sn46.3 — Sīlasutta

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sīlasampannā samādhisampannā ñāṇasampannā vimuttisampannā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampannā, dassanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;

“Those bhikkhus, bhikkhus, who are accomplished in virtue, accomplished in samādhi, accomplished in knowledge, accomplished in liberation, accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation — seeing those bhikkhus, bhikkhus, I say, is very helpful;

savanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;

hearing those bhikkhus, bhikkhus, I say, is very helpful;

upasaṅkamanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;

approaching those bhikkhus, bhikkhus, I say, is very helpful;

payirupāsanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;

attending on those bhikkhus, bhikkhus, I say, is very helpful;

anussatimpāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi;

recollecting those bhikkhus, bhikkhus, I say, is very helpful;

anupabbajjampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahukāraṁ vadāmi.

following those bhikkhus into going forth, bhikkhus, I say, is very helpful.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Tathārūpānaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ dhammaṁ sutvā dvayena vūpakāsena vūpakaṭṭho viharati—kāyavūpakāsena ca cittavūpakāsena ca.

Having heard the dhamma of such bhikkhus, bhikkhus, one dwells withdrawn by a twofold withdrawal — by bodily withdrawal and by withdrawal of citta.

So tathā vūpakaṭṭho viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ anussarati anuvitakketi.

Dwelling withdrawn in that way, one recollects that dhamma and thinks it over.

Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathā vūpakaṭṭho viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ anussarati anuvitakketi, satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti;

At a time, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu, dwelling withdrawn in that way, recollects that dhamma and thinks it over, the bojjhaṅga of sati is aroused in that bhikkhu at that time;

satisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti;

at that time the bhikkhu develops [bhāveti] the bojjhaṅga of sati;

satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

at that time the bojjhaṅga of sati goes to fulfillment by development [bhāvanā] in that bhikkhu.

So tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati.

Dwelling with sati in that way, he examines that dhamma with paññā, explores it, and enters into investigation of it.

Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti;

At a time, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu, dwelling with sati in that way, examines that dhamma with paññā, explores it, and enters into investigation of it, the bojjhaṅga of investigation of dhamma is aroused in that bhikkhu at that time;

dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti;

at that time the bhikkhu develops [bhāveti] the bojjhaṅga of investigation of dhamma;

dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

at that time the bojjhaṅga of investigation of dhamma goes to fulfillment by development [bhāvanā] in that bhikkhu.

Tassa taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ.

As he examines that dhamma with paññā, explores it, and enters into investigation of it, energy is aroused in him, unflagging.

Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

At a time, bhikkhus, when energy is aroused, unflagging, in a bhikkhu who examines that dhamma with paññā, explores it, and enters into investigation of it, the bojjhaṅga of energy is aroused in that bhikkhu at that time; at that time the bhikkhu develops [bhāveti] the bojjhaṅga of energy; at that time the bojjhaṅga of energy goes to fulfillment by development [bhāvanā] in that bhikkhu.

Āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā.

In one whose energy is aroused, unworldly pīti arises.

Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā, pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

At a time, bhikkhus, when unworldly pīti arises in a bhikkhu whose energy is aroused, the bojjhaṅga of pīti is aroused in that bhikkhu at that time; at that time the bhikkhu develops [bhāveti] the bojjhaṅga of pīti; at that time the bojjhaṅga of pīti goes to fulfillment by development [bhāvanā] in that bhikkhu.

Pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati.

For one whose mind has pīti, the body becomes tranquil, and the citta becomes tranquil.

Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati cittampi passambhati, passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

At a time, bhikkhus, when, for a bhikkhu whose mind has pīti, the body becomes tranquil and the citta becomes tranquil, the bojjhaṅga of tranquility is aroused in that bhikkhu at that time; at that time the bhikkhu develops [bhāveti] the bojjhaṅga of tranquility; at that time the bojjhaṅga of tranquility goes to fulfillment by development [bhāvanā] in that bhikkhu.

Passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

For one whose body is tranquil and who is happy, the citta becomes endowed with samādhi.

Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati, samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

At a time, bhikkhus, when, for a bhikkhu whose body is tranquil and who is happy, the citta becomes endowed with samādhi, the bojjhaṅga of samādhi is aroused in that bhikkhu at that time; at that time the bhikkhu develops [bhāveti] the bojjhaṅga of samādhi; at that time the bojjhaṅga of samādhi goes to fulfillment by development [bhāvanā] in that bhikkhu.

So tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti.

He carefully looks on with upekkhā at the citta endowed with samādhi in that way.

Yasmiṁ samaye, bhikkhave, bhikkhu tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti; upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti; upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

At a time, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu carefully looks on with upekkhā at the citta endowed with samādhi in that way, the bojjhaṅga of upekkhā is aroused in that bhikkhu at that time; at that time the bhikkhu develops [bhāveti] the bojjhaṅga of upekkhā; at that time the bojjhaṅga of upekkhā goes to fulfillment by development [bhāvanā] in that bhikkhu.

Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, sattasu sambojjhaṅgesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā.

When the seven complete bojjhaṅgas have been developed in this way, bhikkhus, when they have been cultivated in this way, seven fruits and seven benefits may be expected.

Katame satta phalā sattānisaṁsā?

What seven fruits and seven benefits?

Diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti.

One attains final knowledge early in this very life.

No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, atha maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti.

If one does not attain final knowledge early in this very life, then one attains final knowledge at the time of death.

No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

If one does not attain final knowledge early in this very life, and if one does not attain final knowledge at the time of death, then, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one becomes one who attains nibbāna in the interval.

No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti.

No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

If one does not attain final knowledge early in this very life, and if one does not attain final knowledge at the time of death, and if, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one does not become one who attains nibbāna in the interval, and if, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one does not become one who attains nibbāna upon landing, and if, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one does not become one who attains nibbāna without saṅkhāra, then, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one becomes one who attains nibbāna with saṅkhāra.

No ce diṭṭheva dhamme paṭikacca aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce maraṇakāle aññaṁ ārādheti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, no ce pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti, atha pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī.

If one does not attain final knowledge early in this very life, and if one does not attain final knowledge at the time of death, and if, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one does not become one who attains nibbāna in the interval, and if, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one does not become one who attains nibbāna upon landing, and if, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one does not become one who attains nibbāna without saṅkhāra, and if, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one does not become one who attains nibbāna with saṅkhāra, then, with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, one becomes one who goes upstream, heading to Akaniṭṭha.

Evaṁ bhāvitesu kho, bhikkhave, sattasu bojjhaṅgesu evaṁ bahulīkatesu ime satta phalā sattānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.

When the seven bojjhaṅgas have been developed in this way, bhikkhus, when they have been cultivated in this way, these seven fruits and seven benefits may be expected.”

sn46.3 · Sīlasutta