8. Arahattavaggo | 6 | Aṅguttara
Aṅguttara Nikāya
008. Arahattavaggo
III. Arahantship
75 (1) In Suffering
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 things, a Bhikkhu dwells in suffering in this very life
—with distress, anguish, and fever—and with the breakup of the body, after death, a bad destination can be expected for him.
What 6?
1) Sensual thought,
2) the thought of ill will,
3) the thought of harming,
4) sensual perception,
5) perception of ill will, and
6) perception of harming.
- Possessing these 6 things, a Bhikkhu dwells in suffering in this very life
—with distress, anguish, and fever—and with the breakup of the body, after death, a bad destination can be expected for him.
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 things, a Bhikkhu dwells happily in this very life
—without distress, anguish, and fever—and with the breakup of the body, after death, a good destination can be expected for him.
What 6?
1) The thought of renunciation,
2) the thought of good will,
3) the thought of harmlessness,
4) perception of renunciation,
5) perception of good will, and
6) perception of harmlessness.
- Possessing these 6 things, a Bhikkhu dwells happily in this very life
—without distress, anguish, and fever— and with the breakup of the body, after death, a good destination can be expected for him.
76 (2) Arahantship
Bhikkhus, without having abandoned 6 things, one is incapable of realizing Arahantship.
What 6?
1) Conceit,
2) an inferiority complex,
3) arrogance,
4) self-overestimation,
5) obstinacy, and
6) self-abasement.
- Without having abandoned these 6 things, one is incapable of realizing Arahantship.
Bhikkhus, having abandoned 6 things, one is capable of realizing Arahantship.
What 6?
1) Conceit,
2) an inferiority complex,
3) arrogance,
4) self-overestimation,
5) obstinacy, and
6) self-abasement.
Having abandoned these 6 things, one is capable of realizing Arahantship.
77 (3) Superior
Bhikkhus, without having abandoned 6 things, one is incapable of realizing any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.
What 6?
1) Muddle-mindedness,
2) lack of clear comprehension,
3) not guarding the doors of the sense faculties,
4) lack of moderation in eating,
5) duplicity, and
6) flattery.
Without having abandoned these 6 things, one is incapable of realizing any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.
Bhikkhus, having abandoned 6 things, one is capable of realizing a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.
What 6?
1) Muddle-mindedness,
2) lack of clear comprehension,
3) not guarding the doors of the sense faculties,
4) lack of moderation in eating,
5) duplicity, and
6) flattery.
Having abandoned these 6 things, one is capable of realizing a superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones.
78 (4) Happiness
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities, a Bhikkhu abounds in happiness and joy in this very life, and he has laid the foundation for the destruction of the taints.
What 6?
Here, a Bhikkhu
1) delights in the Dhamma,
2) delights in [mental] development,
3) delights in abandoning,
4) delights in solitude,
5) delights in non-affliction, and
6) delights in non-proliferation.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, a Bhikkhu abounds in happiness and joy in this very life, and he has laid the foundation for the destruction of the taints.
79 (5) Achievement
Possessing 6 qualities,
a Bhikkhu is incapable of achieving a wholesome quality that he has not yet achieved or of strengthening a wholesome quality that has already been achieved.
What 6?
(1) Here, a Bhikkhu is not skilled in gain,
(2) not skilled in loss,
(3) not skilled in means;
(4) he does not generate desire for the achievement of wholesome qualities not yet achieved;
(5) he does not guard wholesome qualities already achieved;
(6) he does not fulfil his tasks through persistent effort.
- Possessing these 6 qualities,
a Bhikkhu is incapable of achieving a wholesome quality that he has not yet achieved or of strengthening a wholesome quality that has already been achieved.
Possessing 6 qualities,
a Bhikkhu is capable of achieving a wholesome quality that he has not yet achieved and of strengthening a wholesome quality that has already been achieved.
What 6?
