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Anguttara Nikaya

# AN 6.58 Āsava Sutta (Mental Contaminants) AN 6.58

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    [page 1]
    AN 6.58
    Āsava Sutta
    “Mental Contaminants”

    Translated by Bhikkhu Candana

    Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2022

    “Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu who possesses these six qualities is deserving of reverence, honor,
    hospitality, gifts, and of paying homage with one’s hands clasped together at the heart, truly the
    incomparable field of merit for the entire world. What are these six?
    “Here, Bhikkhus, through restraining himself, the Bhikkhu has abandoned those mental
    contaminants that have to be abandoned through restraining.
    Furthermore, by properly utilizing, the Bhikkhu has abandoned those mental contaminants that
    have to be abandoned through properly utilizing.
    Furthermore, by patiently enduring, the Bhikkhu has abandoned those mental contaminants that
    have to be abandoned through patiently enduring.
    Furthermore, by avoiding, the Bhikkhu has abandoned those mental contaminants that have to be
    abandoned through avoiding.
    Furthermore, by removing, the Bhikkhu has abandoned those mental contaminants that have to
    be abandoned through removing.
    Furthermore, by developing, the Bhikkhu has abandoned those mental contaminants that have to
    be abandoned through developing.
    a. “And how, Bhikkhus, are the mental contaminants abandoned in the Bhikkhu, through
    restraining?
    “Here Bhikkhus, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while continuously being
    restrained in his eye faculty. As a result, the mental contaminants that create agitation and
    imbalance for some other person whose eye faculty is unrestrained, simply do not occur for the
    Bhikkhu, who lives while continuously being restrained in his eye faculty.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while continuously being restrained
    in his ear faculty. As a result, the mental contaminants that create agitation and imbalance for
    some other person whose ear faculty is unrestrained, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who
    lives while continuously being restrained in his ear faculty.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while continuously being restrained
    in his nose faculty. As a result, the mental contaminants that create agitation and imbalance for

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    some other person whose nose faculty is unrestrained, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who
    lives while continuously being restrained in his nose faculty.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while continuously being restrained
    in his tongue faculty. As a result, the mental contaminants that create agitation and imbalance for
    some other person whose tongue faculty is unrestrained, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu,
    who lives while continuously being restrained in his tongue faculty.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while continuously being restrained
    in his body faculty. As a result, the mental contaminants that create agitation and imbalance for
    some other person whose body faculty is unrestrained, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who
    lives while continuously being restrained in his body faculty.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while continuously being restrained
    in his mind faculty. As a result, the mental contaminants that create agitation and imbalance for
    some other person whose mind faculty is unrestrained, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who
    lives while continuously being restrained in his mind faculty.
    Bhikkhus, this is how the mental contaminants are abandoned in the Bhikkhu through
    restraining.
    b. “And how, Bhikkhus, are the mental contaminants abandoned in the Bhikkhu through properly
    utilizing?
    “Here Bhikkhus, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while properly utilizing his
    robes only for the purpose of dispelling the cold, the sting of gadflies, mosquitoes, the wind, and
    to ward off heat, snakes, and the touch of other creeping things, as well as to cover up one’s
    private parts, while also being considerate of others.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while properly utilizing his alms
    food only for the purpose of supporting this body and its upkeep, while avoiding harm and
    having the energy for living the Holy Life, and not for the sake of enjoyment, nor for the gaining
    of physical beauty and attractiveness, nor for intoxication. In this way, the Bhikkhu considers: ‘I
    am giving up old tendencies and attachments to the body, while making sure I do not develop
    new ones. Thus, I will be at ease, while living a blameless and a healthy life.’
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while properly utilizing his dwelling
    place only for the purpose of dispelling the cold, the sting of gadflies, mosquitoes, the wind, and
    to ward off heat, snakes, and other creeping things, as well as to protect himself from rainstorms
    and rough weather, and for the purpose of practicing in seclusion.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while properly utilizing his
    medicinal requisites and provisions only for the purpose of dispelling any signs or feelings of
    discomfort and pain, and to sustain his health. As a result, the mental contaminants that create
    agitation and imbalance for some other person who does not properly utilize his requisites thus,
    simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who lives while properly utilizing them.

