AN 4.1 - AN 4.20 completed 🔊 English (AN 4.15- 4.20 are new)

 

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AN 4.14 English, fluent (no peyyāla), 15min

🔊 audio reading, 15min

People frequently ask, what is meditation, and what do you do exactly? This sutta describes it succinctly, from the point of view of right effort. Whether beginner, working on first jhana, or non returner working on arahantship, they're following instructions from this sutta, all the time.

What do you think of this English translation, and how it works in audio?

(in contrast with a more literal pali + english translation I did earlier here: AN 4.14 saṃvara (no peyyāla)

What I've come to realize about the oral tradition, and the suttas as recorded, is that the suttas are often terse, formulaic, optimized for memorizing and protecting fidelity of data, not for fluency and ease of comprehension for the listening audience. 

So what I'm doing with this new style translation here, is taking the liberty of connecting the dots and inserting instructions from related suttas to make this sutta more self contained and comprehensible. 

What do you think? 

Whatever is in square brackets [], are not part of the sutta translation.

Reading text, it's clear what's not part of the pali original. But in audio recordings, there's no easy way to indicate that I've added some comments not part of the original pali sutta.

Forum discussion

https://www.reddit.com/r/EarlyBuddhistTexts/comments/mekryy/original_translation_an_414_english_fluent_no/

AN 4.14 English, fluent (no peyyāla)

(trans. frankk‍)There are four types of exertion.[They are the same as the four aspects of right effort in the noble eightfold path. 👑8☸]What are the four exertions?[1] The exertion of restraint.[2] The exertion of abandoning.[3] The exertion of development.[4] The exertion of protection.

[[1] The exertion of restraint.]

And what is the exertion of restraint?[It is when a monk restrains the six sense faculties.][1.1 The eye-faculty]When the eye sees form,he does not grab on to its (nimitta) sign,he does not grab on to its features.Because if he did not restrain the eye-faculty,avarice, distress, and evil unskillful Dharmas would invade his mind.[Avarice and distress is a reference to the five hindrances. 5niv⛅]Therefore the monk practices restraint.He protects the eye-faculty.He undertakes the restraint of the eye-faculty.[1.2 The ear-faculty]When the ear hears sounds,he does not grab on to its (nimitta) sign,he does not grab on to its features.Because if he did not restrain the ear-faculty,avarice, distress, and evil unskillful Dharmas would invade his mind.[Avarice and distress is a reference to the five hindrances. 5niv⛅]Therefore the monk practices restraint.He protects the ear-faculty.He undertakes the restraint of the ear-faculty.[1.3 The nose-faculty]When the nose smells odors,he does not grab on to its (nimitta) sign,he does not grab on to its features.Because if he did not restrain the nose-faculty,avarice, distress, and evil unskillful Dharmas would invade his mind.[Avarice and distress is a reference to the five hindrances. 5niv⛅]Therefore the monk practices restraint.He protects the nose-faculty.He undertakes the restraint of the nose-faculty.[1.4 The tongue-faculty]When the tongue tastes flavors,he does not grab on to its (nimitta) sign,he does not grab on to its features.Because if he did not restrain the tongue-faculty,avarice, distress, and evil unskillful Dharmas would invade his mind.[Avarice and distress is a reference to the five hindrances. 5niv⛅]Therefore the monk practices restraint.He protects the tongue-faculty.He undertakes the restraint of the tongue-faculty.[1.5 The body-faculty]When the body senses tactile-sensations,he does not grab on to its (nimitta) sign,he does not grab on to its features.Because if he did not restrain the body-faculty,avarice, distress, and evil unskillful Dharmas would invade his mind.[Avarice and distress is a reference to the five hindrances. 5niv⛅]Therefore the monk practices restraint.He protects the body-faculty.He undertakes the restraint of the body-faculty.[1.6 The mind-faculty]When the mind cognizes dharma [mind-objects],he does not grab on to its (nimitta) sign,he does not grab on to its features.Because if he did not restrain the mind-faculty,avarice, distress, and evil unskillful Dharmas would invade his mind.[Avarice and distress is a reference to the five hindrances. 5niv⛅]Therefore the monk practices restraint.He protects the mind-faculty.He undertakes the restraint of the mind-faculty.[The restraint of the six sense faculties]is called the exertion of restraint.

[[2] The exertion of abandoning.]

