CHAPTER II
ON BEHAVIOUR
If, brethren, there arise in the mind of a brother either a sensual thought, an angry thought or a cruel thought, and if the brother yields to such (thought), does not reject or expel it, nor frees himself from it, nor causes it to perish, then, brethren, such a brother, walking, standing or sitting, who is always inactive and devoid of zeal, is said to be an indolent and slothful person. If, brethren, there arise in (the mind of) a brother, who is lying down but awake, either a sensual thought, an angry thought or a cruel thought, and if the brother yields to such (thought), does not reject or expel it, nor frees himself from it, nor causes it to perish, then such a brother, lying down but awake, who is always inactive and devoid of zeal, is said to be an indolent and slothful person.
If brethren, there arise in (the mind of) a brother either a sensual, an angry thought or a cruel thought, and if the brother yields not to such (thought) but rejects, expels or frees himself from it or causes it to perish, then, brethren,
Cf. Itivuttaka, 115.
11. (2) On Behaviour 17
Such a brother, walking, standing or sitting, who is always active and zealous, is said to be a person strenuous and resolute (in meditation). If, brethren, there arises in (the mind of) a brother, lying down but awake, a sensual thought, an angry thought or a cruel thought, and if the brother yields not to such (thought) but rejects, expels or frees himself from it, or causes it to perish, then, brethren, such a brother, lying down but awake, who is always active and zealous, is said to be an active person, strenuous and resolute (in meditation).
Brethren, lead ye a life of virtue, be endowed with the restraint of the Pātimokkha’ discipline, observe good
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1 Gehtanissita (connected with house-hold life).
2 Kummagga-patipanna (gone on the wrong non-Ariyan path)
3 Fortniightly confession of faults among the assembled members of the order.
18 The Numerical Sayings [TEXT ii, 14]
Manners and proper behaviour also fearing even venial sins conduct yourselves in accordance with the precepts. To you, brethren, who lead a virtuous life, endowed with the restraint of the Pātimokkha discipline, observing good manners and proper behaviour, and, fearing even venial sins, conduct yourselves in accordance with the precepts, what thing more excellent remains to be done?
Brethren, a brother, walking, standing, sitting or lying, is freed from covetousness and ill-will, has banished sloth and torpor, distraction and flurry, maintains his energy unabated, has established mindfulness, is light of body and well-composed and his mind is tranquillised and concentrated.’
Brethren, such a brother, whether walking, standing, sitting or lying, who is always active and zealous, is said to be a person strenuous and resolute (in meditation). Brethren, a brother, even when he is lying down but awake, who is always active and zealous, is said to be a person strenuous and resolute (in meditation).
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1 Cf. itivuttaka, p. 120.
2 Apācinani, (turned away from the East), a synonym here for adho.
3
Yāvatā jagato gati, not here in the sense of rebirth. Comy. lokassa nipphatti.11. [13] On Behaviour 19
Brethren, there are these four proper Exertions. Which four? Brethren, here. (in the world) a brother begets a desire, exerts himself, puts forth endeavour and strenuously applies his mind to prevent the arising of sinful conditions not yet. arisen, to put away sinful conditions that have arisen, to produce meritorious conditions that have not yet arisen, and to promote, increase, preserve, develop* and perfect meritorious conditions that have arisen. These, brethren, are the four proper Exertions.
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1 Udaya-bbayam.
2 Bhāvanā, here means’ to produce’ or’ develop’..
3 Pāragū.
4 A name for Mara. Namūncati (does not let one go)’says Comy. on Saṃyutta, V. i.
20 The Numerical Sayings [TEXT ii, 16
Brethren, there are these four Exertions. Which four? The Exertion to control, the Exertion to put away, the Exertion to develop and the Exertion to preserve.
Brethren, what is the Exertion to control? Here (in the world) a brother seeing a bodily form is not entranced by the general appearance or the details of it. Because, in him who dwells with the eye uncontrolled, sinful conditions of covetousness or discontent may come into being, therefore he watches, guards and brings the eye into subjection. Hearing a sound with the ear, smelling an odour with the nose, feeling a taste with the tongue or a contact with the body, or thinking a thought with the mind, he is not entranced by the general qualities or the details of it. Because, in him who dwells with the mind controlled, sinful conditions of covetousness or discontent may come into being, he watches, guards and brings the mind into subjection. Brethren, this is said to be the Exertion to control.
