While Walking
This was said by the Lord…
“Bhikkhus, if while walking a sensual thought or a thought of ill will or an aggressive thought arises in a bhikkhu, and if he tolerates it and does not reject it, does not dispel it and get rid of it and bring it to an end, that bhikkhu—who in such a manner is lacking in ardour and unafraid of wrongdoing—is called constantly lazy and indolent. If while standing … If while sitting … If while lying down a sensual thought or a thought of ill will or an aggressive thought arises in a bhikkhu, and if he tolerates it and does not reject it … that bhikkhu is called constantly lazy and indolent.
“But if while walking … standing … sitting … lying down a sensual thought or a thought of ill will or an aggressive thought arises in a bhikkhu and he does not tolerate it, but rejects it, dispels it, gets rid of it, and brings it to an end, that bhikkhu—who in such a manner is ardent and afraid of wrongdoing—is called constantly energetic and resolute.”
Whether walking or standing,
Sitting or lying down
Whoever thinks such thoughts
That are evil and worldly—
He is following a wrong path,
Infatuated with delusive things.
Such a bhikkhu cannot reach
Enlightenment which is supreme.
Whether walking or standing,
Sitting or lying down,
Whoever overcomes these thoughts,
Delighting in the quelling of thoughts—
Such a bhikkhu is able to reach
Enlightenment which is supreme.
- Translator: John D. Ireland
- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato
Walking
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“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 them, but give them up, get rid of them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.
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.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Whether walking or standing,
sitting or lying down,
one who thinks a bad thought
to do with the lay life
is practicing the wrong way,
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.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.
