English Translation 3.7.0
3.7.0 Proceeding Further on the Path - the Wholesome
Base of Sīla is only a Precondition! 1
The King said: “Bhante Nāgasena, further you say
‘those other wholesome qualities’ – what are those wholesome qualities you
mention?”
“These wholesome qualities, O’ King, are sīla, faith, effort, awareness and
concentration.”
“And what, Bhante Nāgasena, is the particular
characteristic of sīla?”
“Sīla,
great King, has the particular characteristic to be the foundation of
establishing all other wholesome qualities: mastery over the sense-faculties;
the factors of enlightenment; the constituents of the path; the establishment
of awareness; the right endeavours, the psychic powers; states of absorption;
deliverance; concentration and final attainment. All these are based on sīla. A spiritual practitioner, O’ King,
on the base of sīla, established in sīla and well founded in sīla develops the five mental strengths:
the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the strength of awareness, the strength
of concentration and the strength of wisdom, to him all these wholesome
qualities will not decrease!”
“Give me an analogy!”
‘‘It is, great King, whatever growth, increase
and development seeds and plants undergo, all undergo such growth, increase and
development based on the soil, depending on the soil. In the same way, great
king, a spiritual practitioner, O’ King, on the base of sīla, established in sīla
and well founded in sīla develops the
five mental strengths: the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the
strength of awareness, the strength of concentration and the strength of
wisdom, to him all these wholesome qualities will not decrease!”
“Give me another analogy!”
‘‘It is, great King, those doing physical work
using their physical strength depend on the earth, and can work only in
dependence on the earth. In the same way, O’King, a spiritual practitioner on
the base of sīla, established in sīla and well founded in sīla develops the five mental strengths:
the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the strength of awareness, the
strength of concentration and the strength of wisdom, to him all these
wholesome qualities will not decrease!”
“Give me another analogy!”
“As a
planner of a town, desirous of building it, first clears the site, removes
tree-stumps and obstacles, levels the ground and only later on determines on
streets, squares, crossroads and so forth and in this way builds the town, in
the same way, O’King a spiritual practitioner on the base of sīla, established in sīla and well founded in sīla develops the five mental strengths:
the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the strength of awareness, the
strength of concentration and the strength of wisdom, to him all these
wholesome qualities will not decrease!” ……
***
1- Sīlalakkhaṇapañho: Sīla + lakkhaṇa + pañho: Sīla + characteristic + question
The King said: “Bhante Nāgasena, further you say
‘those other wholesome qualities’ – what are those wholesome qualities you
mention?” “These wholesome qualities, O’ King, are sīla, faith, effort, awareness and
concentration.” “And what, Bhante Nāgasena, is the particular
characteristic of sīla?” “Sīla,
great King, has the particular characteristic to be the foundation of
establishing all other wholesome qualities: mastery over the sense-faculties;
the factors of enlightenment; the constituents of the path; the establishment
of awareness; the right endeavours, the psychic powers; states of absorption;
deliverance; concentration and final attainment. All these are based on sīla. A spiritual practitioner, O’ King,
on the base of sīla, established in sīla and well founded in sīla develops the five mental strengths:
the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the strength of awareness, the strength
of concentration and the strength of wisdom, to him all these wholesome
qualities will not decrease!” “Give me an analogy!” ‘‘It is, great King, whatever growth, increase
and development seeds and plants undergo, all undergo such growth, increase and
development based on the soil, depending on the soil. In the same way, great
king, a spiritual practitioner, O’ King, on the base of sīla, established in sīla
and well founded in sīla develops the
five mental strengths: the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the
strength of awareness, the strength of concentration and the strength of
wisdom, to him all these wholesome qualities will not decrease!” “Give me another analogy!” ‘‘It is, great King, those doing physical work
using their physical strength depend on the earth, and can work only in
dependence on the earth. In the same way, O’King, a spiritual practitioner on
the base of sīla, established in sīla and well founded in sīla develops the five mental strengths:
the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the strength of awareness, the
strength of concentration and the strength of wisdom, to him all these
wholesome qualities will not decrease!” “Give me another analogy!” “As a
planner of a town, desirous of building it, first clears the site, removes
tree-stumps and obstacles, levels the ground and only later on determines on
streets, squares, crossroads and so forth and in this way builds the town, in
the same way, O’King a spiritual practitioner on the base of sīla, established in sīla and well founded in sīla develops the five mental strengths:
the strength of faith, the strength of effort, the strength of awareness, the
strength of concentration and the strength of wisdom, to him all these
wholesome qualities will not decrease!” …… ***
1- Sīlalakkhaṇapañho: Sīla + lakkhaṇa + pañho: Sīla + characteristic + question