Itivuttaka 37

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Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

37. Somanassasuttam (Sense of Urgency & Exertion Required on the Path )

This was said by the Lord Buddha(Bhagavata), said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Endowed with two things, monks, a monk lives full of ease in the here-&-now and is appropriately aroused for the ending of the asavas wants/desires). Which two? A sense of urgency[1] toward things that should inspire urgency and, feeling urgency, appropriate exertion. Endowed with two things, a monk lives full of ease in the here-&-now and is appropriately aroused for the ending of the asavas(wants/desires).”

Feeling urgency right here toward what should inspire urgency, the wise, masterful, ardently meditating monk should investigate with direct-understanding(panna). One who lives thus ardently, not restlessly, at peace, committed to awareness-tranquility, would attain the ending of suffering & suffering.

NOTE:

1. Urgency = samvega. Other meanings for this term include awe, shock, dismay, and alienation. In the Pali Canon, this emotion is often accompanied by fear and a sensed need to escape from overwhelming danger. The things that should inspire urgency are the first four of the five reflections listed in AN 5:57: “I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging. I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness. I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death. I will grow different, separate from all that is dear & appealing to me.” Appropriate exertion is indicated by the fifth reflection: “I am the owner of actions, heir to actions, born of actions, related through actions, and have actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.”