AN5.57 — Themes for Constant Reflection
Disciples, these five themes should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
Which five?
‘I am of a nature to grow old; I have not gone beyond aging. This should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
‘I am of a nature to fall ill; I have not gone beyond illness. This should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
‘I am of a nature to die; I have not gone beyond dying. This should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
‘I will be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me. This should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
‘I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related to my actions, and supported by my actions.
Whatever action I do:whether good or bad:
of that I will be the heir. This should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
And depending on what benefit should ‘I am of a nature to grow old; I have not gone beyond aging be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate?
There is the vanity of youth in youth among beings, intoxicated by which they behave badly by body, speech, and mind.
When they regularly reflect on this theme, that vanity of youth in youth is either completely abandoned or diminished.
It is depending on this benefit that ‘I am of a nature to grow old; I have not gone beyond aging should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
And depending on what benefit should ‘I am of a nature to fall ill; I have not gone beyond illness be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate?
There is the vanity of health in health among beings, intoxicated by which they behave badly by body, speech, and mind.
When they regularly reflect on this theme, that vanity of health in health is either completely abandoned or diminished.
It is depending on this benefit that ‘I am of a nature to fall ill; I have not gone beyond illness should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
And depending on what benefit should ‘I am of a nature to die; I have not gone beyond dying be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate?
There is the vanity of life in life among beings, intoxicated by which they behave badly by body, speech, and mind.
When they regularly reflect on this theme, that vanity of life in life is either completely abandoned or diminished.
It is depending on this benefit that ‘I am of a nature to die; I have not gone beyond dying should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
And depending on what benefit should ‘I will be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate?
There is desire and greed among beings for dear and beloved things, impassioned by which they behave badly by body, speech, and mind.
When they regularly reflect on this theme, that desire and greed for dear and beloved things is either completely abandoned or diminished.
It is depending on this benefit that ‘I will be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
And depending on what benefit should ‘I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related to my actions, and supported by my actions; whatever action I do:
whether good or bad:of that I will be the heir be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate?
There is bad behavior by body, speech, and mind among beings.
When they regularly reflect on this theme, bad behavior is either completely abandoned or diminished.
It is depending on this benefit that ‘I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related to my actions, and supported by my actions; whatever action I do:
whether good or bad:
of that I will be the heir should be regularly reflected upon by a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate.
Then that noble disciple considers thus:
‘I am not the only one of a nature to grow old, who has not gone beyond aging. But rather, as far as beings come and go, pass away and are reborn, all beings are of a nature to grow old, and have not gone beyond aging.
As they regularly reflect on this theme, the path is born.
They cultivate, develop, and make much of that path.
As they cultivate, develop, and make much of that path, the fetters are completely abandoned, and the underlying tendencies are brought to an end.
‘I am not the only one of a nature to fall ill, who has not gone beyond illness. But rather, as far as beings come and go, pass away and are reborn, all beings are of a nature to fall ill, and have not gone beyond illness.
As they regularly reflect on this theme, the path is born.
They cultivate, develop, and make much of that path.
As they cultivate, develop, and make much of that path, the fetters are completely abandoned, and the underlying tendencies are brought to an end.
‘I am not the only one of a nature to die, who has not gone beyond dying. But rather, as far as beings come and go, pass away and are reborn, all beings are of a nature to die, and have not gone beyond dying.
As they regularly reflect on this theme, the path is born.
They cultivate, develop, and make much of that path.
As they cultivate, develop, and make much of that path, the fetters are completely abandoned, and the underlying tendencies are brought to an end.
‘I am not the only one who will be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved. But rather, as far as beings come and go, pass away and are reborn, all beings will be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved.
As they regularly reflect on this theme, the path is born.
They cultivate, develop, and make much of that path.
As they cultivate, develop, and make much of that path, the fetters are completely abandoned, and the underlying tendencies are brought to an end.
‘I am not the only one who is the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related to my actions, and supported by my actions, who will be the heir of whatever action I do:whether good or bad;
But rather, as far as beings come and go, pass away and are reborn, all beings are the owners of their actions, heirs to their actions, born of their actions, related to their actions, and supported by their actions, and they will be the heirs of whatever action they do:whether good or bad.
As they regularly reflect on this theme, the path is born.
They cultivate, develop, and make much of that path.
As they cultivate, develop, and make much of that path, the fetters are completely abandoned, and the underlying tendencies are brought to an end.
Subject to illness, subject to aging,
and also subject to death:
beings are of such a nature,
yet ordinary people are disgusted by them.
If I were to be disgusted
with living beings of such a nature,
it would not be appropriate for me,
living as I do.
Living in this way,
having known the truth free from acquisitions,
in health and in youth,
and whatever vanities there are in life,
I have overcome all these vanities,
seeing renunciation as secure.
Energy arose in me,
looking toward extinguishment.
Now I am incapable
of indulging in sensual pleasures;
I will never turn back,
my final goal is the spiritual life.
Seventh.