AN6_45: Iṇa Sutta

Now, anyone with no conviction

in the discipline of the noble ones

—no sense of shame,

no sense of compunction—

contemplating evil actions,

doing wrong by way of body,

wrong by way of speech,

& wrong by way of the mind,

wants:

‘May they not

know about me.’

He creeps along in body,

speech, or mind,

piling up evil actions,

here & there,

again & again.

He,

with evil actions,

his wisdom weak,

knowing his own wrong-doing, is

a poor person, in debt.

Partaking of sensuality,

he suffers hardship.

Then they hound him—

painful mental resolves

born of remorse—

at home or in the wilderness.

He,

with evil actions,

his wisdom weak,

knowing his own wrong-doing,

goes to an animal womb

or is bound in hell:

the painful bond

from which the enlightened

are freed.

But one with confidence,

living at home,

making gifts of his belongings,

righteously-gained,

wins both goals:

advantage in the here & now,

& happiness in the world beyond.

The liberality of this householder

piles up merit.

Now, anyone with conviction

firmly established

in the discipline of the noble ones—

with a sense of shame,

of compunction,

discerning

& restrained by virtue—

is, in the discipline of the noble ones,

said to be living in ease.

Gaining a pleasure not of the flesh,

he determines on equanimity,

abandoning the five hindrances

—persistence constantly aroused—

entering the jhānas:

unified,

mindful,

astute.

Knowing this

as it has come to be

in the total ending of all fetters,

through everywhere

not-clinging,

his mind is      rightly released.

In him, Such, rightly released,

there is the knowledge,

in the total ending

of the fetters of becoming:

‘My release

is unprovoked.’1

That      is the highest knowledge

that,      the happiness unexcelled.

Sorrowless,

dustless,

at rest,

that

is release from debt.”