English
That I will declare to you, as you understand. That is, the things in accordance with enlightenment. I will declare means I will declare, I will explain, I will teach, I will make known, I will establish, I will reveal, I will analyze, I will make clear, I will illuminate. As you understand means as you understand, as you know, as you discern, as you comprehend, as you penetrate, not by hearsay, not by tradition, not by lineage, not by scriptural transmission, not by logic, not by inference, not by pondering over reasons, not by approval of a view, but the Dhamma known by oneself, experienced by oneself, directly perceived by oneself – that I will relate – that I will declare to you, as you understand. Therefore, the Blessed One said: "For one who is disgusted, what is comfortable, For one who resorts to an empty seat, a bed; For one who desires perfect enlightenment, in accordance with the Dhamma, That I will declare to you, as you understand." 199. The wise one, mindful, moving within limits, Should not fear five dangers, a bhikkhu: Of stinging insects, of creeping things, Of human contacts, of four-footed beasts. The wise one should not fear five dangers. Wise means wise, sagacious, discerning, intelligent, knowing, understanding, astute. The wise one should not fear five dangers. should not tremble, should not quake, should not be terrified, should not be greatly terrified, should not fall into terror; he should be fearless, unflustered, untrembling, unfleeing, with fear and dread abandoned, with hairs standing on end gone, he should dwell – the wise one does not fear the five fears. A bhikkhu is mindful, moving within boundaries. "Bhikkhu" means either an ordinary good person who is a bhikkhu, or a trainee bhikkhu. "Mindful" means mindful for four reasons: Mindful, cultivating the contemplation of the body in the body, mindful, cultivating the contemplation of feelings in feelings… mindful, cultivating the contemplation of mind in mind… mindful, cultivating the contemplation of phenomena in phenomena – he is called mindful. "Moving within boundaries" means four boundaries: the boundary of restraint in virtue, the boundary of restraint of the senses, the boundary of moderation in food, the boundary of devotion to wakefulness. What is the boundary of restraint in virtue? Here, a bhikkhu is virtuous, he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, endowed with good conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, he undertakes and trains in the training rules. Reflecting on the inner state of impurity, he moves within the inner boundary of restraint in virtue, he does not break the limit – this is the boundary of restraint in virtue. What is the boundary of restraint of the senses? Here, a bhikkhu, having seen a form with the eye, is not a perceiver of its general appearance, nor a perceiver of its details. Because of that, he undertakes restraint in the eye-faculty. Having heard a sound with the ear… having smelled an odor with the nose… having tasted a flavor with the tongue… having felt a tactile sensation with the body… having cognized a mental phenomenon with the mind, he is not a perceiver of its general appearance, nor a perceiver of its details. Because of that, evil unwholesome states of covetousness and displeasure would not flow in upon him while his mind-faculty dwells well-restrained; he practices for its restraint, he guards the mind-faculty, he undertakes restraint in the mind-faculty. Reflecting on the discourse on burning, he moves within the inner boundary of restraint of the senses, he does not break the limit – this is the boundary of restraint of the senses. What is the boundary of moderation in food? Here, a bhikkhu, reflecting, He consumes food wisely, not for sport, nor for intoxication, nor for adornment, nor for beautification, but only for the maintenance and sustenance of this body, for the cessation of harm, for the support of the holy life. Thus, I shall put an end to old feelings and not give rise to new feelings, and there will be for me sustenance, blamelessness, and a comfortable abiding. Reflecting on the simile of axle-grease, a wound-covering, and a son's flesh, he practices moderation in food, he does not break the boundary – this is the limit of moderation in food. What is the limit of devotion to vigilance? Here, a monk purifies his mind from obstructive states by walking and sitting during the day. During the first watch of the night, he purifies his mind from obstructive states by walking and sitting. During the middle watch of the night, he lies down on his right side in the lion's posture, placing one foot on the other, mindful and clearly comprehending, having fixed in mind the thought of rising. During the last watch of the night, he gets up and purifies his mind from obstructive states by walking and sitting. Reflecting on the abiding of a single auspicious night, he practices within the limit of devotion to vigilance, he does not break the boundary – this is the limit of devotion to vigilance – a monk is mindful and practices within limits. Of gnats, mosquitoes, and creeping things. 