MN 4 (M i 16)
Bhayabherava Sutta
— Fear and Terror —
[bhaya-bherava]

What would it take to live in solitude in the wilderness, completely free from fear? The Buddha explains.



Note: info·bubbles on "underdotted" English words


Pāḷi



English



evaṃ me sutaṃ ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. atha kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṃ sammodi. sammodanīyaṃ kathaṃ sāraṇīyaṃ vītisāretvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinno kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi at Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then Janussonin the brahman went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One:

— “yeme, bho gotama, kulaputtā bhavantaṃ gotamaṃ uddissa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajitā, bhavaṃ tesaṃ gotamo pubbaṅgamo, bhavaṃ tesaṃ gotamo bahukāro, bhavaṃ tesaṃ gotamo samādapetā; bhoto ca pana gotamassa sā janatā diṭṭhānugatiṃ āpajjatī”ti.

— "Master Gotama, the sons of good families who have gone forth from the home life into homelessness out of conviction in Master Gotama: is Master Gotama their leader? Is Master Gotama their helper? Is Master Gotama their inspirer? Do they take Master Gotama as their example?"

— “evametaṃ, brāhmaṇa, evametaṃ, brāhmaṇa! ye te, brāhmaṇa, kulaputtā mamaṃ uddissa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajitā, ahaṃ tesaṃ pubbaṅgamo, ahaṃ tesaṃ bahukāro, ahaṃ tesaṃ samādapetā; mama ca pana sā janatā diṭṭhānugatiṃ āpajjatī”ti.

— "Yes, brahman, so it is. The sons of good families who have gone forth from the home life into homelessness out of conviction in me: I am their leader. I am their helper. I am their inspirer. They take me as their example."

— “durabhisambhavāni hi kho, bho gotama, araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni, dukkaraṃ pavivekaṃ, durabhiramaṃ ekatte, haranti maññe mano vanāni samādhiṃ alabhamānassa bhikkhuno”ti.

— "But, Master Gotama, it's not easy to endure isolated forest or wilderness dwellings. It's not easy to maintain seclusion, not easy to enjoy being alone. The forests, as it were, plunder the mind of a monk who has not attained concentration."

— “evametaṃ, brāhmaṇa, evametaṃ, brāhmaṇa! durabhisambhavāni hi kho, brāhmaṇa, araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni, dukkaraṃ pavivekaṃ, durabhiramaṃ ekatte, haranti maññe mano vanāni samādhiṃ alabhamānassa bhikkhuno”ti.

— "Yes, brahman, so it is. It's not easy to endure isolated forest or wilderness dwellings. It's not easy to maintain seclusion, not easy to enjoy being alone. The forests, as it were, plunder the mind of a monk who has not attained concentration.

“mayhampi kho, brāhmaṇa, pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi: ‘durabhisambhavāni hi kho araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni, dukkaraṃ pavivekaṃ, durabhiramaṃ ekatte, haranti maññe mano vanāni samādhiṃ alabhamānassa bhikkhuno’ti.

Before my Awakening, when I was still an unawakened Bodhisatta, the thought occurred to me as well: 'It's not easy to endure isolated forest or wilderness dwellings. It's not easy to maintain seclusion, not easy to enjoy being alone. The forests, as it were, plunder the mind of a monk who has not attained concentration.'

tassa mayhaṃ brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā aparisuddhakāyakammantā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, aparisuddhakāyakammantasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ aparisuddhakāyakammanto araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; parisuddhakāyakammantohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā parisuddhakāyakammantā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, parisuddhakāyakammataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are unpurified in their bodily activities resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings, it's the fault of their unpurified bodily activities that they give rise to unskillful fear & terror. But it's not the case that I am unpurified in my bodily activities when I resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings. I am purified in my bodily activities. I am one of those noble ones who are purified in their bodily activities when they resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings.' Seeing in myself this purity of bodily activities, I felt even more undaunted about staying in the wilderness.

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā aparisuddhavacīkammantā ... pe ... aparisuddhamanokammantā ... pe ... aparisuddhājīvā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, aparisuddhājīvasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ aparisuddhājīvo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; parisuddhājīvohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā parisuddhājīvā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, parisuddhājīvataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are unpurified in their verbal activities... unpurified in their mental activities... unpurified in their livelihood resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings, it's the fault of their unpurified livelihood that they give rise to unskillful fear & terror. But it's not the case that I am unpurified in my livelihood when I resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings. I am purified in my livelihood. I am one of those noble ones who are purified in their livelihood when they resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings.' Seeing in myself this purity of livelihood, I felt even more undaunted about staying in the wilderness.

