Akusalarāsisutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 47.5

Linked Discourses 47.5

1. Ambapālivagga

1. In Ambapālī’s Mango Grove

Akusalarāsisutta

A Heap of the Unskillful

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Tatra kho bhagavā etadavoca:

There the Buddha said:

“‘akusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno pañca nīvaraṇe sammā vadamāno vadeyya.

“Rightly speaking, mendicants, you’d call the five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’.

Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, akusalarāsi, yadidaṁ—pañca nīvaraṇā.

For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Kāmacchandanīvaraṇaṁ, byāpādanīvaraṇaṁ, thinamiddhanīvaraṇaṁ, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇaṁ, vicikicchānīvaraṇaṁ.

The hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt.

‘Akusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno ime pañca nīvaraṇe sammā vadamāno vadeyya.

Rightly speaking, you’d call these five hindrances a ‘heap of the unskillful’.

Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, akusalarāsi, yadidaṁ—pañca nīvaraṇā.

For these five hindrances are entirely a heap of the unskillful.

‘Kusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno cattāro satipaṭṭhāne sammā vadamāno vadeyya.

Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’.

Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kusalarāsi, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.

For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;

It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

vedanāsu …pe…

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

citte …pe…

They meditate observing an aspect of the mind …

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

‘Kusalarāsī’ti, bhikkhave, vadamāno ime cattāro satipaṭṭhāne sammā vadamāno vadeyya.

Rightly speaking, you’d call these four kinds of mindfulness meditation a ‘heap of the skillful’.

Kevalo hāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kusalarāsi, yadidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā”ti.

For these four kinds of mindfulness meditation are entirely a heap of the skillful.”

Pañcamaṁ.