Sabba~sava Suthraya

Thus, I have heard.

The Blessed One once resided in the Jethawana~ra~maya in Sawath city, built and offered by the merchant Ana~tha Pindika.
One day, the Blessed One addressed the monks as “Monks”.
Those monks also replied, ‘Yes, Your Honour’.

The Blessed One said,

“I will preach instructions to subdue all defilements to you. Pay attention to it carefully. Reflect carefully about what is being said”.
‘Yes, Your Honour’, said the monks to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One declared:

“Monks, I am preaching to those who understand, to those who realise how to get rid of defilements, but not to those who do not understand or realise.

Monks, how would this sermon I am giving about eliminating defilements be understood?
How would it be realised?

Understanding comes from wise pondering, while not understanding comes from not pondering wisely.

Monks, who do not contemplate wisely cause unborn defilements to occur in them, and the defilements that have occurred sprout and grow.
Defilement will not occur in those who contemplate wisely. Defilements that were already born are eliminated as well.

Monks, there are defilements that must be eliminated by correctly realising their own true nature, known as attaining the fruit of ‘Sowan’.
There are defilements that must be eliminated by disciplining,
There are defilements that must be eliminated by utilising the four basic necessities with understanding,
There are defilements that must be eliminated by being patient,
There are defilements that must be eliminated by staying away from certain things,
There are defilements that must be eliminated by understanding the ramifications.
There are defilements that must be eliminated by contemplating again and again”.

“Monks, what are defilements that must be eliminated by correctly realising their own true nature known as attaining the fruit of ‘Sowan’?

Monks, the ignorant one, has no idea what is right and wrong because he does not hear or see the true nature of many things.

He lacks the ability to comprehend higher Dhamma.

He has no idea how to act in higher Dhamma.

He has no idea who is a good person.

He lacks the ability to be a good person.

He does not know how to discipline as a good person.

He does not know what should be contemplated (nongreed-nonhatred-nondelusion) and what should not be contemplated (Greed-Hatred- Delusion).

He has no idea about what to consider or what not to consider.

He thinks about things that should not be thought about. He doesn’t think about what should be thought about.

What does he contemplate that should not be contemplated?

If unborn defilements of Sensual pleasure occur in him because of the things he contemplates,
If the born defilements of Sensual pleasure grow in him,

If the unborn Craving for existence occurs in him,
If the born Craving for existence grows in him,

If the unborn Ignorant ideas occur in him,
If the born Ignorant ideas grow in him,

As such, he contemplates that should not be contemplated.

What does he not contemplate that should be contemplated?

If unborn defilements of Sensual pleasure do not occur in him because of the things he contemplates,
If the born defilements of Sensual pleasure are eliminated,

If the unborn Craving for existence does not occur in him,
If the born Craving for existence is eliminated,

If the unborn Ignorant ideas do not occur in him,
If the born Ignorant ideas are eliminated,

As such, he does not contemplate that he should be.

Unborn defilements are born, and born defilements grow in him because he contemplates things that cause ‘Greed-Hatred-Delusion’ that he should not contemplate, and he does not contemplate things that cause ‘non-greed- non-hatred- non-delusion’ that he should contemplate.

He ponders foolishly in this way–
Was I truly in the past?

Was I definitely not in the past?

Who exactly was I in the past?

How was I in the past?

If I did exist, who was I, and what had happened to me?

What is certain to happen to me in the future?

Will nothing bad happen to me in the future?

Who will I undoubtedly be in the future?

What is certain to happen to me in the future?

What will become of me in the future, and what will happen to me?
Even now, there is a sense of doubt about one’s own self,
Is there a person identified as ‘I’?
Is there no such person as ‘I’?
Who exactly am ‘I’?
How can ‘I’ be said?
Where do these beings originate?
What will become of them after death?

He thinks foolishly because he is distracted by the wrong point of view. As a result, he develops more and more erroneous views.

