Sekhasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 53

A Trainee · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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and howKathañca, Mahānāmamahānāma, a noble discipleariyasāvako wakefulnessjāgariyaṁ dedicatedanuyutto ishoti?
hereIdha, Mahānāmamahānāma, a 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 the lion's posturesīhaseyyaṁ lies downkappeti, footpāde footpādaṁ placing on topaccādhāya, mindfulsato awaresampajāno, attention on getting upuṭṭhānasaññaṁ 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, a 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, a noble discipleariyasāvako with sevensattahi good qualitiessaddhammehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti?
hereIdha, Mahānāmamahānāma, a noble discipleariyasāvako has faithsaddho ishoti, has faithsaddahati of the Realized Onetathāgatassa in the awakeningbodhiṁ:
thus indeed‘itipi thatso Blessed Onebhagavā perfectedarahaṁ a fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddho accomplished in knowledge and conductvijjācaraṇasampanno holysugato knower of the worldlokavidū 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 by bad bodily conductkāyaduccaritena by bad verbal conductvacīduccaritena by bad mental conduct,manoduccaritena, they are conscientioushirīyati of badpāpakānaṁ unskillfulakusalānaṁ 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 by bodily misconductkāyaduccaritena by verbal misconductvacīduccaritena by mental 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 remembering what is heardsutadharo keeping what is heardsutasannicayo. whateverYe thosete teachingsdhammā good in the beginningādikalyāṇā good in the middlemajjhekalyāṇā good in the endpariyosānakalyāṇā meaningfulsātthā well-phrasedsabyañjanā entirely fullkevalaparipuṇṇaṁ pureparisuddhaṁ spiritual practicebrahmacariyaṁ they describeabhivadanti of such kind to himtathārūpāssa teachingsdhammā very learnedbahussutā they arehonti remembereddhātā by speechvacasā rehearsedparicitā mentally scrutinizedmanasānupekkhitā 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.

with energy roused upĀraddhavīriyo they liveviharati unskillfulakusalānaṁ of qualitiesdhammānaṁ for giving uppahānāya, skillfulkusalānaṁ of qualitiesdhammānaṁ for embracingupasampadāya, strongthāmavā staunchly vigorousdaḷhaparakkamo not slacking offanikkhittadhuro 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, what was done long agocirakatampi what was said long agocirabhāsitampi 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, of arising and passing awayudayatthagāminiyā 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.

and howKathañca, Mahānāmamahānāma, a noble discipleariyasāvako of the fourcatunnaṁ absorptionsjhānānaṁ belonging to the higher mindābhicetasikānaṁ blissful meditations in this lifediṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ one who gets when wantednikāmalābhī ishoti one who gets without troubleakicchalābhī one who gets without difficultyakasiralābhī?
hereIdha, Mahānāmamahānāma, a noble discipleariyasāvako quite secludedvivicceva from sensual pleasureskāmehi ……pe… firstpaṭhamaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ having enteredupasampajja remainsviharati;
of thinking and exploringvitakkavicārānaṁ from the stillingvūpasamā internallyajjhattaṁ serenitysampasādanaṁ ……pe… seconddutiyaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ having enteredupasampajja remainsviharati;
of rapturepītiyā andca from the fading awayvirāgā ……pe… thirdtatiyaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ having enteredupasampajja remainsviharati;
of pleasuresukhassa andca from the giving uppahānā of paindukkhassa andca from the giving uppahānā even earlierpubbeva of joy and sadnesssomanassadomanassānaṁ from the endingatthaṅgamā ……pe… fourthcatutthaṁ absorptionjhānaṁ having enteredupasampajja remainsviharati.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, Mahānāmamahānāma, a noble discipleariyasāvako of the fourcatunnaṁ absorptionsjhānānaṁ belonging to the higher mindābhicetasikānaṁ blissful meditations in this lifediṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ one who gets when wantednikāmalābhī ishoti one who gets without troubleakicchalābhī one who gets without difficultyakasiralābhī.

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, a noble discipleariyasāvako thusevaṁ accomplished in ethicssīlasampanno ishoti, thusevaṁ in the sense facultiesindriyesu guarding the doorsguttadvāro ishoti, thusevaṁ in foodbhojane knowing moderationmattaññū ishoti, thusevaṁ to wakefulnessjāgariyaṁ devotedanuyutto ishoti, thusevaṁ with sevensattahi good qualitiessaddhammehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti, thusevaṁ of fourcatunnaṁ of absorptionsjhānānaṁ belonging to the higher mindābhicetasikānaṁ blissful meditations in this lifediṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ obtaining when wantednikāmalābhī ishoti obtaining without troubleakicchalābhī obtaining without difficultyakasiralābhī, thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, Mahānāmamahānāma, a 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.

just soEvameva indeedkho, Mahānāmamahānāma, whenyato noble discipleariyasāvako thusevaṁ endowed with virtuesīlasampanno ishoti, thusevaṁ in the sense facultiesindriyesu guarded in the doorsguttadvāro ishoti, thusevaṁ in eatingbhojane knowing moderationmattaññū ishoti, thusevaṁ to wakefulnessjāgariyaṁ devotedanuyutto ishoti, thusevaṁ with sevensattahi good qualitiessaddhammehi endowedsamannāgato ishoti, thusevaṁ of fourcatunnaṁ of the jhānasjhānānaṁ of the higher mindābhicetasikānaṁ pleasant dwellings in the here and nowdiṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ obtaining at willnikāmalābhī ishoti obtaining without difficultyakicchalābhī obtaining without troubleakasiralābhī, 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 purity of mindfulness and equanimityupekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ having relied onāgamma many kinds ofanekavihitaṁ past livespubbenivāsaṁ recollectsanussarati,
that is, oneseyyathidaṁ—ekampi birthjātiṁ twodvepi birthsjātiyo …pe……pe… thusiti with featuressākāraṁ with detailssauddesaṁ many kinds ofanekavihitaṁ past livespubbenivāsaṁ recollectsanussarati,
this is 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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