Walking (ITI110)

So It Was Said 110

The Book of the Fours

The Chapter on the Brahmin’s Offering of the Teaching

Walking

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while walking.

They tolerate it and don’t give it up, dispel it, eliminate it, and obliterate it. Such a mendicant is said to be ‘not keen or prudent, always lazy, and lacking energy’ when walking.

Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while standing …

sitting …

or when lying down while awake.

They tolerate it and don’t give it up, dispel it, eliminate it, and obliterate it.

Such a mendicant is said to be ‘not keen or prudent, always lazy, and lacking energy’ when lying down while awake.

Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while walking.

They don’t tolerate them, but give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.

Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when walking.

Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while standing …

sitting …

or when lying down while awake.

They don’t tolerate it, but give it up, dispel it, eliminate it, and obliterate it.

Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when lying down while awake.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“Whether walking or standing,

sitting or lying down,

one who thinks a bad thought

to do with the domestic life

is practicing the wrong way,

lost among things that delude;

such a mendicant is incapable

of experiencing the highest awakening.

But one who, whether standing or walking,

sitting or lying down,

has calmed their thoughts,

loving peace of mind;

such a mendicant is capable

of experiencing the highest awakening.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.