an.4.11 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Walking

(1) “Bhikkhus, if a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a bhikkhu while walking, and he tolerates it, does not abandon it, dispel it, terminate it, and obliterate it, then that bhikkhu is said to be devoid of ardor and moral dread; he is constantly and continuously lazy and lacking in energy while walking.

(2) “If a sensual thought … arises in a bhikkhu while standing … (3) If a sensual thought … arises in a bhikkhu while sitting … (4) If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a bhikkhu while wakefully lying down, and he tolerates it, does not abandon it, dispel it, terminate it, and obliterate it, then that bhikkhu is said to be devoid of ardor and moral dread; he is constantly and continuously lazy and lacking in energy while wakefully lying down.

(1) “But, bhikkhus, if a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a bhikkhu while walking, and he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it, then that bhikkhu is said to be ardent and to dread wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and resolute while walking.

(2) “If a sensual thought … arises in a bhikkhu while standing … (3) If a sensual thought … arises in a bhikkhu while sitting … (4) If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a bhikkhu while wakefully lying down, and he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it, then that bhikkhu is said to be ardent and to dread wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and resolute while walking.”

Whether walking or standing,
sitting or lying down,
one who thinks bad thoughts
connected with the household life
has entered upon a dire path,
infatuated by delusive things:
such a bhikkhu cannot reach
the highest enlightenment.

But one who, whether walking,
standing, sitting, or lying down,
has calmed his thoughts
and delights in the stilling of thought:
a bhikkhu such as this can reach
the highest enlightenment.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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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 determined’ 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 determined’ when lying down while awake.”
Whether walking or standing,
sitting or lying down,
if you think a bad thought
to do with the lay life,
you’re on the wrong path,
lost among things that delude.
Such a mendicant is incapable
of touching 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 touching the highest awakening.”