{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an5.140/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an5.140","id":"suttacentral_an5.140","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an5.140/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cMendicants, a royal bull elephant with five factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship. What five? A royal bull elephant listens, destroys, protects, endures, and goes fast. And how does a royal bull elephant listen? It\u2019s when a royal bull elephant pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens to whatever task the elephant trainer has it do, whether or not it has done it before. That\u2019s how a royal bull elephant listens. And how does a royal bull elephant destroy? It\u2019s when a royal bull elephant in battle destroys elephants with their riders, horses with their riders, chariots and charioteers, and foot soldiers. That\u2019s how a royal bull elephant destroys. And how does a royal bull elephant protect? It\u2019s when a royal bull elephant in battle protects its fore-quarters and hind-quarters, its fore-feet and hind-feet, and its head, ears, tusks, trunk, tail, and rider. That\u2019s how a royal bull elephant protects. And how does a royal bull elephant endure? It\u2019s when a royal bull elephant in battle endures being struck by spears, swords, arrows, and axes; it endures the thunder of the drums, kettledrums, horns, and cymbals. That\u2019s how a royal bull elephant endures. And how does a royal bull elephant go fast? It\u2019s when a royal bull elephant swiftly goes in whatever direction the elephant trainer sends it, whether or not it has been there before. That\u2019s how a royal bull elephant goes fast. A royal bull elephant with these five factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship. In the same way, a mendicant with five qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. What five? A mendicant listens, destroys, protects, endures, and goes fast. And how does a mendicant listen? It\u2019s when a mendicant pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens when the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One is being taught. That\u2019s how a mendicant listens. And how does a mendicant destroy? It\u2019s when a mendicant doesn\u2019t tolerate a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought. They don\u2019t tolerate any bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen, but give them up, dispel them, calm them, eliminate them, and obliterate them. That\u2019s how a mendicant destroys. And how does a mendicant protect? When a mendicant sees a sight with the eyes, they don\u2019t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving its restraint. Hearing a sound with their ears \u2026 Smelling an odor with their nose \u2026 Tasting a flavor with their tongue \u2026 Encountering a touch with their body \u2026 Knowing an idea with their mind, they don\u2019t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of mind were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving its restraint. That\u2019s how a mendicant protects. And how does a mendicant endure? It\u2019s when a mendicant endures cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; rude and unwelcome criticism; and puts up with physical pain\u2014sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening. That\u2019s how a mendicant endures. And how does a mendicant go fast? It\u2019s when a mendicant swiftly goes in the direction they\u2019ve never gone before in all this long time; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment. That\u2019s how a mendicant goes fast. A mendicant with these five qualities \u2026 is the supreme field of merit for the world.\u201d","title":"A Listener","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":664}