And what is the exertion of abandoning?[It is the abandoning of four types of wrong thought: three types of wrong thought that are opposite of the three right resolves 2💭, and a fourth category of wrong thought that covers any other type of wrong thought not covered by the first three.][2.1 thoughts of sensuality kāma 💘💃‍]At the very moment a monk notices a thought of sensuality arising,he does not tolerate it.He removes it.He destroys it.He annihilates that thought of sensuality.[2.2 thoughts of ill-will]At the very moment a monk notices a thought of ill-will arising,he does not tolerate it.He removes it.He destroys it.He annihilates that thought of ill-will.[2.3 thoughts of harming]At the very moment a monk notices a thought of harming arising,he does not tolerate it.He removes it.He destroys it.He annihilates that thought of harming.[2.4 thoughts of evil un-skillful Dharmas]At the very moment a monk notices a thought of evil un-skillful Dharmas arising,he does not tolerate it.He removes it.He destroys it.He annihilates that thought of evil un-skillful Dharma.[The abandoning of the 4 categories of wrong thought]is called the exertion of abandoning.

[[3] The exertion of development.]

And what is the exertion of development?[It is when a monk develops the seven awakening factors. 7sb☀️][3.1 Remembering of ☸Dharma awakening factor]A monk develops the Remembering [of ☸Dharma] awakening factor.That factor is dependent on seclusion,dependent on dispassion,dependent on cessation,and it matures into relinquishment [, which is a synonym for nirvana].[3.2 ☸Dharma-investigation awakening factor]A monk develops the ☸Dharma-investigation awakening factor.That factor is dependent on seclusion,dependent on dispassion,dependent on cessation,and it matures into relinquishment [, which is a synonym for nirvana].[3.3 Vigor awakening factor]A monk develops the vigor awakening factor.That factor is dependent on seclusion,dependent on dispassion,dependent on cessation,and it matures into relinquishment [, which is a synonym for nirvana].[3.4 Rapture awakening factor]A monk develops the rapture awakening factor.That factor is dependent on seclusion,dependent on dispassion,dependent on cessation,and it matures into relinquishment [, which is a synonym for nirvana].[3.5 Pacification awakening factor]A monk develops the pacification awakening factor.That factor is dependent on seclusion,dependent on dispassion,dependent on cessation,and it matures into relinquishment [, which is a synonym for nirvana].[3.6 Undistractible-lucidity awakening factor]A monk develops the Undistractible-lucidity awakening factor.That factor is dependent on seclusion,dependent on dispassion,dependent on cessation,and it matures into relinquishment [, which is a synonym for nirvana].[3.7 Equanimous-observation awakening factor]A monk develops the Equanimous-observation awakening factor.That factor is dependent on seclusion,dependent on dispassion,dependent on cessation,and it matures into relinquishment [, which is a synonym for nirvana].[The development of these seven awakening factors]is called the exertion of development.

[[4] The exertion of continuous, repeated protection.]

And what is the exertion of protection?[There are 5 types of excellent (nimitta) signs used in undistractible-lucidity that should be continuously, repeatedly, protected and guarded carefully when they arise.][For a skilled meditator, the nimitta images are visual images that appear in the mind's eye of the meditator, whether their eyes are closed or open. It appears as clearly and vividly as if a normal person using their open eyes were looking at a corpse in a graveyard. ][For a less skilled meditator, it is ok to use a nimitta image of a mentally created visualization, or just a concept or idea for that nimitta.]If a monk has an excellent nimitta of samādhi arise, an excellent sign seen while in undistractible-lucidity, he must continuously and repeatedly protect that nimitta [and the high quality of his undistractible-lucidity].[These are the five types of excellent nimitta images that may arise.][4.1] The perception of a skeleton.[4.2] The perception of a worm infested corpse.[4.3] The perception of a blackish purplish discolored corpse.[4.4] The perception of a fissured corpse, full of holes.[4.5] The perception of a swollen, bloated corpse.[The repeated, continuous protection and maintenance of these five excellent samādhi nimittas]is called the exertion of protection.[That concludes the explanation]of these four exertions.

(verse)

[Here is a verse that summarizes the discourse, and also serves as a gloss for the important word 'ardency' (ātāpī), which is part of the Satipaṭṭhāna🐘 (4sp🐘) formula]:restraint and abandoning,development (and) protection.these {four} exertions(were) taught by- -the kinsman of the sun.that monk here, ardent,he arrives at (the) destruction (of) suffering.



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AN 4.6 - AN 4.10 🔊 English

 

audio link-> 🔗🔊 << AN 4 audio recordings in many languages

4👑☸ Cattāri Ariya-saccaṃ 四聖諦

sutta text

Bhanḍagāma (name of town) Vagga 1

AN 4.6 2m, Appas-suta: one of little learning:
1) one learns little, doesn't use it well, 2) one learns little, but uses it very well, 3) one learns much, but doesn't use it well, 4) one learns much, uses it well.

AN 4.7 2m, Sobhenti [Sobhana]: They adorn:
4 types of people adorn sangha with good learning, practice of dhamma. 2) monks, 2) nuns, 3) laymen, 4) laywomen

AN 4.8 2m, Vesārajja: self confidence:
4 reasons tathaga is self confident. No human, deva, brahma, or anyone can challenge, criticize his 4 claims of 1) perfect enlightenment, 2) destruction of asavas, 3) obstructions to path or obstructions, 4) dhamma leading to nirvana works

AN 4.9 2m, Taṇhā [Taṇhuppāda]: craving:
4 types of craving in a monk: first 3 are standard requisites of 1) robe, 2) almsfood, 3) shelter, 4) instead of medicine, it's craving for various favorable rebirths, usually heavenly.

