Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
15. Tikaṇḍaki Vaggo

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XV: Three-thorn Grove

Sutta 149

Paṭhama Samaya-Vimutta Suttaṃ

Occasional Release

[131]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, these five things
lead to the falling away
of a monk who is occasionally released.¹

What five?

Delight in (body) work,
delight in gossip,
delight in sleep,
delight in company
and he does not look at the mind apart²
as released.

Verily, monks, these five things
lead to the falling away
of a monk who is occasionally released.

"Monks, these five things
lead to the not falling away
of a monk who is occasionally released.

What five?

Non-delight in (body) work,
non-delight in gossip,
non-delight in sleep,
non-delight in company
and he looks at the mind apart
as released.

Verily, monks, these five things
lead to the not falling away
of a monk who is occasionally released.

¹ Samaya-vimutta. P.E.D. wrongly 'finally emancipated'; our Comy. just in momentary flashes (appit'appita-khaṇe, appeti means both to fix and to rush on) with the depravities discarded, there is a state of release; Cf. SnA. 105; SA. i, 182. Were it not that the idea of 'temporary release' recurs at Sn. 54, one might judge it to be a late development. It occurs seldom. See K.S. i, 150 n. The sutta is quoted at Pts. of Contr. 70.