MN16 — Cetokhila sutta - Barriers Of The Mind
Thus have I heard:
At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jetas Grove, Anāthapiṇḍikas Park. There the Blessed One addressed the disciples, saying, Disciples.
Venerable Sir, those disciples replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this,
Disciples, if any disciple has not abandoned the five mental obstructions, has not cut off the five mental fetters, it is impossible that he could achieve growth, increase, and abundance in this Dhamma and Discipline.
What are the five mental obstructions that he has not abandoned?
Here, disciples, a disciple doubts and is uncertain about the Teacher, he does not have full confidence, he is not pleased. If a disciple doubts the Teacher, is uncertain, does not have full confidence, is not pleased, his mind does not incline towards ardor, endeavor, perseverance, and striving. If his mind does not incline towards ardor, endeavor, perseverance, and striving, this is the first mental obstruction that is not abandoned.
Again, a disciple doubts and is uncertain about the Dhamma, he does not have full confidence, he is not pleased... thus this is the second mental obstruction that is not abandoned.
Again, a disciple doubts and is uncertain about the Sangha, he does not have full confidence, he is not pleased... thus this is the third mental obstruction that is not abandoned.
Again, a disciple doubts and is uncertain about the training, he does not have full confidence, he is not pleased. If a disciple doubts the training, is uncertain, does not have full confidence, is not pleased, his mind does not incline towards ardor, endeavor, perseverance, and striving. If his mind does not incline towards ardor, endeavor, perseverance, and striving, this is the fourth mental obstruction that is not abandoned.
Again, a disciple is angry, displeased, and resentful towards his fellow practitioners. If a disciple is angry, displeased, and resentful towards his fellow practitioners, his mind does not incline towards ardor, endeavor, perseverance, and striving. If his mind does not incline towards ardor, endeavor, perseverance, and striving, this is the fifth mental obstruction that is not abandoned.
These are the five mental obstructions that are not abandoned.
What are the five mental fetters that are not cut off?
Here, disciples, a disciple is not free from lust, is not free from desire, is not free from affection, is not free from thirst, is not free from burning passion, is not free from craving for sensual pleasures.
Disciples, if any disciple has not extinguished passion for sensual pleasures, his mind does not bend towards ardor, exertion, perseverance, and struggle. For him whose mind does not bend towards ardor, exertion, perseverance, and struggle, thus is this first mental bond not cut off.
Again, disciples, if any disciple has not extinguished passion for the body, ... thus is this second mental bond not cut off.
Again, disciples, if any disciple has not extinguished passion for form, ... thus is this third mental bond not cut off.
Again, disciples, if any disciple, after consuming as much nourishment as needed to sustain life, indulges in the comfort of bed, sloth, and drowsiness.
Disciples, a disciple who, after consuming as much nourishment as needed to sustain life, indulges in the comfort of bed, sloth, and drowsiness, his mind does not bend towards ardor, exertion, perseverance, and struggle. For him whose mind does not bend towards ardor, exertion, perseverance, and struggle, thus is this fourth mental bond not cut off.
Again, disciples, if any disciple practices the holy life aspiring for a certain divine body.
Disciples, a disciple who practices the holy life aspiring for a certain divine body, his mind does not bend towards ardor, exertion, perseverance, and struggle. Thus is this fifth mental bond not cut off.
These five mental bonds are not cut off. For any disciple, disciples, who has not abandoned these five mental fetters, these five mental bonds are not severed, he will not achieve growth, increase, or fulfillment in this Dharma and discipline, such a state does not exist.
For any disciple, disciples, who has abandoned these five mental fetters, and these five mental bonds are thoroughly severed, he will achieve growth, increase, or fulfillment in this Dharma and discipline, such a state exists.
What are the five mental fetters that are abandoned?
Here, disciples, a disciple does not doubt or question the Teacher, has firm resolution and confidence. Disciples, a disciple who does not doubt or question the Teacher, has firm resolution and confidence, his mind bends towards ardor, exertion, perseverance, and struggle.
Whose mind inclines towards diligence in commitment, constancy, and striving, thus is the first mental obstruction eliminated for him.
Again, disciples, a disciple does not doubt or hesitate about the Dhamma, but is resolved and gains confidence... thus is the second mental obstruction eliminated for him.
Again, disciples, a disciple does not doubt or hesitate about the Sangha, but is resolved and gains confidence... thus is the third mental obstruction eliminated for him.
Again, disciples, a disciple does not doubt or hesitate about the training, but is resolved and gains confidence... thus is the fourth mental obstruction eliminated for him.
Again, disciples, a disciple is not angry, not displeased, has an unshaken mind, and does not harbor ill will towards fellow spiritual practitioners.
Such a disciple, disciples, is not angry, not displeased, has an unshaken mind, and does not harbor ill will towards fellow spiritual practitioners; his mind inclines towards diligence in commitment, constancy, and striving.
Whose mind inclines towards diligence in commitment, constancy, and striving, thus is the fifth mental obstruction eliminated for him.
These five mental obstructions are eradicated.
What are the five mental fetters that are completely severed for him?
Here, disciples, a disciple is free from lust for sense pleasures, devoid of desire, devoid of affection, devoid of thirst, devoid of fever, devoid of craving.
Such a disciple, disciples, is free from lust for sense pleasures, devoid of desire, devoid of affection, devoid of thirst, devoid of fever, devoid of craving; his mind inclines towards diligence in commitment, constancy, and striving.
Whose mind inclines towards diligence in commitment, constancy, and striving, thus is the first mental fetter completely severed for him.
Again, disciples, a disciple is free from lust for the body... free from lust for forms... does not dwell indulging in the comforts of food enforcement, the pleasure of lying down, the pleasure of sloth, the pleasure of sleep.
Such a disciple, disciples, does not dwell indulging in these comforts; his mind inclines towards diligence in commitment, constancy, and striving.
Whose mind inclines towards diligence in commitment, constancy, and striving, thus is the fourth mental fetter completely severed for him.
Again, disciples, a disciple does not undertake the holy life with the thought directed toward some celestial realm.
Disciples, the disciple who practices the holy life without aiming at any particular divine realm, whose mind inclines towards exertion, dedication, persistence, and striving, will have the fifth mental bond thoroughly cut off. These five mental bonds become thoroughly severed for such a one.
For any disciple, disciples, who has abandoned these five mental obstructions and thoroughly severed these five mental bonds, it is possible for him to achieve growth, increase, and expanse in this Dhamma-Vinaya. This disciple develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to desire and volitional formations of striving; develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to energy and volitional formations of striving; develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to the mind and volitional formations of striving; develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration due to investigation and volitional formations of striving, with perseverance as the fifth.
Indeed, disciples, a disciple thus endowed with these sixteen factors of perseverance is capable of disillusionment, capable of enlightenment, capable of attaining the supreme security from bondage.
Just as, disciples, there might be eight or ten or twelve eggs of a hen, properly incubated, warmed, and fostered by the hen. Even if the hen does not wish, Oh, may these chicks break through the eggshell with their claws or beaks and safely hatch out, nevertheless the chicks are capable of breaking the eggshell with their claws or beaks and safely hatching out.
In the same way, disciples, a disciple thus endowed with these sixteen factors of perseverance is capable of disillusionment, capable of enlightenment, capable of attaining the supreme security from bondage.
Thus spoke the Blessed One. Elated, those disciples delighted in the Blessed Ones words.
The discourse on mental obstruction is complete, the sixth.