Aṅguttara Nikāya

Catukka Nipāta

Bandagamavaggo

1. Anubuddhasuttaṃ –– Enlightened

001.01. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in Bandagama in the country of the Vajji’s. The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: Bhikkhus, not comprehending and not enlightened on four things you and I too have been traversing and transmigrating for a very long time. What four?

Bhikkhus, not comprehending and not enlightened on the virtues of the noble ones, you and I too have been traversing and transmigrating for a very long time. Bhikkhus, not comprehending and not enlightened on the concentration of the noble ones, you and I too have been traversing and transmigrating for a very long time. Bhikkhus, not comprehending and not enlightened on the wisdom of the noble ones, you and I too have been traversing and transmigrating for a very long time. Bhikkhus, not comprehending and not enlightened on the release of the noble ones, you and I too have been traversing and transmigrating for a very long time.

Bhikkhus, now I am enlightened penetratingly seeing the virtues, concentration, wisdom and release of the noble ones. I have pulled out the roots of being, destroyed the leader of being, there is no more birth now.

The blessed One saying this further said:

Famous Gotama is enlightened on the noble one’s
Virtues, concentration, wisdom and release.
The Blessed One realizing, declared it to the bhikkhus
Wise sentient beings ending unpleasantness are extinguished.

2. Papatitasuttaṃ –– Fall away

001.02 Bhikkhus, not endowed with four things, it is said, there is a fall from this dispensation of the Teaching. What four?

Bhikkhus, the virtues, concentration, wisdom and release of the noble ones. Bhikkhus, not endowed with these four things, it is said, there is a fall from this dispensation of the Teaching.

Bhikkhus, endowed with four things, it is said, there is no fall from this dispensation of the Teaching. What four?

Bhikkhus, the virtues, concentration, wisdom and release of the noble ones. Bhikkhus, endowed with these four things, it is said, there is no fall from this dispensation of the Teaching.

3. Paṭhamakaṭasuttaṃ –– The first on destruction.

001.03 Bhikkhus, endowed with four things the foolish ordinary man destroys himself and becomes blamable, blamed by the wise accrues much demerit. What four? Without a thorough consideration and scrutiny praises that which should not be praised Without a thorough consideration and scrutiny depreciates that which should be appreciated. Without a thorough consideration and scrutiny, becomes pleased in which confidence should not be established. Without a thorough consideration and scrutiny becomes displeased in which confidence should be established. Bhikkhus, endowed with these four things the foolish ordinary man destroys himself and becomes blamable, blamed by the wise accrues much demerit.

Bhikkhus, endowed with four things the wise Great Man does not destroy himself and does not become blamable, not blamed by the wise accrues much merit. What four? With a thorough consideration and scrutiny does not praise that which should not be praised With a thorough consideration and scrutiny appreciates that which should be appreciated. With a thorough consideration and scrutiny, does not become pleased in which confidence should not be established. With a thorough consideration and scrutiny becomes pleased in which confidence should be established. Bhikkhus, endowed with these four things the wise Great Man does not destroy himself and does not become blamable, not blamed by the wise accrues much merit.

4. Dutiyakaṭasuttaṃ –– The second on destruction.

001.04. Bhikkhus, following a wrong course of action towards four the foolish ordinary man destroys himself and becomes blamable and blamed by the wise accrues much demerit. Which four? Bhikkhus, following a wrong course of actions towards, the mother, ... re ... ṭhe father, ... re ... the Thus Gone One and ... re ... towards the disciples of the Thus Gone One the foolish ordinary man destroys himself and becomes blamable and blamed by the wise accrues much demerit. Bhikkhus, following the wrong course of actions towards these four the foolish ordinary man destroys himself and becomes blamable and blamed by the wise accrues much demerit.

Bhikkhus, following the right course of actions towards four the wise Great Man does not destroy himself, not blamable and not blamed by the wise accrues much merit. Which four? Bhikkhus, following the right course of actions towards, the mother, ... re ... ṭhe father, ... re ... the Thus Gone One and ... re ... towards the disciples of the Thus Gone One the wise Great Man does not destroy himself, does not become blamable and not blamed by the wise accrues much merit.

