4👑☸ Cattāri Ariya-saccaṃ 四聖諦

4👑☸ → MN‍ → MN 20    🔝
 MN 20 – MN 20 Vitakka-saṇṭhāna: thought-composition
    MN 20.5 (Adhi­citta = syn.of samādhi, 5 nimittas are methods to remove unwanted thoughts)
        MN 20.5.1 (Replace unskillful with skillful thought ↔ fine peg replace coarse one)
        MN 20.5.2 (Seeing danger in un-skilful ↔ wear carcass around neck)
        MN 20.5.3 (Forget, give no attention ↔ close eyes, don’t see)
        MN 20.5.4 (Progressive slow down ↔ walking, standing...lying)
        MN 20.5.5 (Mind crush mind ↔ strong man crush weak one)
    MN 20.10 (conclusion)
        MN 20.10.1 (brief summary of 5 methods)
        MN 20.10.5 (Master of thought thinks what he wants, doesn’t think what he doesn’t want)

detailed TOC


pic for POJ MN 20 – MN 20 Vitakka-saṇṭhāna: thought-composition
    MN 20.5 (Adhi­citta = syn.of samādhi, 5 nimittas are methods to remove unwanted thoughts)
        MN 20.5.1 (Replace unskillful with skillful thought ↔ fine peg replace coarse one)
        MN 20.5.2 (Seeing danger in un-skilful ↔ wear carcass around neck)
        MN 20.5.3 (Forget, give no attention ↔ close eyes, don’t see)
        MN 20.5.4 (Progressive slow down ↔ walking, standing...lying)
        MN 20.5.5 (Mind crush mind ↔ strong man crush weak one)
    MN 20.10 (conclusion)
        MN 20.10.1 (brief summary of 5 methods)
        MN 20.10.5 (Master of thought thinks what he wants, doesn’t think what he doesn’t want)

20 – MN 20 Vitakka-saṇṭhāna: relaxing [unwanted] thoughts

Evaṃ me sutaṃ—​
 So I have heard:
ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati
 One time the-Blessed-One stayed in Sāvatthī,
jeta-vane anātha­piṇḍi­kassa ārāme.
 in Jeta’s-Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.
Tatra kho bhagavā
There the Blessed-One,
bhikkhū āmantesi:
 addressed the monks.
“bhikkhavo”ti.
 “Monks.”—
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū
 “Venerable sir,” those monks
bhagavato paccassosuṃ.
 replied…
Bhagavā etad-avoca:
 The Blessed-One said:

20.5 (Adhi­citta = syn.of samādhi, 5 nimittas are methods to remove unwanted thoughts)

“Adhi-citta-manu-yuttena, bhikkhave,
 “Pursuing the higher-mind,
bhikkhunā pañca nimittāni
 a monk should pay attention to five signs
kālena kālaṃ manasi kātabbāni.
 from time to time. [These 5 signs represent 5 methods to deal with bad thoughts.]
Katam'-āni pañca?
 What are these five [methods]?
pic for POJ

20.5.1 (Replace unskillful with skillful thought ↔ fine peg replace coarse one)

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 “If a monk [is meditating and]
yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma
 a [bad] sign appears,
yaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 a sign that a monk was paying attention to,
uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 giving rise to evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 A monk should
tamhā nimittā
 turn away from that [bad] sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi kātabbaṃ
 and should instead pay attention to a [good] type of sign
Kusal-ūpa­saṃhi­taṃ.
 which is connected-with-the-skillful.
Tassa tamhā nimittā
 By turning away from that [bad] sign
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto
 and paying attention to a [good] type of sign
kusa­lūpa­saṃhi­taṃ
 which is connected-with-the-skillful,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(simile of fine peg replacing coarse peg)

seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Just as
dakkho palagaṇḍo vā
 a dexterous carpenter or
palagaṇḍ-antevāsī vā
 a carpenter's-apprentice
sukhumāya āṇiyā oḷārikaṃ āṇiṃ
 would take a fine peg and aim it at a coarse peg,
abhi-nihaneyya
 striking it,
abhi-nīhareyya
 pushing it out,
abhi-nivatteyya;
 Leaving the [coarse peg] behind.
evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 Just like that [metaphor], when a monk [is meditating] and