A firm belief develops in him that ‘I have a soul’, which he believes to be true.
A firm belief develops in him that ‘I have no soul’, which he believes to be true.
A firm belief develops in him that ‘This is my soul’, which he believes to be true.
A firm belief develops in him that ‘This is not my soul’, which he believes to be true.
A firm belief develops in him that ‘There is no soul in me’, which he believes to be true.

Then, this kind of belief occurs in him.

“This my soul, which knows that good and bad will be rewarded according to the good or bad deeds I have done, is eternal and permanent.
I am eternal, like the sun and the moon. Because of my unchanging nature”.
Monks, This is referred to as……
being wrapped by the erroneous view,
getting lost in the erroneous view,
going insane because of the erroneous view,
being shocked by the erroneous view,
being knotted and tangled together with the erroneous view,
being knotted, tangled and wrapped by the erroneous view.

Monks,
The ignorant person who does not hear or see the true nature of many things will not be liberated from ‘Birth-Becoming Sick-Death-Mourning-Lamentation-Pain-Melancholy-Exertion’.
He will not be spared from suffering.

The noble disciple who hears or sees the true nature of many things understands what is good,
is skilled in good deeds,
is properly disciplined in good deeds,
understand what it means to be a good man,
is capable of becoming a righteous man,
is disciplined as a good man.

Wisely knows what things to meditate on and what things should not be meditated on.

He is always aware of his own thoughts. If he sees that any thought causes him defilement, he stops contemplating it.
He contemplates it wisely if he sees that it does not cause him defilements.

Monks, what does he not contemplate that he should not contemplate?

Monks,

If unborn defilements of Sensual pleasure occur in him because of the things he contemplates,
If the born defilements of Sensual pleasure grow in him,

If the unborn Craving for existence occurs in him,
If the born Craving for existence grows in him,

If the unborn Ignorant ideas occur in him,
If the born Ignorant ideas grow in him,

As such, he does not contemplate that should not contemplate.

He who does not contemplate what he should not contemplate but does contemplate what he should contemplate, neither unborn defilements occur in him nor born defilements grow in him.

By wisely inquiring, ‘This is suffering’, he wisely contemplates gaining a pure understanding of suffering.

By wisely inquiring, ‘This is the cause of the suffering’, he wisely contemplates gaining a pure understanding of Craving which causes the Suffering.

By wisely inquiring, ‘This is the cessation of the suffering’, he wisely contemplates gaining a pure understanding of the Pacification, which is attained by ceasing the Suffering.

By wisely inquiring, ‘This is the path of the cessation of the suffering’, he wisely contemplates gaining a pure understanding of the Eight-Fold Path.

He who meditates wisely in this manner is freed from the first three of ten ties to the Sansara (birth and death cycle).
Those three ties are the

Sakka~ya dittihya–
The misconception of identifying one’s own body as ‘I or Mine’,
Si~labbathapara~ma~sa–
Practising virtues without disciplining own body, word and mind by understanding the reality.
Vichikichcha~–
Having a doubt about what Buddha emphasised, how the Buddha’s teachings differ from other teachings, or whether he can follow the Buddha’s teaching, and if so, how.

Monks, these are the defilements that must be eliminated by accomplishing the Fruit of ‘Sowan’ or obtaining the right understanding”.

“Monks, what are the defilements that must be eliminated by discipline?

Monks, this bhikkhu dwells on disciplining the sense of the eye, contemplating with great wisdom.
Monks, if a person dwells without disciplining the sense of the eye, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If one dwells by disciplining the sense of the eye, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, this bhikkhu dwells on disciplining the sense of the ear, contemplating with great wisdom.
Monks, if a person dwells without disciplining the sense of the ear, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If One dwells by disciplining the sense of the ear, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, this bhikkhu dwells on disciplining the sense of the nose, contemplating with great wisdom.
Monks, if a person dwells without disciplining the sense of the nose, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If One dwells by disciplining the sense of the nose, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, this bhikkhu dwells on disciplining the sense of tongue, contemplating with great wisdom.
Monks, if a person dwells without disciplining the sense of tongue, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If One dwells by disciplining the sense of the tongue, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, this bhikkhu dwells on disciplining the sense of the body, contemplating with great wisdom.
Monks, if a person dwells without disciplining the sense of the body, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If One dwells by disciplining the sense of the body, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, this bhikkhu dwells on disciplining the sense of the mind, contemplating with great wisdom.
Monks, if a person dwells without disciplining the sense of the mind, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If One dwells by disciplining the sense of the mind, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, if one does not practise self-discipline, anguish-distress arise in his mind.
If he lives by disciplining his senses, anguish and distress do not enter his mind.
Monks, these are the defilements that must be eliminated by discipline.