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā abhijjhālū kāmesu tibbasārāgā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, abhijjhālukāmesutibbasārāgasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ abhijjhālu kāmesu tibbasārāgo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; anabhijjhālūhamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā anabhijjhālū araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, anabhijjhālutaṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are covetous & fiercely passionate for sensual pleasures... I am not covetous...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā byāpannacittā paduṭṭhamanasaṅkappā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, byāpannacittapaduṭṭhamanasaṅkappasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ byāpannacitto paduṭṭhamanasaṅkappo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; mettacittohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā mettacittā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, mettacittataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who have minds of ill will, with destructive attitudes... I have a mind of good will...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā thīnamiddhapariyuṭṭhitā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, thīnamiddhapariyuṭṭhānasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ thīnamiddhapariyuṭṭhito araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; vigatathīnamiddhohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā vigatathīnamiddhā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, vigatathīnamiddhataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are overcome by sloth & drowsiness... I am devoid of sloth & drowsiness...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā uddhatā avūpasantacittā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, uddhatāvūpasantacittasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ uddhato avūpasantacitto araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; vūpasantacittohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā vūpasantacittā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, vūpasantacittataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are restless & with an unstill mind... I have a still mind...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kaṅkhī vicikicchī araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, kaṅkhivicikicchisandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ kaṅkhī vicikicchī araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; tiṇṇavicikicchohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā tiṇṇavicikicchā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, tiṇṇavicikicchataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are uncertain & doubting... I have gone beyond uncertainty...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā attukkaṃsakā paravambhī araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, attukkaṃsanaparavambhanasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ attukkaṃsako paravambhī araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; anattukkaṃsako aparavambhīhamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā anattukkaṃsakā aparavambhī araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, anattukkaṃsakataṃ aparavambhitaṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are given to praising themselves & disparaging others... I do not praise myself or disparage others...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā chambhī bhīrukajātikā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, chambhibhīrukajātikasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ chambhī bhīrukajātiko araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; vigatalomahaṃsohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā vigatalomahaṃsā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, vigatalomahaṃsataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who tend toward panic & dread... I have gone beyond horripilation...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā lābhasakkārasilokaṃ nikāmayamānā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, lābhasakkārasilokanikāmana sandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ lābhasakkārasilokaṃ nikāmayamāno araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; appicchohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā appicchā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, appicchataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are desirous of gains, offerings, & fame... I have few wants...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kusītā hīnavīriyā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, kusītahīnavīriyasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ kusīto hīnavīriyo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; āraddhavīriyohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā āraddhavīriyā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, āraddhavīriyataṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are lazy & lacking in persistence... My persistence is aroused...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā muṭṭhassatī asampajānā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, muṭṭhassatiasampajānasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ muṭṭhassati asampajāno araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; upaṭṭhitassatihamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā upaṭṭhitassatī araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, upaṭṭhitassatitaṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are muddled in their mindfulness & unalert... I have mindfulness established...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, asamāhitavibbhantacittasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ asamāhito vibbhantacitto araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; samādhisampannohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā samādhisampannā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, samādhisampadaṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are unconcentrated, with straying minds... I am consummate in concentration...'...

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā duppaññā eḷamūgā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti, duppaññaeḷamūgasandosahetu have te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalaṃ bhayabheravaṃ avhāyanti. na kho panāhaṃ duppañño eḷamūgo araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi; paññāsampannohamasmi. ye hi vo ariyā paññāsampannā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti tesamahaṃ aññataro’ti. etamahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, paññāsampadaṃ attani sampassamāno bhiyyo pallomamāpādiṃ araññe vihārāya.

"The thought occurred to me: 'When brahmans or contemplatives who are of weak discernment, drooling idiots, resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings, it's the fault of their drooling idiocy that they give rise to unskillful fear & terror. But it's not the case that I am a drooling idiot, when I resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings. I am consummate in discernment. I am one of those noble ones who are consummate in discernment when they resort to isolated forest or wilderness dwellings.' Seeing in myself this consummate discernment, I felt even more undaunted about staying in the wilderness.

“tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘yaṃnūnāhaṃ yā tā rattiyo abhiññātā abhilakkhitā — cātuddasī pañcadasī aṭṭhamī ca pakkhassa — tathārūpāsu rattīsu yāni tāni ārāmacetiyāni vanacetiyāni rukkhacetiyāni bhiṃsanakāni salomahaṃsāni tathārūpesu senāsanesu vihareyyaṃ appeva nāmāhaṃ bhayabheravaṃ passeyyan’ti. so kho ahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, aparena samayena yā tā rattiyo abhiññātā abhilakkhitā — cātuddasī pañcadasī aṭṭhamī ca pakkhassa — tathārūpāsu rattīsu yāni tāni ārāmacetiyāni vanacetiyāni rukkhacetiyāni bhiṃsanakāni salomahaṃsāni tathārūpesu senāsanesu viharāmi. tattha ca me, brāhmaṇa, viharato mago vā āgacchati, moro vā kaṭṭhaṃ pāteti, vāto vā paṇṇakasaṭaṃ ereti; tassa mayhaṃ brāhmaṇa etadahosi: ‘etaṃ nūna taṃ bhayabheravaṃ āgacchatī’ti.

"The thought occurred to me: 'What if — on recognized, designated nights such as the eighth, fourteenth, & fifteenth of the lunar fortnight — I were to stay in the sort of places that are awe-inspiring and make your hair stand on end, such as park-shrines, forest-shrines, & tree-shrines? Perhaps I would get to see that fear & terror.' So at a later time — on recognized, designated nights such as the eighth, fourteenth, & fifteenth of the lunar fortnight — I stayed in the sort of places that are awe-inspiring and make your hair stand on end, such as park-shrines, forest-shrines, & tree-shrines. And while I was staying there a wild animal would come, or a peacock would make a twig fall, or wind would rustle the fallen leaves. The thought would occur to me: 'Is this that fear & terror coming?' Then the thought occurred to me: 'Why do I just keep waiting for fear?

tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, etadahosi: ‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ aññadatthu bhayapaṭikaṅkhī viharāmi? yaṃnūnāhaṃ yathābhūtaṃ yathābhūtassa me taṃ bhayabheravaṃ āgacchati, tathābhūtaṃ tathābhūtova taṃ bhayabheravaṃ paṭivineyyan’ti. tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, caṅkamantassa taṃ bhayabheravaṃ āgacchati. so kho ahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, neva tāva tiṭṭhāmi na nisīdāmi na nipajjāmi, yāva caṅkamantova taṃ bhayabheravaṃ paṭivinemi. tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, ṭhitassa taṃ bhayabheravaṃ āgacchati. so kho ahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, neva tāva caṅkamāmi na nisīdāmi na nipajjāmi. yāva ṭhitova taṃ bhayabheravaṃ paṭivinemi. tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, nisinnassa taṃ bhayabheravaṃ āgacchati. so kho ahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, neva tāva nipajjāmi na tiṭṭhāmi na caṅkamāmi, yāva nisinnova taṃ bhayabheravaṃ paṭivinemi. tassa mayhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, nipannassa taṃ bhayabheravaṃ āgacchati. so kho ahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, neva tāva nisīdāmi na tiṭṭhāmi na caṅkamāmi, yāva nipannova taṃ bhayabheravaṃ paṭivinemi.

Then the thought occurred to me: 'What if I, in whatever state I'm in when fear & terror come to me, were to subdue that fear & terror in that very state?' So when fear & terror came to me while I was walking back & forth, I would not stand or sit or lie down. I would keep walking back & forth until I had subdued that fear & terror. When fear & terror came to me while I was standing, I would not walk or sit or lie down. I would keep standing until I had subdued that fear & terror. When fear & terror came to me while I was sitting, I would not lie down or stand up or walk. I would keep sitting until I had subdued that fear & terror. When fear & terror came to me while I was lying down, I would not sit up or stand or walk. I would keep lying down until I had subdued that fear & terror.

“santi kho pana, brāhmaṇa, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā rattiṃyeva samānaṃ divāti sañjānanti, divāyeva samānaṃ rattīti sañjānanti. idamahaṃ tesaṃ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṃ sammohavihārasmiṃ vadāmi. ahaṃ kho pana, brāhmaṇa, rattiṃyeva samānaṃ rattīti sañjānāmi, divāyeva samānaṃ divāti sañjānāmi. yaṃ kho taṃ, brāhmaṇa, sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘asammohadhammo satto loke uppanno bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan’ti, mameva taṃ sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘asammohadhammo satto loke uppanno bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan’ti.

