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Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
"There are these ten things that a person gone-forth
should reflect on often. Which ten?
"'I have become casteless': a person gone forth should often
reflect on this.
"'My life is dependent on others'...
"'My behavior should be different [from that of
householders]'...
"'Can I fault myself with regard to my virtue?'...
"'Can my knowledgeable fellows in the holy life, on close
examination, fault me with regard to my virtue?'...
"'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear &
appealing to me'...
"'I am the owner of my actions (kamma), heir to my actions,
born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my
actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to
that will I fall heir'...
"'What am I becoming as the days & nights fly past?'...
"'Do I delight in an empty dwelling?'...
"'Have I attained a superior human attainment, a truly noble
distinction of knowledge & vision, such that — when my
fellows in the holy life question me in the last days of my life
— I won't feel abashed?': a person gone forth should often
reflect on this.
Translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera
"These are the ten things that a person gone-forth should
reflect on often."
Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at
Jetavana at the monastery of Anathapindika.
Then the Blessed One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks." — "Venerable Sir," they said by
way of reply. The Blessed One then spoke as follows:"These
ten essentials1 must be reflected upon again and again by one who
has gone forth (to live the holy life). What are these ten?
1. "'I am now changed into a different mode of life (from
that of a layman).' This must be reflected upon again and again
by one who has gone forth.
2. "'My life depends on others.' This must be reflected upon
again and again by one who has gone forth.
3. "'I must now behave in a different manner.' This must be
reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth.
4. "'Does my mind upbraid me regarding the state of my
virtue?'2 This must be reflected upon again and again by one who
has gone forth.
5. "'Do my discerning fellow-monks having tested me,
reproach me regarding the state of my virtue?' This must be
reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth.
6. "'There will be a parting (some day) from all those who
are dear and loving to me. Death brings this separation to me.'
This must be reflected upon again and again by one who has gone
forth.
7. "'Of kamma3 I am constituted. Kamma is my inheritance;
kamma is the matrix; kamma is my kinsman; kamma is my refuge.
Whatever kamma I perform, be it good or bad, to that I shall be
heir.' This must be reflected upon again and again by one who has
gone forth.
8. "'How do I spend my nights and days?' This must be
reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth.
9. "'Do I take delight in solitude?' This must be reflected
upon again and again by one who has gone forth.
10. "'Have I gained superhuman faculties? Have I gained that
higher wisdom so that when I am questioned (on this point) by
fellow-monks at the last moment (when death is approaching) I
will have no occasion to be depressed and downcast?' This must be
reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth.
"These, monks, are the essentials that should be reflected
again and again by one who has gone forth (to live the holy
life)."
So spoke the Blessed One. Those monks rejoiced at the words of
the Blessed One.
Suggested Further Reading
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Source: Copyright © 1999 Buddhist Publication Society. Access to Insight edition © 1994 For free distribution. This work may be republished, reformatted, reprinted, and redistributed in any medium. It is the author's wish, however, that any such republication and redistribution be made available to the public on a free and unrestricted basis and that translations and other derivative works be clearly marked as such
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