AN10.17 — Paṭhamanāthasutta

Live with a protector do not live unprotected.

It is suffering to live unprotected.

These are the ten dhammas that make one protected.

What ten?

Virtue

Here a disciple is virtuous, lives restrained with the restraint of the Pātimokkha, is accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and undertakes the training rules.

And when a disciple is virtuous… undertakes the training rules, this dhamma too is protective.

Penetrated the Dhamma

Furthermore a disciple is learned, remembers what he has heard, has amassed what he has heard, those dhammas that are beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle, and beautiful in the end, that proclaim the holy life completely fulfilled, perfectly pure, such dhammas are much heard by him, remembered, recited verbally, investigated with the mind, and penetrated well by view.

And when a disciple is learned… penetrated well by view, this dhamma too is protective.

Good Friends

Furthermore a disciple has good friends, good companions, good comrades.

And when a disciple has good friends, good companions, good comrades, this dhamma too is protective.

Easy to correct

Furthermore a disciple is easy to correct, having qualities that make him easy to admonish, compliant, taking instruction.

And when a disciple is easy to correct… taking instruction, this dhamma too is protective.

Skilled and Diligent

Furthermore a disciple is skilled and diligent in attending to the diverse chores of his fellow disciples, equipped with the knowing of the proper means for such tasks.

And when a disciple is skilled and diligent… equipped with the knowing of the proper means, this dhamma too is protective.

Loves the Dhamma

Furthermore a disciple loves the Dhamma, delights in the Dhamma, rejoices in the Dhamma, he is committed to the Abhidhamma and discipline, exuberant.

And when a disciple loves the Dhamma… exuberant, this dhamma too is protective.

Furthermore a disciple lives with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome states and the acquisition of wholesome states, strong, firm in exertion, not shirking the responsibility for cultivating wholesome states.

Energy Aroused

And when a disciple lives with energy aroused… not shirking the responsibility, this dhamma too is protective.

Content

Furthermore a disciple is content with any kind of robe, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick.

And when a disciple is content with any kind of robe… medicinal requisites for the sick, this dhamma too is protective.

Mindful

Furthermore a disciple is mindful, endowed with supreme mindfulness and alertness, remembering and recalling what was done and said long ago.

And when a disciple is mindful… recalling what was done and said long ago, this dhamma too is protective.

Wisdom

Furthermore a disciple is wise, he possesses the wisdom that leads to the complete destruction of suffering, noble and penetrative, leading to the complete destruction of suffering.

And when a disciple is wise… leading to the complete destruction of suffering, this dhamma too is protective.

Live with a protector do not live unprotected.

It is suffering to live unprotected.

These are the ten dhammas that make one protected.