8.
The Second Discourse on Future Dangers
78.
"Monks, considering these five future dangers, it is fitting for a monk to dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.
Which five?
Here, monks, a monk considers thus:
'I am now young, a youth with jet-black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life.
But there comes a time when ageing touches this body.
For one who is old, overcome by ageing, it is not easy to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas, it is not easy to resort to remote forest and woodland lodgings, secluded lodgings.
Before that state comes upon me, undesirable, unpleasant, disagreeable;
come, let me beforehand arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised, so that endowed with that state, even when old I will dwell in comfort.'
This, monks, is the first future danger, considering which it is fitting for a monk to dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk considers thus: 'I am now free from illness, free from disease, endowed with digestion that is even, neither too cold nor too hot, middling, capable of striving. But there comes a time when illness touches this body. For one who is ill, overcome by illness, it is not easy to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas, it is not easy to resort to remote forest and woodland lodgings, secluded lodgings. Before that state comes upon me, undesirable, unpleasant, disagreeable; come, let me beforehand arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised, so that endowed with that state, even when ill I will dwell in comfort.' This, monks, is the second future danger, considering which it is fitting for a monk to dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk considers thus: 'Now there is plenty, good crops, almsfood easily obtained, it is easy to sustain oneself by gleaning and exertion. But there comes a time when there is famine, poor crops, almsfood difficult to obtain, it is not easy to sustain oneself by gleaning and exertion. During a famine, human beings move to where there is plenty. There, there is dwelling in company, dwelling in a crowd. When there is dwelling in company, dwelling in a crowd, it is not easy to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas, it is not easy to resort to remote forest and woodland lodgings, secluded lodgings. Before that state comes upon me, undesirable, unpleasant, disagreeable; come, let me beforehand arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised, so that endowed with that state, even during a famine I will dwell in comfort.' This, monks, is the third future danger, considering which it is fitting for a monk to dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk considers thus: 'Now human beings dwell in unity, being joyful, without contention, blended like milk and water, regarding one another with eyes of affection. But there comes a time when there is danger, a forest uprising, and the country-folk, having mounted their vehicles, wander about. When there is danger, human beings move to where there is security. There, there is dwelling in company, dwelling in a crowd. When there is dwelling in company, dwelling in a crowd, it is not easy to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas, it is not easy to resort to remote forest and woodland lodgings, secluded lodgings. Before that state comes upon me, undesirable, unpleasant, disagreeable; come, let me beforehand arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised, so that endowed with that state, even during danger I will dwell in comfort.' This, monks, is the fourth future danger, considering which it is fitting for a monk to dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk considers thus: 'At present the monastic community dwells in unity, being joyful, without contention, with common recitation, comfortably. But there comes a time when the monastic community splits. When the monastic community is split, it is not easy to attend to the teaching of the Buddhas, it is not easy to resort to remote forest and woodland lodgings, secluded lodgings. Before that state comes upon me, undesirable, unpleasant, disagreeable; come, let me arouse energy beforehand for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised, so that endowed with that state I will dwell comfortably even when the monastic community is split.' This, monks, is the fifth future danger, considering which it is fitting for a monk to dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.
"These, monks, are the five future dangers, considering which it is fitting for a monk to dwell diligent, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised." The eighth.