AN 10.54

Samathasutta

“No ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paracittapariyāyakusalo hoti, atha ‘sacittapariyāyakusalo bhavissāmī’ti— evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabbaṁ.

Serenity

“Mendicants, if a mendicant isn’t skilled in encompassing another’s mind, then they should train themselves: ‘I will be skilled in encompassing my own mind.’

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sacittapariyāyakusalo hoti? Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, itthī vā puriso vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātiko ādāse vā parisuddhe pariyodāte acche vā udapatte sakaṁ mukhanimittaṁ paccavekkhamāno sace tattha passati rajaṁ vā aṅgaṇaṁ vā, tasseva rajassa vā aṅgaṇassa vā pahānāya vāyamati. No ce tattha passati rajaṁ vā aṅgaṇaṁ vā, tenevattamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo: ‘lābhā vata me, parisuddhaṁ vata me’ti. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno paccavekkhaṇā bahukārā hoti kusalesu dhammesu: ‘lābhī nu khomhi ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, na nu khomhi lābhī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, lābhī nu khomhi adhipaññādhammavipassanāya, na nu khomhi lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti.

And how is a mendicant skilled in encompassing their own mind? Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and they check their own reflection in a clean bright mirror or a clear bowl of water. If they see any dirt or blemish there, they’d try to remove it. But if they don’t see any dirt or blemish there, they’re happy with that, as they’ve got all they wished for: ‘How fortunate that I’m clean!’ In the same way, checking is very helpful for a mendicant’s skillful qualities. ‘Do I have internal serenity of heart or not? Do I have the higher wisdom of discernment of principles or not?’

Sace, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti: ‘lābhīmhi ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, na lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ajjhattaṁ cetosamathe patiṭṭhāya adhipaññādhammavipassanāya yogo karaṇīyo. So aparena samayena lābhī ceva hoti ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa lābhī ca adhipaññādhammavipassanāya.

Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: ‘I have serenity but not discernment.’ Grounded on serenity, they should practice meditation to get discernment. After some time they have both serenity and discernment.

Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti: ‘lābhīmhi adhipaññādhammavipassanāya, na lābhī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā adhipaññādhammavipassanāya patiṭṭhāya ajjhattaṁ cetosamathe yogo karaṇīyo. So aparena samayena lābhī ceva hoti adhipaññādhammavipassanāya lābhī ca ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa.

But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: ‘I have discernment but not serenity.’ Grounded on discernment, they should practice meditation to get serenity. After some time they have both serenity and discernment.

Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti: ‘na lābhī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, na lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā tesaṁyeva kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ paṭilābhāya adhimatto chando ca vāyāmo ca ussāho ca ussoḷhī ca appaṭivānī ca sati ca sampajaññañca karaṇīyaṁ. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ādittacelo vā ādittasīso vā. Tasseva celassa vā sīsassa vā nibbāpanāya adhimattaṁ chandañca vāyāmañca ussāhañca ussoḷhiñca appaṭivāniñca satiñca sampajaññañca kareyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tena bhikkhunā tesaṁyeva kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ paṭilābhāya adhimatto chando ca vāyāmo ca ussāho ca ussoḷhī ca appaṭivānī ca sati ca sampajaññañca karaṇīyaṁ. So aparena samayena lābhī ceva hoti ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa lābhī ca adhipaññādhammavipassanāya.

But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: ‘I have neither serenity nor discernment.’ In order to get those skillful qualities, they should apply extraordinary enthusiasm, effort, zeal, vigor, perseverance, mindfulness, and situational awareness. Suppose your clothes or head were on fire. In order to extinguish it, you’d apply extraordinary enthusiasm, effort, zeal, vigor, perseverance, mindfulness, and situational awareness. In the same way, in order to get those skillful qualities, that mendicant should apply extraordinary enthusiasm … After some time they have both serenity and discernment.

Sace pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paccavekkhamāno evaṁ jānāti: ‘lābhīmhi ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā tesuyeva kusalesu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya uttari āsavānaṁ khayāya yogo karaṇīyo.

But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: ‘I have both serenity and discernment.’ Grounded on those skillful qualities, they should practice meditation further to end the defilements.

Cīvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampi. Piṇḍapātampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampi. Senāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampi. Gāmanigamampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampi. Janapadapadesampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampi. Puggalampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampi.

I say that there are two kinds of robes: those you should wear, and those you shouldn’t wear. I say that there are two kinds of almsfood: that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn’t eat. I say that there are two kinds of lodging: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent. I say that there are two kinds of village or town: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent. I say that there are two kinds of country: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent. I say that there are two kinds of individual: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.

‘Cīvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Tattha yaṁ jaññā cīvaraṁ: ‘idaṁ kho me cīvaraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpaṁ cīvaraṁ na sevitabbaṁ. Tattha yaṁ jaññā cīvaraṁ: ‘idaṁ kho me cīvaraṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpaṁ cīvaraṁ sevitabbaṁ. ‘Cīvarampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘I say that there are two kinds of robes: those you should wear, and those you shouldn’t wear.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a robe: ‘When I wear this robe, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not wear that kind of robe. Whereas, should you know of a robe: ‘When I wear this robe, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should wear that kind of robe. ‘I say that there are two kinds of robes: those you should wear, and those you shouldn’t wear.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

‘Piṇḍapātampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Tattha yaṁ jaññā piṇḍapātaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me piṇḍapātaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo piṇḍapāto na sevitabbo. Tattha yaṁ jaññā piṇḍapātaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me piṇḍapātaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo piṇḍapāto sevitabbo. ‘Piṇḍapātampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘I say that there are two kinds of almsfood: that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn’t eat.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of almsfood: ‘When I eat this almsfood, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not eat that kind of almsfood. Whereas, should you know of almsfood: ‘When I eat this almsfood, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should eat that kind of almsfood. ‘I say that there are two kinds of almsfood: that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn’t eat.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

‘Senāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Tattha yaṁ jaññā senāsanaṁ: ‘idaṁ kho me senāsanaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpaṁ senāsanaṁ na sevitabbaṁ. Tattha yaṁ jaññā senāsanaṁ: ‘idaṁ kho me senāsanaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpaṁ senāsanaṁ sevitabbaṁ. ‘Senāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘I say that there are two kinds of lodging: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a lodging: ‘When I frequent this lodging, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of lodging. Whereas, should you know of a lodging: ‘When I frequent this lodging, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of lodging. ‘I say that there are two kinds of lodging: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

‘Gāmanigamampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Tattha yaṁ jaññā gāmanigamaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me gāmanigamaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo gāmanigamo na sevitabbo. Tattha yaṁ jaññā gāmanigamaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me gāmanigamaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo gāmanigamo sevitabbo. ‘Gāmanigamampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘I say that there are two kinds of village or town: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a village or town: ‘When I frequent this village or town, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of village or town. Whereas, should you know of a village or town: ‘When I frequent this village or town, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of village or town. ‘I say that there are two kinds of village or town: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

‘Janapadapadesampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Tattha yaṁ jaññā janapadapadesaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me janapadapadesaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo janapadapadeso na sevitabbo. Tattha yaṁ jaññā janapadapadesaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me janapadapadesaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo janapadapadeso sevitabbo. ‘Janapadapadesampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

‘I say that there are two kinds of country: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a country: ‘When I frequent this country, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of country. Whereas, should you know of a country: ‘When I frequent this country, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of country. ‘I say that there are two kinds of country: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

‘Puggalampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ? Tattha yaṁ jaññā puggalaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me puggalaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyantī’ti, evarūpo puggalo na sevitabbo. Tattha yaṁ jaññā puggalaṁ: ‘imaṁ kho me puggalaṁ sevato akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhantī’ti, evarūpo puggalo sevitabbo. ‘Puggalampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, duvidhena vadāmi— sevitabbampi asevitabbampī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttan”ti.

‘I say that there are two two kinds of individual: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of an individual: ‘When I frequent this individual, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.’ You should not frequent that kind of individual. Whereas, should you know of an individual: ‘When I frequent this individual, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.’ You should frequent that kind of individual. ‘I say that there are two kinds of individual: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn’t frequent.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.”