Sekhasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 53

A Trainee · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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and howKathañca, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako wakefulnessjāgariyaṁ dedicatedanuyutto ishoti?
hereIdha, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako by daydivasaṁ by walkingcaṅkamena by sittingnisajjāya from obstaclesāvaraṇīyehi from mental qualitiesdhammehi mindcittaṁ purifiesparisodheti,
of the nightrattiyā firstpaṭhamaṁ watchyāmaṁ by walkingcaṅkamena by sittingnisajjāya from obstaclesāvaraṇīyehi from mental qualitiesdhammehi mindcittaṁ purifiesparisodheti,
of the nightrattiyā middlemajjhimaṁ watchyāmaṁ rightdakkhiṇena sidepassena lion·lyingsīhaseyyaṁ lies downkappeti, footpāde footpādaṁ placing on topaccādhāya, mindfulsato awaresampajāno, getting up·perceptionuṭṭhānasaññaṁ in the mindmanasi having madekaritvā,
of the nightrattiyā lastpacchimaṁ watchyāmaṁ having gotten uppaccuṭṭhāya by walkingcaṅkamena by sittingnisajjāya from obstaclesāvaraṇīyehi from mental qualitiesdhammehi mindcittaṁ purifiesparisodheti.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako wakefulnessjāgariyaṁ dedicatedanuyutto ishoti.

And how is a noble disciple dedicated to wakefulness? It’s when a noble disciple practices walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying their mind from obstacles. In the first watch of the night, they continue to practice walking and sitting meditation. In the middle watch, they lie down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up. In the last watch, they get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying their mind from obstacles. That’s how a noble disciple is dedicated to wakefulness.

and howKathañca, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako with sevensattahi good·qualitysaddhammehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti?
hereIdha, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako has faithsaddho ishoti, has faithsaddahati thus·gonetathāgatassa in the awakeningbodhiṁ:
thus indeed‘itipi thatso Blessed Onebhagavā perfectedarahaṁ fully·awakenedsammāsambuddho accomplished in knowledge and conductvijjācaraṇasampanno holysugato world·knowerlokavidū supremeanuttaro guide for those fit for trainingpurisadammasārathi teachersatthā of gods and humansdevamanussānaṁ awakenedbuddho blessedbhagavā’ti.

And how does a noble disciple have seven good qualities? It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

having conscience (masc. nom. sg.)Hirimā they arehoti, they are conscientioushirīyati body·bad conductkāyaduccaritena speech·bad conductvacīduccaritena mind·bad conductmanoduccaritena, they are conscientioushirīyati of badpāpakānaṁ not·skillfulakusalānaṁ qualitiesdhammānaṁ at having attainedsamāpattiyā.

They have a conscience. They’re conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and conscientious about having any bad, unskillful qualities.

prudentOttappī ishoti, is prudentottappati body·misconductkāyaduccaritena speech·misconductvacīduccaritena mind·misconductmanoduccaritena, is prudentottappati of badpāpakānaṁ unskillfulakusalānaṁ qualitiesdhammānaṁ acquiringsamāpattiyā.

They exercise prudence. They’re prudent when it comes to bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and prudent when it comes to acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities.

very learnedBahussuto ishoti heard·holdsutadharo keeping what is heardsutasannicayo. whateverYe thosete teachingsdhammā beginning·goodādikalyāṇā middle·goodmajjhekalyāṇā end·goodpariyosānakalyāṇā meaningfulsātthā with·wordingsabyañjanā whole·fullkevalaparipuṇṇaṁ completely·pureparisuddhaṁ holy·conductbrahmacariyaṁ towards·speakabhivadanti such·formtathārūpāssa teachingsdhammā very learnedbahussutā they arehonti remembereddhātā by speechvacasā around·accustomparicitā mind·along·lookmanasānupekkhitā by viewdiṭṭhiyā well·penetratedsuppaṭividdhā.

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.

roused up·energyĀraddhavīriyo they liveviharati un-·skillfulakusalānaṁ of qualitiesdhammānaṁ for giving uppahānāya, skillfulkusalānaṁ of qualitiesdhammānaṁ for embracingupasampadāya, strongthāmavā staunch·vigorousdaḷhaparakkamo not slacking off·burdenanikkhittadhuro in skillfulkusalesu in qualities.dhammesu.

They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

mindfulSatimā they arehoti, with utmostparamena mindfulness and alertnesssatinepakkena endowedsamannāgato, long·done·alsocirakatampi long·spoken·alsocirabhāsitampi one who rememberssaritā one who recallsanussaritā.

They’re mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago.

wisePaññavā ishoti, arising·passing away·leading toudayatthagāminiyā with wisdompaññāya endowedsamannāgato, nobleariyāya penetrativenibbedhikāya rightlysammā leading to the complete ending of sufferingdukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, Mahānāmamahānāma, a noble discipleariyasāvako with sevensattahi good qualitiessaddhammehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti.

They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. That’s how a noble disciple has seven good qualities.

how·andKathañca, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako of the fourcatunnaṁ absorptionsjhānānaṁ higher·mindābhicetasikānaṁ seen·dhamma·blissful·meditationdiṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ wish·getternikāmalābhī ishoti without·trouble·getterakicchalābhī without·difficulty·getterakasiralābhī?
hereIdha, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako secede·quitevivicceva from sensual pleasureskāmehi ……pe… firstpaṭhamaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ up·enterupasampajja remainsviharati;
thinking·exploringvitakkavicārānaṁ from the stillingvūpasamā internallyajjhattaṁ serenitysampasādanaṁ ……pe… seconddutiyaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ up·enterupasampajja remainsviharati;
of rapturepītiyā andca from the fading awayvirāgā ……pe… thirdtatiyaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ up·enterupasampajja remainsviharati;
of pleasuresukhassa andca from the giving uppahānā of paindukkhassa andca from the giving uppahānā before·evenpubbeva joy·sadnesssomanassadomanassānaṁ from the endingatthaṅgamā ……pe… fourthcatutthaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ up·enterupasampajja remainsviharati.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako of the fourcatunnaṁ absorptionsjhānānaṁ higher·mindābhicetasikānaṁ seen·dhamma·blissful·meditationdiṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ wish·getternikāmalābhī ishoti without·trouble·getterakicchalābhī without·difficulty·getterakasiralābhī.