Monks, what are the defilements that must be eliminated by utilising with understanding?

This monk thinks wisely while wearing the robe: “I wear this robe to alleviate the suffering caused by cold, to alleviate the suffering caused by heat, to protect myself from mosquitoes, wind, sun rays, and beings associated with the ground, and to cover the body parts that should be concealed.
Otherwise, it is not for to exaggerate my beauty or image”.

While eating, he wisely considers, “I do not eat these foods to increase the strength of this body, to intoxicate the body, to adorn the body, or to enhance the body’s beauty.
I eat this food to help me survive in my body, nourish my body, avoid hunger and fatigue, and complete the path to Nirwana”.

“Also, I eat this food in order to annihilate the pride that arose from past sensations of Pleasure, Pain, and Neutral, to prevent arising new sensations, and to maintain my life on the right path and live in a good way”.

He thinks wisely when occupying shelters, “I occupy this shelter to alleviate the distress caused by the cold-heat, to protect myself from mosquitoes-flies-wind-sun ray-the beings associated with the ground”.
I’m occupying this shelter to live in meditation and relaxation, relieving the discomfort caused by the cold, heat, and so on”.

When he takes medicine, he thinks wisely, “I need these medicines to alleviate the agony that is caused by certain illnesses and to get rid of the discomfort until I accomplish Nirwana”.

Monks, if a person utilises the four basic necessities without understanding, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If one utilises the four basic necessities with understanding, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, these are the defilements that must be eliminated by utilising with understanding”.

“Monks, what are the defilements that must be eliminated by being patient?

This monk tolerates cold-heat-hunger-thirst by wisely reflecting.
He tolerates Flies-Mosquitoes-Wind-Sun-beings associated with the ground, inappropriate, ill-spoken evil words, severe pain arising in the body, bad, harsh-bitter-unpleasant-dislikes experiences he has to face as a result of his birth race or race,

Monks, if a person is not patient, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.
If one is patient, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, these are the defilements that must be eliminated by being patient”.

“Monks, what are the defilements that must be eliminated by staying away from certain things?

By exercising caution, this monk avoids certain things, such as violent elephants, violent horses, violent bulls, and cruel dogs.

Places where snakes congregate, such as thorny bushes, waterholes, steep cliffs, places where dirty water accumulates, garbage dumps, and so on.

The wise man who understands the true nature of people and places avoids unsuitable places for celibate virtue, avoids behaving in unsuitable places, and avoids sinful companions. Thinks wisely and avoids such seats, places, and sinful companions.

Monks, if a person does not stay away from the particular things, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.

If one stays away from particular things, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, these are the defilements that must be eliminated by staying away from certain things”.

“Monks, what are defilements that must be eliminated by understanding the ramifications?

This monk protects himself by being conscious and wisely reflecting.
He does not tolerate lustful thoughts. Instead, he avoids them.
He Strives to eliminate them if he has them in him.
He ensures that such lustful thoughts are never instilled in him again.

This monk protects himself by being conscious and wisely reflecting.
He does not tolerate evil-hateful thoughts. Instead, he avoids them.
He Strives to eliminate them if he has them in him.
He ensures that such evil-hateful thoughts are never instilled in him again.

