Fear^[1]

Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.

[221]

[1] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, "fear" is a name for sense-desires;
"pain" is a name for sense-desires;
"disease" is a name for sense-desires;
"blain" is a name for sense-desires;
"bondage" is a name for sense-desires;
"bog" is a name for sense-desires.

[222]And wherefore, monks, is fear a name for sense-desires?

Monks, impassioned by sensuous passions,
bound by passionate desire,
neither in this world
is one free from fear,
nor in the next world
is one free from fear.

Therefore "fear" is a name for sense-desires.

■

And wherefore, monks, is "pain," a name for sense-desires?

Monks, impassioned by sensuous passions,
bound by passionate desire,
neither in this world
is one free from pain,
nor in the next world
is one free from pain.

Therefore "pain" is a name for sense-desires.

■

And wherefore, monks, is "disease" a name for sense-desires?

Monks, impassioned by sensuous passions,
bound by passionate desire,
neither in this world
is one free from disease,
nor in the next world
is one free from disease.

Therefore "disease" is a name for sense-desires.

■

And wherefore, monks, is "blain" a name for sense-desires?

Monks, impassioned by sensuous passions,
bound by passionate desire,
neither in this world
is one free from blain,
nor in the next world
is one free from blain.

Therefore "blain" is a name for sense-desires.

■

And wherefore, monks, is "bondage" a name for sense-desires?

Monks, impassioned by sensuous passions,
bound by passionate desire,
neither in this world
is one free from bondage,
nor in the next world
is one free from bondage.

Therefore "bondage" is a name for sense-desires.

■

And wherefore, monks, is "bog" a name for sense-desires?

Monks, impassioned by sensuous passions,
bound by passionate desire,
neither in this world
is one free from bog,
nor in the next world
is one free from bog.

Therefore "bog" is a name for sense-desires.

Fear,^[2] pain, disease, blain, bondage, bog are, names
For sense-desires to which the worldlings cling.
They who see fear in grasping^[3] - source of birth
And death - grasp not and, ending both, are freed;
Won is the peace, blissful in perfect cool^[4]
They dwell here now, all fear and hate long gone,
All ill surpassed.'

^[1] Cf. A. iv, 289 for eight; also Sn. 51; SnA. 100.

^[2] For the first two lines of the text cf. A. iv, 290; for the second pāda of the second line see J.P.T.S., 1909, 342; the last four lines (text) recur at M. iii, 187; A. i, 142; with the last pāda cf. It. 4.

^[3] Upādāne. Comy. the fourfold - i.e., kāma, diṭṭhi, sīlabbata, attavāda.

^[4] Abhinibbutā.

Aṇguttara Nikāya Chakka-Nipāta III: Anuttariya-Vagga

Sutta 23

Bhaya Sutta

Fear[1]

Aṇguttara Nikāya
Chakka-Nipāta
III: Anuttariya-Vagga

Fear^[1]