6.
The Second Discourse on a Warrior
76.
"Monks, there are these five warriors existing and found in the world.
Which five?
Here, monks, a certain warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, goes down into the massed battle.
He strives and endeavours in that battle.
Others kill him and finish him off while he is striving and endeavouring.
Such too, monks, is a certain warrior here.
This, monks, is the first warrior existing and found in the world.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, goes down into the massed battle. He strives and endeavours in that battle. Others wound him while he is striving and endeavouring, and they remove him; having removed him, they lead him to his relatives. He, being led by his relatives, without reaching his relatives, dies on the road. Such too, monks, is a certain warrior here. This, monks, is the second warrior existing and found in the world.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, goes down into the massed battle. He strives and endeavours in that battle. Others wound him while he is striving and endeavouring, and they remove him; having removed him, they lead him to his relatives. His relatives attend to him and look after him. He, being attended to and looked after by his relatives, dies from that very illness. Such too, monks, is a certain warrior here. This, monks, is the third warrior existing and found in the world.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, goes down into the massed battle. He strives and endeavours in that battle. Others wound him while he is striving and endeavouring, and they remove him; having removed him, they lead him to his relatives. His relatives attend to him and look after him. He, being attended to and looked after by his relatives, recovers from that illness. Such too, monks, is a certain warrior here. This, monks, is the fourth warrior existing and found in the world.
"Furthermore, monks, here a certain warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, goes down into the massed battle. He triumphed in battle, emerged victorious and settled at the head of the battlefield. Such too, monks, is a certain warrior here. This, monks, is the fifth warrior existing and found in the world. These, monks, are the five warriors existing and found in the world.
"So too, monks, there are these five persons comparable to warriors existing and found among monks. Which five? Here, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain village or market town. He, in the earlier period of the day, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, enters that very village or market town for almsfood with body unguarded, with speech unguarded, with mind unguarded, with mindfulness not established, with faculties unrestrained. He there sees a woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed. Having seen that woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed, lust assails his mind. He, with mind assailed by lust, without rejecting the training, without declaring his weakness, engages in sexual intercourse.
"Just as, monks, that warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, descends into battle massed for war, he strives and endeavours in that battle, and others kill him and finish him off while he is striving and endeavouring; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain person here. This, monks, is the first person similar to a warrior existing and found among monks.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain village or market town. He, in the earlier period of the day, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, enters that very village or market town for almsfood with body unguarded, with speech unguarded, with mind unguarded, with mindfulness not established, with faculties unrestrained. He there sees a woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed. Having seen that woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed, lust assails his mind. He, with mind assailed by lust, burns in body and burns in mind. He thinks thus: 'What if I were to go to the monastery and inform the monks: "I am obsessed by lust, friends, overcome by lust, I am not able to maintain the holy life; having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, I shall return to the lower life."' He, while going to the monastery, without reaching the monastery, on the way, having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, returns to the lower life.
"Just as, monks, that warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, descends into battle massed for war, he strives and endeavours in that battle, and others wound him while he is striving and endeavouring, and they carry him away; having removed him, they lead him to his relatives. He, being led by his relatives, without reaching his relatives, dies on the way; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain person here. This, monks, is the second person similar to a warrior existing and found among monks.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain village or market town. He, in the earlier period of the day, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, enters that very village or market town for almsfood with body unguarded, with speech unguarded, with mind unguarded, with mindfulness not established, with faculties unrestrained. He there sees a woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed. Having seen that woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed, lust assails his mind. He, with mind assailed by lust, burns in body and burns in mind. He thinks thus: 'What if I were to go to the monastery and inform the monks: "I am obsessed by lust, friends, overcome by lust, I am not able to maintain the holy life; having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, I shall return to the lower life."' He, having gone to the monastery, reports to the monks - 'I am overcome by lust, friend, afflicted by lust, I am not able to maintain the holy life; having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, I shall return to the lower life.'
His fellow monks in the holy life exhort and instruct him - 'Sensual pleasures, friend, have been declared by the Blessed One as having little enjoyment, much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a skeleton, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a slice of flesh, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a grass torch, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a charcoal pit, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a dream, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like borrowed goods, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like tree fruits, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a butcher's block, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a stake of spears, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a snake's head, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Let the venerable one delight in the holy life; let not the venerable one, having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, return to the lower life.'
When he was thus exhorted and instructed by his fellow monks in the holy life, he says thus - 'Although, friend, sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as having little enjoyment, much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater; yet I am indeed not able to maintain the holy life, having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, I shall return to the lower life.' He, having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, returns to the lower life.
