Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.28 3.

The Noble Heritages

Uruvelavagga Ariyavaṁsasutta “Cattārome, bhikkhave, ariyavaṁsā aggaññā rattaññā vaṁsaññā porāṇā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

Disciples, these four are the noble heritages that are of great antiquity, ancient, unadulterated, and have remained unchanged, neither degenerated nor will they be, and unblemished by recluses, brahmins, or the wise.

Katame cattāro?

What are the four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena cīvarena, itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca cīvarahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca cīvaraṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca cīvaraṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati; tāya ca pana itarītaracīvarasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

Here a disciple is content with any kind of robe and praises contentment with whatever robe is available. He does not engage in improper seeking for robes. If he doesn't get a robe, he is not troubled; if he obtains a robe, he is not attached, not entranced, not committed, seeing the danger and understanding the escape, he uses it. Moreover, by this contentment with any kind of robe, he neither elevates himself nor disparages others.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

He who is skilled, not lazy, mindful, and aware is said to be one who stands in the ancient and noble heritage.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena piṇḍapātena, itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca piṇḍapātahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca piṇḍapātaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati; tāya ca pana itarītarapiṇḍapātasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

Again a disciple is content with any kind of alms-food and praises contentment with whatever alms-food is available. He does not engage in improper seeking for alms-food. If he doesn't get any, he is not troubled; if he obtains alms-food, he is not attached, not entranced, not committed, seeing the danger and understanding the escape, he uses it. Moreover, by this contentment with any kind of alms-food, he neither elevates himself nor disparages others.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

He who is skilled, not lazy, mindful, and aware is said to be one who stands in the ancient and noble heritage.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītarena senāsanena, itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā ca vaṇṇavādī, na ca senāsanahetu anesanaṁ appatirūpaṁ āpajjati, aladdhā ca senāsanaṁ na paritassati, laddhā ca senāsanaṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhosanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati; tāya ca pana itarītarasenāsanasantuṭṭhiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

Again a disciple is content with any kind of lodging and praises contentment with whatever lodging is available. He does not engage in improper seeking for lodging. If he doesn't get lodging, he is not troubled; if he obtains lodging, he is not attached, not entranced, not committed, seeing the danger and understanding the escape, he uses it. Moreover, by this contentment with any kind of lodging, he neither elevates himself nor disparages others.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

He who is skilled, not lazy, mindful, and aware is said to be one who stands in the ancient and noble heritage.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bhāvanārāmo hoti bhāvanārato, pahānārāmo hoti pahānarato; tāya ca pana bhāvanārāmatāya bhāvanāratiyā pahānārāmatāya pahānaratiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, no paraṁ vambheti.

Again a disciple who is fond of and devoted to mental development, and who is fond of and devoted to abandonment. Moreover, by this fondness and devotion to mental development and abandonment, he neither elevates himself nor disparages others.

Yo hi tattha dakkho analaso sampajāno patissato, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu porāṇe aggaññe ariyavaṁse ṭhito.

He who is skilled, not lazy, with clear knowing and mindfulness:this one is called a disciple established in the ancient lineage of noble ones.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro ariyavaṁsā aggaññā rattaññā vaṁsaññā porāṇā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

These four noble lineages are ancient, genuine, unadulterated from the past, unblemished and will not be blemished, not criticized by recluses, brahmins, or wise ones.

Imehi ca pana, bhikkhave, catūhi ariyavaṁsehi samannāgato bhikkhu puratthimāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati; pacchimāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati; uttarāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati; dakkhiṇāya cepi disāya viharati sveva aratiṁ sahati, na taṁ arati sahati.

Disciples, a disciple endowed with these four noble lineages, whether he lives to the eastern direction, is able to endure dissatisfaction there, dissatisfaction does not endure him.

Whether he lives to the western direction, is able to endure dissatisfaction there, dissatisfaction does not endure him.

Whether he lives to the northern direction, is able to endure dissatisfaction there, dissatisfaction does not endure him.

Whether he lives to the southern direction, is able to endure dissatisfaction there, dissatisfaction does not endure him.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Aratiratisaho hi, bhikkhave, dhīroti.

Because the wise one endures dissatisfaction.

Nārati sahati dhīraṁ, nārati dhīraṁ sahati; Dhīrova aratiṁ sahati, dhīro hi aratissaho.

Dissatisfaction does not endure the wise one, nor does dissatisfaction overcome the wise one.

The wise one endures dissatisfaction, for the wise one, indeed, endures dissatisfaction.

Sabbakammavihāyīnaṁ, panuṇṇaṁ ko nivāraye; Nekkhaṁ jambonadasseva, ko taṁ ninditumarahati; Devāpi naṁ pasaṁsanti, brahmunāpi pasaṁsito”ti. Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Who can obstruct those who give up all actions, who have got rid of obstacles?

Like a golden ornament, who can rightly criticize them?

Even the gods praise them, and they are praised by Brahmā.