Numbered Discourses 11.2

1. Dependence

Making a Wish

“Bhikkhus, an ethical person, who has fulfilled ethical conduct, need not make a wish: ‘May I have no regrets!’ It’s only natural that an ethical person has no regrets.

When you have no regrets you need not make a wish: ‘May I feel joy!’ It’s only natural that joy springs up when you have no regrets.

When you feel joy you need not make a wish: ‘May I experience (mental) joy!’ It’s only natural that (mental) joy arises when you’re delighted.

When your mind is full of (mental) joy you need not make a wish: ‘May my body become tranquil!’ It’s only natural that your body becomes tranquil when your mind is full of (mental) joy.

When your body is tranquil you need not make a wish: ‘May I feel (bodily) pleasure!’ It’s only natural to feel (bodily) pleasure when your body is tranquil.

When you feel (bodily) pleasure you need not make a wish: ‘May my mind be immersed in samādhi!’ It’s only natural for the mind to become immersed in samādhi when you feel (bodily) pleasure.

When your mind is immersed in samādhi you need not make a wish: ‘May I truly know and see!’ It’s only natural to truly know and see when your mind is immersed in samādhi.

When you truly know and see you need not make a wish: ‘May I grow disillusioned!’ It’s only natural to grow disillusioned when you truly know and see.

When you’re disillusioned you need not make a wish: ‘May I become dispassionate!’ It’s only natural to grow dispassionate when you’re disillusioned.

When you’re dispassionate you need not make a wish: ‘May I realize the knowledge and vision of freedom!’ It’s only natural to realize the knowledge and vision of freedom when you’re dispassionate.

And so, bhikkhus, the knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of dispassion. Dispassion is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment. Disillusionment is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing. Truly knowing and seeing is the purpose and benefit of samādhi. Samādhi is the purpose and benefit of (bodily) pleasure. (Bodily) pleasure is the purpose and benefit of tranquility. Tranquility is the purpose and benefit of (mental) joy. (Mental) joy is the purpose and benefit of delight. Delight is the purpose and benefit of not having regrets. Not having regrets is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics. And so, bhikkhus, good qualities flow on and fill up from one to the other, for going from the near shore to the far shore.”