And how does a noble disciple get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty? It’s when a noble disciple, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. That’s how a noble disciple gets the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

whenYato indeedkho, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako thusevaṁ ethics·accomplishedsīlasampanno ishoti, thusevaṁ in the sense facultiesindriyesu guarded·doorguttadvāro ishoti, thusevaṁ in foodbhojane moderation·knowingmattaññū ishoti, thusevaṁ to wakefulnessjāgariyaṁ devotedanuyutto ishoti, thusevaṁ with sevensattahi good·qualitiessaddhammehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti, thusevaṁ of fourcatunnaṁ of absorptionsjhānānaṁ belonging to the higher mindābhicetasikānaṁ in this life·blissful·meditationsdiṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ when wanted·obtainingnikāmalābhī ishoti without trouble·obtainingakicchalābhī obtaining without difficultyakasiralābhī, thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako a traineesekho practicingpāṭipado with unspoiled eggsapuccaṇḍatāya entered uponsamāpanno, capablebhabbo of breaking outabhinibbhidāya, capablebhabbo of awakeningsambodhāya, capablebhabbo of the supremeanuttarassa sanctuary from the yokeyogakkhemassa of achievingadhigamāya.
supposeSeyyathāpi, Mahānāmamahānāma, of a henkukkuṭiyā eggsaṇḍāni eightaṭṭha orvā tendasa orvā twelvedvādasa orvā thosetānāssu by the henkukkuṭiyā properlysammā sat uponadhisayitāni properlysammā incubatedpariseditāni properlysammā developedparibhāvitāni, even thoughkiñcāpi to thattassā henkukkuṭiyā notna thusevaṁ wishicchā might ariseuppajjeyya:
oh‘aho if onlyvatime chickskukkuṭapotakā with a claw-tippādanakhasikhāya orvā with a beakmukhatuṇḍakena orvā the eggshellaṇḍakosaṁ having brokenpadāletvā safelysotthinā might break outabhinibbhijjeyyun’ti,
stillatha indeedkho they are capablebhabbāva thosete chickskukkuṭapotakā with a claw-tippādanakhasikhāya orvā with a beakmukhatuṇḍakena orvā the eggshellaṇḍakosaṁ having brokenpadāletvā safelysotthinā to break outabhinibbhijjituṁ.

When a noble disciple is accomplished in ethics, guards the sense doors, eats in moderation, and is dedicated to wakefulness; and they have seven good qualities, and they get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty, they are called a noble disciple who is a practicing trainee. Their eggs are unspoiled, and they are capable of breaking out of their shell, becoming awakened, and achieving the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. Suppose there was a chicken with eight or ten or twelve eggs. And she properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated. Even if that chicken doesn’t wish, ‘If only my chicks could break out of the eggshell with their claws and beak and hatch safely!’ Still they can break out and hatch safely.

thus·justEvameva indeedkho, Mahānāmamahānāma, whenyato noble·discipleariyasāvako thusevaṁ virtue·endowedsīlasampanno ishoti, thusevaṁ in the sense facultiesindriyesu guarded·doorguttadvāro ishoti, thusevaṁ in eatingbhojane moderation·knowingmattaññū ishoti, thusevaṁ to wakefulnessjāgariyaṁ devotedanuyutto ishoti, thusevaṁ with sevensattahi good·qualitiessaddhammehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti, thusevaṁ of fourcatunnaṁ of the jhānasjhānānaṁ of the higher mindābhicetasikānaṁ seen·dhamma·pleasant·dwellingsdiṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ at will·obtainingnikāmalābhī ishoti without difficulty·obtainingakicchalābhī without trouble·obtainingakasiralābhī, thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako a traineesekho practicingpāṭipado with unspoiled eggsapuccaṇḍatāya endowedsamāpanno, capablebhabbo of breaking outabhinibbhidāya, capablebhabbo of awakeningsambodhāya, capablebhabbo of the supremeanuttarassa of the sanctuary from the yokeyogakkhemassa of the attainmentadhigamāya.

In the same way, when a noble disciple is practicing all these things they are called a noble disciple who is a practicing trainee. Their eggs are unspoiled, and they are capable of breaking out of their shell, becoming awakened, and achieving the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

thatSa indeedkho heso, Mahānāmamahānāma, noble·discipleariyasāvako this·veryimaṁyeva supremeanuttaraṁ equanimity·mindfulness·purityupekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ to·goāgamma many·kindsanekavihitaṁ past·livespubbenivāsaṁ recollectsanussarati,
that is, oneseyyathidaṁ—ekampi birthjātiṁ two·evendvepi birthsjātiyo …pe……pe… thusiti with featuressākāraṁ with·detailssauddesaṁ many·kindsanekavihitaṁ past·livespubbenivāsaṁ recollectsanussarati,
this·hisayamassa first breaking outpaṭhamābhinibbhidā ishoti like a chickkukkuṭacchāpakasseva from an eggshellaṇḍakosamhā.

Relying on this supreme purity of mindfulness and equanimity, that noble disciple recollects their many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. … And so they recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details. This is their first breaking out, like a chick from an eggshell.

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