Humans following the wrong course of actions towards,
Mother, father, the Thus Gone One, or his disciples
Here and now accrue much demerit when blamed by the wise,
Here after they go to hell.
Following the right course of actions towards,
Mother, father, the Thus Gone One and his disciples,
The wise accrue much merit when praised by the wise,
And later they rejoice in heaven.

5. Anusotasuttaṃ –– With the stream.

001.05. Bhikkhus, these four persons are evident in the world. What four?

The one going with the stream, the one going against the stream, the one self controlled and the one crossed over stands on hard ground, the brahmin.

Bhikkhus, which person goes with the stream?

Here bhikkhus, a certain person indulges in sensual pleasures and does demeritorious actions. Bhikkhus, he goes with the stream

Bhikkhus, which person goes against the stream?

Here bhikkhus, a certain person does not indulge in sensual pleasures and does no demeritorious actions. Unpleasantly and displeased with tearing eyes he leads the complete and pure holy life. Bhikkhus, he goes against the stream

Bhikkhus, which person is self controlled?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person exhausting the five bonds binding him to the sensual world takes spontaneous rebirth and extinguishes from that world not going further any more. Bhikkhus, he is the self controlled person.

Bhikkhus, which person crossed over, stands on hard ground, the brahmin?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, destroying desires and releasing the mind from desires, and released through wisdom, realizing it here and now abides. Bhikkhus, this person crossed over, stands on hard ground, the brahmin.

Sentient beings partaking sensual pleasures unrestrained,
Come to birth and decay again and again,
They are the victims of craving going with the stream.
Therefore the wise with aroused mindfulness,
Do not practise sensuality or demerit,
Unhappily giving up sensual pleasures, go against the stream.
Giving up the five lower bonds and become a trainer
Not failing he controls his mind and the mental faculties,
He is the self controlled one, it is said.
Seeing no essence he gives up all things that continue to the beyond,
He knows it correctly, has lived the holy life.
It is said, he has gone to the end.

6 Appassutasuttaṃ –– Learned a little

001.06. Bhikkhus, these four persons are evident in the world. What four? Learned a little but not changed accordingly. Learned a little and changed accordingly. Learned a lot but not changed accordingly. Learned a lot and changed accordingly.

Bhikkhus, who is the person who has learned a little but not changed accordingly?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one has learned a little of the discourses, discourses with a mixture of verses and prose sections, answers with an explanation, verses, solemn utterances, thus said sections, birth stories, wonderful things, a series of questions and answers. Of that little he has learned, he has not learnt the meaning and the teaching and changed himself accordingly. Bhikkhus, this person has learned a little but not changed accordingly

Bhikkhus, who is the person who has learned a little and changed accordingly?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one has learned a little of the discourses, discourses with a mixture of verses and prose sections, answers with an explanation, verses, solemn utterances, thus said sections, birth stories, wonderful things, a series of questions and answers. Of that little he has learned, he has learnt the meaning and the teaching and changed himself accordingly. Bhikkhus, this person has learned a little and changed accordingly

Bhikkhus, who is the person who has learned a lot but not changed accordingly?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one has learned a lot of the discourses, discourses with a mixture of verses and prose sections, answers with an explanation, verses, solemn utterances, thus said sections, birth stories, wonderful things, a series of questions and answers. Of that lot he has learned, he has not learnt the meaning and the teaching and changed himself accordingly. Bhikkhus, this person has learned a lot but not changed accordingly

Bhikkhus, who is the person who has learned a lot and changed accordingly?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one has learned a lot of the discourses, discourses with a mixture of verses and prose sections, answers with an explanation, verses, solemn utterances, thus said sections, birth stories, wonderful things, a series of questions and answers. Of that lot he has learned, he has learnt the meaning and the teaching and changed himself accordingly. Bhikkhus, this person has learned a lot and changed accordingly.

