English
(16) 6. The Chapter on the Naked Ascetic 157-163. “Monks, there are these three paths. Which three? The entangled path, the scorched path, the middle path. And what, monks, is the entangled path? Here, monks, a certain one holds such a view, speaks thus: ‘There is no fault in sensual pleasures.’ He indulges in sensual pleasures. This, monks, is called the entangled path. “And what, monks, is the scorched path? Here, monks, a certain one is naked, of loose conduct, licking his hands, not accepting ‘Come, good sir,’ not accepting ‘Stay, good sir,’ not accepting what is brought, not accepting what is prepared for a specific purpose, not accepting an invitation. He does not accept from the mouth of a pot, he does not accept from the mouth of a bowl, not between two sheep, not between a stick and a sheep, not between two clubs, not from two people eating, not from a pregnant woman, not from a nursing woman, not from a woman with a man between, not from a collection of food, not where a dog is standing, not where flies are swarming, not fish, not meat, not liquor, not strong drink, he does not drink rice gruel. He eats at one house, taking one mouthful; or at two houses, taking two mouthfuls… or at seven houses, taking seven mouthfuls; he sustains himself with one donation, he sustains himself with two donations… he sustains himself with seven donations; he eats once every day, he eats once every two days… he eats once every seven days – thus he lives devoted to such a practice of eating at fixed intervals, even for half a month. He eats vegetables, he eats millet, he eats wild rice, he eats scraps, he eats moss, he eats rice bran, he eats rice scum, he eats oil cakes, he eats grass, he eats cow dung, he sustains himself on roots and fruits from the forest, eating fallen fruits. He wears coarse hempen clothes, he wears coarse woven clothes, he wears clothes from corpses He wears rags from a dust heap, he wears bark garments, he wears antelope hide, he wears a strip of antelope hide, he wears a garment of kusa grass, he wears a garment of bark, he wears a garment of wood-shavings, he wears a hair-blanket, he wears a horse-hair blanket, he wears an owl's wing garment, he is one who plucks out hair and beard, devoted to the practice of plucking out hair and beard, he is one who stands erect, rejecting a seat, he is one who squats, devoted to the practice of squatting, he is one who lies on a bed of thorns, making his bed on thorns, he dwells devoted to the practice of descending into water three times a day, in the evening, Thus, he dwells devoted to the practice of tormenting and afflicting the body in various ways. This, monks, is called the path of self-mortification. And what, monks, is the middle path? Here, monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure concerning the world; in feelings... in mind... in phenomena, he dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure concerning the world. This, monks, is called the middle path. These, monks, are the three paths. These, monks, are three paths. Which three? The path of indulgence, the path of self-mortification, the middle path. And what, monks, is the path of indulgence? ... This, monks, is called the path of indulgence. And what, monks, is the path of self-mortification? ... This, monks, is called the path of self-mortification. And what, monks, is the middle path? Here, monks, a monk generates desire for the non-arising of unarisen evil unwholesome states, he strives, he arouses energy, he exerts his mind, he contends; he generates desire for the abandonment of arisen evil unwholesome states, he strives, he arouses energy, he exerts his mind, he contends; he generates desire for the arising of unarisen wholesome states, he strives. He arouses energy, he grasps the mind, he strives; for the persistence, for the non-confusion, for the increase, for the abundance, for the development, for the fulfillment of wholesome states that have arisen, he generates desire, he endeavors, he arouses energy, he grasps the mind, he strives…. He develops the basis for spiritual power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations of exertion. Concentration due to energy… Concentration due to mind… He develops the basis for spiritual power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of exertion…. He develops the faculty of faith… he develops the faculty of energy… he develops the faculty of mindfulness… he develops the faculty of concentration… he develops the faculty of wisdom…. He develops the power of faith… he develops the power of energy… he develops the power of mindfulness… he develops the power of concentration… he develops the power of wisdom…. He develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness… he develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of states… he develops the enlightenment factor of energy… he develops the enlightenment factor of rapture… he develops the enlightenment factor of tranquility… he develops the enlightenment factor of concentration… he develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity…. He develops right view… he develops right intention… he develops right speech… he develops right action… he develops right livelihood… he develops right effort… he develops right mindfulness… he develops right concentration…. This, monks, is called the Middle Way. These, monks, are the three ways. The Chapter on the Naked Ascetics, the Sixth. Its Summary – Foundations of Mindfulness, Right Exertions, and with the Bases of Spiritual Power and Faculties; Powers, Enlightenment Factors, and the Path, are joined to the ways.