On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in Ghosita's Park. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said:

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2"(1) Bhante, in what way can a bhikkhu dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha?"

"When, Ānanda, a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtuous behavior but does not exhort others in regard to virtuous behavior, [n.1118] No paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā. I take adhisīle here to have the purely referential sense "in regard to virtuous behavior," and not to imply "higher virtuous behavior" (though, of course, since "virtuous behavior" is identified with restraint by the Pāṭimokkha, the "higher virtuous behavior" is implied). Mp supports this referential understanding of adhisīle with its gloss: "He does not censure or reproach others in regard to virtuous behavior" (paraṁ sīlabhāvena na garahati na upavadati). to this extent he can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha."

3(2) "But, Bhante, might there be another way by which a bhikkhu can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha?"

"There can be, Ānanda. When a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtuous behavior but does not exhort others in regard to virtuous behavior, and he examines himself but does not examine others, to this extent he can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha."

4(3) "But, Bhante, might there be another way by which a bhikkhu can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha?"

"There can be, Ānanda. When a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtuous behavior but does not exhort others in regard to virtuous behavior, and he examines himself but does not examine others, and he is not well known but is not agitated by lack of renown, to this extent he can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha."

5(4) "But, Bhante, might there be another way by which a bhikkhu can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha?"

"There can be, Ānanda. When a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtuous behavior but does not exhort others in regard to virtuous behavior; and he examines himself but does not examine others; and he is not well known but is not agitated by lack of renown; and he gains at will, without trouble or difficulty, the four jhānas that constitute the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life, to this extent he can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha."

6(5) "But, Bhante, might there be another way by which a bhikkhu can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha?"

"There can be, Ānanda. When a bhikkhu is himself accomplished in virtuous behavior but does not exhort others in regard to virtuous behavior; and he examines himself but does not examine others; and he is not well known but is not agitated by lack of renown; and he gains at will, without trouble or difficulty, the four jhānas that constitute the higher mind and are pleasant dwellings in this very life; and, with the destruction of the taints, he has realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, he dwells in it, to this extent he can dwell at ease while living in the Saṅgha.

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7And, Ānanda, I say there is no other way of dwelling at ease more excellent or sublime than this."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

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2"Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti?

"Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti.

3"Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti?

"Siyā, ānanda. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti.

4"Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti?

"Siyā, ānanda. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; apaññāto ca hoti, tena ca apaññātakena no paritassati; ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti.

5"Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti?

"Siyā, ānanda. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; apaññāto ca hoti, tena ca apaññātakena no paritassati; catunnañca jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī; ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti.

6"Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā"ti?

"Siyā, ānanda. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; apaññāto ca hoti, tena ca apaññātakena no paritassati; catunnañca jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī; āsavānañca khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati; ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyya.

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7Imamhā cāhaṁ, ānanda, phāsuvihārā añño phāsuvihāro uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthīti vadāmī"ti.

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Chaṭṭhaṁ.