1 Thus was heard by me. At one time the Auspicious One was dwelling at Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. At that place the Auspicious One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus.” “Bhante,” those bhikkhus replied to the Auspicious One. The Auspicious One said this:

2 For a bhikkhu devoted to the higher mind, O bhikkhus, he should pay attention to five signs from time to time. What five?

3 Here, O bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu, whatever sign owing to the attention of which there arises evil, unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then, O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should attend to some other sign connected with the wholesome. From his [withdrawal] from that sign and attention to some other sign connected with the wholesome, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

4 Just as, O bhikkhus, a skilled carpenter or a carpenter's apprentice having used a very tiny peg, would knock out a grosser peg. So too, O bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu, whatever sign owing to the attention of which there arises evil, unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then, O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should attend to some other sign connected with the wholesome. From his [withdrawal] from that sign and attention to some other sign connected with the wholesome, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

5 If, O bhikkhus, from that bhikkhu's [withdrawal] from that sign and attention to some other sign connected with the wholesome, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should investigate the danger in those thoughts thus: “These thoughts are indeed unwholesome. These thoughts are indeed blameworthy. These thoughts indeed ripen in suffering.” Of him investigating the danger of those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

6 Just as, O bhikkhus, a woman or man, young in years, a youth, fond of adornments, would be troubled, humiliated and disgusted at the corpse of a snake, a corpse of a dog, or a corpse of a human being strung around his or her neck. So too, O bhikkhus, if from that bhikkhu's [withdrawal] from that sign and attention to some other sign connected with the wholesome, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should investigate the danger in those thoughts thus: “These thoughts are indeed unwholesome. These thoughts are indeed blameworthy. These thoughts indeed ripen in suffering.” Of him investigating the danger of those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

7 If, O bhikkhus, for that bhikkhu investigating the danger of those thoughts, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should engage in not being mindful, not attending to those thoughts. Of him engaging in not being mindful, not attending to those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

8 Just as, O bhikkhus, a man endowed with eyes wishing not to see forms that have come into his range would close his eyes or would look elsewhere. So too, O bhikkhus, if for that bhikkhu investigating the danger of those thoughts, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should engage in not being mindful, not attending to those thoughts. Of him engaging in not being mindful, not attending to those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

9 If, O bhikkhus, for that bhikkhu engaging in not being mindful, not attending to those thoughts, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should pay attention to stilling the thought activities of those thoughts. Of him paying attention to stilling the thought activities of those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

10 Just as, O bhikkhus, it might occur to a man moving quickly thus: “Why am I moving quickly? What if I were to move slowly?” While moving slowly it might occur to him thus: “Why am I moving slowly? What if I were to stand still?” While standing still it might occur to him thus: “Why am I standing still? What if I were to sit down?” While sitting down it might occur to him thus: “Why am I sitting down? What if I were to lie down?” Then he lies down. Thus, O bhikkhus, that man having left behind grosser and grosser postures, would fashion subtler and subtler postures. So too, O bhikkhus, if for that bhikkhu engaging in not being mindful, not attending to those thoughts, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should pay attention to stilling the thought activities of those thoughts. Of him paying attention to stilling the thought activities of those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

11 If, O bhikkhus, for that bhikkhu paying attention to stilling the thought activities of those thoughts, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu, having clenched the teeth together, having pressed the tongue against the palate, should forcibly restrain, completely crush down, overwhelm mental states with mental states. Of him having clenched the teeth together, having pressed the tongue against the palate, forcibly restraining, completely crushing down, overwhelming mental states with mental states, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

12 Just as, O bhikkhus, a strong man having seized a weaker man by the head, or having seized him by the shoulder, were to forcibly restrain, completely crush, and overwhelm him. So too, O bhikkhus, if for that bhikkhu paying attention to stilling the thought activities of those thoughts, there still arises evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, then O bhikkhus, that bhikkhu, having clenched the teeth together, having pressed the tongue against the palate, should forcibly restrain, completely crush down, overwhelm mental states with mental states. Of him having clenched the teeth together, having pressed the tongue against the palate, forcibly restraining, completely crushing down, overwhelming mental states with mental states, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear. From their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi.

13 “From the time, O bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu, whatever sign owing to the attention of which there arises evil, unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion, that bhikkhu [withdrawing] from that sign, attending to some other sign connected with the wholesome, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned and disappear, and from their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi;

14 also of him investigating the danger of those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned and disappear, and from their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi;

15 also of him engaging in not being mindful, not attending to those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned and disappear, and from their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi;

16 also of him paying attention to stilling the thought activities of those thoughts, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned, they disappear, and from their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi;

17 also of him having clenched the teeth together, having pressed the tongue against the palate, forcibly restraining, completely crushing down, overwhelming mental states with mental states, those evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, also connected with hatred, also connected with delusion get abandoned and disappear, and from their abandoning he steadies his mind internally, quietens it, unifies it and stills it in samadhi;

18 this is called, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who is the master of the pathways of thoughts. Whichever thoughts he wishes to think, it is just those thoughts that he thinks. Whichever thoughts he does not wish to think, it is just those thoughts that he does not think. He has utterly severed thirsting, disjoined the fetters, and rightly breaking through to conceit, has made an end of suffering.”

19 This is what the Auspicious One said. Delighted, those bhikkhus rejoiced in the Auspicious One's words.

1 evaṃ me sutaṃ: ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi bhikkhavoti. bhadanteti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṃ. bhagavā etadavoca:

2 adhicittamanuyuttena bhikkhave bhikkhunā pañca nimittāni kālena kālaṃ manasikātabbāni. katamāni pañca?

3 idha bhikkhave bhikkhunā yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma yaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tamhā nimittā aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikātabbaṃ kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ. tassa tamhā nimittā aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ, ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti, samādhiyati.

