Aṅguttara Nikāya
IX. Navaka Nipāta
II. Sīhanāda Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
IX. The Book of the Nines
Chapter II: The Lion Roar
Sutta 18
Nav'Aṅg'Uposatha Suttaɱ
Amity
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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At Savatthī the Exalted One said:
"Monks, the Observance day,
when kept and held with nine qualifications,[1]
is very fruitful,
of great advantage,
very splendid,
very thrilling.
■
And how is the Observance day,
when kept and held with nine qualifications,
very fruitful,
of great advantage,
very splendid,
very thrilling?
Consider, monks, the Ariyan disciple who reflects thus:
"All their lives arahants give up taking of life
and abstain therefrom;
they dwell meekly and kindly,
compassionately and mercifully to all beings,
laying aside stick and sword.
I, too, now, during this night and day,
will give up taking life and abstain therefrom;
I will dwell meekly and kindly,
compassionately and mercifully to all beings,
and lay aside both stick and sword.
So, in this way,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this first qualification is it observed.
■
"All their lives arahants abstain from taking what is not given.
They dwell taking what is given,
expectant;
not stealing but holding themselves in purity.
I, too, now, during this night and day,
will abstain from taking what is not given.
So, thereby,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this second qualification is it observed.
■
"All their lives arahants abstain from living the ungodly life;
living the godly life,
abiding apart,
they abstain from intercourse,
the village-practice.
I, too, now, during this night and day,
will abstain from living the ungodly life;
living the godly life,
abiding apart,
I will abstain from intercourse,
the village-practice."
So, thereby,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this third qualification is it observed.
■
"All their lives arahants give up lying and abstain therefrom;
speaking the truth,
bondsmen to the truth,
trustworthy,
dependable,
they deceive no one in the world.
I, too, now, during this night and day,
will give up lying and abstain therefrom;
speaking the truth,
bondsmen to the truth,
trustworthy,
dependable,
deceiving no one in the world."
So, in this way,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this fourth qualification is it observed.
■
"All their lives arahants give up drinking strong drink,
the cause of sloth,
and abstain therefrom.
I, too, now, during this night and day,
will give up drinking strong drink,
the cause of sloth,
and abstain therefrom."
So, in this way,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this fifth qualification is it observed.
■
"All their lives arahants have but one meal (a day),
abstaining from food at night
and at wrong times.
I, too, now, during this night and day,
will have but one meal,
abstaining from food at night
and at the wrong time."
So, in this way,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this sixth qualification is it observed.
■
"All their lives arahants abstain from looking on at shows and fairs,
where there is dancing,
singing and music;
from wearing, decorating or ornamenting themselves
with garlands, scents and salves.
I, too, now, during this night and day,
will abstain from looking on at shows and fairs,
where there is dancing, singing and music;
from wearing, decorating or ornamenting myself
with garlands, scents and salves."
So, in this way,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this seventh qualification is it observed.
■
"All their lives arahants give up the use of large and lofty beds and abstain therefrom;
they lie on low beds,
couches or strewn grass.
I too, during this night and day,
abstaining from the use of a large or lofty bed,
will lie on a low one,
or on a couch,
or on strewn grass.
So, in this way,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this eighth qualification is it observed.
■
Then, monks, the Ariyan disciple
dwells with his mind pervading with amity
one quarter of the world;
likewise the second,
third
and fourth quarter.[2]
And so the whole world,
above,
below,
around,
everywhere,
he pervades with thoughts of amity,
far-reaching,
abounding,
measureless,
free from hatred and ill-will.
So, in this way,
I shall follow the example of arahants and keep the Observance."
With this ninth qualification is it observed.
Monks, when the Observance day is kept and held with these nine qualifications,
it is very fruitful,
of great advantage,
very splendid,
very thrilling.'
[1] Cf. above, p. 170. Our sutta here seems to point to the probability of the 'aṭṭhasīl' - as a defined observance - being of late origin; cf. the Way, which is tenfold, at A. v, 212 ff.
[2] This is the first brahma-vihāra - i.e., divine state; see D. i, 250; ii, 186; iii, 223; A. i, 183; ii, 128; v, 344; see note at K.S. v, 98, and the full comment at Vism. 308.
