Numbered Discourses 5.109

11. Living Comfortably

All Four Quarters

“Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu with five qualities is at ease in any quarter. What five?

It’s when bhikkhu is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically.

They’re content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

They get the four jhānas—pleasant meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

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.

A bhikkhu with these five qualities is at ease in any quarter.”