5: The Book of the Fives
VI. Hindrances — AN 5.54: Times Good for Meditation
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1“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.
2Furthermore, a mendicant is sick, overcome by sickness. This is the second time that’s not good for meditation.
3Furthermore, there’s a famine, a bad harvest, so it’s hard to get alms-food, and not easy to keep going by collecting alms. This is the third time that’s not good for meditation.
4Furthermore, there’s peril from wild savages, and the countryfolk mount their vehicles and flee everywhere. This is the fourth time that’s not good for meditation.
5Furthermore, there’s a schism in the Saṅgha. When the Saṅgha is split, they abuse, insult, block, and reject 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.
6There are five times that are good for meditation. What five?
Firstly, a mendicant is a youth, young, black-haired, blessed with youth, in the prime of life. This is the first time that’s good for meditation.
7Furthermore, 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.
8Furthermore, there’s plenty of food, a good harvest, so it’s easy to get alms-food, and easy to keep going by collecting alms. This is the third time that’s good for meditation.
9Furthermore, people live in harmony, appreciating each other, without quarreling, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes. This is the fourth time that’s good for meditation.
10Furthermore, the Saṅgha lives comfortably, in harmony, appreciating each other, without quarreling, with one recitation. When the Saṅgha is in harmony, they don’t abuse, insult, block, or reject 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.”
1"Pañcime, bhikkhave, asamayā padhānāya. Katame pañca?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jiṇṇo hoti jarāyābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo asamayo padhānāya.
2Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu byādhito hoti byādhinābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo asamayo padhānāya.
3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, dubbhikkhaṁ hoti dussassaṁ dullabhapiṇḍaṁ, na sukaraṁ uñchena paggahena yāpetuṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo asamayo padhānāya.
4Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhayaṁ hoti aṭavisaṅkopo, cakkasamārūḷhā jānapadā pariyāyanti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho asamayo padhānāya.
5Puna 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.
6Pañcime, bhikkhave, samayā padhānāya. Katame pañca?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu daharo hoti yuvā susu kāḷakeso bhadrena yobbanena samannāgato paṭhamena vayasā. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo samayo padhānāya.
7Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu appābādho hoti appātaṅko, samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo samayo padhānāya.
8Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, subhikkhaṁ hoti susassaṁ sulabhapiṇḍaṁ, sukaraṁ uñchena paggahena yāpetuṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo samayo padhānāya.
9Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, manussā samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharanti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho samayo padhānāya.
10Puna 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.
Catutthaṁ.