Making for the Experience of Arahantship

Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][pts] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time the Lucky Man,
Savatthi-town revisiting,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Jeta Grove.|| ||

There then, the Lucky Man addressed the beggars:

"Beggars!"

And the beggars responding "Venerable!", the Lucky Man said this:

"There are six things, beggars, which,
if not given up,
make it impossible to see Arahantship for yourself.

What six?

Thick-headedness,^[1]
sluggishness,
agitation,
anxiety,
lack of faith,
carelessness.

These are the six things, beggars, which,
if not given up,
make it impossible to see Arahantship for yourself.

There are six things, beggars, which,
if given up,
make it possible to see Arahantship for yourself.

What six?

Thick-headedness,
sluggishness,
agitation,
anxiety,
lack of faith,
carelessness.

These are the six things, beggars, which,
if given up,
make it possible to see Arahantship for yourself."

^[1] Thinaṃ. Could this be 'stubbornness'?