Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
43. Asaṅkhata Saṃyutta
2. Dutiya Vagga

Sutta 14

Anāsava Suttaṃ

Without Corrupting Influences

Translated from the Pāḷi by Michael M. Olds

 

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Translator's Introduction

This sutta, in the Pāḷi presents each angle of each Dhamma with the same introductory and terminal wording. I have included only the first and the last and the important statement given for each that it is one means for attaining the without corrupting influences.

The interesting thing to think about with these suttas is the fact that each of these "angles" is by this stated to be a full path to the end of lust,, anger and delusion (in other words, arahantship). Then further, suttas 12—44 present this same structure for 34 different names for the goal of the system.

By itself this is not easy to see, but if you go into the details of each you will see that there are conditions: most will require that for this one dimension to be a full path it must be based on solitude, dispassion, ending, and culminate in letting go or in some way ropes in the other dimensions of that unit of Dhamma. Footnotes for these important terms are given for my translation of Sutta 12: The Not-Ownmade.

The Woodward, Bhikkhu Bodhi and the BJT Pāḷi all have the various Dhammas given a heading. Headings were not given at the time these suttas were originally taught and I think here they defeat the idea that each angle can be taken as a full path in itself

 

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[1][pts][bodh] I hear tell:

Once upon a time The Lucky Man,
Savatthi-town revisiting.

There then, The Lucky Man, said this to the beggars gathered round:

"Beggars!".

"Elder!"
said the beggars in response to The Lucky Man.

The Lucky Man said this to them:

"I will explain
the without corrupting influences^[1] to you, beggars, and
the ways to go to the without corrupting influences.

Listen carefully!'

And what, beggars,
is the without corrupting influences?

Whatever, beggars, is
lust's destruction,
anger's destruction,
confusion's destruction.

This, beggars,
is what is called
"the without corrupting influences".

And what, beggars,
are the ways to go
to the without corrupting influences?

Calm

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Insight.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Serenity with thought and pondering.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Serenity without thought and just a measure of pondering.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Serenity without thought or pondering.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Empty Serenity

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Signless Serenity

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Aimless Serenity

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Minding the Body
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Minding sense experience
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Minding the heart
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Minding Dhamma
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Effort to remove bad conditions.
Here beggars,
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
getting rid of arisen bad
unskillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Effort to prevent the arising
of bad conditions.
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
the non-arising
of unarisen bad,
unskillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Effort to attain good conditions.
Here beggars,
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
the arising of
unarisen skillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Effort to preserve good conditions.
Here beggars,
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
the establishment,
clarification,
greater development,
fruitful development
and perfection of
arisen skillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of faith
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of fear of blame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of sense of shame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of energy
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of wisdom
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of faith
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of fear of blame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of sense of shame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of energy
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of wisdom
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is minding
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is Dhamma research,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is energy building,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is enthusiasm,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is impassivity,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is serenity,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is detachment,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate working hypothesis
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate principles
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate speech
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate works
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate lifestyle
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate self-control
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate mind
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Here a beggar has consummate serenity
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to the without corrupting influences.

Whatever, beggars,
ought to be done
for his students
by a kindly master,
out of compassion,
with compassion,
that I have done.

These, beggars,
are the roots of trees,
these are empty huts.

Meditate, beggars,
do not be careless,
do not provide grounds for later regret.

This then is my advice."

 

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^[1] Āsava. PED: "meaning #3. In psychological technical term for certain specified ideas which intoxicate the mind (bemuddle it, befuddle it, so that it cannot rise to higher things). Freedom from the āsavas constitutes Arahantship, and the fight for the extinction of these āsavas forms one of the main duties of man." Seeking sense pleasure; seeking existence; and blindness to the pain inherent in living, its source, what needs to be done to end it, and how to accomplish its ending — (The Four Truths) — sometimes with 'Opinions' as a fourth: The highest-level, or 'most-generalized' terms for that which must be got rid of to realize Nibbana, or the other way around the things that bind one to the world and rebirth. When 'diṭṭhi' is included it is sometimes translated as 'erroneous views', but all views are to be abandoned by the Arahant.