does not grasp at any theme or variations by which — if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the nose — evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. He practices with restraint. He guards the faculty of the nose. He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the nose.

jivhāya rasaṃ sāyitvā na nimitta·ggāhī hoti n·ānubyañjana·ggāhī yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ jivhindriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ, abhijjhā·domanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ, tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati jivhindriyaṃ; jivhindriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjati.

"On tasting a flavor with the tongue, he does not grasp at any theme or variations by which — if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the tongue — evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. He practices with restraint. He guards the faculty of the tongue. He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the tongue.

kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṃ phusitvā na nimitta·ggāhī hoti n·ānubyañjana·ggāhī yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ kāyindriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ, abhijjhā·domanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ, tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati kāyindriyaṃ; kāyindriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjati.

"On feeling a tactile sensation with the body, he does not grasp at any theme or variations by which — if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the body — evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. He practices with restraint. He guards the faculty of the body. He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the body.

manasā dhammaṃ viññāya na nimitta·ggāhī hoti n·ānubyañjana·ggāhī yatvādhikaraṇamenaṃ manindriyaṃ asaṃvutaṃ viharantaṃ, abhijjhā·domanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṃ, tassa saṃvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati manindriyaṃ; manindriye saṃvaraṃ āpajjati.

"On cognizing an idea with the intellect, he does not grasp at any theme or variations by which — if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the intellect — evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. He practices with restraint. He guards the faculty of the intellect. He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the intellect. This is how a monk guards the doors to his sense faculties.

“kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṃ āhāreti: ‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya; yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṃsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya. iti purāṇañca vedanaṃ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṃ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati, anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti.

"And how does a monk know moderation in eating? There is the case where a monk, considering it appropriately, takes his food not playfully, nor for intoxication, nor for putting on bulk, nor for beautification, but simply for the survival & continuance of this body, for ending its afflictions, for the support of the holy life, thinking, 'I will destroy old feelings [of hunger] & not create new feelings [from overeating]. Thus I will maintain myself, be blameless, & live in comfort.' This is how a monk knows moderation in eating.

“kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṃ anuyutto hoti? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu divasaṃ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṃ parisodheti; rattiyā paṭhamaṃ yāmaṃ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṃ parisodheti; rattiyā majjhimaṃ yāmaṃ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṃ kappeti, pāde pādaṃ accādhāya, sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṃ manasi karitvā; rattiyā pacchimaṃ yāmaṃ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṃ parisodheti. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṃ anuyutto hoti.

"And how is a monk devoted to wakefulness? There is the case where a monk during the day, sitting & pacing back & forth, cleanses his mind of any qualities that would hold the mind in check. During the first watch of the night, sitting & pacing back & forth, he cleanses his mind of any qualities that would hold the mind in check. During the second watch of the night, reclining on his right side, he takes up the lion's posture, one foot placed on top of the other, mindful, alert, with his mind set on getting up [either as soon as he awakens or at a particular time]. During the last watch of the night, sitting & pacing back & forth, he cleanses his mind of any qualities that would hold the mind in check. This is how a monk is devoted to wakefulness.

imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santiketi.

"Endowed with these four qualities, a monk is incapable of falling away and is right in the presence of Unbinding."

sīle patiṭṭhito bhikkhu,
indriyesu ca saṃvuto.
bhojanamhi ca mattaññū,
jāgariyaṃ anuyuñjati.
evaṃ vihārī ātāpī,
ahorattamatandito.
bhāvayaṃ kusalaṃ dhammaṃ,
yogakkhemassa pattiyā.
appamādarato bhikkhu,
pamāde bhayadassi vā.
abhabbo parihānāya,
nibbānasseva santike”ti.


The monk established in virtue,
Restrained with regard to the sense faculties,
Knowing moderation in food,
& devoted to wakefulness:
Dwelling thus ardently,
Day & night, untiring,
He develops skillful qualities
For the attainment of rest from the yoke.
The monk delighting in heedfulness
And seeing danger in heedlessness
Is incapable of falling away,
Is right in the presence of Unbinding.



Bodhi leaf


"Aparihani Sutta: No Falling Away", translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition), 30 November 2013.

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