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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

5: The Book of the Fives

IX. Senior Mendicants — AN 5.90: A Trainee (2nd)

1“These five things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee. What five?

Firstly, a mendicant trainee has many duties and responsibilities, and is competent in many tasks. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the first thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

2Furthermore, a mendicant trainee spends their day doing trivial work. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the second thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

3Furthermore, a mendicant trainee mixes closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the third thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

4Furthermore, a mendicant trainee enters the town at the wrong time, and returns too late in the day. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fourth thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

5Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t get to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fifth thing that leads to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

These five things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

6These five things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee. What five?

Firstly, a mendicant trainee doesn’t have many duties and responsibilities, even though they are competent in many tasks. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the first thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

7Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t spend their day doing trivial work. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the second thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

8Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t mix closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the third thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

9Furthermore, a mendicant trainee doesn’t enter the village too early or return too late in the day. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fourth thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

10Furthermore, a mendicant trainee gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fifth thing that doesn't lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.


These five things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.”

1"Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame pañca?

Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu bahukicco hoti bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

2Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu saṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

4Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu akālena gāmaṁ pavisati, atidivā paṭikkamati; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

5Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ – appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya na nikāmalābhī hoti na akicchalābhī na akasiralābhī; riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, nānuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattati.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

6Pañcime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame pañca?

Idha, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na bahukicco hoti na bahukaraṇīyo viyatto kiṅkaraṇīyesu; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

7Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na appamattakena kammena divasaṁ atināmeti; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

8Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu asaṁsaṭṭho viharati gahaṭṭhapabbajitehi ananulomikena gihisaṁsaggena; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

9Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu na atikālena gāmaṁ pavisati, nātidivā paṭikkamati; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.

10Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sekho bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā ābhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ – appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī; na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ, anuyuñjati ajjhattaṁ cetosamathaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattati.


Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī"ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Theravaggo catuttho.

11Rajanīyo vītarāgo,
kuhakāssaddhaakkhamā;
Paṭisambhidā ca sīlena,
thero sekhā pare duveti.