One who delights in personal existence does not have an auspicious death. One who delights in Nibbāna and gives up personal existence has an auspicious death.

There the venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus: "Friends, bhikkhus."

"Friend," the bhikkhus replied to the venerable Sāriputta. The venerable Sāriputta said this:

Delighting in Personal Existence

"Friends, a bhikkhu passes his time (dwells [viharati]) in such a way that he does not have an auspicious (fine, excellent [bhaddaka]) death. And how does a bhikkhu pass his time in such a way that he does not have an auspicious death?

1 Here, friends, a bhikkhu delights in work (takes pleasure in activity/work [kammārāma]), indulges in work, and is habitually devoted to work.

2 He delights in talk, indulges in talk, and is habitually devoted to talk.

3 He delights in sleep, indulges in sleep, and is habitually devoted to sleep.

4 He delights in company (takes pleasure in association [saṅgaṇikārāma]), indulges in company, and is habitually devoted to company.

5 He delights in bonding (takes pleasure in mingling and mixing [saṃsaggārāma]), indulges in bonding, and is habitually devoted to bonding.

6 He delights in mental proliferation (enjoys manifold ideas, various opinions, takes pleasure in conceptualization [papañcārāma]), indulges in mental proliferation, and is habitually devoted to mental proliferation.

Friends, when a bhikkhu passes his time in such a way, he does not have an auspicious death. This is called a bhikkhu who delights in personal existence [1], who has not given up personal existence to completely make an end of suffering.

Giving up Personal Existence

Friends, a bhikkhu passes his time in such a way that he has an auspicious death. And how does a bhikkhu pass his time in such a way that he has an auspicious death?

1 Here, friends, a bhikkhu does not delight in work, does not indulge in work, and is not habitually devoted to work.

2 He does not delight in talk, does not indulge in talk, and is not habitually devoted to talk.

3 He does not delight in sleep, does not indulge in sleep, and is not habitually devoted to sleep.

4 He does not delight in company, does not indulge in company, and is not habitually devoted to company.

5 He does not delight in bonding, does not indulge in bonding, and is not habitually devoted to bonding.

6 He does not delight in mental proliferation, does not indulge in mental proliferation, and is not habitually devoted to mental proliferation.

When a bhikkhu passes his time in such a way, he has an auspicious death. This is called a bhikkhu who delights in Nibbāna [2], who has given up personal existence to completely make an end of suffering.

Verse

Whoever is engaged in mental proliferation,

who is delighted with mental proliferation;

Fails to attain Nibbāna,

the unsurpassed security from bondage.

But whoever, having abandoned mental proliferation,

delights in the state free from mental proliferation;

He attains Nibbāna,

the unsurpassed security from bondage.

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[1] personal existence = individual identity, embodied being, view that one is the owner of the body and mind [sakkāya]. This is one of the first fetters that one has to understand and work towards.

[2] Nibbāna = complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]

Related Teachings:

• Intoxicated with Vanity of Youth, Health and Life (AN 3.31) - In this teaching, the Buddha recounts his delicate bringing up, and warns on the three intoxications: of youth, health, and life.

• Sensuality is subject to time, of much stress (SN 1.20) - A deity tries to persuade a monk to first enjoy sensual pleasures and then go forth.

• Three unwholesome thoughts (ITI 80) - The Buddha shares the three unwholesome thoughts - 1) concerning one's reputation, 2) concerning acquisitions, respect, and popularity, and 3) associated with inappropriate concern for others.