'Gnats' are called horseflies. 'Mosquitoes' are called all kinds of flies. For what reason are all kinds of flies called 'mosquitoes'? They fly up and up and bite; for that reason, all kinds of flies are called 'mosquitoes'. 'Creeping things' are called snakes – of gnats, mosquitoes, and creeping things. Of human contact and quadrupeds. 'Human contact' refers to thieves or humans, whether they have committed deeds or not. They might ask the monk a question, or accuse him, revile him, abuse him, anger him, enrage him, harm him, injure him, harass him, torment him, kill... they might injure, they might harm, or they might cause harm. Whatever injury from humans – that is human contact. As for four-footed creatures: lions, tigers, leopards, bears, hyenas, wolves, buffaloes, elephants. They might crush the bhikkhu, eat him, injure him, harm him, oppress him, torment him, kill him, destroy him, or cause destruction. Injury from four-footed creatures, whatever fear of four-footed creatures – (this is) for human contacts and four-footed creatures. Therefore the Blessed One said: “The wise one should not fear five dangers, the bhikkhu, mindful, living within bounds; From bites and stings, from creeping things, from human contacts, from four-footed creatures.” 200. Even from those of other doctrines he should not tremble, even seeing their many terrors; And other dangers he should overcome, seeking what is wholesome. “Even from those of other doctrines he should not tremble, even seeing their many terrors.” Those of other doctrines are called, apart from the seven co-religionists, whoever are displeased with the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. They might ask the bhikkhu a question, or accuse him, insult him, revile him, anger him, enrage him, injure him, harm him, oppress him, torment him, kill him, destroy him, or cause destruction. Seeing or hearing their many terrors, he should not tremble, not shake, not thoroughly shake, not be terrified, not be greatly terrified, not be extremely terrified, not be utterly terrified, not fear, not fall into terror; he should be fearless, unshaken, unafraid, not fleeing, with fear and terror abandoned, with hair standing on end gone, he should dwell – “Even from those of other doctrines he should not tremble, even seeing their many terrors.” “And other dangers he should overcome, seeking what is wholesome.” And there are other things to be overcome, to be conquered, to be overwhelmed, to be mastered, to be crushed. Dangers are two dangers – manifest dangers and hidden dangers... and so on... in this way, there are dangers. “Seeking what is wholesome” means following the right path... the proper path, the path without antagonism, the path without opposition, the path that fits the meaning… (and so on)… by one seeking, searching, investigating the Noble Eightfold Path, Nibbana, and the path leading to Nibbana, dangers must be overcome, conquered, overpowered, subdued, crushed. Then other dangers may be overcome by one seeking what is wholesome. Therefore the Blessed One said: One should not tremble even at those of other doctrines, even seeing their many terrors; Then other dangers may be overcome, by one seeking what is wholesome. 201. Struck by the touch of illness and hunger, one should endure cold or heat; Struck by these in many ways, homeless, one should make one's effort and exertion firm. "Struck by the touch of illness and hunger." The touch of illness is called the touch of sickness. One might be struck, afflicted, overwhelmed, endowed with the touch of sickness; one might be struck, afflicted, overwhelmed, endowed with eye sickness, ear sickness… nose sickness… tongue sickness… body sickness… (and so on)… one might be struck, afflicted, overwhelmed, endowed with the touch of gnats, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping things. Hunger is called starvation. One might be struck, afflicted, overwhelmed, endowed with starvation – this is "struck by the touch of illness and hunger." "One should endure cold or heat." Cold occurs due to two reasons: either cold occurs due to the disturbance of internal elements, or cold occurs due to external weather. Heat occurs due to two reasons: either heat occurs due to the disturbance of internal elements, or heat occurs due to external weather – this is cold or heat. "One should endure" means one should be capable of enduring cold, heat, hunger, thirst, the touch of gnats, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping things, ill-spoken, ill-received words, and arisen bodily feelings that are painful, sharp, harsh, bitter, disagreeable, unpleasant should be of the nature to endure things that take life – should endure cold or heat. "By them" means: by the touch of illness, and by hunger, and by cold, and by heat, he should be touched, overcome, overwhelmed, endowed with –