Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
45. Magga Saɱyutta
5. Appamāda Vagga
The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
The Great Book,
Chapter I (45): Connected Discourses on the Path
Suttas 139-148
XIII.
Diligence
Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
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Sutta 139
The Tathāgata
i. Based upon Seclusion Version
[139.1][pts][olds] At Sāvatthī.
"Bhikkhus, whatever beings there are — whether those without feet or those with two feet or those with four feet or those with many feet, whether consisting of form or formless, whether percipient, nonpercipient, or neither percipient nor nonpercipient — the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is declared to be the chief among them.
So too, whatever wholesome states there are, they are all rooted in diligence, converge upon diligence, and diligence is declared to be the chief among them.
When a bhikkhu is diligent, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path.
"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu who is diligent develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path?
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view ... right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu who is diligent develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path."
(ii) Removal of Lust Version
[139.3][pts][olds] "Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view ... right concentration, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion...."
(iii) The Deathless As Its Ground Version
[139.4][pts][olds] "Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view ... right concentration, which has the Deathless as its ground, the Deathless as its destination, the Deathless as its final goal...."
(iv) Slants Towards Nibbāna Version
[139.5][pts][olds] "Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view ... right concentration, which slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna..."
(/Each of the following suttas is to be elaborated in accordance with the fourfold method above./)
Sutta 140
The Footprint
[140.1][pts][olds] "Bhikkhus, just as the footprints of all living beings that walk fit into the footprint of the elephant, and the elephant's footprint is declared to be the chief among them, that is, with respect to size, so too whatever wholesome states there are, they are all rooted in diligence, converge upon diligence, and diligence is declared to be the chief among them.
When a bhikkhu is diligent, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path...."
Sutta 141
The Roof Peak
[141.1][pts][olds] "Bhikkhus, just as all the rafters of a peaked house lean towards the roof peak, slope towards the roof peak, converge upon the roof peak, and the roof peak is declared to be their chief, so too ..."
Sutta 142
Roots
[142.1][pts][olds] "Bhikkhus, just as, of all fragrant roots, black orris is declared to be their chief, so too ..."
Sutta 143
Heartwood
[143.1][pts][olds]"Bhikkhus, just as, of all fragrant heartwoods, red sandalwood is declared to be their chief, so too ..."
Sutta 144
Jasmine
[144.1][pts][olds]"Bhikkhus, just as, of all fragrant flowers, the jasmine is declared to be their chief, so too ..."
Sutta 145
Monarch
[145.1][pts][olds]"Bhikkhus, just as all petty princes are the vassals of a wheel-turning monarch, and the wheel-turning monarch is declared to be their chief, so too ..."
Sutta 146
The Moon
[146.1][pts][olds]"Bhikkhus, just as the radiance of all the stars does not amount to a sixteenth part of the radiance of the moon, and the radiance of the moon is declared to be their chief, so too ..."
Sutta 147
The Sun
[147.1][pts][olds]"Bhikkhus, just as in the autumn, when the sky is clear and cloudless, the sun, ascending in the sky, dispels all darkness from space as it shines and beams and radiates, so too ..."
Sutta 148
The Cloth
[148.1][pts][olds] "Bhikkhus, just as, of all woven cloths, Kasian cloth is declared to be their chief, so too whatever wholesome states there are, they are all rooted in diligence, converge upon diligence, and diligence is declared to be the chief among them.
When a bhikkhu is diligent, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path.
"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu who is diligent develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path?
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view ... right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu who is diligent develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path."
