Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
VI: Nīvaraṇa Vagga
Sutta 57
Ṭhāna Suttaṃ
Subjects for Contemplation
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][bodh] "There are these five facts
that one should reflect on often,
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained.
Which five?
"'I am subject to aging,
have not gone beyond aging.'
This is the first fact
that one should reflect on often,
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained.
"'I am subject to illness,
have not gone beyond illness.'
This is the second fact
that one should reflect on often,
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained.
"'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.'
This is the third fact
that one should reflect on often,
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained.
"'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.'
This is the fourth fact
that one should reflect on often,
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained.
"'I am the owner of my actions (kamma),
heir to my actions,
born of my actions,
related through my actions,
and have my actions as my arbitrator.
Whatever I do,
for good or for evil,
to that will I fall heir.'
This is the fifth fact
that one should reflect on often,
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained.
"These are the five facts
that one should reflect on often,
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained.
§
"Now, based on what line of reasoning
should one often reflect
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained, that
'I am subject to aging,
have not gone beyond aging'?
There are beings
who are intoxicated
with a [typical] youth's intoxication with youth.
Because of that intoxication with youth,
they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind.
But when they often reflect on that fact,
that youth's intoxication with youth
will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...
■
"Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained, that
'I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness'?
There are beings
who are intoxicated
with a [typical] healthy person's intoxication with health.
Because of that intoxication with health,
they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind.
But when they often reflect on that fact,
that healthy person's intoxication with health
will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...
■
"Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained, that
'I am subject to death,
have not gone beyond death'?
There are beings
who are intoxicated
with a [typical] living person's intoxication with life.
Because of that intoxication with life,
they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind.
But when they often reflect on that fact,
that living person's intoxication with life
will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...
■
"Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained, that
'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me'?
There are beings
who feel desire and passion
for the things they find dear and appealing.
Because of that passion,
they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind.
But when they often reflect on that fact,
that desire and passion for the things they find dear and appealing
will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...
■
"Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect
whether one is a woman or a man,
lay or ordained, that
'I am the owner of my actions (kamma), heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator.
Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir'?
There are beings
who conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind.
But when they often reflect on that fact,
that bad conduct in body, speech, and mind
will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...
■
"Now, a disciple of the noble ones considers this:
'I am not the only one subject to aging,
who has not gone beyond aging.
To the extent that there are beings
— past and future, passing away and re-arising —
all beings are subject to aging,
have not gone beyond aging.'
When he/she often reflects on this,
the [factors of the] path take birth.
He/she sticks with that path,
develops it,
cultivates it.
As he/she sticks with that path,
develops it
and cultivates it,
the fetters are abandoned,
the obsessions destroyed.
■
"Further, a disciple of the noble ones considers this:
'I am not the only one subject to illness,
who has not gone beyond illness.
To the extent that there are beings
— past and future, passing away and re-arising —
all beings are subject to illness,
have not gone beyond illness.'
When he/she often reflects on this,
the [factors of the] path take birth.
He/she sticks with that path,
develops it,
cultivates it.
As he/she sticks with that path,
develops it
and cultivates it,
the fetters are abandoned,
the obsessions destroyed.
■
"Further, a disciple of the noble ones considers this:
'I am not the only one subject to death, who has not gone beyond death.
To the extent that there are beings
— past and future, passing away and re-arising —
all beings are subject to death,
have not gone beyond death.'
When he/she often reflects on this,
the [factors of the] path take birth.
He/she sticks with that path,
develops it,
cultivates it.
As he/she sticks with that path,
develops it
and cultivates it,
the fetters are abandoned,
the obsessions destroyed.
■
'I am not the only one who will grow different,
separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.
To the extent that there are beings
— past and future, passing away and re-arising —
all beings are subject to growing different,
separation from all that is dear and appealing to them,
have not gone beyond growing different,
separation from all that is dear and appealing to them.'
When he/she often reflects on this,
the [factors of the] path take birth.
He/she sticks with that path,
develops it,
cultivates it.
As he/she sticks with that path,
develops it
and cultivates it,
the fetters are abandoned,
the obsessions destroyed.
■
"A disciple of the noble ones considers this:
'I am not the only one
who is owner of my actions,
heir to my actions,
born of my actions,
related through my actions,
and have my actions as my arbitrator;
who will — whatever I do, for good or for evil — fall heir to that.
To the extent that there are beings
— past and future, passing away and re-arising —
all beings are the owner of their actions,
heir to their actions,
born of their actions,
related through their actions,
and have their actions as their arbitrator.
Whatever they do,
for good or for evil,
to that will they fall heir.'
When he/she often reflects on this,
the [factors of the] path take birth.
He/she sticks with that path,
develops it,
cultivates it.
As he/she sticks with that path,
develops it and cultivates it,
the fetters are abandoned,
the obsessions destroyed."
§
Subject to birth, subject to aging,
subject to death,
run-of-the-mill people
are repelled by those who suffer
from that to which they are subject.
And if I were to be repelled
by beings subject to these things,
it would not be fitting for me,
living as they do.
As I maintained this attitude —
knowing the Dhamma
without acquisitions —
I overcame all intoxication
with health, youth, and life
as one who sees
renunciation as rest.
For me, energy arose,
Unbinding was clearly seen.
There's now no way
I could partake of sensual pleasures.
Having followed the holy life,
I will not return.
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