{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an10.54/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an10.54","id":"suttacentral_an10.54","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an10.54/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cMendicants, if a mendicant isn\u2019t skilled in encompassing another\u2019s mind, then they should train themselves: \u2018I will be skilled in encompassing my own mind.\u2019 And how is a mendicant skilled in encompassing their own mind? Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and they check their own reflection in a clean bright mirror or a clear bowl of water. If they see any dirt or blemish there, they\u2019d try to remove it. But if they don\u2019t see any dirt or blemish there, they\u2019re happy with that, as they\u2019ve got all they wished for: \u2018How fortunate that I\u2019m clean!\u2019 In the same way, checking is very helpful for a mendicant\u2019s skillful qualities. \u2018Do I have internal serenity of heart or not? Do I have the higher wisdom of discernment of principles or not?\u2019 Suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: \u2018I have serenity but not discernment.\u2019 Grounded on serenity, they should practice meditation to get discernment. After some time they have both serenity and discernment. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: \u2018I have discernment but not serenity.\u2019 Grounded on discernment, they should practice meditation to get serenity. After some time they have both serenity and discernment. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: \u2018I have neither serenity nor discernment.\u2019 In order to get those skillful qualities, they should apply extraordinary enthusiasm, effort, zeal, vigor, perseverance, mindfulness, and situational awareness. Suppose your clothes or head were on fire. In order to extinguish it, you\u2019d apply extraordinary enthusiasm, effort, zeal, vigor, perseverance, mindfulness, and situational awareness. In the same way, in order to get those skillful qualities, that mendicant should apply extraordinary enthusiasm \u2026 After some time they have both serenity and discernment. But suppose that, upon checking, a mendicant knows this: \u2018I have both serenity and discernment.\u2019 Grounded on those skillful qualities, they should practice meditation further to end the defilements. I say that there are two kinds of robes: those you should wear, and those you shouldn\u2019t wear. I say that there are two kinds of almsfood: that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn\u2019t eat. I say that there are two kinds of lodging: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent. I say that there are two kinds of village or town: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent. I say that there are two kinds of country: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent. I say that there are two kinds of individual: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of robes: those you should wear, and those you shouldn\u2019t wear.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a robe: \u2018When I wear this robe, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.\u2019 You should not wear that kind of robe. Whereas, should you know of a robe: \u2018When I wear this robe, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.\u2019 You should wear that kind of robe. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of robes: those you should wear, and those you shouldn\u2019t wear.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of almsfood: that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn\u2019t eat.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of almsfood: \u2018When I eat this almsfood, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.\u2019 You should not eat that kind of almsfood. Whereas, should you know of almsfood: \u2018When I eat this almsfood, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.\u2019 You should eat that kind of almsfood. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of almsfood: that which you should eat, and that which you shouldn\u2019t eat.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of lodging: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a lodging: \u2018When I frequent this lodging, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.\u2019 You should not frequent that kind of lodging. Whereas, should you know of a lodging: \u2018When I frequent this lodging, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.\u2019 You should frequent that kind of lodging. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of lodging: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of village or town: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a village or town: \u2018When I frequent this village or town, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.\u2019 You should not frequent that kind of village or town. Whereas, should you know of a village or town: \u2018When I frequent this village or town, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.\u2019 You should frequent that kind of village or town. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of village or town: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of country: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of a country: \u2018When I frequent this country, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.\u2019 You should not frequent that kind of country. Whereas, should you know of a country: \u2018When I frequent this country, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.\u2019 You should frequent that kind of country. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of country: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018I say that there are two two kinds of individual: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? Well, should you know of an individual: \u2018When I frequent this individual, unskillful qualities grow, and skillful qualities decline.\u2019 You should not frequent that kind of individual. Whereas, should you know of an individual: \u2018When I frequent this individual, unskillful qualities decline, and skillful qualities grow.\u2019 You should frequent that kind of individual. \u2018I say that there are two kinds of individual: those you should frequent, and those you shouldn\u2019t frequent.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it.\u201d","title":"Serenity","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1114}