Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XVII: Paṭipadā Vagga
Sutta 165
Dutiya Khama Suttaṃ
Tolerant (2)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.
[1][pts] "Monks, there are these four modes of practice.
Which four?
Intolerant practice,
tolerant practice,
self-controlled practice,
and even practice.[1]
§
2. "And which is intolerant practice?
There is the case where a certain individual
doesn't tolerate cold,
heat,
hunger,
and thirst;
the touch of flies,
mosquitoes,
wind,
sun,
and reptiles;
ill-spoken, unwelcome words;
and bodily feelings that,
when they arise,
are painful,
racking,
sharp,
piercing,
disagreeable,
displeasing,
and menacing to life.
This is called intolerant practice.
■
3. "And which is tolerant practice?
There is the case where a certain individual
tolerates cold,
heat,
hunger,
and thirst;
the touch of flies,
mosquitoes,
wind,
sun,
and reptiles;
ill-spoken, unwelcome words;
and bodily feelings that,
when they arise,
are painful,
racking,
sharp,
piercing,
disagreeable,
displeasing,
and menacing to life.
This is called tolerant practice.
■
4. "And which is self-controlled practice?
There is the case where a monk,
on seeing a form with the eye,
doesn't grasp at any theme or variations by which
— if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the eye —
evil,
unskillful qualities
such as greed or distress
might assail him.
He practices with restraint.
He guards the faculty of the eye.
He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the eye.
"On hearing a sound with the ear...
"On smelling an aroma with the nose...
"On tasting a flavor with the tongue...
"On touching a tactile sensation with the body...
"On cognizing an idea with the intellect,
he doesn't grasp at any theme or variations by which
— if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the intellect —
evil,
unskillful qualities
such as greed or distress
might assail him.
He practices with restraint.
He guards the faculty of the intellect.
He achieves restraint with regard to the faculty of the intellect.
"This is called self-controlled practice.
■
5. "And which is even practice?
There is the case where a monk
doesn't acquiesce to an arisen thought of sensuality.
He abandons it,
destroys it,
dispels it,
wipes it out of existence.
"He doesn't acquiesce to an arisen thought of ill will...
"He doesn't acquiesce to an arisen thought of harmfulness...
"He doesn't acquiesce to any arisen evil, unskillful qualities.
He abandons them,
destroys them,
dispels them,
wipes them out of existence.
"This is called even practice.
"These, monks, are four modes of practice."
[1] These four terms rhyme in the Pali: akkhama, khama, dama, and sama.
Of Related Interest:
MN 2;
AN 4.162;
AN 4.163;
AN 4.165.
AN 5:139—140;
AN 8:14;
