AN 5.54

Samayasutta

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, asamayā padhānāya. Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jiṇṇo hoti jarāyābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo asamayo padhānāya.

Times Good for Meditation

“Mendicants, there are five times that are not good for meditation. What five? Firstly, a mendicant is old, overcome with old age. This is the first time that’s not good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu byādhito hoti byādhinābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo asamayo padhānāya.

Furthermore, a mendicant is sick, overcome by sickness. This is the second time that’s not good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dubbhikkhaṁ hoti dussassaṁ dullabhapiṇḍaṁ, na sukaraṁ uñchena paggahena yāpetuṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo asamayo padhānāya.

Furthermore, there’s a famine, a bad harvest, so it’s hard to get almsfood, and not easy to keep going by collecting alms. This is the third time that’s not good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhayaṁ hoti aṭavisaṅkopo, cakkasamārūḷhā jānapadā pariyāyanti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho asamayo padhānāya.

Furthermore, there’s peril due to turmoil in the wilds, so the countryfolk mount their vehicles and flee everywhere. This is the fourth time that’s not good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, saṅgho bhinno hoti. Saṅghe kho pana, bhikkhave, bhinne aññamaññaṁ akkosā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ paribhāsā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ parikkhepā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ pariccajā ca honti. Tattha appasannā ceva nappasīdanti, pasannānañca ekaccānaṁ aññathattaṁ hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo asamayo padhānāya. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca asamayā padhānāyāti.

Furthermore, there’s a schism in the Saṅgha. When the Saṅgha is split, they abuse, insult, block, and forsake each other. This doesn’t inspire confidence in those without it, and it causes some with confidence to change their minds. This is the fifth time that’s not good for meditation. These are the five times that are not good for meditation.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, samayā padhānāya. Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu daharo hoti yuvā susu kāḷakeso bhadrena yobbanena samannāgato paṭhamena vayasā. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samayo padhānāya.

There are five times that are good for meditation. What five? Firstly, a mendicant is a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life. This is the first time that’s good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu appābādho hoti appātaṅko, samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo samayo padhānāya.

Furthermore, they are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation. This is the second time that’s good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, subhikkhaṁ hoti susassaṁ sulabhapiṇḍaṁ, sukaraṁ uñchena paggahena yāpetuṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo samayo padhānāya.

Furthermore, there’s plenty of food, a good harvest, so it’s easy to get almsfood, and easy to keep going by collecting alms. This is the third time that’s good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, manussā samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho samayo padhānāya.

Furthermore, people live in harmony, appreciating each other, without dispute, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes. This is the fourth time that’s good for meditation.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, saṅgho samaggo sammodamāno avivadamāno ekuddeso phāsu viharati. Saṅghe kho pana, bhikkhave, samagge na ceva aññamaññaṁ akkosā honti, na ca aññamaññaṁ paribhāsā honti, na ca aññamaññaṁ parikkhepā honti, na ca aññamaññaṁ pariccajā honti. Tattha appasannā ceva pasīdanti, pasannānañca bhiyyobhāvo hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo samayo padhānāya. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca samayā padhānāyā”ti.

Furthermore, the Saṅgha lives comfortably, in harmony, appreciating each other, without dispute, with one recitation. When the Saṅgha is in harmony, they don’t abuse, insult, block, or forsake each other. This inspires confidence in those without it, and increases confidence in those who have it. This is the fifth time that’s good for meditation. These are the five times that are good for meditation.”