(1) Here, a Bhikkhu is skilled in gain,
(2) skilled in loss,
(3) skilled in means;
(4) he generates desire for the achievement of wholesome qualities not yet achieved;
(5) he guards wholesome qualities already achieved;
(6) he fulfils his tasks through persistent effort.
- Possessing these 6 qualities,
a Bhikkhu is capable of achieving a wholesome quality that he has not yet achieved and of strengthening a wholesome quality that has already been achieved.
80 (6) Greatness
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities, a Bhikkhu in no long time attains to greatness and vastness in [wholesome] qualities. What 6?
1) Here, a Bhikkhu abounds in light,
2) abounds in effort,
3) abounds in inspiration;
4) he does not become complacent;
5) he does not neglect his duty in regard to wholesome qualities; and
6) he extends himself further.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, a Bhikkhu in no long time attains to greatness and vastness in [wholesome] qualities.
81 (7) Hell (1)
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities, one is deposited in hell as if brought there.
What 6?
1) One destroys life,
2) takes what is not given,
3) engages in sexual misconduct,
4) speaks falsely,
5) has evil desires, and
6) holds wrong view.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, one is deposited in hell as if brought there.
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities, one is deposited in heaven as if brought there.
What 6?
1) One abstains from the destruction of life,
2) abstains from taking what is not given,
3) abstains from sexual misconduct,
4) abstains from false speech;
5) one has few desires, and
6) one holds right view.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, one is deposited in heaven as if brought there.
82 (8) Hell (2)
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities, one is deposited in hell as if brought there.
What 6?
1) One destroys life,
2) takes what is not given,
3) engages in sexual misconduct, and
4) speaks falsely;
5) one is greedy and
6) impudent.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, one is deposited in hell as if brought there.
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities, one is deposited in heaven as if brought there.
What 6?
1) One abstains from the destruction of life,
2) abstains from taking what is not given,
3) abstains from sexual misconduct,
4) abstains from false speech;
5) one is without greed and
6) without impudence.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, one is deposited in heaven as if brought there.
83 (9) The Foremost State
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities a Bhikkhu is incapable of realizing Arahantship, the foremost state. What 6?
1) Here, a Bhikkhu is without faith,
2) morally shameless,
3) morally reckless,
4) lazy,
5) unwise, and
6) concerned about his body and life.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, a Bhikkhu is incapable of realizing Arahantship, the foremost state.
Bhikkhus, possessing 6 qualities a Bhikkhu is capable of realizing Arahantship, the foremost state. What 6?
1) Here, a Bhikkhu has faith,
2) a sense of moral shame, and
3) moral dread;
4) he is energetic and
5) wise; and
6) he is unconcerned about his body and life.
- Possessing these 6 qualities, a Bhikkhu is capable of realizing Arahantship, the foremost state.
84 (10) Nights
Bhikkhus, when a Bhikkhu possesses 6 qualities, whether night or day comes, only deterioration in wholesome qualities, not growth, can be expected for him.
What 6?
Here, (1) a Bhikkhu has strong desires, feels distress, and is discontent with any kind of robe, alms-food, lodging, and medicines and provisions for the sick;
he is
(2) without faith,
(3) immoral,
(4) lazy,
(5) muddle-minded, and
(6) unwise.
- When a Bhikkhu possesses these 6 qualities, whether night or day comes, only deterioration in wholesome qualities, not growth, is to be expected for him.
Bhikkhus, when a Bhikkhu possesses 6 qualities, whether night or day comes, only growth in wholesome qualities, not deterioration, is to be expected for him. Here,
(1) a Bhikkhu does not have strong desires, does not feel distress, and is content with any kind of robe, alms-food, lodging, and medicines and provisions for the sick;
he is
(2) endowed with faith,
(3) virtuous,
(4) energetic,
(5) mindful, and
(6) wise.
- When a Bhikkhu possesses these 6 qualities, whether night or day comes, only growth in wholesome qualities, not deterioration, is to be expected for him.