Numbered Discourses 4.11
- Walking
Walking
“Mendicants, suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while walking.
They tolerate it and don’t give it up, get rid of it, eliminate it, and obliterate it.
Such a mendicant is said to be ‘not keen or prudent, always lazy, and lacking energy’ when walking.
Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while standing …
sitting …
or when lying down while awake.
They tolerate it and don’t give it up, get rid of it, eliminate it, and obliterate it.
Such a mendicant is said to be ‘not keen or prudent, always lazy, and lacking energy’ when lying down while awake.
Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while walking.
They don’t tolerate it, but give it up, get rid of it, eliminate it, and obliterate it.
Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when walking.
Suppose a mendicant has a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought while standing …
sitting …
or when lying down while awake.
They don’t tolerate it, but give it up, get rid of it, eliminate it, and obliterate it.
Such a mendicant is said to be ‘keen and prudent, always energetic and resolute’ when lying down while awake.”
Whether walking or standing,
sitting or lying down,
if you think a bad thought
to do with the domestic life,
you’re on the wrong path,
lost among things that delude.
Such a mendicant is incapable
of experiencing the highest awakening.
But one who, whether standing or walking,
sitting or lying down,
has calmed their thoughts,
loving peace of mind;
such a mendicant is capable
of experiencing the highest awakening.”