The one who has learned little and not restrained in virtues,
Should be blamed on two counts for lack of virtues and little learning
The one who has learned little and is restrained in virtues,
Should be praised for his virtues and blamed for little learning
The one who has learned a lot and is not restrained in virtues,
Should be blamed for lack of virtues and not for the learning
The one who has learned a lot and is restrained in virtues,
Should be praised for both virtues and much learning.

The wise disciple of the Enlightened One learned and bearing the Teaching, is like pure gold. Even the gods praise him and also Brahma

7. Sobhanasuttaṃ –– Adornments

001.07. Bhikkhus, these four are wise, disciplined, confident, learned, bearers of the Teaching, living accordingly are adornments to the Community. Which four?

Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who is wise, disciplined, confident, learned, a bearer of the Teaching, living accordingly is an adornment to the Community.

Bhikkhus, a bhikkhuni who is wise, disciplined, confident, learned, a bearer of the Teaching, living accordingly is an adornment to the Community.

Bhikkhus, a male lay disciple wise, disciplined, confident, learned, a bearer of the Teaching, living accordingly is an adornment to the Community.

Bhikkhus, a female lay disciple wise, disciplined, confident, learned, a bearer of the Teaching, living accordingly is an adornment to the Community.

Bhikkhus, these four wise, disciplined, confident, learned, bearers of the Teaching, living accordingly are adornments to the Community.

The wise, confident, learned bearers of the Teaching,
Are the adornments to the Community
A bhikkhu who is virtuous, a learned bhikkhuni,
A male lay disciple and a female lay disciple with faith
They are adornments to the Community.

8. Vesārajjasuttaṃ –– Self confidences

001.08. Bhikkhus, the Thus Gone One endowed with these four self confidences acknowledges leadership in gatherings, roars the lion’s roar and declares the Teaching. What four?

To the one who acknowledges rightful enlightenment, these things are not enlightened: ‘There is no recluse, brahmin, a god, Māra, Brahma or anyone in the world, who could refute, this rightfully.’ Seeing there is no possibility for this, I abide peacefully without fear and with self confidence.

To the one who acknowledges the destruction of desires, these desires are not destroyed, ‘There is no recluse, brahmin, a god, Māra, Brahma or anyone in the world, who could refute, this rightfully.’ Seeing there is no possibility for this, I abide peacefully without fear and with self confidence.

They that pursue these things declared as obstructions are no obstructions[1], ‘There is no recluse, brahmin, a god, Māra, Brahma or anyone in the world, who could refute, this rightfully.’ Seeing there is no possibility for this, I abide peacefully without fear and with self confidence.

The teaching for the ending of unpleasantness, when logically concluded does not lead to the rightful ending of unpleasantness. ‘There is no recluse, brahmin, a god, Māra, Brahma or anyone in the world, who could refute, this rightfully.’ Seeing there is no possibility for this I abide peacefully without fear and with self confidence. Bhikkhus, the Thus Gone One endowed with these four self confidences acknowledges leadership in gatherings, roars the lion’s roar and declares the Teaching.

The various controversial points on which recluses and brahmins hang,
Do not occur to the Thus Gone, confident of all controversies.
He that sees penetratingly through the eye of the Teaching
Upholds it, through compassion for all
The chief among gods and men has gone beyond thinking
He is worshipped by sentient beings

9. Taṇhuppādasuttaṃ –– Arising of craving

001.09. Bhikkhus, these four are the arisings of craving to a bhikkhu. What four? Craving arises to a bhikkhu on account of robes, ... re ... morsel food, ... re ... dwellings, ... re ... and may this happen and not happen. Bhikkhus, these four are the arisings of craving to a bhikkhu.

Craving is the companion of man to traverse in existences for a long time.
Becoming this and the other is never tired of births
Knowing the danger, that craving brings unpleasantness,
Bhikkhu, do the going forth mindfully and end craving without a remainder.

