II.NON-RETURNER
65(1)Non-Returner
"Bhikkhus,without having abandoned six things,one is incapable of realizing the fruit of non-returning.
What six?
Lack of faith,lack of moral shame,moral recklessness,laziness;muddle-mindedness,and lack of wisdom:Without having abandoned these six things,one is incapable of realizing the fruit of non-returning.
"Bhikkhus,having abandoned six things,one is capable of realizing the fruit of non-returning:
What six?
Lack of faith...lack of wisdom.Having abandoned these six things,one is capable of realizing the fruit of non-returning."
66(2)Arahant
"Bhikkhus,without having abandoned six things,one is incapable of realizing arahantship.
What six?
Dullness,drowsiness,restlessness,remorse,lack of faith,and heedlessness.Without having abandoned these six things,one is incapable of realizing arahantship.[422]
"Bhikkhus,having abandoned six things,one is capable of realizing arahantship.
What six?
Dullness...heedlessness.Having abandoned these six things,one is capable of realizing arahantship."
67(3)Friends
"Bhikkhus,when a bhikkhu has bad friends,bad companions,and bad comrades,when he follows,resorts to,and attendsupon bad friends and follows theirexample,(1)it is impossible that he will fulfill the duty of proper conduct.
Without having fulfilled the duty of proper conduct,(2)it is impossible that he will fulfill the duty of a trainee.
Without having fulfilled the duty of a trainee,(3)it is impossible that he will fulfill virtuous behavior.
Without having fulfilled virtuous behavior,(4)it is impossible that he will abandon sensual lust,(5)lust for form,
or(6)lust for the formless.
The Abhidhamma commentary,As 239,25-240,z(Be S362), explains ruparaga as"desire and lust for form-[sphere]existence" (rupabhave chandarago)and aruparaga as"desire and lust for formless-[sphere]existence"(arūpabhave chandarago).While the word"lust"may seem strong in relation to these refined realms of existence,I feel it is useful to render raga consistently."Bhikkhus,when a bhikkhu has good friends,good companions,and good comrades,when he follows,resorts to,andattends upon good friends and follows their example,(1)it is possible that he will fulfill the duty of proper conduct.
Having fulfilled the duty of proper conduct,(2)it is possible that he will fulfill the duty of a trainee.
Having fulfilled the duty of a trainee,(3)it is possible that he will fulfill virtuous behavior.
Having fulfilled virtuous behavior,(4)it is possible thathe will abandon sensual lust,(5)lust for form,and (6)lust forthe formless."
68(4)Delight in Company
"Bhikkhus,(1)it is impossible that a bhikkhu who delights in company,who is delighted with company,who is devoted to delight in company;who delights in a group,who is delighted with a group,who is devoted to delight in a group,will find delight in solitude when he is alone.
(2)It is impossible that one who does not find delight in solitude when he is alone [423]will acquire the object of the mind.
Cittassa nimittam.Mp:"The object of the mind of concentration and insight,the aspect of concentration and insight" (samadhivipassanacittassa nimittam samadhivipassanakaram).Mp is apparently interpreting this via the two meanings of the word nimitta,as object and as"mark"or aspect.(3)It is impossible that one who does not acquire the object of the mind will fulfill right
view.
(4)It is impossible that one who does not fulfill right view will fulfill right concentration.
(5)It is impossible that one who does not fulfill right concentration will abandon the fetters.
(6)Without having abandoned the fetters,it is impossible that one will realize nibbana.
"Bhikkhus,(1)it is possible that a bhikkhu who does not delight in company,who is not delighted with company,who is not devoted to delight in company;who does not delight in a group,who is not delighted with a group,who is not devoted to delight in a group,will find delight in solitude when heis alone.
(2)It is possible that one who finds delight in solitude when he is alone will acquire the object of the mind.
(3)It is possible that one who acquires the object of the mind will fulfill right
view.
(4)It is possible that one who fulfills right view will fulfill right concentration.
(5)It is possible that one who fulfills right concentration will abandon the fetters.
(6)Having abandoned the fetters,it is possible that one will realize nibbāna."
69(5)A Deity
.Then,when the night had advanced,a certain deity of stunning beauty,illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove,approached the Blessed One,
paid homage to him,stood to one side,
and said:
"Bhante,these six qualities lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What six?
Reverence for the Teacher,reverence for theDhamma,reverence for the Sangha,reverence for the training,being easy to correct,and good friendship.These six qualitieslead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu."
.This is what that deity said.
The Teacher agreed.
Then that deity,thinking,"The Teacher agrees with me,"paid homage to the Blessed One,circumambulated him keeping the right sidetoward him,and disappeared right there.[424]
Then,when the night had passed,the Blessed One addressed
the bhikkhus:
"Last night,bhikkhus,when the night had
advanced,a certain deity of stunning beauty,illuminating the
entire Jeta's Grove,approached me,
paid homage to me,stood
to one side,
and said:
Bhante,there are these six qualities that
lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.
What six?
Reverence for
the Teacher...and good friendship.These arethe six things that
lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.
This is what that deity
said.
Having said this,that deity paid homage to me,circumambulated me keeping the right side toward me,and disappeared
right there."
When this was said,the Venerable Sariputta said to the Blessed One:
"Bhante,I understand in detail the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One has spoken in brief to be as follows.
Here,Bhante,(1)a bhikkhu himself reveres the Teacher and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher;
he encourages other bhikkhus who do not revere the Teacher to develop reverence for the Teacher and,
at the proper time,genuinely and truthfully,he speaks praise of those bhikkhus who revere the Teacher.
