an.5.96 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

One Who Retains What He Has Heard

“Endowed with five qualities, a monk pursuing mindfulness of breathing will in no long time penetrate the Unprovoked [release]. Which five?

“He is a person who imposes only a little [on others]: one of few duties & projects, easy to support, easily contented with the requisites of life.

“He is a person who eats only a little food, committed to not indulging his stomach.

“He is a person of only a little sloth, committed to wakefulness.

“He is a person of much learning, who has retained what he heard, has stored what he has heard. Whatever teachings are admirable in the beginning, admirable in the middle, admirable in the end, that—in their meaning & expression—proclaim the holy life that is entirely complete & pure: those he has listened to often, retained, discussed, accumulated, examined with his mind, and well-penetrated in terms of his views.

“He reflects on the mind as it is released.

“Endowed with these five qualities, a monk pursuing mindfulness of breathing will in no long time penetrate the Unprovoked.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

Remembering What You’ve Learned

“Mendicants, a mendicant cultivating mindfulness of breathing who has five things will soon penetrate the unshakable.
What five?
It’s when a mendicant has few requirements and duties, and is unburdensome and contented with life’s necessities.
They eat little, not devoted to filling their stomach.
They are rarely drowsy, and are dedicated to wakefulness.
They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically.
They review the extent of their mind’s freedom.
A mendicant cultivating mindfulness of breathing who has these five things will soon penetrate the unshakable.”