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma
 a [bad] sign appears,
yaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 a sign that a monk was paying attention to,
uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 giving rise to evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 A monk should
tamhā nimittā
 turn away from that [bad] sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi kātabbaṃ
 and should instead pay attention to a [good] type of sign
Kusal-ūpa­saṃhi­taṃ.
 which is connected-with-the-skillful.
Tassa tamhā nimittā
 By turning away from that [bad] sign
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto
 and paying attention to a [good] type of sign
kusa­lūpa­saṃhi­taṃ
 which is connected-with-the-skillful,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].
[Replacing a bad sign with a good sign is the first of five methods of dealing with bad thoughts.]
pic for POJ

20.5.2 (Seeing danger in un-skilful ↔ wear carcass around neck)

[Now we will discuss the second of five methods.]
Tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 if a monk
tamhā nimittā
 turns away from a [bad] sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 and pays attention to a type of [good] sign
kusal-ūpa­saṃhi­taṃ
 connected with the skillful [using method 1],
uppajjant-eva pāpakā a-kusalā vitakkā
 yet there continues to arise evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then a monk [should apply method number 2]
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 on those [bad] thoughts.
ādīnavo upa-par-ikkhi­tabbo:
 He should equanimously-observe the danger [of bad thoughts. He lucidly-discerns that]:
‘iti-pi-me vitakkā a-kusalā,
 “My thoughts [caused by following a bad sign] are unskillful.”
iti-pi-me vitakkā s-āvajjā,
 “My [bad] thoughts are blameworthy.”
iti-pi-me vitakkā dukkha-vipākā’ti.
 “My [bad] thoughts result in suffering.”
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 Then [because of using method 2 on] those [bad] thoughts,
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 their dangers were lucidly-discerned with [the power of] equanimous-observation.
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(simile of wearing carcass around neck)

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Let’s say there is
itthī vā puriso vā
 a woman or a man
daharo yuvā
 who is young,
maṇḍana-kajātiko
 And fond of ornaments,
ahi-kuṇapena vā
 If a dead snake or
kukku­ra-kuṇa­pena vā ­
 or a dead dog
manus­sa-kuṇa­pena vā
 or a dead human
kaṇṭhe āsattena
 were worn around their neck [as an ornament],
aṭṭiyeyya
 they would be anxious,
harāyeyya
 ashamed,
jiguccheyya;
 disgusted;

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

tassa ce bhikkhuno
 In the same way [as that simile], if a monk
tamhāpi nimittā
 turns away from some [bad] sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 and pays attention to a type of [good] sign
kusal-ūpa­saṃhi­taṃ
 connected with the skillful [using method 1],
uppajjant-eva pāpakā a-kusalā vitakkā
 yet there continues to arise evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then a monk [should apply method number 2]
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 on those [bad] thoughts.
ādīnavo upa-par-ikkhi­tabbo:
 He should equanimously-observe the danger [of bad thoughts. He lucidly-discerns that]:
‘iti-pi-me vitakkā a-kusalā,
 “My thoughts [caused by following a bad sign] are unskillful.”
iti-pi-me vitakkā s-āvajjā,
 “My [bad] thoughts are blameworthy.”
iti-pi-me vitakkā dukkha-vipākā’ti.
 “My [bad] thoughts result in suffering.”
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 Then [because of using method 2 on] those [bad] thoughts,
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 their dangers were lucidly-discerned with [the power of] equanimous-observation.
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].
[Seeing the dangers of bad thoughts from following a bad sign is the second of five methods of dealing with bad thoughts.]
pic for POJ

20.5.3 (Forget, give no attention ↔ close eyes, don’t see)

[Now we will discuss the third of five methods.]
Tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 If a monk
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [applied method 2 on those bad] thoughts by
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 using the power of equanimous-observation to lucidly-discern the dangers of bad thoughts,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 and still there arises evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave,bhikkhunā
 Then a monk [should apply method number 3]
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 on those [bad] thoughts.
a-sati-a-manasi-kāro āpajjitabbo.
 He should endeavor to forget about and not pay attention to them.
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 As he [applies method number 3] on those [bad] thoughts,
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 forgetting about and not paying attention to them,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(simile of closing eyes to not see)

