iti.46 Itivuttaka

The Benefits of the Training

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, live so as to realize the benefits of the training, the attainment of higher wisdom, the essence of release, and the control of mindfulness. Bhikkhus, if you live to realize the benefits of the training … one of two fruits is to be expected: final knowledge here and now or, there being some residual defilement, the state of non-returning.”

One who has completed the training,
Incapable of falling away,
Attained to the higher wisdom,
A seer of the end of birth—
That sage bears his final body,
And having left behind conceit,
He has gone beyond decay, I say.

Therefore ever delighting in meditation,
Concentrated, with ardent energy,
Seeing the end of birth, O bhikkhus,
Conquer Māra and his host,
And go beyond all birth and death.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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The Benefits of Training

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, live with training as benefit, with wisdom as overseer, with freedom as core, and with mindfulness as ruler.
A mendicant who lives in this way can expect one of two results:
enlightenment in the present life, or if there’s something left over, non-return.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“The training fulfilled, not liable to decline,
overseen by wisdom, seer of rebirth’s end;
that sage bears their final body;
they have disposed of Māra, I declare, and gone beyond old age.
Therefore be always enjoying absorption, immersed in samādhi,
energetic, seers of rebirth’s end.
Having overcome Māra and his armies, mendicants,
go beyond birth and death.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.