10. Yogasuttaṃ –– Bonds

001.10. Bhikkhus, these four are the bonds. What four?

The bond of sensuality, the bond of thinking, the bond of views and the bond of ignorance.

Bhikkhus, what is the bond of sensuality?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of sensuality and the escape from it, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of sensuality and the escape from it, knows little about the greed for seusuality, the interest for it, the love for it, the sensual stupor, the sensual thirst, the fever of passion and the attachment to lust that fills the mind persistently with sensual craving. Bhikkhus, to this is called the sensual bond

Thus is the sensual bond. What is the bond thinking?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of thinking and the escape from it, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of thinking and the escape from it, knows little about the greed for thinking, the interest for it, the love for it, the stupor to be, the thirst to be, the fever to be and the attachment to be, that fills the mind persistently with cravingṭo be. Bhikkhus, to this is called the bond thinking.

Thus is the sensual bond and the bond thinking: What is the bond of views?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of views and the escape from them, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of views and the escape from them, knows little about the greed for views, the interest for them, the love for them, the stupor of views, the thirst for views, the fever of views and the attachment to views fills the mind persistently with craving.for views. Bhikkhus, to this is called the bond of views

Thus is the sensual bond, the bond thinking and the bond of views. What is the bond of ignorance?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of the six spheres of contact and the escape from them, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that does not know the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of the six spheres of contact and the escape from them, knows little of how the six spheres of contact fill the mind persistently with ignorance and not knowing. Bhikkhus, to this is called the bond of ignorance.

Thus is the sensual bond,ṭhe bond thinking, the bond of views and the bond of ignorance

Bound with evil demeritorious things of defiling nature for a troubled future with birth, decay, death, therefore not seeking the utter peace, it is said. Bhikkhus, these are the four bonds.

Bhikkhus, these four are the dissociation of bonds. What four?

Dissociation from, the bond of sensuality, the bond of thinking, the bond of views and the bond of ignorance.

Bhikkhus, what is dissociation from he bond of sensuality?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of sensuality and the escape from it, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of sensuality and the escape from it, knows the greed for seusuality, the interest for it, the love for it, the sensual stupor, the sensual thirst, the fever of passion and the attachment to lust does not fill his mind persistently with sensual craving. Bhikkhus, to this is called dissociation from the sensual bond

Thus is dissociation from the sensual bond. What is dissociation from the bond of thinking?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of thinking and the escape from it, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of thinking and the escape from it, knows the greed for thinking, the interest for it, the love for it, the stupor to be, the thirst to be, the fever to be and the attachment to be, and it does not fill his mind persistently with cravingṭo be. Bhikkhus, to this is called dissociation from the bond of thinking.

Thus is dissociation from the sensual bond, dissociation from the bond of thinking: What is dissociation from the bond of views?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of views and the escape from them, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of views and the escape from them, knows the greed for views, the interest for them, the love for them, the stupor for views, the thirst for views, the fever for views and the attachment to views do not fill his mind persistently with craving.for views. Bhikkhus, this is called dissociation from the bond of views

Thus is dissociation from the sensual bond, dissociation from the bond of thinking and dissociation from the bond of views. What is dissociation from the bond of ignorance?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of the six spheres of contact and the escape from them, as it really is. Bhikkhus, he that knows the arising, fading, satisfaction and danger of the six spheres of contact and the escape from them, knows how the six spheres of contact do not fill the mind persistently with ignorance and not knowing. Bhikkhus, to this is called dissociation from the bond of ignorance.

Thus is dissociation from the sensual bond, dissociation from the bond of thinking, dissociation from the bond of views and dissociation from the bond of ignorance

Dissociated from evil demeritorious things of defiling nature for a troubled future with birth, decay, death, therefore seeking the utter peace, it is said. Bhikkhus, these are the dissociations from the four bonds.

Associated by the bonds sensuality, thinking and views,
And honoured by ignorance, sentient beings go from birth to death.
They that thoroughly study the two bonds of sensuality and thinking,
Completely destroy the bond views and estrange ignorance
They are the ones who dissociate all bonds and reach utter peace.