Sīlasutta — Reader

Ethics

Sīlasutta

“Mendicants, live by the ethical precepts and the monastic code. Live restrained in the monastic code, conducting yourselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, keep the rules you’ve undertaken. When you’ve done this, what more is there to do?

“Sampannasīlā, bhikkhave, viharatha sampannapātimokkhā, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvutā viharatha ācāragocarasampannā, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvino samādāya sikkhatha sikkhāpadesu. Sampannasīlānaṁ vo, bhikkhave, viharataṁ sampannapātimokkhānaṁ pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvutānaṁ viharataṁ ācāragocarasampannānaṁ aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvīnaṁ samādāya sikkhataṁ sikkhāpadesu, kimassa uttari karaṇīyaṁ?

Suppose a mendicant has got rid of desire and ill will while walking, and has given up dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. Their energy is roused up and unflagging, their mindfulness is established and lucid, their body is tranquil and undisturbed, and their mind is immersed and unified in samādhi. Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when walking.

Carato cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno abhijjhābyāpādo vigato hoti, thinamiddhaṁ … uddhaccakukkuccaṁ … vicikicchā pahīnā hoti, āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ, carampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁbhūto ‘ātāpī ottāpī satataṁ samitaṁ āraddhavīriyo pahitatto’ti vuccati.

Suppose a mendicant has got rid of desire and ill will while standing …

Ṭhitassa cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno abhijjhābyāpādo vigato hoti, thinamiddhaṁ … uddhaccakukkuccaṁ … vicikicchā pahīnā hoti, āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ, ṭhitopi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁbhūto ‘ātāpī ottāpī satataṁ samitaṁ āraddhavīriyo pahitatto’ti vuccati.

sitting …

Nisinnassa cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno abhijjhābyāpādo vigato hoti, thinamiddhaṁ … uddhaccakukkuccaṁ … vicikicchā pahīnā hoti, āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ, nisinnopi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁbhūto ‘ātāpī ottāpī satataṁ samitaṁ āraddhavīriyo pahitatto’ti vuccati.

or when lying down while awake, and has given up dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. Their energy is roused up and unflagging, their mindfulness is established and lucid, their body is tranquil and undisturbed, and their mind is immersed and unified in samādhi. Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when lying down while awake.

Sayānassa cepi, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno jāgarassa abhijjhābyāpādo vigato hoti, thinamiddhaṁ … uddhaccakukkuccaṁ … vicikicchā pahīnā hoti, āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ, sayānopi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgaro evaṁbhūto ‘ātāpī ottāpī satataṁ samitaṁ āraddhavīriyo pahitatto’ti vuccatīti.

Carefully walking, carefully standing, carefully sitting, carefully lying; a mendicant carefully bends their limbs, and carefully extends them.

Yataṁ care yataṁ tiṭṭhe, Yataṁ acche yataṁ saye; Yataṁ samiñjaye bhikkhu, Yatamenaṁ pasāraye.

Above, below, all round, as far as the planet extends; they scrutinize the rise and fall of phenomena such as the aggregates.

Uddhaṁ tiriyaṁ apācīnaṁ, yāvatājagatogati; Samavekkhitā ca dhammānaṁ, khandhānaṁ udayabbayaṁ.

Training in what leads to serenity of heart, always staying mindful; they call such a mendicant ‘always determined’.”

Cetosamathasāmīciṁ, sikkhamānaṁ sadā sataṁ; Satataṁ pahitattoti, āhu bhikkhuṁ tathāvidhan”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.