Brethren, what is the Exertion to put away? Here (in the world) a brother yields not to a sensual thought, an angry thought or a cruel thought that has arisen, but rejects, expels or frees himself from them or causes them to perish. Brethren, this is said to be the Exertion to put away.
Brethren, what is the Exertion to develop? Here (in the world) a brother develops the Factor of Knowledge (called) Recollection, which results in peace, passionlessness and cessation and leads to the extinction of lust. He also develops the Factors of Knowledge (called) Investigation, Energy, Serenity, Rapture, Concentration and Equanimity,’
1 The Seven Bojjhangas
ii. [14] On Behaviour 21
which result in peace, passionlessness and cessation, and also lead to the extinction of lust. Brethren, this is said to be the Exertion to develop.
Brethren, what is the Exertion to preserve? Here (in the world) a brother carefully guards the auspicious mental reflex of concentration’ and meditates upon the ideas of a skeleton, a worm-infested corpse, a discoloured or festering corpse, a corpse with cracked skin, or a bloated corpse. This, brethren, is said to be the Exertion to preserve.
Brethren, there are these four great Designations. Which four? Brethren, among those who have bodily forms Rahu the King of Asuras is chief. Among those addicted to sensual pleasures King Mandhātā* is chief. Among those endowed with power Mora the Sinful is chief. Brethren, in the world of the gods, Māras, Brāhmas, also among all beings whether recluses, brāhmins, devas or men, the
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1 Bhaddakam samādhi-nimitta (i.e., with mind fixed on what is for his profit, with the lovely for his -mark).
2 Adiccā-bandhu. The Buddha was a kinsman of the Solar Race.
3 Jat., II, 310; Milinda 115-Cf. Therigāthā 485-’Lord of the four continents,.’ A personification of the passional nature.
22 The Numerical Sayings [TEXT II, 17
Tathāgata, Arahant, Buddha Supreme is chief. Brethren, these are the four great Designations.
Brethren, there are these four Subtilties.* Which four? Herein, a brother is endowed with the subtilty of the body, the sensations, the perceptions and the dispositions. Thus owing to his Subtilty of the body, the sensations, the perceptions and the dispositions, he neither seeks nor aims at any higher or more excellent form of Subtilty of the body, the sensations, the perceptions or the dispositions. These, brethren, are the four Subtilties.
11, [17] On Behaviour 23
Brethren, there are the these four (kinds of) wrongful behaviour. Which four? One falls into wrong behaviour owing to Desire, Ill-will, Illusion or Fear.
Brethren, there are these four (kinds of) right behaviour.
Which four? One falls not into wrong behaviour owing to Desire, Ill-will, Illusion or Fear..
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1 Māra rides an elephant into battle.
2 Chando, doso, moho, bhayam.
3 From Sigalovoda Sutta. D. N. iii 182.
24 The Numerical Sayings [TEXT 11, 19
[Sutta (9) with gāthās is the same as the Suttas (7) and (8) above.]
Brethren, he who regulates the distribution of food, surely as a load,* falls into Purgatory owing to four things. Owing to which, four? He does wrong’ owing to Desire, Ill-will, illusion or Fear. Brethren, he who regulates the distribution of food is thus re-born in heaven, even as a load is laid down, if he does no wrong owing to Desire, Ill will, Illusion or Fear.
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1 Yathābhatam nikkito. Itiv., 12 , 26 (like a load laid down), the idea is ‘falls plumb’ or goes straight’. ‘Here we have a parable of the Unjust Steward. For bhattuddesako see Jat i. 5.
2 Parisa-kkasāvo.
3 P.T. S. reads Samano na jāntā for Samaṇena jānatā.
11. [20] On Behaviour 25
Thus was it spoken by the Samana who knows.
(CHAPTER II CARA-VAGGA ENDS)
Parisāya mando.