This monk protects himself by being conscious and wisely reflecting.
He does not tolerate harmful thoughts. Instead, he avoids them.
He Strives to eliminate them if he has them in him.
He ensures that such harmful thoughts are never instilled in him again.

Monks, if a person is not conscious of understanding the ramifications, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.

If a person is being conscious of understanding the ramifications, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, these are the defilements that must be eliminated by understanding the ramifications”.

“Monks, what are the defilements that must be eliminated by contemplating again and again?

The monk who focuses on perfecting the qualifications for attaining the ultimate fruit, ‘Nirwana’, wisely inquires whether he is in the state of being conscious, which is an essential requirement for accomplishment.
He dwells by being conscious,
He dwells in a tranquil state by relaxing the body and mind,
He disciplines the senses of eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind by being free of lust,
He pacifies by eliminating ‘Craving-Obstinacy-Arrogance’ that was created as ‘I-Mine-My Soul’.

The monk who focuses on perfecting the qualifications for attaining the ultimate fruit, ‘Nirwana’, wisely inquires whether he wisely investigates the objects that come into contact with his senses, which is an essential requirement for accomplishment.
He dwells by being conscious,
He dwells in a tranquil state by relaxing the body and mind,
He disciplines the senses of eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind by being free of lust,
He pacifies by eliminating ‘Craving-Obstinacy-Arrogance’ that was created as ‘I-Mine-My Soul’.

The monk who focuses on perfecting the qualifications for attaining the ultimate fruit, ‘Nirwana’, wisely inquires whether he has the diligence in him, which is an essential requirement for accomplishment.
He dwells by being conscious,
He dwells in a tranquil state by relaxing the body and mind,
He disciplines the senses of eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind by being free of lust,
He pacifies by eliminating ‘Craving-Obstinacy-Arrogance’ that was created as ‘I-Mine-My Soul’.

The monk who focuses on perfecting the qualifications for attaining the ultimate fruit, ‘Nirwana’, wisely inquires whether he experiences bliss- tranquil, which is an essential requirement for accomplishment.
He dwells by being conscious,
He dwells in a tranquil state by relaxing the body and mind,
He disciplines the senses of eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind by being free of lust,
He pacifies by eliminating ‘Craving-Obstinacy-Arrogance’ that was created as ‘I-Mine-My Soul’.

The monk who focuses on perfecting the qualifications for attaining the ultimate fruit, ‘Nirwana’, wisely inquires whether he has relinquishment- pacification in him, which is an essential requirement for accomplishment.
He dwells by being conscious,
He dwells in a tranquil state by relaxing the body and mind,
He disciplines the senses of eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind by being free of lust,
He pacifies by eliminating ‘Craving-ObstinacyArrogance’ that was created as ‘I-Mine-My Soul’.

The monk who focuses on perfecting the qualifications for attaining the ultimate fruit, ‘Nirwana’, wisely inquires whether he possesses stillness- concentration, which is an essential requirement for accomplishment that he obtains after achieving meditative planes.
He dwells by being conscious,
He dwells in a tranquil state by relaxing the body and mind,
He disciplines the senses of eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind by being free of lust,
He pacifies by eliminating ‘Craving-Obstinacy-Arrogance’ that was created as ‘I-Mine-My Soul’.

The monk who focuses on perfecting the qualifications for attaining the ultimate fruit, ‘Nirwana’, wisely inquires whether there is ‘Neutrality’ within oneself that is not clinging to the past or present, comfort or affliction, or happiness or sorrow or anything. ‘Neutrality’ is an essential requirement for accomplishment.
He dwells by being conscious,
He dwells in a tranquil state by relaxing the body and mind,
He disciplines the senses of eye-ear-nose-tongue-body-mind by being free of lust,
He pacifies by eliminating ‘Craving-Obstinacy-Arrogance’ that was created as ‘I-Mine-My Soul’.

Monks, if a person does not contemplate consciously and wisely, again and again, anguish-distress occurs in his mind.

If a contemplates consciously and wisely, again and again, such anguish-distress does not occur in his mind.

