Catukkanipāta 11

Numbered Discourses 4.11

2. Walking

Walking

1 “Mendicants, suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while walking. They tolerate it and don’t give it up, dispel it, eliminate it, and obliterate it. Such a mendicant is said to be ‘not keen or prudent, always lazy, and lacking energy’ when walking.

2 Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while standing … 3 sitting … 4 or when lying down while awake. They tolerate it and don’t give it up, dispel it, eliminate it, and obliterate it. Such a mendicant is said to be ‘not keen or prudent, always lazy, and lacking energy’ when lying down while awake.

5 Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while walking. They don’t tolerate it, but give it up, dispel it, eliminate it, and obliterate it. Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when walking.

6 Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while standing … 7 sitting … 8 or when lying down while awake. They don’t tolerate it, but give it up, dispel it, eliminate it, and obliterate it. Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when lying down while awake.

9 Whether walking or standing,

sitting or lying down,

if you think a bad thought

to do with the domestic life,

10 you’re on the wrong path,

lost among things that delude.

Such a mendicant is incapable

of experiencing the highest awakening.

11 But one who, whether standing or walking,

sitting or lying down,

has calmed their thoughts,

loving peace of mind;

such a mendicant is capable

of experiencing the highest awakening.”