Aṅguttara Nikāya
4. Catukkanipāto
III. Uruvelā Vaggo
Sutta 28
Ariya-vamsa Sutta
The Traditions of the Noble Ones
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.
From That the True Dhamma Might Last a Long Time: Readings Selected by King Asoka, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
[1][pts][bodh] These four traditions of the Noble Ones
— original, long-standing, traditional,
ancient, unadulterated,
unadulterated from the beginning —
are not open to suspicion,
will never be open to suspicion,
and are unfaulted
by knowledgeable contemplatives and brahmans.
Which four?
There is the case where a monk is content with any old robe cloth at all.
He speaks in praise of being content with any old robe cloth at all.
He doesn't,
for the sake of robe cloth,
do anything unseemly or inappropriate.
Not getting cloth,
he isn't agitated.
Getting cloth,
he uses it unattached to it,
uninfatuated,
guiltless,
seeing the drawbacks (of attachment to it),
and discerning the escape from them.
He doesn't,
on account of his contentment
with any old robe cloth at all,
exalt himself or disparage others.
In this he is diligent,
deft,
alert,
and mindful.
This is said to be a monk
standing firm in the ancient,
original traditions of the Noble Ones.
■
And further,
the monk is content with any old almsfood at all.
He speaks in praise of being content with any old almsfood at all.
He doesn't,
for the sake of almsfood,
do anything unseemly or inappropriate.
Not getting almsfood,
he isn't agitated.
Getting almsfood,
he uses it unattached to it,
uninfatuated,
guiltless,
seeing the drawbacks (of attachment to it),
and discerning the escape from them.
He doesn't,
on account of his contentment with any old almsfood at all,
exalt himself or disparage others.
In this he is diligent,
deft,
alert,
and mindful.
This, monks, is said to be a monk
standing firm in the ancient,
original traditions of the Noble Ones.
■
And further, the monk is content with any old lodging at all.
He speaks in praise of being content with any old lodging at all.
He doesn't,
for the sake of lodging,
do anything unseemly or inappropriate.
Not getting lodging,
he isn't agitated.
Getting lodging,
he uses it unattached to it,
uninfatuated,
guiltless,
seeing the drawbacks (of attachment to it),
and discerning the escape from them.
He doesn't,
on account of his contentment with any old lodging at all,
exalt himself or disparage others.
In this he is diligent,
deft,
alert,
and mindful.
This, monks,
is said to be a monk
standing firm in the ancient,
original traditions of the Noble Ones.
■
And further, the monk finds pleasure and delight
in developing (skillful qualities),
finds pleasure and delight
in abandoning (unskillful qualities).
He doesn't, on account of his pleasure and delight
in developing and abandoning,
exalt himself or disparage others.
In this he is diligent,
deft,
alert,
and mindful.
This, monks,
is said to be a monk
standing firm in the ancient,
original traditions of the Noble Ones.
These are the four traditions of the Noble Ones
— original, long-standing, traditional,
ancient, unadulterated,
unadulterated from the beginning —
which are not open to suspicion,
will never be open to suspicion,
and are unfaulted
by knowledgeable contemplatives and brahmans.
And further, a monk endowed with these four traditions of the Noble Ones,
if he lives in the east,
conquers displeasure and isn't conquered by displeasure.
If he lives in the west...
the north...
the south,
he conquers displeasure
and isn't conquered by displeasure.
Why is that?
Because the enlightened one endures both delight and displeasure.
This is what the Blessed One said.
Having said this, he said further:
Displeasure doesn't conquer the enlightened one.
Displeasure doesn't suppress the enlightened one.
The enlightened one conquers displeasure
because the enlightened one endures it.
Having cast away all deeds:
who could obstruct him?
Like an ornament of finest gold:
Who is fit to find fault with him?
Even the Devas praise him,
even by Brahma is he praised.
See also: AN 2:5;
AN 5:80;
AN 8.30;
AN 10:17;
AN 10.71
SN 16:5;
Khp 5;
Ud 2:10;
Thag 18
