AN 2.5 (A i 50)
Appaṭivāna Sutta
— Relentlessly —

How we ought to train ourselves if we wish to reach awakening.



Note: info·bubbles on "underdotted" English words


Pāḷi



English



“dvinnāhaṃ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṃ upaññāsiṃ: yā ca asantuṭṭhitā kusalesu dhammesu, yā ca appaṭivānitā padhānasmiṃ. appaṭivānī sudāhaṃ, bhikkhave, padahāmi: ‘kāmaṃ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu, sarīre upasussatu maṃsalohitaṃ, yaṃ taṃ purisathāmena purisavīriyena purisaparakkamena pattabbaṃ na taṃ apāpuṇitvā vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṃ bhavissatī’ti.

"Monks, I have known two qualities through experience: discontent with regard to skillful qualities and unrelenting exertion. Relentlessly I exerted myself, [thinking,] 'Gladly would I let the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, but if I have not attained what can be reached through human firmness, human persistence, human striving, there will be no relaxing my persistence.' From this heedfulness of mine was attained Awakening. From this heedfulness of mine was attained the unexcelled freedom from bondage.

tassa mayhaṃ, bhikkhave, appamādādhigatā sambodhi, appamādādhigato anuttaro yogakkhemo. tumhe cepi, bhikkhave, appaṭivānaṃ padaheyyātha: ‘kāmaṃ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu, sarīre upasussatu maṃsalohitaṃ, yaṃ taṃ purisathāmena purisavīriyena purisaparakkamena pattabbaṃ na taṃ apāpuṇitvā vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṃ bhavissatī’ti, tumhepi, bhikkhave, nacirasseva yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṃ brahmacariyapariyosānaṃ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissatha.

"You, too, monks, should relentlessly exert yourselves, [thinking,] 'Gladly would we let the flesh & blood in our bodies dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, but if we have not attained what can be reached through human firmness, human persistence, human striving, there will be no relaxing our persistence.' You, too, in no long time will reach & remain in the supreme goal of the holy life for which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, knowing & realizing it for yourselves in the here & now.

tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ: ‘appaṭivānaṃ padahissāma. kāmaṃ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu, sarīre upasussatu maṃsalohitaṃ, yaṃ taṃ purisathāmena purisavīriyena purisaparakkamena pattabbaṃ na taṃ apāpuṇitvā vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṃ bhavissatī’ti. evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

"Thus you should train yourselves: 'We will relentlessly exert ourselves, [thinking,] "Gladly would we let the flesh & blood in our bodies dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, but if we have not attained what can be reached through human firmness, human persistence, human striving, there will be no relaxing our persistence."' That's how you should train yourselves."





Bodhi leaf


"Appativana Sutta: Relentlessly", translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition), 30 November 2013.

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