Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
8. Yodhājīva Vagga
Sutta 77
Paṭhama Anāgata-Bhaya Suttaṃ
Future Dangers (1)
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.
This sutta and the three following it are apparently the "future danger" suttas that King Asoka advised monks, nuns, lay men, and lay women to listen to frequently and to ponder so that the True Dhamma will last a long time.
[1][pts] Monks, these five future dangers are just enough, when considered, for a monk living in the wilderness — heedful, ardent, and resolute — to live for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
Which five?
There is the case where a monk living in the wilderness reminds himself of this:
'I am now living alone in the wilderness.
While I am living alone in the wilderness a snake might bite me, a scorpion might sting me, a centipede might bite me.
That would be how my death would come about.
That would be an obstruction for me.
So let me make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
This is the first future danger that is just enough, when considered, for a monk living in the wilderness — heedful, ardent, and resolute — to live for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
■
And further, the monk living in the wilderness reminds himself of this:
'I am now living alone in the wilderness.
While I am living alone in the wilderness, stumbling, I might fall; my food, digested, might trouble me; my bile might be provoked, my phlegm... piercing wind forces (in the body) might be provoked.
That would be how my death would come about.
That would be an obstruction for me.
So let me make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.'
This is the second future danger that is just enough, when considered, for a monk living in the wilderness — heedful, ardent, and resolute — to live for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
■
And further, the monk living in the wilderness reminds himself of this:
'I am now living alone in the wilderness.
While I am living alone in the wilderness, I might meet up with vicious beasts: a lion or a tiger or a leopard or a bear or a hyena.
They might take my life.
That would be how my death would come about.
That would be an obstruction for me.
So let me make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.'
This is the third future danger that is just enough, when considered, for a monk living in the wilderness — heedful, ardent, and resolute — to live for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
■
And further, the monk living in the wilderness reminds himself of this:
'I am now living alone in the wilderness.
While I am living alone in the wilderness, I might meet up with youths on their way to committing a crime or on their way back.
They might take my life.
That would be how my death would come about.
That would be an obstruction for me.
So let me make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.'
This is the fourth future danger that is just enough, when considered, for a monk living in the wilderness — heedful, ardent, and resolute — to live for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
■
And further, the monk living in the wilderness reminds himself of this:
'I am now living alone in the wilderness.
And in the wilderness are vicious non-human beings (spirits).
They might take my life.
That would be how my death would come about.
That would be an obstruction for me.
So let me make an effort for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.'
This is the fifth future danger that is just enough, when considered, for a monk living in the wilderness — heedful, ardent, and resolute — to live for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
These are the five future dangers that are just enough, when considered, for a monk living in the wilderness — heedful, ardent, and resolute — to live for the attaining of the as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
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