AN 4.10 2m, Yoga: bond:
4 bonds, and 4 breaking of bonds. 1) sensuality, 2) existence, 3) views, 4) ignorance. Doesn't know origin, passing away, gratification, danger, escape from those bonds.



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AN 4 Eng. suttas #1-5

 

audio link-> 🔗🔊 << AN 4 audio recordings in many languages

4👑☸ Cattāri Ariya-saccaṃ 四聖諦

sutta text

Bhanḍagāma (name of town) Vagga 1

AN 4.1 Anubuddha: understood: 4nt and 8aam reformulated as 1) ariya sila, 2) ariya samadhi, 3) ariya pañña, 4) ariya vimutti. Not penetrating these 4 results in infinite rebirths.
AN 4.2 Papatita: fallen: not possessing 4 factors of AN 4.1 is considered "fallen" from dhamma & vinaya/discipline.
AN 4.3 Khata 1: maimed 1: one is maimed and generates serious demerit (apuññaṃ pasavati) if one doesn't carefully investigate and scrutinize before doing 4 things: 1) speak praise of one who deserves dispraise, 2) speaking dispraise of one who deserves praise, 3) believing things that shouldn't be believed, 4) not being suspicious of things that one should be. The four opposites generate much merit. The verses claim heavy karmic consequences, even hell or heaaven
AN 4.4 Khata 2; maimed 2: right/wrong action towards 1) mom, 2) dad, 3) tathagta, 4) tathagata's disciple, leads to heaven/hell
AN 4.5 Anu-sota: with-the-stream: 1) going with the stream = chasing kāma/sensuality, 2) going aginst stream = not chasing sensuality even if its painful, 3) firm = non-returner, 4) crossed over = arahant


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SN 8 Vangīsa Thera Saṃyutta, pāli recordings complete. English set also complete.

audio link: 🔗🔊 SN 8 audio recordings in many languages



4👑☸ Cattāri Ariya-saccaṃ 四聖諦

SN 8 Vangīsa Thera Saṃyutta

12 suttas. Vangisa famous as a poet monk.

Vaṅgīsa Vagga (sutta text links)

SN 8.1 2m, Nikkhanta: renounced
Vaṅgīsa newly ordained sees several women and his mind becomes infected with lust.

SN 8.2 3m, A-rati: dis-satisfied
Vaṅgīsa infected with lust again, overcomes it with own efforts.

SN 8.3 2m, Pesalātimaññanā: good hearted
Vaṅgīsa sees conceit in himself for being great poet, arouses remorse.

SN 8.4 3m, Ānanda: (name of a chief disciple)
Ānanda Teaches Vaṅgīsa How to Destroy Lust

SN 8.5 3m, Su-bhāsita: well-spoken
Buddha teaches 4 factors that make speech well-spoken.

SN 8.6 3m, Sāriputta: (name of a chief disciple)
Vaṅgīsa praises Sāriputta through verse.

SN 8.7 5m, Pavāraṇā: invitation to admonish
Buddha, Sariputta, and 500 monks invite each other to admonish one another.

SN 8.8 4m, Paro-sahassa: over-a-thousand
Vaṅgīsa spontaneously composes poetry to praise Buddha in front of over a thousand monks.

SN 8.9 3m, Koṇḍañña: (name of elder monk)
Vaṅgīsa praises Koṇḍañña through verse.
Notable event in sutta: Koṇḍañña hadn't seen Buddha in a long time, upon greeting him kisses his feet, shows great affection. In other words just because he's an arahant he's not acting robotic and detached, they still display very genuine human emotions outwardly.

SN 8.10 2m, Moggallāna: (name of a chief disciple)
Vaṅgīsa praises Moggallāna through verse.

SN 8.11 2m, Gaggarā: (name of a place)
Vaṅgīsa spontaneously composes poetry to praise Buddha in front of large Sangha gathering with monastics, lay people, deities.

SN 8.12 2m, Vaṅgīsa: (name of monk famous for poetry)
Vaṅgīsa had recently attained arahantship, and composed verse to celebrate.



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12 min. audio of ajahn chob witnesses ajahn mun become arahant in 1935 Thailand

 If you're feeling a little low energy in your practice, this 12 minute talk is practically guaranteed to fire you up.

https://archive.org/details/ajahn-chob-witnesses-ajahn-mun-become-arahant

The text of the eyewitness account was from this article on this fine website  here 

and added to this article discussing the controversy of Ajahn Mun conversing with Buddhas

 🔗explanation of Buddhas visiting Ajahn Mun