Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

4: The Book of the Fours

117. Guarding

1"Bhikkhus, one bent on his own welfare [n.798] Attarūpena. Mp glosses: "What is in conformity with oneself, what is suitable, meaning one who desires his welfare" (attano anurūpena anucchavikena, hitakāmenā ti attho). should practice heedfulness, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind in four instances. What four?


(1) "‘May my mind not become excited by things that provoke lust!’ One bent on his own welfare should practice heedfulness, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind thus.

(2) "‘May my mind not be full of hate toward things that provoke hatred!’ One bent on his own welfare should practice heedfulness, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind thus.

(3) "‘May my mind not be deluded by things that cause delusion!’ One bent on his own welfare should practice heedfulness, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind thus.

(4) "‘May my mind not be intoxicated by things that intoxicate!’ [n.799] We find three kinds of intoxication (mada) at AN3.39: with youth, health, and life. Vibh 345 Be §832 mentions still more objects of intoxication: birth, clan, gains, honor, respect, wealth, beauty, learning, etc. The elaboration at Vibh 350 Be §§843–45 connects mada with māna, meaning conceit, and unnati, meaning self-promotion. One bent on his own welfare should practice heedfulness, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind thus.


2"Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu's mind is not excited by things that provoke lust because he has gotten rid of lust; when his mind is not full of hate toward things that provoke hatred because he has gotten rid of hatred; when his mind is not deluded by things that cause delusion because he has gotten rid of delusion; when his mind is not intoxicated by things that intoxicate because he has gotten rid of intoxication, then he does not cower, does not shake, does not tremble or become terrified, nor is he swayed by the words of other ascetics." [n.800] Na ca pana samaṇavacanahetupi gacchati. Mp: "He is not swayed by the words of ascetics holding other doctrines to abandon his own view and take up their view. Here, too, only arahants are intended."

1"Catūsu, bhikkhave, ṭhānesu attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo. Katamesu catūsu?


‘Mā me rajanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ rajjī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo;

‘mā me dosanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ dussī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo;

‘mā me mohanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ muyhī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo;

‘mā me madanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ majjī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo.


2Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno rajanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na rajjati vītarāgattā, dosanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na dussati vītadosattā, mohanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na muyhati vītamohattā, madanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na majjati vītamadattā, so na chambhati na kampati na vedhati na santāsaṁ āpajjati, na ca pana samaṇavacanahetupi gacchatī"ti.


Sattamaṁ.

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