(2)He himself reveres the Dhamma...(3)...reveres the Sangha...(4)...reveres the training...(5)...is easy to correct...(6)...has good friends and speaks in praise of good friendship;
he encourages other bhikkhus who do not have good friends to enter upon good friendship and,
at the proper time,genuinely and truthfully,he speaks praise of those bhikkhus who have good friends.
It is in such a way,Bhante,that I understand in detail the meaning of this statement that the Blessed One has spoken in brief."
[The Blessed One said:]"Good,good,Sariputta!
It is good that you understand in detail the meaning of this statement that I have spoken in brief in such a way.
"Here,Sāriputta,a bhikkhu himself reveres the Teacher[425]...[as above,in full]...
...
...
...
...
...he speaks praise of those bhikkhus who have good friends.
It is in such a way that the meaning of this statement that I spoke in brief should be understood in detail."
70(6)Concentration
"Bhikkhus,(1)it is impossible that a bhikkhu,without concentration that is peaceful,sublime,gained through tranquilization,and attained to unification could wield the various kinds of psychic potency:having been one,he could become many...[all abridged passages here as in 6:2]...he could exercise mastery with the body as far as the brahma world.
(2)It is impossible that with the divine ear element,which is purified and surpasses the human,he could hear both kinds of sounds,the divine and human,those that are far as well as near.
(3)It is impossible that he could understand the minds of other beings and persons,having encompassed them with his own mind;that he could understand a mind with lust as a mind with lust...an unliberated mind as unliberated.
(4)It is impossible that he could recollect his manifold past abodes...[426]with their aspects and details.
(5)It is impossible that with the divine
eye,which is purified and surpasses the human,he could seebeingspassing away and being reborn...and could understand how beings fare in accordance with their kamma.
(6)It is impossible that with the destruction of the taints,he could realize for himself with direct knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,could dwell in it.
"Bhikkhus,(1)it is possible thata bhikkhu,with concentration that is peaceful,sublime,gained through tranquilization,and attained to unification could wield the various kinds of psychic potency.
(2)could hear both kinds of sounds,the divine and human,those that are far as well as near...
(3)could understand the minds of other beings and persons,having encompassed them with his own mind...
(4)could recollect his manifold past abodes with their aspects and details...
(5)could,with the divine eye,which is purified and surpasses the human,see beings passing away and being reborn...and could understand how beings fare in accordance with their kamma...
(6)with the destruction of the taints,could realize for himself with direct
knowledge,in this very life,the taintless liberation of mind,liberation by wisdom,and having entered upon it,could dwellin it."
71(7)Capable of Realizing
"Bhikkhus,possessing six qualities,a bhikkhu is incapable of realizing a particular state,
Tatra tatra.Lit.,"there [and]there."Mp:"This or that state of distinction"(tasmim tasmim visese).Mp simply glosses ayatane with kārane("cause"),but see p.1669,note 562.On the first four of the six factors,see 4:179. [though]there is a suitable basis.What six?
427Here,a bhikkhu does not understand as it really is:These are qualities that pertain to deterioration,'and:
(2)"These are qualities that pertain to stabilization'and:(3)'These are qualities that pertain to distinction,'and:(4)"These are qualities that pertain to penetration.'(5)He does not practice carefully,and(6)he does not do what is suitable.
Possessing these six qualities,a bhikkhu is incapable of realizinga particular state,[though]there is a suitable basis.
"Bhikkhus,possessing six qualities,a bhikkhu is capable of realizing a particular state,there being a suitable basis.
What
six?
(1)Here,a bhikkhu understands as it really is:"These are
qualities that pertain to deterioration,'and:(2)'These are qualities that pertain to stabilization,'and:(3)'These are qualities that pertain to distinction,'and:(4)'These are qualities that pertain to penetration.'(5)He practices carefully,and(6)he does what is suitable.
Possessing these six qualities,a bhikkhuis capable of realizing a particular state,there being a suitable basis."
72(8)Strength
"Bhikkhus,possessing six qualities a bhikkhu is incapable of attaining strength in concentration.
What six?
(1)Here,a bhikkhu is not skilled in the attainment of concentration;(2)he is not skilled in the duration of concentration;(3)he is not skilled in emergence from concentration;(4)he does not practice carefully;(5)he does not practice persistently;and (6)he does not do what is suitable.
Possessing these six qualities,a bhikkhu is incapable of attaining strength in concentration.
"Bhikkhus,possessing six qualities a bhikkhu is capable of attaining strength in concentration.
What six?
428Here,a bhikkhu is skilled in the attainment of concentration;(2)he is skilled in the duration of concentration;(3)he is skilled in emergence from concentration;(4)he practices carefully;(5)he practices persistently;and(6)he does what is suitable.
Possessing these sixqualities,a bhikkhu is capable of attaining strength in concentration."
73(9)First Jhana(1)
"Bhikkhus,without having abandoned six things,one is incapable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.
What six?
Sensual desire,ill will,dullness and drowsiness,restlessness and remorse,doubt;
and one has not clearly seen with correct wisdom,as it really is,the danger in sensual pleasures.
Without having abandoned these six things,one is incapable of enteringa nd dwelling in the first jhāna.
"Bhikkhus,having abandoned six things,one is capable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.
What six?
Sensual desire...one has clearly seen with correct wisdom,as it really is,the danger in sensual pleasures.
Having abandoned these six things,one is capable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna."
74(10)First Jhāna(2)
"Bhikkhus,without having abandoned six things,one is incapable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.
What six?
Sensual thought,the thought of ill will,the thought of harming,sensual perception,perception of ill will,and perception of harming.Without having abandoned these six things,one is incapable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.
"Bhikkhus,having abandoned six things,one is capable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.
What six?
Sensual thought...perception of harming.[429]Having abandoned these six things,one is capable of entering and dwelling in the
first jhāna."