4 seyyathāpi bhikkhave dakkho palagaṇḍo vā palagaṇḍantevāsī vā sukhumāya āṇiyā oḷārikaṃ āṇiṃ abhinīhaneyya abhinīhareyya abhinivajjeyya evameva kho bhikkhave bhikkhuno yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma yaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tamhā nimittā aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikātabbaṃ kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ. ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

5 tassa ce bhikkhave bhikkhuno tamhā nimittā aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ ādīnavo upaparikkhitabbo: itipime vitakkā akusalā, itipime vitakkā sāvajjā, itipime vitakkā dukkhavipākāti. tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ ādīnavaṃ upaparikkhato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti, tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

6 seyyathāpi bhikkhave itthī vā vā puriso vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātiko ahikuṇapena vā kukkurakuṇapena vā manussakuṇapena vā kaṇṭhe āsattena aṭṭīyeyya harāyeyya jiguccheyya, evameva kho bhikkhave tassa ce bhikkhuno tamhāpi nimittā aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ ādīnavo upaparikkhitabbo: itipime vitakkā akusalā, itipime vitakkā sāvajjā, itipime vitakkā dukkhavipākāti. tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ ādīnavaṃ upaparikkhato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

7 tassa ce bhikkhave bhikkhuno tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ ādīnavaṃ upaparikkhato uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ asati amanasikāro āpajjitabbo. tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ asati amanasikāraṃ āpajjato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

8 seyyathāpi bhikkhave cakkhumā puriso āpāthagatānaṃ rūpānaṃ adassanakāmo assa, so nimīleyya vā aññena vā apalokeyya. evameva kho bhikkhave tassa ce bhikkhuno tesampi vitakkānaṃ ādīnavaṃ upaparikkhato uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ asati amanasikāro āpajjitabbo. tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ asati amanasikāraṃ āpajjato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi

9 tassa ce bhikkhave bhikkhuno tesampi vitakkānaṃ asati amanasikāraṃ āpajjato uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ vitakkasaṅkhārasaṇṭhānaṃ manasi kātabbaṃ tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ vitakkasaṅkhārasaṇṭhānaṃ manasikaroto ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

10 seyyathāpi bhikkhave puriso sīghaṃ gaccheyya, tassa evamassa: kinnu kho ahaṃ sīghaṃ gacchāmi, yannūnāhaṃ saṇikaṃ gaccheyyanti. so saṇikaṃ gaccheyya. tassa evamassa: kinnu kho ahaṃ saṇikaṃ gacchāmi, yannūnāhaṃ tiṭṭheyyanti. so tiṭṭheyya. tassa evamassa: kinnu kho ahaṃ ṭhito yannūnāhaṃ nisīdeyyanti.,so nisīdeyya. tassa evamassa: kinnu kho ahaṃ nisinno, yannūnāhaṃ nipajjeyyanti. so nipajjeyya. evaṃ hi so bhikkhave puriso oḷārikaṃ oḷārikaṃ iriyāpathaṃ abhinivajjetvā sukhumaṃ sukhumaṃ iriyāpathaṃ kappeyya. evameva kho bhikkhave tassa ce bhikkhuno tesampi vitakkānaṃ asati amanasikāraṃ āpajjato uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ vitakkasaṅkhārasaṇṭhānaṃ manasikātabbaṃ. tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ vitakkasaṅkhārasaṇṭhānaṃ manasikaroto ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

11 tassa ce bhikkhave bhikkhuno tesampi vitakkānaṃ vitakkasaṅkhārasaṇṭhānaṃ manasikaroto uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā dante'bhidantamādhāya jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca cetasā cittaṃ abhiniggaṇhitabbaṃ abhinippīḷetabbaṃ abhisantāpetabbaṃ. tassa dante'bhidantamādhāya jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca cetasā cittaṃ abhiniggaṇhato abhinippīḷayato abhisantāpayato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchantī. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

12 seyyathāpi bhikkhave balavā puriso dubbalataraṃ purisaṃ sīsevā gahetvā khandhe vā gahetvā abhiniggaṇheyya abhinippīḷeyya abhisantāpeyya, evameva kho bhikkhave tassa ce bhikkhuno tesampi vitakkānaṃ vitakkasaṅkhārasaṇṭhānaṃ manasikaroto uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tena bhikkhave bhikkhunā dante'bhidantamādhāya jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca cetasā cittaṃ abhiniggaṇhato abhinippīḷayato abhisantāpayato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

13 yato kho bhikkhave bhikkhuno yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma yaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi, tassa tamhā nimittā aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti. tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

14 tesampi vitakkānaṃ ādīnavaṃ upaparikkhato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

15 tesampi vitakkānaṃ asati amanasikāraṃ āpajjato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

16 tesampi vitakkānaṃ vitakkasaṅkhārasanthānaṃ manasikaroto ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

17 dante'bhidantamādhāya jivahāya tāluṃ āhacca cetasā cittaṃ abhiniggaṇhato abhinippīḷayato abhisantāpayato ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā chandūpasaṃhitāpi dosūpasaṃhitāpi mohūpasaṃhitāpi te pahīyanti. te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti tesaṃ pahānā ajjhattameva cittaṃ santiṭṭhati sannisīdati ekodi hoti samādhiyati.

18 ayaṃ vuccati bhikkhave bhikkhu vasī vitakkapariyāyapathesu: yaṃ vitakkaṃ ākaṅkhissati taṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkessati, yaṃ vitakkaṃ nākaṅkhissati na taṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkessati, acchecchi taṇhaṃ, vāvattayi saṃyojanaṃ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassāti.

19 idamavoca bhagavā. attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṃ abhinandunti.