So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!” “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied. “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this: Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mendicants, when a mendicant has not given up five kinds of hard-heartedness and severed five shackles of the heart, it’s not possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training. “Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pañca cetokhilā appahīnā, pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

What are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up? Katamāssa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti? Firstly, a mendicant has doubts about the Teacher. They’re uncertain, undecided, and lacking confidence. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati. This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the first kind of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant has doubts about the teaching … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati …pe… This is the second kind of hard-heartedness. evamassāyaṁ dutiyo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

They have doubts about the Saṅgha … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saṅghe kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati …pe… This is the third kind of hard-heartedness. evamassāyaṁ tatiyo cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

They have doubts about the training … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sikkhāya kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sikkhāya kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the fourth kind of hard-heartedness. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetokhilo appahīno hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is angry and upset with their spiritual companions, resentful and closed off. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto. This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu kupito hoti anattamano āhatacitto khilajāto, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the fifth kind of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo appahīno hoti. These are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they haven’t given up. Imāssa pañca cetokhilā appahīnā honti.

What are the five shackles of the heart they haven’t severed? Katamāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti? Firstly, a mendicant isn’t free of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho. This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme avītarāgo hoti avigatacchando avigatapemo avigatapipāso avigatapariḷāho avigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the first shackle of the heart they haven’t severed. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant isn’t free of greed for the body … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye avītarāgo hoti …pe… This is the second shackle of the heart. evamassāyaṁ dutiyo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant isn’t free of greed for form … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu rūpe avītarāgo hoti …pe… This is the third shackle of the heart. evamassāyaṁ tatiyo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

They eat as much as they like until their belly is full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the fourth heart shackle. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti.

They lead the spiritual life hoping to be reborn in one of the orders of gods, thinking: ‘By this precept or observance or fervent austerity or spiritual life, may I become one of the gods!’ Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti. This being so, their mind doesn’t incline toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti, tassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the fifth shackle of the heart they haven’t severed. Yassa cittaṁ na namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho asamucchinno hoti. These are the five shackles of the heart they haven’t severed. Imāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā honti.

When a mendicant has not given up these five kinds of hard-heartedness and severed these five shackles of the heart, it’s not possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training. Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ime pañca cetokhilā appahīnā, ime pañca cetasovinibandhā asamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

When a mendicant has given up these five kinds of hard-heartedness and severed these five shackles of the heart, it is possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, and maturity in this teaching and training. Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pañca cetokhilā pahīnā, pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

What are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they’ve given up? Katamāssa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti? Firstly, a mendicant has no doubts about the Teacher. They’re not uncertain, undecided, or lacking confidence. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati. This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satthari na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the first kind of hard-heartedness they’ve given up. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant has no doubts about the teaching … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhamme na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati …pe… evamassāyaṁ dutiyo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

They have no doubts about the Saṅgha … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saṅghe na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati …pe… evamassāyaṁ tatiyo cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

They have no doubts about the training … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sikkhāya na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati adhimuccati sampasīdati …pe… evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetokhilo pahīno hoti.

They’re not angry and upset with their spiritual companions, not resentful or closed off. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti na anattamano anāhatacitto akhilajāto. This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabrahmacārīsu na kupito hoti na anattamano anāhatacitto akhilajāto, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the fifth kind of hard-heartedness they’ve given up. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetokhilo pahīno hoti. These are the five kinds of hard-heartedness they’ve given up. Imāssa pañca cetokhilā pahīnā honti.

What are the five shackles of the heart they’ve severed? Katamāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti? Firstly, a mendicant is rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for sensual pleasures. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho. This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāme vītarāgo hoti vigatacchando vigatapemo vigatapipāso vigatapariḷāho vigatataṇho, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the first shackle of the heart they’ve severed. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ paṭhamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant is rid of greed for the body … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye vītarāgo hoti …pe…

They’re rid of greed for form … rūpe vītarāgo hoti …pe…

They don’t eat as much as they like until their belly is full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing … na yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā seyyasukhaṁ passasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ anuyutto viharati, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ catuttho cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti.

They don’t lead the spiritual life hoping to be reborn in one of the orders of gods, thinking: ‘By this precept or observance or fervent austerity or spiritual life, may I become one of the gods!’ Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti. This being so, their mind inclines toward keenness, commitment, persistence, and striving. Yo so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu na aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati: ‘imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā’ti, tassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya. This is the fifth shackle of the heart they’ve severed. Yassa cittaṁ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya, evamassāyaṁ pañcamo cetasovinibandho susamucchinno hoti. These are the five shackles of the heart they’ve severed. Imāssa pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā honti.

When a mendicant has given up these five kinds of hard-heartedness and severed these five shackles of the heart, it is possible for them to achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training. Yassa kassaci, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ime pañca cetokhilā pahīnā, ime pañca cetasovinibandhā susamucchinnā, so vatimasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

They develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort … So chandasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort … vīriyasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort … cittasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort. And the fifth is sheer vigor. vīmaṁsāsamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti, ussoḷhīyeva pañcamī. A mendicant who possesses these fifteen factors, including vigor, is capable of breaking out, becoming awakened, and reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. Sa kho so, bhikkhave, evaṁ ussoḷhipannarasaṅgasamannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo abhinibbidāya, bhabbo sambodhāya, bhabbo anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya. Suppose there was a chicken with eight or ten or twelve eggs. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni aṭṭha vā dasa vā dvādasa vā. And she properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated. Tānassu kukkuṭiyā sammā adhisayitāni sammā pariseditāni sammā paribhāvitāni. Even if that chicken doesn’t wish: Kiñcāpi tassā kukkuṭiyā na evaṁ icchā uppajjeyya: ‘If only my chicks could break out of the eggshell with their claws and beak and hatch safely!’ ‘aho vatime kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjeyyun’ti. Still they can break out and hatch safely. Atha kho bhabbāva te kukkuṭapotakā pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjituṁ.

In the same way, a mendicant who possesses these fifteen factors, including vigor, is capable of breaking out, becoming awakened, and reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.” Evameva kho, bhikkhave, evaṁ ussoḷhipannarasaṅgasamannāgato bhikkhu bhabbo abhinibbidāya, bhabbo sambodhāya, bhabbo anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāyā”ti.

That is what the Buddha said. Idamavoca bhagavā. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Cetokhilasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.