Numbered Discourses 9.1

1. Awakening

Awakening

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhus:

“Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: ‘Friends, what is the vital condition for the development of the awakening factors?’ How would you answer them?”

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. … The bhikkhus will listen and remember it.”

“Well then, bhikkhus, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: ‘Friends, what is the vital condition for the development of the awakening factors?’ You should answer them:

‘It’s when a bhikkhu has good friends, companions, and associates. This is the first vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Furthermore, a 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. This is the second vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, samādhi, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. This is the third vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. This is the fourth vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. This is the fifth vital condition for the development of the awakening factors.’

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be ethical …

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart …

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to live with energy roused up …

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be wise …

But then, a bhikkhu grounded on these five things should develop four further things. They should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, mindfulness of breathing to cut off thinking, and perception of impermanence to uproot the conceit ‘I am’. When you perceive impermanence, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized. Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain Nibbana in this very life.”