"There are some brahmans & contemplatives, brahman, who have the perception of 'day' when it is night, and of 'night' when it is day. This, I tell you, is their being in a dwelling of delusion. As for me, I have the perception of 'day' when it is day, and of 'night' when it is night. If anyone, when speaking rightly, were to say, 'A being not subject to delusion has appeared in the world for the benefit & happiness of many, out of sympathy for the world, for the welfare, benefit, & happiness of human & divine beings,' he would rightly be speaking of me.



Āraddhaṃ kho pana me, brāhmaṇa, vīriyaṃ ahosi asallīnaṃ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṃ cittaṃ ekaggaṃ. So kho ahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṃ savicāraṃ vivekajaṃ pītisukhaṃ paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja vihāsiṃ. Vitakkavicārānaṃ vūpasamā ajjhattaṃ sampasādanaṃ cetaso ekodibhāvaṃ avitakkaṃ avicāraṃ samādhijaṃ pītisukhaṃ dutiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja vihāsiṃ. Pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca vihāsiṃ, sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṃvedesiṃ; yaṃ taṃ ariyā ācikkhanti – ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja vihāsiṃ. Sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṃ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṃ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṃ catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja vihāsiṃ.



Unflagging persistence was aroused in me, and unmuddled mindfulness established. My body was calm & unaroused, my mind concentrated & single. Quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful mental qualities, I entered & remained in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. With the stilling of directed thoughts & evaluations, I entered & remained in the second jhana: rapture & pleasure born of composure, unification of awareness free from directed thought & evaluation — internal assurance. With the fading of rapture I remained in equanimity, mindful & alert, and physically sensitive of pleasure. I entered & remained in the third jhana, of which the noble ones declare, 'Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasant abiding.' With the abandoning of pleasure & pain — as with the earlier disappearance of elation & distress — I entered & remained in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity & mindfulness, neither pleasure nor pain.



So evaṃ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṃ abhininnāmesiṃ. So anekavihitaṃ pubbenivāsaṃ anussarāmi, seyyathidaṃ ekampi jātiṃ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṃsampi jātiyo cattālīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṃvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṃvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṃ evaṃnāmo evaṃgotto evaṃvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṃ-sukha-dukkha-ppaṭisaṃvedī evam-āyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṃ; tatrāpāsiṃ evaṃnāmo evaṃgotto evaṃvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṃ-sukha-dukkha-ppaṭisaṃvedī evam-āyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṃ sauddesaṃ anekavihitaṃ pubbenivāsaṃ anussarāmi.



When the mind was thus concentrated, purified, bright, unblemished, rid of defilement, pliant, malleable, steady, & attained to imperturbability, I directed it to the knowledge of recollecting my past lives. I recollected my manifold past lives, i.e., one birth, two births, five births, ten births, fifty births, a hundred births, a thousand births, a hundred thousand births, many eons of cosmic contraction, many eons of cosmic expansion, many eons of cosmic contraction & expansion: 'There I had such a name, belonged to such a clan, had such an appearance. Such was my food, such my experience of pleasure & pain, such the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re-arose there. There too I had such a name, belonged to such a clan, had such an appearance. Such was my food, such my experience of pleasure & pain, such the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re-arose here.' Thus I remembered my manifold past lives in their modes & details.



Ayaṃ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā paṭhame yāme paṭhamā vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā, tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṃ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.



This was the first knowledge I attained in the first watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed, knowledge arose, darkness was destroyed, light arose, as happens in one who is heedful, ardent, & resolute.



So evaṃ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṃ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṃ abhininnāmesiṃ. So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi – ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṃ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā; te kāyassa bhedā paraṃ maraṇā apāyaṃ duggatiṃ vinipātaṃ nirayaṃ upapannā. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṃ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā; te kāyassa bhedā paraṃ maraṇā sugatiṃ saggaṃ lokaṃ upapannā’ti. Iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi.



