At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Monastery. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, how could a mendicant live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?” “Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti?

“It’s when a mendicant is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. “Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; That’s how a mendicant could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.” ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way for a mendicant to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?” “Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti?

“There could, Ānanda. “Siyā, ānanda. It’s when a mendicant is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; That’s how a mendicant could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.” ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way for a mendicant to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?” “Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti?

“There could, Ānanda. “Siyā, ānanda. It’s when a mendicant is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; And they’re not well-known, but aren’t bothered by that. apaññāto ca hoti, tena ca apaññātakena no paritassati; That’s how a mendicant could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.” ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way for a mendicant to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?” “Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti?

“There could, Ānanda. “Siyā, ānanda. It’s when a mendicant is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; And they’re not well-known, but aren’t bothered by that. apaññāto ca hoti, tena ca apaññātakena no paritassati; And they get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. catunnañca jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī; That’s how a mendicant could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community.” ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti.

“But sir, might there be another way for a mendicant to live comfortably while staying in a monastic community?” “Siyā pana, bhante, aññopi pariyāyo yathā bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyyā”ti?

“There could, Ānanda. “Siyā, ānanda. It’s when a mendicant is accomplished in their own ethical conduct, but they don’t urge others to be ethical. Yato kho, ānanda, bhikkhu attanā sīlasampanno hoti, no paraṁ adhisīle sampavattā; And they watch themselves, but don’t watch others. attānupekkhī ca hoti, no parānupekkhī; And they’re not well-known, but aren’t bothered by that. apaññāto ca hoti, tena ca apaññātakena no paritassati; And they get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty. catunnañca jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī; And they realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. āsavānañca khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati; That’s how a mendicant could live comfortably while staying in a monastic community. ettāvatāpi kho, ānanda, bhikkhu saṅghe viharanto phāsuṁ vihareyya.

And I say that there is no better or finer way of living comfortably than this.” Imamhā cāhaṁ, ānanda, phāsuvihārā añño phāsuvihāro uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthīti vadāmī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.