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Let’s say there is
cakkhumā puriso
 a man with good eyes
āpātha-gatānaṃ rūpānaṃ
 who does not want to see
a-dassana-kāmo
 some undesirable forms that came into their range of sight.
assa;
 ****;
so nimīleyya vā
 He would just close his eyes, or
aññena vā apalokeyya;
 he would look away.
evameva kho, bhikkhave,
 even so, monks,

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

tassa ce bhikkhuno
 In the same way [as that simile], if a monk
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [applied method 2 on those bad] thoughts by
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 using the power of equanimous-observation to lucidly-discern the dangers of bad thoughts,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 and still there arises evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave,bhikkhunā
 Then a monk [should apply method number 3]
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 on those [bad] thoughts.
a-sati-a-manasi-kāro āpajjitabbo.
 He should endeavor to forget about and not pay attention to them.
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 As he [applies method number 3] on those [bad] thoughts,
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 forgetting about and not paying attention to them,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].
[forgetting about and not paying attention to bad thoughts is the third of five methods of dealing with bad thoughts.]
pic for POJ

20.5.4 (Progressive slow down ↔ walking, standing...lying)

[Now we will discuss the fourth of five methods.]
Tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 If a monk
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [applied method 3 on those bad] thoughts by
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 forgetting about and not paying attention to them,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 and still there arises evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 Then the monk should handle
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 those [bad] thoughts by
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-kātabbaṃ.
 relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts.
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 If he handles those [bad] thoughts by
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(simile of walking, standing, ...)

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Let’s say
puriso sīghaṃ gaccheyya.
 a man is walking quickly.
Tassa evamassa:
 Then he thinks:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ sīghaṃ gacchāmi?
 'Why am I walking quickly?
Yannūn-āhaṃ saṇikaṃ gaccheyyan’ti.
 why don’t I walk slowly?'
So saṇikaṃ gaccheyya.
 Then he walks slowly.
Tassa evamassa:
 Then he thinks:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ saṇikaṃ gacchāmi?
 'Why am I walking slowly?
Yannūn-āhaṃ tiṭṭheyyan’ti.
 Why don’t I stand?'
So tiṭṭheyya.
 Then he stands.
Tassa evamassa:
 Then he thinks:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ ṭhito?
 'Why am I standing?
Yannūnāhaṃ nisīdeyyan’ti.
 Why don’t I sit?'
So nisīdeyya.
 Then he sits.
Tassa evamassa:
 Then he thinks:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ nisinno?
 'Why am I sitting?
Yannūnāhaṃ nipajjeyyan’ti.
 Why don’t I lie down?'
So nipajjeyya.
 Then he lies down.
Evañhi so, bhikkhave,
 In such a way, monks,
puriso oḷārikaṃ oḷārikaṃ iriyāpathaṃ abhinivajjetvā
 The man removes a coarser [more energetically intensive posture]
sukhumaṃ sukhumaṃ iriyāpathaṃ kappeyya.
 and adopts a finer [more relaxed] posture.
Evameva kho, bhikkhave,
 Just like that [metaphor],

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

tassa ce bhikkhuno
when a monk [is meditating] and he
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [applied method 3 on those bad] thoughts by
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 forgetting about and not paying attention to them,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 and still there arises evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 Then the monk should handle
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 those [bad] thoughts by
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-kātabbaṃ.
 relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts.
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 If he handles those [bad] thoughts by
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].
[relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts is the fourth of five methods of dealing with bad thoughts.]
pic for POJ

20.5.5 (Mind crush mind ↔ strong man crush weak one)