Monks, these are the defilements that must be eliminated by contemplating again and again”.

Monks, if there are any defilements that need to be eliminated by attaining the fruit of ‘Sowan’ or by understanding the true nature of the body by letting go of the wrong view of one’s own body that was grasping as ‘I’, those defilements are eliminated by only achieving the fruit of Sowan.

If there are any defilements that need to be eliminated by discipline, those defilements are eliminated by only disciplining oneself.
If there are any defilements that need to be eliminated through utilising with understanding, those defilements are eliminated only through utilising with understanding.

If there are any defilements that need to be eliminated by being patient, those defilements are eliminated by only being patient.

If there are any defilements that need to be eliminated by staying away from certain things, those defilements are eliminated by only staying away from certain things.

If there are any defilements that need to be eliminated by understanding the ramifications, those defilements are eliminated by only understanding the ramifications.

If there are any defilements that need to be eliminated by contemplating again and again, those defilements are eliminated by only contemplating again and again.

Monks, it is said, “A monk dwells by pacifying all defilements and disciplining his senses”.
He ruptures the ‘Craving’. The bonds are broken. Through his well-attained understanding, he liberates himself from all sufferings.

The Blessed One preached that.
The happy monks joyfully accepted the Blessed One’s sermon.

In order to eliminate the defilements of the wrong view, one needs to get the correct understanding of his body, which is grasped as ‘I- Mine- My soul’. To get that correct understanding, he or she should wisely investigate his or her own body and contemplate its true nature of ‘Anichcha- Dukkha- Anaththa’. The defilements of the mythic standpoint are eliminated by only getting the correct understanding of the true nature of the body as ‘Not I- Not mine- Not my soul’.   In order to eliminate the defilements of grasping sensual pleasure through the five senses, one needs to get the correct understanding of his senses as well as the external image-sound-smell-taste-touch. To get that correct understanding, he should wisely investigate his senses and the external factors and contemplate their true nature of ‘Anichcha- Dukkha- Anaththa’. The defilements of sensual pleasure are eliminated only by disciplining his senses with a correct understanding of the true nature of his senses and the true nature of the external factors.   In order to live a simple life, it is necessary to rid oneself of the defilements known as discontentment–distress over the four basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter, and medicine. The defilements of dissatisfaction-discomfort are eliminated only by using the four basic necessities with great wisdom and carefully considering the temporary pleasure and perpetual misery they cause.   In order to achieve physical and mental relaxation, it is necessary to eliminate the defilements of dissatisfaction-fear-regret-melancholy-anger. The defilements of dissatisfaction, fear, regret, melancholy, and anger are eliminated only by being patient and wisely understanding the true nature of oneself and others. If such dissatisfaction-fear-regret-melancholy-anger defilements cannot be eliminated by being patient, or if the factor that caused them cannot be controlled, one must avoid those factors. Therefore, such defilements as dissatisfaction, fear, regret, melancholy, and danger can only be eliminated by avoiding those environments or beings.   In order to cultivate perfect merit in oneself, one must eliminate the defilements of lustful, hateful, and harmful thoughts. To eliminate the defilements of lustful, hateful, and harmful thoughts, one must be conscious and strive to get rid of those thoughts by wisely looking at the thoughts that come to one’s mind and identifying them as evils.   In order to attain the great fruit of Rahath, the defilements known as ‘Craving- Obstinacy-Arrogance’ must be eliminated. One must cultivate competencies of seven aspects to follow the Eightfold path to attain ‘Nirwana’ by getting rid of the defilements called ‘Craving- Obstinacy-Arrogance’.   1. Maintaining awareness by being conscious and wise. 2. Understanding the true nature of external factors that come into contact with one’s own senses by reflecting on the temporary pleasure and perpetual misery they cause. 3. Keeping up the effort 4. Experiencing bliss or tranquillity 5. Releasing the attachment of ‘I- Mine- My Soul’ 6. Establishing mental concentration 7. Liberating oneself from both extremes of comfort and affliction

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