Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.239

The Related Suttas Collection 35.239

19. Āsīvisavagga

19. The Simile of the Vipers

Rathopamasutta

The Simile of the Chariot

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu diṭṭheva dhamme sukhasomanassabahulo viharati, yoni cassa āraddhā hoti āsavānaṁ khayāya. Katamehi tīhi?

“Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu has three qualities they’re full of joy and happiness in the present life, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements. What three?

Indriyesu guttadvāro hoti, bhojane mattaññū, jāgariyaṁ anuyutto.

They guard the sense doors, eat in moderation, and are committed to wakefulness.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti?

And how does a bhikkhu guard the sense doors?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā na nimittaggāhī hoti, nānubyañjanaggāhī; yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ. Tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati cakkhundriyaṁ; cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.

When a bhikkhu sees a sight with their eyes, they don’t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving its restraint.

Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …

When they hear a sound with their ears …

ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …

When they smell an odor with their nose …

jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …

When they taste a flavor with their tongue …

kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …

When they feel a touch with their body …

manasā dhammaṁ viññāya na nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī; yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjati; rakkhati manindriyaṁ; manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjati.

When they know a thought with their mind, they don’t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of mind were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving its restraint.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, subhūmiyaṁ cātumahāpathe ājaññaratho yutto assa ṭhito odhastapatodo. Tamenaṁ dakkho yoggācariyo assadammasārathi abhiruhitvā vāmena hatthena rasmiyo gahetvā, dakkhiṇena hatthena patodaṁ gahetvā, yenicchakaṁ yadicchakaṁ sāreyyapi paccāsāreyyapi.

Suppose a chariot stood harnessed to thoroughbreds at a level crossroads, with a goad ready. Then a deft horse trainer, a master charioteer, might mount the chariot, taking the reins in his right hand and goad in the left. He’d drive out and back wherever he wishes, whenever he wishes.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imesaṁ channaṁ indriyānaṁ ārakkhāya sikkhati, saṁyamāya sikkhati, damāya sikkhati, upasamāya sikkhati.

In the same way, a bhikkhu trains to protect, control, tame, and pacify these six senses.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu indriyesu guttadvāro hoti.

That’s how a bhikkhu guards the sense doors.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti?

And how does a bhikkhu eat in moderation?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṁ āhāreti: ‘neva davāya, na madāya, na maṇḍanāya, na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā, yāpanāya, vihiṁsūparatiyā, brahmacariyānuggahāya, iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati, anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.

It’s when a bhikkhu reflects rationally on the food that they eat: ‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will live blamelessly and at ease.’

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso vaṇaṁ ālimpeyya yāvadeva rohanatthāya, seyyathā vā pana akkhaṁ abbhañjeyya yāvadeva bhārassa nittharaṇatthāya;

It’s like a person who puts ointment on a wound only so that it can heal; or who oils an axle only so that it can carry a load.

evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṁ āhāreti: ‘neva davāya, na madāya, na maṇḍanāya, na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā, yāpanāya, vihiṁsūparatiyā, brahmacariyānuggahāya, iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi, navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati, anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.

In the same way, a bhikkhu reflects rationally on the food that they eat: ‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will live blamelessly and at ease.’

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhojane mattaññū hoti.

That’s how a bhikkhu eats in moderation.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti?

And how is a bhikkhu committed to wakefulness?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu divasaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti. Rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti. Rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti pāde pādaṁ accādhāya sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā. Rattiyā pacchimaṁ yāmaṁ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti.

It’s when a bhikkhu practices walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying their mind from obstacles. In the evening, they continue to practice walking and sitting meditation. In the middle of the night, they lie down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up. In the last part of the night, they get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying their mind from obstacles.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.

This is how a bhikkhu is committed to wakefulness.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu diṭṭheva dhamme sukhasomanassabahulo viharati, yoni cassa āraddhā hoti āsavānaṁ khayāyā”ti.

When a bhikkhu has these three qualities they’re full of joy and happiness in the present life, and they have laid the groundwork for ending the defilements.”

Dutiyaṁ.