English
"The weak" means weak defilements, feeble, lacking strength, lacking vigor, inferior, low, deficient, base, contemptible, paltry, insignificant. Those defilements endure, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, consume, crush that person; thus, "the weak overpower him." Or, a weak person, feeble, lacking strength, lacking vigor, inferior, low, base, contemptible, paltry, insignificant, who has no strength of faith, strength of energy, strength of mindfulness, strength of concentration... The power of wisdom, the power of shame, the power of dread. Those defilements endure that person, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, consume, crush him – thus, the weak become strong over him. Dangers crush him. Two dangers – manifest dangers and hidden dangers. What are manifest dangers? Lions, tigers, leopards, bears, hyenas, wolves, buffaloes, elephants, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, or robbers, or humans, whether they have committed deeds or not committed deeds, eye disease, ear disease, nose disease, tongue disease, body disease, head disease, ear disease, mouth disease, tooth disease, cough, asthma, catarrh, fever, old age, stomach disease, fainting, dysentery, colic, cholera, leprosy, boils, skin discoloration, consumption, epilepsy, ringworm, itching, scabies, eczema, rashes, blood-bile, diabetes, hemorrhoids, carbuncles, fistulas, diseases arising from bile, diseases arising from phlegm, diseases arising from wind, diseases arising from a combination, diseases arising from seasonal changes, diseases arising from improper care, diseases caused by external agents, diseases caused by kamma-result, cold, heat, hunger, thirst, defecation, urination, the touch of gnats, mosquitoes, wind, sun, creeping things – these are called manifest dangers. What are hidden dangers? Misconduct of body, misconduct of speech, misconduct of mind, the hindrance of sensual desire, the hindrance of ill-will, the hindrance of sloth and torpor, the hindrance of restlessness and remorse, the hindrance of doubt, lust, hatred, delusion, anger, resentment, denigration, insolence, envy, avarice, deceit, craftiness, obstinacy, arrogance, conceit, excessive pride, intoxication, heedlessness, all defilements, all evil deeds, all anxieties, all torments, all distresses, all unwholesome volitional formations – these are called hidden dangers. Why are they called dangers? Because they endure, they are dangers. Because they lead to decline, they are dangers. Because they lie therein, they are dangers. How do they endure to be dangers? These dangers endure that person, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, engulf, crush him. Thus, because they overcome, they are dangers. How do they lead to decline, these dangers? These dangers lead to obstruction, to decline, of wholesome states. Of which wholesome states? Of right practice, of conforming practice, of non-antagonistic practice, of non-conflicting practice, of meaningful practice, of practice in accordance with the Dhamma; of fulfilling the precepts, of guarding the sense doors, of moderation in food; of devotion to wakefulness, of mindfulness and clear comprehension; of devotion to the development of the four foundations of mindfulness, of devotion to the development of the four right exertions, of devotion to the development of the four bases of psychic power; of devotion to the development of the five faculties, of devotion to the development of the five powers; of devotion to the development of the seven factors of enlightenment, of devotion to the development of the Noble Eightfold Path – of these wholesome states, they lead to obstruction, to decline. Thus, because they lead to decline – they are dangers. How do they dwell therein, these dangers? Therein, these evil, unwholesome states arise, dependent on one's own personality. Just as creatures dwelling in holes lie in holes, creatures dwelling in water lie in water, creatures dwelling in forests lie in forests, creatures dwelling in trees lie in trees, even so, therein, these evil, unwholesome states arise, dependent on one's own personality. Thus, because they dwell therein – they are dangers. For this was said by the Blessed One – "A monk, bhikkhus, who has an inner dwelling, who has a teacher, lives uncomfortably, in suffering. And how, bhikkhus, does a monk who has an inner dwelling, who has a teacher, live uncomfortably, in suffering? Here, bhikkhus, when a monk sees a form with the eye, there arise evil, unwholesome states, thoughts of desire, binding fetters. These evil, unwholesome states dwell within him, permeate him – therefore he is called 'one with an inner dwelling'. They assail him... They approach. Evil unwholesome states frequent him. Therefore he is called 'with a teacher'. Furthermore, monks, when a monk, having heard a sound with the ear, having smelled a smell with the nose, having tasted a taste with the tongue, having touched a tangible with the body, having cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind, those evil unwholesome states arise, connected with thoughts, fettering. They dwell within him, they flow into him, these evil unwholesome states. Therefore he is called 'with pupils'. They frequent him. Evil unwholesome states frequent him. Therefore he is called 'with a teacher'. Thus, monks, a monk who is 'with pupils' and 'with a teacher' dwells uncomfortably in suffering. Even so, there are dangers in that dwelling place. This was said by the Blessed One: These three, monks, are inner defilements, inner enemies, inner adversaries, inner slayers, inner foes. Which three? Greed, monks, is an inner defilement, an inner enemy, an inner adversary, an inner slayer, an inner foe. Hatred... (and so on)... Delusion, monks, is an inner defilement, an inner enemy, an inner adversary, an inner slayer, an inner foe. These, monks, are the three inner defilements – inner enemies, inner adversaries, inner slayers, inner foes. Greed generates harm, Greed agitates the mind. Fear born from within, That, people do not discern. The greedy one does not know what is beneficial, The greedy one does not see the Dhamma. Then there is blinding darkness, When greed overcomes a person. Hatred generates harm, Hatred agitates the mind. Fear born from within, That, people do not discern. The angry one does not know what is beneficial, The angry one does not see the Dhamma. Then there is blinding darkness, When hatred overcomes a person. Delusion generates harm, Delusion agitates the mind. Fear born from within, That, people do not discern. The deluded one does not know what is beneficial, The deluded one does not see the Dhamma. Blinding dark... that is raw, when delusion overcomes a person.” Thus, in this, there are dangers. And this was said by the Blessed One: “There are, great king, three things that arise within a person, arising for his harm, for his suffering, for his uncomfortable abiding. Which three? Greed, great king, is a thing that arises within a person, arising for his harm, for his suffering, for his uncomfortable abiding. Hatred, great king… Delusion, great king, is a thing that arises within a person, arising for his harm, for his suffering, for his uncomfortable abiding. These, great king, are the three things that arise within a person, arising for his harm, for his suffering, for his uncomfortable abiding. Greed, hatred, and delusion, harm a person of evil mind, born from himself, like a fruit harming the pith of a tree.” Thus, in this, there are dangers. And this was said by the Blessed One: “Lust and hatred have their origin from this, discontent, contentment, and horripilation arise from this; From this arise mental thoughts, like children releasing a crow.” Thus, in this, there are dangers. Dangers crush him. Those dangers overcome, overpower, overwhelm, engulf, and crush that person— dangers crush him. Then suffering follows him. Thence, from those dangers, suffering follows that person, it pursues him, it becomes his constant companion. The suffering of birth follows him, it pursues him, it becomes his constant companion. The suffering of old age follows him, it pursues him, it becomes his constant companion. The suffering of sickness follows him, it pursues him, it becomes his constant companion. The suffering of death follows him, it pursues him, it becomes his constant companion. The suffering of sorrow, lamentation, pain, dejection, and despair follows him, it pursues him, it becomes his constant companion. Infernal suffering, animal realm suffering, ghost realm suffering follows him, it pursues him, it becomes his constant companion. Human suffering… suffering rooted in conception… suffering rooted in being in the womb… What suffering... Suffering rooted in emergence from the womb... Suffering bound up with birth... Suffering dependent on birth... Suffering from self-affliction... Suffering from affliction by others follows, attends, is inherent. The suffering of suffering follows, attends, is inherent. The suffering of formations... The suffering of change... Eye disease, ear disease, nose disease, tongue disease, body disease, head disease, ear disease, mouth disease, tooth disease, cough, asthma, catarrh, burning sensation, fever, stomach disease, fainting, dysentery, colic, cholera, leprosy, boils, skin discoloration, consumption, epilepsy, ringworm, itching, scabies, skin eruptions, eczema, blood vomiting, diabetes, piles, carbuncles, fistulas, diseases arising from bile, diseases arising from phlegm, diseases arising from wind, diseases arising from a combination (of humors), diseases arising from seasonal changes, diseases arising from improper care, diseases arising from external assault, diseases arising from karma's ripening, cold, heat, hunger, thirst, defecation, urination, suffering from contact with gnats, mosquitoes, wind, sun, creeping things... Suffering from mother's death... Suffering from father's death... Suffering from brother's death... Suffering from sister's death...