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    Bhikkhus, this is how the mental contaminants are abandoned in the Bhikkhu, through properly
    utilizing.
    c. “And how, Bhikkhus, are the mental contaminants abandoned in the Bhikkhu through
    patiently enduring?
    “Here, Bhikkhus, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while patiently enduring
    the cold, the heat, the sting of gadflies, mosquitoes, the wind, the snakes, and the touch of other
    creeping things, as well as being subjected to offensive remarks and hurtful comments by others;
    he perseveres with tolerance of any and all feelings that result from being harmed by
    unavoidable physical harm that he is exposed to, be they sharp, terrible, piercing, racking,
    torturing, mortifying, that could even end his life. As a result, the mental contaminants that
    create agitation and imbalance for some other person who does not patiently endure these
    difficult to bear experiences, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who lives while patiently
    enduring them.
    Bhikkhus, this is how the mental contaminants are abandoned in the Bhikkhu through patiently
    enduring.
    d. “And how, Bhikkhus, are the mental contaminants abandoned in the Bhikkhu through
    avoiding?
    “Here, Bhikkhus, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while avoiding a wild
    elephant, a wild horse, a wild bull, a wild dog, a serpent, an uneven road, a hedge of thorns, a pit,
    a precipice, the pool at the entrance of towns where men or women gather, a cesspit.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while avoiding to sit in unsuitable
    seats, or wandering without consideration of others or being inappropriate, or associating with
    evil friends, as well as avoiding to endanger the lives of his wise companions in the Holy Life, or
    in giving them a reason to suspect him of evil actions or unwholesome intentions. As a result, the
    mental contaminants that create agitation and imbalance for some other person who does not
    avoid these situations, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who lives while avoiding them.
    Bhikkhus, this is how the mental contaminants are abandoned in the Bhikkhu, through avoiding.
    e. “And how, Bhikkhus, are the mental contaminants abandoned in the Bhikkhu through
    removing?
    “Here, Bhikkhus, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while removing any arisen
    sensual thoughts, as he does not tolerate them at all and, instead, constantly focuses on
    destroying them, as he ceaselessly eradicates them.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while removing any arisen angry
    thoughts, as he does not tolerate them at all and, instead, constantly focuses on destroying them,
    as he ceaselessly eradicates them.

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    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while removing any arisen hateful
    thoughts, as he does not tolerate them at all and, instead, constantly focuses on destroying them,
    as he ceaselessly eradicates them.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while removing any arisen evil and
    unwholesome thoughts, as he does not tolerate them at all and, instead, constantly focuses on
    destroying them, as he ceaselessly eradicates them. As a result, the mental contaminants that
    create agitation and imbalance for some other person who does not remove these negative states
    of mind, simply do not occur for the Bhikkhu, who lives while removing them.
    Bhikkhus, this is how the mental contaminants are abandoned in the Bhikkhu through removing.
    f. “And how, Bhikkhus, are the mental contaminants abandoned in the Bhikkhu through
    developing?
    “Here, Bhikkhus, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while developing the
    Awakening factor of mindfulness, supported by seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and maturing in
    full release.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while developing the Awakening
    factor of investigation of states, supported by seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and maturing in
    full release.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while developing the Awakening
    factor of energy, supported by seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and maturing in full release.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while developing the Awakening
    factor of joy, supported by seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and maturing in full release.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while developing the Awakening
    factor of tranquility of the mind, supported by seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and maturing in
    full release.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while developing the Awakening
    factor of stability of the mind, supported by seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and maturing in full
    release.
    Further, with consistent radical reflection, the Bhikkhu lives while developing the Awakening
    factor of equanimity of the mind, supported by seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and maturing in
    full release. As a result, the mental contaminants that create agitation and imbalance for some
    other person who does not develop these lofty states of mind, simply do not occur for the
    Bhikkhu, who lives while developing them.
    “Bhikkhus, this is how the mental contaminants are abandoned in the Bhikkhu through
    developing.

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    “Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu who possesses these six qualities is deserving of reverence, honor,
    hospitality, gifts, and of paying homage with one’s hands clasped together at the heart, truly the
    incomparable field of merit for the entire world.”

    Sadhu
    Sadhu
    Sadhu

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