DUTHIYA ANĀGATABHAYA SUTTA: SECOND DISCOURSE ON FUTURE DANGERS
Content of Duthiya anāgatabhaya sutta
“Monks, consideration of these five future dangers is enough for a monk who is diligent, ardent and resolute, to live for the attaining of the un-attained, achieving the un-achieved and realising the un-realized.”
“What five?”
“There is a case where a monk reflects: ‘Currently, I am young, with black hair, blessed with the youth in the first stage of life. But the time will come when this body will become old. When one is old, it is not easy to pay attention to the Buddha’s teachings. It is not easy to live in remote dwellings in the forest or the wilderness. Before that unwelcome, undesirable and disagreeable thing happens, let me first make an effort the attain the un-attained, achieve the un-achieved and realize the un-realised, so that I will live in peace even when I am old.”
“This is the first future danger, consideration of which is enough for a monk who is diligent, ardent and resolute, to live for the attaining of the un-attained, achieving the un-achieved and realizing the union-realized
“Furthermore, a monk reflects: ‘Currently, I am free from any illness or discomfort, with good digestion, not too cold, not too hot, but just right. But the time will come when this body will be overcome with sickness. When one is sick, it is not easy to pay attention to the Buddha’s teachings. It is not easy to live in remote dwellings in the forest or the wilderness. Before that unwelcome, undesirable and disagreeable thing happens, let me first make an effort the attain the un-attained, achieve the un-achieved and realize the un-realized, so that I will live in peace even when I am sick.”
“This is the second future danger, consideration of which is enough for a monk who is diligent, ardent and resolute, to live for the attaining of the un-attained, achieving the un-achieved and realizing the union-realized.”
“Furthermore, a monk reflects: ‘Currently, there is plenty of food, it is easy to obtain alms food. So it is easy to maintain oneself by obtaining alms food. But when there is a famine, people will tend to move to where there is plenty of food and where they will live crowded and cramped together. When one is living crowded and cramped together, it is not easy to pay attention to the Buddha’s teachings. It is not easy to live in remote dwellings in the forest or the wilderness. Before that unwelcome, undesirable and disagreeable thing happens, let me first make an effort the attain the un-attained, achieve the un-achieved and realize the un-realized, so that I will live in peace even when there is a famine.”
“This is the third future danger, consideration of which is enough for a monk who is diligent, ardent and resolute, to live for the attaining of the un-attained, achieving the unachieved and realizing the union-realized.”
“Furthermore, a monk reflects: ‘Currently, people live in harmony, friendly towards each other, without quarrelling, blending like milk and water. But the time will come when there is danger and an invasion of savage tribes. When there is danger, people tend to move to where it is safe. When one is living crowded and cramped together, it is not easy to pay attention to the Buddha’s teachings. It is not easy to live in remote dwellings in the forest or the wilderness. Before that unwelcome, undesirable and disagreeable thing happens, let me first make an effort the attain the un-attained, achieve the un-achieved and realize the un-realized, so that I will live in peace even when there is danger.”
“This is the fourth future danger, consideration of which is enough for a monk who is diligent, ardent and resolute, to live for the attaining of the un-attained, achieving the unachieved and realizing the union-realized.”
“Furthermore, a monk reflects: ‘Currently, the Sangha live in harmony, friendly towards each other, without quarrelling, with one recitation. But the time will come when there is a split among the Sangha. When there is a split in the Sangha, it is not easy to pay attention to the Buddha’s teachings. It is not easy to live in remote dwellings in the forest or the wilderness. Before that unwelcome, undesirable and disagreeable thing happens, let me first make an effort the attain the un-attained, achieve the un-achieved and realize the un-realized, so that I will live in peace even when there is a split in the Sangha’.”
“This is the fifth future danger, consideration of which is enough for a monk who is diligent, ardent and resolute, to live for the attaining of the un-attained, achieving the un-achieved and realizing the union-realized.”
“Monks, these are the five future dangers consideration of which is enough for a monk who is diligent, ardent and resolute, to live for the attaining of the un-attained, achieving the unachieved and realizing the unrealized.”
- The message is addressed to bhikkhus, but it also applies to lay people. The first three points are inevitable for all beings, the fourth is a situation that will affect lay people more than bhikkhus, and the fifth can affect both. The teachings of Lord Buddha are precious and should not be overlooked. Socio-economic and political situations can affect many people’s Dhamma practice. The perfect example is Burma right now. The fourth situation applies to this country. A schism in the Sangha can have extremely damaging long-term consequences on the Sasana. This is why the one who provokes it has committed anantariya Kamma. Lord Buddha gave this discourse to inspire people to become ariyas. By reaching at least the sotāpanna/sakadagamin stage, no one will be able to drag us into micchādiṭṭhi during a schism of the Sangha. We will know the difference between Adhamma and Dhamma. Upon reaching the Anagami/Arahant stage, none of these five dangers will affect our state of mind. This is what Lord Buddha means by striving for the unattained. Of course, the ultimate goal is the arahant stage.