"Just as, monks, that warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, descends into battle massed for war, he strives and endeavours in that battle, and others wound him while he is striving and endeavouring, and they carry him away; having carried him away, they lead him to his relatives, his relatives attend to him and look after him. He, being attended to and looked after by his relatives, dies from that very illness; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain person here. This, monks, is the third person similar to a warrior existing and found among monks.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain village or market town. He, in the earlier period of the day, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, enters that very village or market town for almsfood with body unguarded, with speech unguarded, with mind unguarded, with mindfulness not established, with faculties unrestrained. He there sees a woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed. Having seen that woman improperly dressed or improperly clothed, lust assails his mind. He, with mind assailed by lust, burns in body and burns in mind. He thinks thus: 'What if I were to go to the monastery and inform the monks: "I am obsessed by lust, friends, overcome by lust, I am not able to maintain the holy life; having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, I shall return to the lower life."' He, having gone to the monastery, reports to the monks - 'I am overcome by lust, friend, afflicted by lust, I am not able to maintain the holy life; having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, I shall return to the lower life.'
His fellow monks in the holy life exhort and instruct him - 'Sensual pleasures, friend, have been declared by the Blessed One as having little enjoyment, much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a skeleton, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a slice of flesh... etc. Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a grass torch... Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a pit of burning charcoal... Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a dream... Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like borrowed goods... Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like tree fruits... Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a butcher's block... Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a stake of spears... Sensual pleasures have been declared by the Blessed One as like a snake's head, having much suffering, much anguish, the danger here is greater. Let the venerable one delight in the holy life; let not the venerable one, having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, return to the lower life.'
When he was thus exhorted and instructed by his fellow monks in the holy life, he says thus - 'I will endeavour, friend, I will strive, friend, I will find delight, friend! I will now not, friend, having declared weakness in the training, having rejected the training, return to the lower life.'"
"Just as, monks, that warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, descends into battle massed for war, he strives and endeavours in that battle, and others wound him while he is striving and endeavouring, and they carry him away; having carried him away, they lead him to his relatives, his relatives attend to him and look after him. He, being attended to and looked after by his relatives, recovers from that illness; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain person here. This, monks, is the fourth person similar to a warrior, existing and found among monks.
"Furthermore, monks, a monk dwells in dependence on a certain village or market town. He, in the earlier period of the day, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, enters that very village or market town for almsfood with body guarded, with speech guarded, with mind guarded, with mindfulness established, with faculties restrained. He, having seen a form with the eye, is not one who grasps at signs, nor one who grasps at features. Since, if he were to dwell with the eye-faculty unrestrained, covetousness, displeasure, and evil unwholesome mental states would flow in upon him, he proceeds to restrain it; he guards the eye-faculty; he commits to restraint of the eye-faculty. Having heard a sound with the ear... Having smelled an odour with the nose. Having tasted a flavour with the tongue. having touched a tangible object with the body... Having cognised a mental object with the mind, he is not one who grasps at signs, nor one who grasps at features. Since, if he were to dwell with the mind faculty unrestrained, covetousness, displeasure, and evil unwholesome mental states would flow in upon him, he proceeds to restrain it; he guards the mind faculty; he commits to restraint of the mind faculty. He, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, resorts to a secluded lodging - a forest, the root of a tree, a mountain, a grotto, a mountain cave, a cemetery, a deep forest, an open space, a heap of straw. He, having gone to the forest, or having gone to the root of a tree, or having gone to an empty house, sits down, folding his legs crosswise, directing his body upright, having established mindfulness in front of him. He, having abandoned covetousness in the world... etc. He, having abandoned these five mental hindrances, impurities of the mind that weaken wisdom, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, etc. he enters and dwells in the fourth meditative absorption.
"When the mind is thus concentrated, pure, bright, without blemish, free from impurities, supple, wieldy, stable, and having attained imperturbability, he directs and inclines the mind towards the knowledge of the elimination of mental corruptions. He understands as it really is: 'This is suffering'... etc. He understands: ... there is no more coming back to any state of being.'"
"Just as, monks, that warrior, having taken up sword and shield, having fastened bow and quiver, descends into a massed battle, and triumphed in battle, emerged victorious and settled at the head of the battlefield; I say this person is similar to that, monks. Such too, monks, is a certain person here. This, monks, is the fifth person similar to a warrior existing and found among monks. These, monks, are the five persons similar to warriors existing and found among monks." The sixth.