Ten Reflections
Dasa ime bhikkhave dhammā,
Pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbā,
Those gone forth should frequently reflect on these ten things.
Katame dasa?
Which ten?
1) Vevaṇṇiyamhi ajjhūpagatoti.
I have left the social order.
2) Parapaṭibaddhā me jīvikāti.
My life needs the support of others.
3) Añño me ākappo karaṇīyoti.
I must change the way I behave.
4) Kacci nu kho me attā sīlato na upavadatīti?
Can I fault myself with regard to the precepts?
5) Kacci nu kho maṁ anuvicca viññū sabrahma-cārī sīlato na upavadantīti?
Can my observant fellows in the holy life, on close examination, fault me with regard to the precepts?
6) Sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānā-bhāvo vinā-bhāvoti.
I will grow different, separate from all that is dear & appealing to me.
7) Kammassakomhi kamma-dāyādo kamma-yoni kamma-bandhu kamma-paṭisaraṇo. Yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā tassa dāyādo bhavissāmīti.
I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and live dependent on my actions. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.
8) Katham-bhūtassa me rattin-divā vītipatantīti?
What am I becoming as the days & the nights fly past?
9) Kacci nu kho’haṁ suññāgāre abhiramāmīti?
Is there an empty dwelling in which I delight?
10) Atthi nu kho me uttari-manussa-dhammā, alam-ariya-ñāṇa-dassana-viseso adhigato, so’haṁ pacchime kāle sabrahma-cārīhi puṭṭho, na maṅku bhavissāmīti?
Have I attained a superior human state, a truly noble knowledge & vision, such that when my fellows in the holy life ask me near the hour of my death, I will not feel ashamed?
Ime kho bhikkhave dasa dhammā pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbāti.
These are the ten things on which those gone forth should frequently reflect.