Aṅguttara Nikāya
IX. Navaka Nipāta
VII. Satipaṭṭhāna Vagga

IX. The Book of the Nines

Chapter VII: The Arisings of Mindfulness

Sutta 71

Ceto-Khila Sati-Paṭṭhāna Suttaṃ

Mental Barrenness

[302]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Savatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

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

"Monks, there are these five forms of mental barrenness.¹

What five?

Monks, herein a monk has doubts and is perplexed about the Teacher,
is not certain nor
sure concerning him.

Whoso doubts and is perplexed about the Teacher,
is not certain
nor sure concerning him,
his heart inclines not to ardour,
devotion,
perseverance,
nor to exertion.

Where the heart does not so incline,
it is the first mental barrenness.

■

So, too, when a monk has doubts and is perplexed about Dhamma,
is not certain
nor sure concerning the Dhamma,
his heart inclines not to ardour,
devotion,
perseverance,
nor to exertion.

Where the heart does not so incline,
it is the second mental barrenness.

■

So, too, when a monk has doubts and is perplexed about the Order,
is not certain
nor sure concerning the Order,
his heart inclines not to ardour,
devotion,
perseverance,
nor to exertion.

Where the heart does not so incline,
it is the third mental barrenness.

■

So, too, when a monk has doubts and is perplexed about the training,
is not certain
nor sure concerning the training,
his heart inclines not to ardour,
devotion,
perseverance,
nor to exertion.

Where the heart does not so incline,
it is the fourth mental barrenness.

■

So too, when he is angry with his fellows in the godly life,
displeased with them,
upset about them,
is as a barren waste² for them.

Whoso is [303] angry with his fellows,
displeased with them,
upset about them
and is as a barren waste for them,
his heart inclines not to ardour,
devotion,
perseverance,
nor to exertion.

Where the heart does not so incline,
it is the fifth mental barrenness.

Monks, these are the five forms of mental barrenness.

Monks, when these five are put away,
four arisings of mindfulness should be made to become.

What four?

Monks, herein a monk abides contemplating the body as body,
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

■

He abides contemplating the feelings as feelings
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

■

He abides contemplating the mind as mind
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

■

He abides contemplating ideas as ideas
strenuous,
mindful
and self-possessed,
having overcome both the hankering and discontent
common in the world.

Monks, when these five are put away,
these four arisings of mindfulness should be made to become.

¹ Ceto-khila. D. iii, 237; M. i, 101; A. iii, 248; v, 17.