7.
The First Discourse on Future Dangers
77.
"Monks, considering these five future dangers, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling 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 forest-dwelling monk considers thus - 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, a snake might bite me, or a scorpion might bite me, or a centipede might bite me; on account of that there would be death for me, that would be an obstacle for me; come, let me arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.' This, monks, is the first future danger, considering which it is fitting for a forest-dwelling 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 forest-dwelling monk considers thus - 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might stumble and fall, or the food I have eaten might make me ill, or my bile might become disturbed, or my phlegm might become disturbed, or cutting winds might become disturbed; on account of that there would be death for me, that would be an obstacle for me; come, let me arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.' This, monks, is the second future danger, considering which it is fitting for a forest-dwelling 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 forest-dwelling monk considers thus - 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might encounter fierce beasts - a lion, or a tiger, or a leopard, or a bear, or a hyena - they might deprive me of life; on account of that there would be death for me, that would be an obstacle for me; come, let me arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.' This, monks, is the third future danger, considering which it is fitting for a forest-dwelling 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 forest-dwelling monk considers thus - 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might encounter young men who have done their deed or who have not done their deed - they might deprive me of life; on account of that there would be death for me, that would be an obstacle for me; come, let me arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.' This, monks, is the fourth future danger, considering which it is fitting for a forest-dwelling 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 forest-dwelling monk considers thus - 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. There are indeed in the forest fierce non-human spirits - they might deprive me of life; on account of that there would be death for me, that would be an obstacle for me; come, let me arouse energy for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised.' This, monks, is the fifth future danger, considering which it is fitting for a forest-dwelling 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 forest-dwelling 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 seventh.