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- Anguttara Nikaya III.93
- Accayika Sutta
- Urgent
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
"There are these three urgent duties of a farming householder. Which three?
"There is the case where a farming householder quickly gets his field well-plowed
& well-harrowed. Having quickly gotten his field well-plowed & well-harrowed, he
quickly plants the seed. Having quickly planted the seed, he quickly lets in the water
& then lets it out.
"These are the three urgent duties of a farming householder. Now, that farming
householder does not have the power or might [to say:] 'May my crops spring up today, may
the grains appear tomorrow, and may they ripen the next day.' But when the time has come,
the farming householder's crops spring up, the grains appear, and they ripen.
"In the same way, there are these three urgent duties of a monk. Which three? The
undertaking of heightened virtue, the undertaking of heightened mind, the undertaking of
heightened discernment. These are the three urgent duties of a monk. Now, that monk does
not have the power or might [to say:] 'May my mind be released from fermentations through
lack of clinging/sustenance today or tomorrow or the next day.' But when the time has
come, his mind is released from fermentations through lack of clinging/sustenance.
"Thus, monks, you should train yourselves: 'Strong will be our desire for the
undertaking of heightened virtue. Strong will be our desire for the undertaking of
heightened mind. Strong will be our desire for the undertaking of heightened discernment.'
That's how you should train yourselves."