Numbered Discourses 5.106

11. Living Comfortably

With Ānanda

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Monastery.

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, how could a bhikkhu live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?”

“It’s when a bhikkhu is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. That’s how a bhikkhu could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.”

“But sir, could there be another way for a bhikkhu to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?”

“There could, Ānanda. It’s when a bhikkhu is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. That’s how a bhikkhu could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.”

“But sir, could there be another way for a bhikkhu to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?”

“There could, Ānanda. It’s when a bhikkhu is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. And they’re not well-known, but aren’t bothered by that. That’s how a bhikkhu could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.”

“But sir, could there be another way for a bhikkhu to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?”

“There could, Ānanda. It’s when a bhikkhu is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. And they’re not well-known, but aren’t bothered by that. And they get the four jhānas—pleasant meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That’s how a bhikkhu could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.”

“But sir, might there be another way for a bhikkhu to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?”

“There could, Ānanda. It’s when a bhikkhu is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. And they’re not well-known, but aren’t bothered by that. And they get the four jhānas—pleasant meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. And they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. That’s how a bhikkhu could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.

And I say that there is no better or finer way of living comfortably than this.”