English
And how, monks, is a monk a guardian? Here, monks, having seen a form with the eye, a monk does not grasp at its general appearance, nor at its detailed features. Because of that whereby, if the eye-faculty were unrestrained, evil unwholesome states of covetousness and distress might flow in upon him, he practices restraint for it; he guards the eye-faculty; he undertakes restraint of the eye-faculty. Having heard a sound with the ear... Having smelled a smell with the nose... Having tasted a taste with the tongue... Having felt a tactile sensation with the body... Having cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind, he does not grasp at its general appearance, nor at its detailed features. Because of that whereby, if the mind-faculty were unrestrained where dwelling, covetousness and ill-will, evil unwholesome states might assail him, for their restraint, he practices; he guards the faculty of mind; he undertakes restraint in the faculty of mind. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is guarded. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu patient? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is patient with cold, heat, hunger, thirst, the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping things; with ill-spoken, ill-approached words; he is of a nature to endure arisen bodily feelings that are painful, sharp, severe, acute, disagreeable, unpleasant, and life-threatening. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is patient. And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu gone? Here, bhikkhus, that direction never gone to before through this long journey, that is, the calming of all formations, the relinquishing of all attachments, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna, to that he is quickly gone. Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is gone. Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu endowed with these five qualities is worthy of offerings… the unsurpassed field of merit for the world. The Tenth. The Chapter on Kings, the Fourth. Its Summary – Following the Wheel, King, in which direction, and two aspirations; Sleeping little, eating food, and impatient, and with ear.