Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
46. Bojjhanga Saɱyutta
4. Nīvaraṇa Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
46. Kindred Sayings on the Limbs of Wisdom
4. On Hindrances
Sutta 38
Āvaraṇa-Nīvaraṇa (or Nīvaraṇ'Āvaraṇa) Suttaɱ
Restraint and Hindrance
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][bodh][than] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One once addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these five checks,
hindrances
and corruptions of the heart,
which weaken insight.[1]
What five?
Sensual desire, monks, is a check,
hindrance
and corruption of the heart,
that weakens insight.
Malevolence, is a check,
hindrance
and corruption of the heart,
that weakens insight.
Sloth and torpor, is a check,
hindrance
and corruption of the heart,
that weakens insight.
Excitement and flurry, is a check,
hindrance
and corruption of the heart,
that weakens insight.
Doubt and wavering, is a check,
hindrance
and corruption of the heart,
that weakens insight.
These five are checks,
hindrances
and corruptions of the heart,
which weaken insight.
§
[2][bodh] The seven limbs of wisdom, monks,
if unrestrained,
unhindered,
if cultivated
and made much of
with uncorrupted heart,
conduce to realizing the fruits of liberation by knowledge.
What seven?
The limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
the limb of wisdom that is Norm investigation,
the limb of wisdom that is energy,
the limb of wisdom that is zest,
the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
the limb of wisdom that is concentration,
the limb of wisdom that is equinimity.
■
Now, monks, at the time when the Ariyan disciple
makes the Norm his object,[2]
gives attention to it,
with all his mind considers it,
with ready ear listens to the Norm, -
at such time
these five hindrances exist not in him:
at such time
the seven limbs of wisdom
by cultivation
go to fulfilment.
■
What five hindrances at such time exist not?
The hindrance that is sensual desire,
at such time,
exists not.
The hindrance which is malevolence,
at such time,
exists not.
The hindrance which is sloth and torpor,
at such time,
exists not.
The hindrance which is excitement and flurry,
at such time,
exists not.
The hindrance which is doubt and wavering,
at such time,
exists not.
In that man
the five hindrances
at such time
exist not.
■
And what seven limbs of wisdom
by cultivation
at such time go to fulfilment?
The limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
by cultivation,
at such time goes to fulfilment.
The limb of wisdom that is Norm investigation,
by cultivation,
at such time goes to fulfilment.
The limb of wisdom that is energy,
by cultivation,
at such time goes to fulfilment.
The limb of wisdom that is zest,
by cultivation,
at such time goes to fulfilment.
The limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
by cultivation,
at such time goes to fulfilment.
The limb of wisdom that is concentration,
by cultivation,
at such time goes to fulfilment.
The limb of wisdom that is equinimity,
by cultivation,
at such time goes to fulfilment.
These seven limbs of wisdom
by cultivation
at such time go to fulfilment?
■
At the time, monks, when the Ariyan disciple
makes the Norm his object,
gives attention to it,
with all his mind considers it,
with ready ear listens to the Norm, -
at such time
the five hindrances exist not in him,
at such time
these seven limbs of wisdom
by cultivation go to fulfilment."
[1] Cf. infra, text 160; Buddh. Psych. Eth., p. 310 n.
[2] Aṭṭhi-katvā {supra, text 76); quoted KhpA. 148. Cf. S. l, 112, ii, 220; J.P.T.S., 1886, p. 107; A. iii, 162, 402 (where the context implies 'giving close attention to') reads sabbaṅ cetasā for sabbacetaso of our text. (Read samann- for sammannāharitvā.)
