Ten Reflections

Dasa ime bhikkhave dhammā,

Pabbajitena abhiṇhaṃ 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 maṃ anuvicca viññū sabrahma-cārī sīlato na upavadantīti?

Can my knowledgeable 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. Yaṃ kammaṃ karissāmi kalyāṇaṃ vā pāpakaṃ 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'haṃ 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'haṃ 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 abhiṇhaṃ paccavekkhitabbāti.

These are the ten things on which those gone forth should frequently reflect.