9. Samaṇavagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.89

Numbered Discourses 3.89

9. Samaṇavagga

9. Ascetics

Paṭhamasikkhattayasutta

Three Trainings (1st)

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, sikkhā.

“Mendicants, these are the three trainings.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Adhisīlasikkhā, adhicittasikkhā, adhipaññāsikkhā.

The training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhisīlasikkhā?

And what is the training in the higher ethics?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhisīlasikkhā.

This is called the training in the higher ethics.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhicittasikkhā?

And what is the training in the higher mind?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhicittasikkhā.

This is called the training in the higher mind.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, adhipaññāsikkhā?

And what is the training in the higher wisdom?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, adhipaññāsikkhā.

This is called the training in the higher wisdom.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso sikkhā”ti.

These are the three trainings.”

Navamaṁ.