Contentment (EA20.8)

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in Śrāvastī, at Jetṛ’s Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park. Then the Exalted One said to the monks:

“If a monk who lives in a forest at a secluded, quiet place remote from crowds, he should always reverentially cultivate a mind that is content. If, on the other hand, a monk, living a a forest at a secluded and quiet place, does not reverentially cultivate contentment, he will mainly occupy himself in staying with crowds for the sake of what people talk about because he does not know what a forest-dweller’s practice should be like.

“How then has a monk, although fond of solitude, no reverential attitude and does not cultivate contentment? The answer is this, O monks: first the āraṇyaka monks, staying at a secluded, quiet place and avoiding the crowds, continually puts effort into what is to be done and does not succumb to laziness and arrogance; first he is well aware of the necessity of what he should practice. If, in the course of his forest-dwelling and abiding at a secluded, quiet place, he becomes lazy and arrogant, he will involve himself in all sorts of misconduct, staying with big crowds for the sake of what people talk about. Such an āraṇyaka monk is lazy and lacking effort.

“For this reason, monks, a monk who is fond of solitude, living at a secluded, quiet place and avoiding crowds, should always be gentle and cultivate contentment. Being rid of laziness and arrogance, reverentially and mindfully putting effort into what is to be done, with unwavering determination and wholeheartedly taking upon oneself all that is karmically wholesome—thus, O monks, you should train.”

After listening to the Buddha’s words, the monks were pleased and respectfully applied themselves to practice.

Translated from Sanskrit to Chinese by Dharmanandi.

Originally published as Ekottarikāgama XXVIII, Buddhist Studies Review 18.2, 2001, pp. 219–228. Translated from the Chinese version by Thích Huyên-Vi in collaboration with Sara Boin-Webb and Bhikkhu Pāsādika. Used with kind permission of the Buddhist Studies Review and Bhikkhu Pāsādika.

Transcription by Nola Webb, 2014.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.