[Now we will discuss the fifth of five methods.]
“tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 “If a monk deals with
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 those [bad] thoughts by
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 and still there arises evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then,
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue pressed up against the roof of the mouth,
cetasā cittaṃ
 Using willpower to control his own mind,
abhi-niggaṇhitabbaṃ
 he should force it into submission,
abhi-nippīḷetabbaṃ
 crush it,
Abhi-santāpetabbaṃ.
 torment it.
tassa
If, while he is doing this
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue pressed up against the roof of the mouth,
cetasā cittaṃ
 Using willpower to control his own mind,
Abhi-niggaṇhato
 forcing it into submission,
Abhi-nippīḷayato
 crushing it,
Abhi-santāpayato
 tormenting it,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(simile of strong man crushing weak man)

seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Let’s say
balavā puriso dub-balataraṃ purisaṃ
 a powerful man [approached a] weak man
sīse vā gale vā khandhe vā gahetvā
 and grabbed him by the head, or neck, or shoulders
abhi-niggaṇheyya
 forcing him into submission,
abhi-nippīḷeyya
 crushing him,
abhi-santāpeyya;
 tormenting him;

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

evameva kho, bhikkhave,
 Just like that [metaphor],
tassa ce bhikkhuno
 if a monk [applied method 4] on
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 those [bad] thoughts by
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 and still there arises evil unskillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then,
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue pressed up against the roof of the mouth,
cetasā cittaṃ
 Using willpower to control his own mind,
abhi-niggaṇhitabbaṃ
 he should force it into submission,
abhi-nippīḷetabbaṃ
 crush it,
Abhi-santāpetabbaṃ.
 torment it.
tassa
If, while he is doing this
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue pressed up against the roof of the mouth,
cetasā cittaṃ
 Using willpower to control his own mind,
Abhi-niggaṇhato
 forcing it into submission,
Abhi-nippīḷayato
 crushing it,
Abhi-santāpayato
 tormenting it,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].
[Using willpower to control his own mind is the fifth of five methods of dealing with bad thoughts.]

20.10 (conclusion)

[In conclusion, we will briefly summarize the five methods of relaxing unwanted thoughts.]

20.10.1 (brief summary of 5 methods)

(1.)

Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
If a monk [is meditating and]
yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma
 a [bad] sign appears,
yaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 a sign that a monk was paying attention to,
uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 giving rise to evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
Tassa tamhā nimittā
 By turning away from that [bad] sign
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto
 and paying attention to a [good] type of sign
kusa­lūpa­saṃhi­taṃ
 which is connected-with-the-skillful,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(2.)

Tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [the second method of dealing with bad] thoughts is this:
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 their dangers were lucidly-discerned with [the power of] equanimous-observation.
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(3.)

tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [the third method of dealing with bad] thoughts is this:
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 forgetting about and not paying attention to them,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(4.)



tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [the fourth method of dealing with bad] thoughts is this:
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 relaxing the process of fabricating thoughts,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

(5.)



tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [the fifth method of dealing with bad] thoughts is this:
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue pressed up against the roof of the mouth,
cetasā cittaṃ
 Using willpower to control his own mind,
Abhi-niggaṇhato
 forcing it into submission,
Abhi-nippīḷayato
 crushing it,
Abhi-santāpayato
 tormenting it,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 Connected-with-delusion.
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 are abandoned and come to an end.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 With that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally his mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 Becomes still, settles down,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 Becomes singular [in focus], undistractible & lucid [in the 4 jhānas].

20.10.5 (Master of thought thinks what he wants, doesn’t think what he doesn’t want)

ayaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu
 A monk [skilled in these 5 methods] is called
vasī vitakka-pariyāya-pathesu.
 a master of the ways of thought.
yaṃ vitakkaṃ ākaṅkhissati
 Whatever thoughts he wishes [to think],
taṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkessati,
 he thinks those thoughts.
yaṃ vitakkaṃ n-ākaṅkhissati
 Whatever thoughts he does not wish [to think],
na taṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkessati.
 he doesn’t think those thoughts.
ac-checchi taṇhaṃ,
 Fully cutting off craving,
vivattayi saṃyojanaṃ,
 Having Flung away the fetters,
sammā mān-ābhisamayā
 With the Right penetration of conceit,
anta-m-akāsi dukkhassā”ti.
 He has reached the end of suffering."
♦ idam-avoca bhagavā.
 This was what the Blessed one said.
attamanā te bhikkhū
 The monks were satisfied and
bhagavato bhāsitaṃ abhi-nandunti.
 delighted in the Blessed one’s words.
♦ vitakka-saṇṭhāna-suttaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ
 The discourse on the relaxation of [unwanted] thoughts is finished.
(end of sutta⏹️)


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