78(8)Future Perils(2)
"Bhikkhus,when a forest bhikkhu considers five future perils,it is enough for him to dwell heedful,ardent,and resolute for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
What five?
(1)"Here,a bhikkhu reflects thus:
'I am now young,a black-haired young man endowed with the blessing of youth,in the prime of life.
But there will come a time when old age assails this body.
Now when one is old,overcome by old age,it is not easy to attend to the Buddhas'teaching;it is not easy to resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves.
Before that unwished for,undesirable,disagreeable condition comes upon
me,
let me in advance arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.Thus when I am in that condition,I will dwell at ease even though I am old.'
This is the first future peril considering which it is enough for a bhikkhu to dwell heedful,ardent,and resolute...for the realizationof the as-yet-unrealized:
(2)"Again,a bhikkhu reflects thus:
'I am now seldom ill or afflicted;I possess an even digestion that is neither too cool nor too hot but moderate and suitable for striving.
But there will come a time when illness assails this body.
Now when one is ill,overcome by illness,it is not easy to attend to the Buddhas'teaching;it is not easy to resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves.
Before that unwished for,undesirable,disagreeable condition comes upon me,
let me in advance arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realization ofthe as-yet-unrealized.[104]Thus when I am in that condition,I will dwell at ease even though I am ill.'
This is the second future peril considering which it is enough for a bhikkhu todwell heedful,ardent,and resolute...for the realization of theas-yet-unrealized.
(3)"Again,a bhikkhu reflects thus:
'Food is now plentiful;there has been a good harvest and almsfood is abundant,so that one can easily subsist by means of gleaning.
But there will come a time of famine,a poor harvest,when almsfood is hard to obtain and one cannot easily subsist by means of gleaning.
In a time of famine,people migrate to places where food is plentiful
and living conditions there are congested and crowded.
Now when living conditions are congested and crowded,it is not easy to attend to the Buddhas'teaching;it is not easy to resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves.
Before that unwished for,undesirable,disagreeable condition comes upon
me,
let me in advance arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.Thus when I am in that condition,I will dwell at ease even in a famine.'
This is the third future peril considering which it is enough for a bhikkhuto dwell heedful,ardent,and resolute...for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
(4)"Again,a bhikkhu reflects thus:
'People are now dwelling.
in concord,harmoniously,without disputes,blending like milk
and water,viewing each other with eyes of affection.
But there
will come a time of peril,of turbulence in the wilderness,when
the people of the countryside,mounted on their vehicles,flee on
all sides.
In a time of peril,people migrate to places where there
is safety
and living conditions there are congested and crowded.
[105]Now when living conditions are congested and crowded,
it is not easy to attend to the Buddhas'teaching;it is not easy to
resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle groves.
Before
that unwished for,undesirable,disagreeable condition comes
upon me,
let me in advance arouse energy for the attainment
of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the as-yet-
unachieved,for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.Thus
when I am in that condition,I will dwell at ease even in time
of peril.'
This is the fourth future peril considering which it is
enough for a bhikkhu to dwell heedful,ardent,and resolute...
for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
(5)"Again,a bhikkhu reflects thus:
'The Sangha is now dwelling at ease—in concord,harmoniously,without disputes,with
a single recitation.
But there will come a time when there will
be a schism in the Sangha.
Now when there is a schism in the
Sangha,it is not easy to attend to the Buddhas'teaching;it
is not easy to resort to remote lodgings in forests and jungle
groves.
Before that unwished for,undesirable,disagreeable
condition comes upon me,
let me in advance arouse energy
for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achieve-
ment of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realization of the as-yet-
unrealized.Thus when I am in that condition,I will dwell at
ease even though there is a schism in the Sangha.'
This is the
fifth future peril considering which it is enough for a bhikkhu
to dwell heedful,ardent,and resolute...for the realization ofthe as-yet-unrealized.
"These,bhikkhus,are the five future perils considering which it is enough for a bhikkhu to dwell heedful,ardent,and resolute for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realization ofthe as-yet-unrealized."