an.10.2 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Volition

(1)–(2) “Bhikkhus, for a virtuous person, one whose behavior is virtuous, no volition need be exerted: ‘Let non-regret arise in me.’ It is natural that non-regret arises in a virtuous person, one whose behavior is virtuous.

(3) “For one without regret no volition need be exerted: ‘Let joy arise in me.’ It is natural that joy arises in one without regret.

(4) “For one who is joyful no volition need be exerted: ‘Let rapture arise in me.’ It is natural that rapture arises in one who is joyful.

(5) “For one with a rapturous mind no volition need be exerted: ‘Let my body be tranquil.’ It is natural that the body of one with a rapturous mind is tranquil.

(6) “For one tranquil in body no volition need be exerted: ‘Let me feel pleasure.’ It is natural that one tranquil in body feels pleasure.

(7) “For one feeling pleasure no volition need be exerted: ‘Let my mind be concentrated.’ It is natural that the mind of one feeling pleasure is concentrated.

(8) “For one who is concentrated no volition need be exerted: ‘Let me know and see things as they really are.’ It is natural that one who is concentrated knows and sees things as they really are.

(9) “For one who knows and sees things as they really are no volition need be exerted: ‘Let me be disenchanted and dispassionate.’ It is natural that one who knows and sees things as they really are is disenchanted and dispassionate.

(10) “For one who is disenchanted and dispassionate no volition need be exerted: ‘Let me realize the knowledge and vision of liberation.’ It is natural that one who is disenchanted and dispassionate realizes the knowledge and vision of liberation.

“Thus, bhikkhus, (9)–(10) the knowledge and vision of liberation is the purpose and benefit of disenchantment and dispassion; (8) disenchantment and dispassion are the purpose and benefit of the knowledge and vision of things as they really are; (7) the knowledge and vision of things as they really are is the purpose and benefit of concentration; (6) concentration is the purpose and benefit of pleasure; (5) pleasure is the purpose and benefit of tranquility; (4) tranquility is the purpose and benefit of rapture; (3) rapture is the purpose and benefit of joy; (2) joy is the purpose and benefit of non-regret; and (1) non-regret is the purpose and benefit of virtuous behavior.

“Thus, bhikkhus, one stage flows into the next stage, one stage fills up the next stage, for going from the near shore to the far shore.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Making a Wish

“Mendicants, an ethical person, who has fulfilled ethical conduct, need not make a wish:
‘May I have no regrets!’
It’s only natural that an ethical person has no regrets.
When you have no regrets you need not make a wish:
‘May I feel joy!’
It’s only natural that joy springs up when you have no regrets.
When you feel joy you need not make a wish:
‘May I experience rapture!’
It’s only natural that rapture arises when you’re joyful.
When your mind is full of rapture you need not make a wish:
‘May my body become tranquil!’
It’s only natural that your body becomes tranquil when your mind is full of rapture.
When your body is tranquil you need not make a wish:
‘May I feel bliss!’
It’s only natural to feel bliss when your body is tranquil.
When you feel bliss you need not make a wish:
‘May my mind be immersed in samādhi!’
It’s only natural for the mind to be immersed in samādhi when you feel bliss.
When your mind is immersed in samādhi you need not make a wish:
‘May I truly know and see!’
It’s only natural to truly know and see when your mind is immersed in samādhi.
When you truly know and see you need not make a wish:
‘May I become disillusioned and dispassionate!’
It’s only natural to become disillusioned and dispassionate when you truly know and see.
When you’re disillusioned and dispassionate you need not make a wish:
‘May I realize the knowledge and vision of freedom!’
It’s only natural to realize the knowledge and vision of freedom when you’re disillusioned and dispassionate.
And so, mendicants, the knowledge and vision of freedom is the purpose and benefit of disillusionment and dispassion.
Disillusionment and dispassion is the purpose and benefit of truly knowing and seeing.
Truly knowing and seeing is the purpose and benefit of immersion.
Immersion is the purpose and benefit of bliss.
Bliss is the purpose and benefit of tranquility.
Tranquility is the purpose and benefit of rapture.
Rapture is the purpose and benefit of joy.
Joy is the purpose and benefit of not having regrets.
Not having regrets is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics.
And so, mendicants, good qualities flow on and fill up from one to the other, for going from the near shore to the far shore.”