Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.37 4.

The Aparihāniya Sutta

Cakkavagga Aparihāniyasutta “Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya nibbānasseva santike.

Disciples, a disciple endowed with four qualities is incapable of decline and is near to Nibbana.

Katamehi catūhi?

What are these four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti, indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, bhojane mattaññū hoti, jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.

Here a disciple is endowed with virtue, has guarded sense doors, is moderate in eating, and is devoted to wakefulness.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti?

And how is a disciple endowed with virtue?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

Here, a disciple is virtuous, abiding with restraint according to the monastic code, perfect in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and training in the precepts he has undertaken.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti.

Thus a disciple is endowed with virtue.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti?

And how does a disciple have guarded sense doors?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.

Here, a disciple, on seeing a form with the eye, does not grasp at the sign or the detail.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati cakkhundriyaṁ; cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati. Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …

Since for unguarded eye faculty, craving and aversion, corrupt unskilled states might flow in, he practices the restraint, guards the eye faculty, and attains control over the eye faculty.

ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā … jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā … kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā … manasā dhammaṁ viññāya na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī.

Similar practices apply to the ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, thus guarding the mental faculty and attaining control over it.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati manindriyaṁ; manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti.

Thus a disciple has guarded sense doors.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti?

And how is a disciple moderate in eating?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṁ āhāreti: ‘neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya; yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya. Iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati, anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.

Here, a disciple considers wisely the food he consumes:not for fun, for indulgence, for adornment, or for beautification, but simply for the sustenance and maintenance of this body, to avoid harm, to support the holy life, thinking, Thus I will terminate the former feeling and not arouse new feeling; I will be healthy, blameless, and live in comfort.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti.

Thus a disciple is moderate in eating.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti?

And how is a disciple devoted to wakefulness?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu divasaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti; rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti; rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā; rattiyā pacchimaṁ yāmaṁ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti.

Here, a disciple purifies his mind of obstructive states by walking and sitting in the day; during the first watch of the night, he purifies his mind of obstructive states by walking and sitting.

In the middle watch of the night, he arranges his rest on the right side in the lion's posture, placing foot upon foot, mindful, clearly aware, with the intention to rise. In the last watch of the night, upon rising, he purifies his mind of obstructive states through walking and sitting contemplation.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.

Thus a disciple is devoted to wakefulness.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santiketi.

A disciple endowed with these four qualities is incapable of decline and approaches only Nibbana.

Sīle patiṭṭhito bhikkhu, indriyesu ca saṁvuto; Bhojanamhi ca mattaññū, jāgariyaṁ anuyuñjati.

Established in virtue, with restrained faculties, moderate in eating, he is dedicated to wakefulness.

Evaṁ vihārī ātāpī, ahorattamatandito; Bhāvayaṁ kusalaṁ dhammaṁ, yogakkhemassa pattiyā.

Dwelling thus, ardent, untiring day and night, he develops wholesome qualities, achieving safety from bondage.

Appamādarato bhikkhu, pamāde bhayadassi vā; Abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santike”ti. Sattamaṁ.

A disciple who delights in diligence, or who sees danger in negligence, is incapable of decline and is close to Nibbana.