When the mind was thus concentrated, purified, bright, unblemished, rid of defilement, pliant, malleable, steady, & attained to imperturbability, I directed it to the knowledge of the passing away & reappearance of beings. I saw, by means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human, beings passing away & re-appearing, and I discerned how they are inferior & superior, beautiful & ugly, fortunate & unfortunate in accordance with their kamma: 'These beings, who were endowed with bad conduct of body, speech & mind, who reviled noble ones, held wrong views and undertook actions under the influence of wrong views, with the break-up of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell. But these beings, who were endowed with good conduct of body, speech, & mind, who did not revile noble ones, who held right views and undertook actions under the influence of right views, with the break-up of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the good destinations, in the heavenly world.' Thus, by means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human, I saw beings passing away & re-appearing, and I discerned how they are inferior & superior, beautiful & ugly, fortunate & unfortunate in accordance with their kamma.



Ayaṃ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā majjhime yāme dutiyā vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā, tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṃ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.



This was the second knowledge I attained in the second watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed, knowledge arose, darkness was destroyed, light arose, as happens in one who is heedful, ardent, & resolute.



So evaṃ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṃ khayañāṇāya cittaṃ abhininnāmesiṃ. So ‘idaṃ dukkha’nti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ, ‘ayaṃ dukkha·samudayo’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ, ‘ayaṃ dukkha·nirodho’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ, ‘ayaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ. ‘Ime āsavā’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ, ‘ayaṃ āsavasamudayo’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ, ‘ayaṃ āsavanirodho’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ, ‘ayaṃ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ abbhaññāsiṃ. Tassa me evaṃ jānato evaṃ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṃ vimuccittha, bhavāsavāpi cittaṃ vimuccittha, avijjāsavāpi cittaṃ vimuccittha. Vimuttasmiṃ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṃ ahosi. ‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṃ brahmacariyaṃ, kataṃ karaṇīyaṃ, nāparaṃ itthattāyā’ti abbhaññāsiṃ.



When the mind was thus concentrated, purified, bright, unblemished, rid of defilement, pliant, malleable, steady, & attained to imperturbability, I directed it to the knowledge of the ending of the mental fermentations. I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'This is stress'. I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'This is the origination of stress'. I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'This is the cessation of stress'. I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'This is the way leading to the cessation of stress'.I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'These are fermentations'. I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'This is the origination of fermentations'. I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'This is the cessation of fermentations'. I discerned, as it had come to be, that 'This is the way leading to the cessation of fermentations'. My heart, thus knowing, thus seeing, was released from the fermentation of sensuality, released from the fermentation of becoming, released from the fermentation of ignorance. With release, there was the knowledge, 'Released.' I discerned that 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world'.



Ayaṃ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā pacchime yāme tatiyā vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā, tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṃ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.



This was the third knowledge I attained in the third watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed, knowledge arose, darkness was destroyed, light arose, as happens in one who is heedful, ardent, & resolute.

“siyā kho pana te, brāhmaṇa, evamassa: ‘ajjāpi nūna samaṇo gotamo avītarāgo avītadoso avītamoho, tasmā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevatī’ti. na kho panetaṃ, brāhmaṇa, evaṃ daṭṭhabbaṃ. dve kho ahaṃ, brāhmaṇa, atthavase sampassamāno araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevāmi: attano ca diṭṭhadhammasukhavihāraṃ sampassamāno, pacchimañca janataṃ anukampamāno”ti.

"Now, brahman, if the thought should occur to you, 'Perhaps Gotama the contemplative is even today not free of passion, not free of aversion, not free of delusion, which is why he resorts to isolated forest & wilderness dwellings,' it should not be seen in that way. It's through seeing two compelling reasons that I resort to isolated forest & wilderness dwellings: seeing a pleasant abiding for myself in the present, and feeling sympathy for future generations."

“anukampitarūpā vatāyaṃ bhotā gotamena pacchimā janatā, yathā taṃ arahatā sammāsambuddhena. abhikkantaṃ, bho gotama! abhikkantaṃ, bho gotama! seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṃ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṃ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṃ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṃ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṃ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. esāhaṃ bhavantaṃ gotamaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. upāsakaṃ maṃ bhavaṃ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṃ saraṇaṃ gatan”ti.

"How truly future generations have been shown sympathy by Master Gotama in the manner of one who is worthy & rightly self-awakened! Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has Master Gotama — through many lines of reasoning — made the Dhamma clear. I go to Master Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of monks. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone to him for refuge, from this day forward, for life."





Bodhi leaf


"Bhaya-bherava Sutta: Fear & Terror", translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (Legacy Edition), 30 November 2013.

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