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Majjhima Nikāya

MN17: Vanapattha Sutta — Jungle Thickets

1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants!”

“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Mendicants, I will teach you an exposition about jungle thickets. Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:


2“Mendicants, take the case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket. As they do so, their mindfulness does not become established, their mind does not become immersed in samādhi, their defilements do not come to an end, and they do not arrive at the supreme sanctuary. And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires — robes, alms-food, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick — are hard to come by. That mendicant should reflect: ‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness does not become established, my mind does not become immersed in samādhi, my defilements do not come to an end, and I do not arrive at the supreme sanctuary. And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires — robes, alms-food, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick — are hard to come by.’ That mendicant should leave that jungle thicket that very time of night or day; they shouldn’t stay there.

3Take another case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket. Their mindfulness does not become established … But the necessities of life are easy to come by. That mendicant should reflect: ‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness does not become established … But the necessities of life are easy to come by. But I didn’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness for the sake of a robe, alms-food, lodgings, or medicines and supplies for the sick. Moreover, while living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness does not become established …’ After reflection, that mendicant should leave that jungle thicket; they shouldn’t stay there.

4Take another case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket. As they do so, their mindfulness becomes established, their mind becomes immersed in samādhi, their defilements come to an end, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary. But the necessities of life that a renunciate requires — robes, alms-food, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick — are hard to come by. That mendicant should reflect: ‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness becomes established … But the necessities of life are hard to come by. But I didn’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness for the sake of a robe, alms-food, lodgings, or medicines and supplies for the sick. Moreover, while living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness becomes established …’ After reflection, that mendicant should stay in that jungle thicket; they shouldn’t leave.


5Take another case of a mendicant who lives close by a jungle thicket. Their mindfulness becomes established … And the necessities of life are easy to come by. That mendicant should reflect: ‘While living close by this jungle thicket, my mindfulness becomes established … And the necessities of life are easy to come by.’ That mendicant should stay in that jungle thicket for the rest of their life; they shouldn’t leave.


6-8Take the case of a mendicant who lives supported by a village … town … city … country … an individual. As they do so, their mindfulness does not become established, their mind does not become immersed in samādhi, their defilements do not come to an end, and they do not arrive at the supreme sanctuary. And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires — robes, alms-food, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick — are hard to come by.... That mendicant should leave that person at any time of the day or night, without asking. They shouldn’t follow them. …


9Take another case of a mendicant who lives supported by an individual. As they do so, their mindfulness becomes established, their mind becomes immersed in samādhi, their defilements come to an end, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary. And the necessities of life that a renunciate requires — robes, alms-food, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick — are easy to come by. That mendicant should reflect: ‘While living supported by this person, my mindfulness becomes established … And the necessities of life are easy to come by.’ That mendicant should follow that person for the rest of their life. They shouldn’t leave them, even if sent away.”

10That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants were happy with what the Buddha said.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "bhikkhavo"ti.

"Bhadante"ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

"vanapatthapariyāyaṁ vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi, taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasikarotha, bhāsissāmī"ti.

"Evaṁ, bhante"ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca: 


2"Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te kasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi, tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te kasirena samudāgacchantī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā rattibhāgaṁ vā divasabhāgaṁ vā tamhā vanapatthā pakkamitabbaṁ, na vatthabbaṁ.

3Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te appakasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te appakasirena samudāgacchanti. Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito na piṇḍapātahetu … pe … na senāsanahetu … pe … na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito. Atha ca pana me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi tamhā vanapatthā pakkamitabbaṁ, na vatthabbaṁ.

4Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā, te kasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te kasirena samudāgacchanti. Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na piṇḍapātahetu … pe … na senāsanahetu … pe … na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito. Atha ca pana me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi tasmiṁ vanapatthe vatthabbaṁ, na pakkamitabbaṁ.


5Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te appakasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ vanapatthaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te appakasirena samudāgacchantī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā yāvajīvampi tasmiṁ vanapatthe vatthabbaṁ, na pakkamitabbaṁ.


6Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ gāmaṁ upanissāya viharati … pe … aññataraṁ nigamaṁ upanissāya viharati … pe … aññataraṁ nagaraṁ upanissāya viharati … pe … aññataraṁ janapadaṁ upanissāya viharati … pe … aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te kasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te kasirena samudāgacchantī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā rattibhāgaṁ vā divasabhāgaṁ vā so puggalo anāpucchā pakkamitabbaṁ, nānubandhitabbo.

7Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā, te appakasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te appakasirena samudāgacchanti. Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na piṇḍapātahetu … pe … na senāsanahetu … pe … na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito. Atha ca pana me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati na upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ na samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā na parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ nānupāpuṇāmī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi so puggalo āpucchā pakkamitabbaṁ, nānubandhitabbo.

8Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te kasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te kasirena samudāgacchanti. Na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na piṇḍapātahetu … pe … na senāsanahetu … pe … na gilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito. Atha ca pana me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā saṅkhāpi so puggalo anubandhitabbo, na pakkamitabbaṁ.


9Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharati. Tassa taṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te appakasirena samudāgacchanti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā iti paṭisañcikkhitabbaṁ: ‘Ahaṁ kho imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharāmi. Tassa me imaṁ puggalaṁ upanissāya viharato anupaṭṭhitā ceva sati upaṭṭhāti, asamāhitañca cittaṁ samādhiyati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāmi. Ye ca kho ime pabbajitena jīvitaparikkhārā samudānetabbā — cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā — te appakasirena samudāgacchantī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā yāvajīvampi so puggalo anubandhitabbo, na pakkamitabbaṁ, api panujjamānenapī"ti.

10Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Vanapatthasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.