Table of Contents

  • Synopsis
    • MN 20 Vitakka-saṇṭhāna-sutta
      • (Adhicitta = syn.of samādhi, 5 nimittas are methods to remove unwanted thoughts)
      • (1. Replace unskillful with skillful thought)
      • (2. Seeing danger in un-skilful)
      • (3. Forget, give no attention)
      • (4. Progressive slow down)
      • (5. Mind crush mind)
      • (conclusion)
      • (Master of thought)

Synopsis

Buddha teaches 5 progressive methods to remove unwanted thoughts.
1. Replace unskillful with skillful thought, simile of fine peg knocking out coarse peg.
2. Seeing danger in un-skilful, simile of wearing carcass.
3. Forget, give no attention, simile of closing eyes.
4. Progressive slow down, simile of walking, standing, sitting, lying down.
5. Mind crush mind, simile of strong man beating weak man.
One who can do this is a master (of) thought-order-pathways, and reaches destruction of suffering.

MN 20 Vitakka-saṇṭhāna-sutta

MN 20 Vitakka-saṇṭhāna-sutta
 MN 20 thought-composition-discourse
Evaṃ me sutaṃ—
 Thus I heard.
ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati
 One time the-Blessed-One, (at) Sāvatthī (he) dwelled
jeta-vane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
 (in) Jeta’s-Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.
Tatra kho bhagavā
 There indeed the-Blessed-One,
bhikkhū āmantesi:
 (to the) monks (he) addressed:
“bhikkhavo”ti.
 “Monks.”—
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū
 “Venerable sir,” those monks,
bhagavato paccassosuṃ.
 (to) the-Blessed-One (they) responded.
Bhagavā etad-avoca:
 The-Blessed-One {said}-this:

(Adhicitta = syn.of samādhi, 5 nimittas are methods to remove unwanted thoughts)

“Adhi-citta-manu-yuttena, bhikkhave,
 "(the) Higher-mind-,(in) pursuing (it), *********,
bhikkhunā pañca nimittāni
 a-monk, (to) five signs
kālena kālaṃ manasi kātabbāni.
 (from) time (to) time (his) mind should-attend.
Katam'-āni pañca?
 Which-(are)-these five?

(1. Replace unskillful with skillful thought)

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 “Here, monks, (for a) monk,
yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma
 some sign comes,
yaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 some sign (that he was) giving-attention (to),
uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 [causes] arising-of evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 Because-of-this, monks, (a) monk,
tamhā nimittā
 (away from that) sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi kātabbaṃ
 (towards) another sign (his) mind should-attend,
Kusal-ūpasaṃhitaṃ.
 (which is) connected-with-the-skillful.
Tassa tamhā nimittā
 Then [because of] that ***** ******
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto
 other sign attended-to
kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ
 [which is] connected-with-the-skillful,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(simile of fine peg replacing coarse peg)

seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Just-as, monks,
dakkho palagaṇḍo vā
 (a) dexterous carpenter or
palagaṇḍ-antevāsī vā
 (a) carpenter's-apprentice **
sukhumāya āṇiyā oḷārikaṃ āṇiṃ
 (with a) fine peg (aimed towards a) coarse peg,
abhi-nihaneyya
 (it) should-strike (it),
abhi-nīhareyya
 push-it-out,
abhi-nivatteyya;
 remain behind;
evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 like that, monks, (a) monk,

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma
 some sign comes,
yaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 some sign (that he was) giving-attention (to),
uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 [causes] arising-of evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 Because-of-this, monks, (a) monk,
tamhā nimittā
 (away from that) sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi kātabbaṃ
 (towards) another sign (his) mind should-attend,
Kusal-ūpasaṃhitaṃ.
 (which is) connected-with-the-skillful.
Tassa tamhā nimittā
 Then [because of] that ***** ******
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto
 other sign attended-to
kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ
 [which is] connected-with-the-skillful,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(2. Seeing danger in un-skilful)

Tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 Then if, monks, (a) monk,
tamhā nimittā
 (away from) some sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 (towards) another sign (his) mind-attends
kusal-ūpasaṃhitaṃ
 connected-with-the-skillful,
uppajjant-eva pāpakā a-kusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then, monks, (a) monk,
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts,
ādīnavo upa-par-ikkhitabbo:
 (their) danger (he) should-deeply-inspect:
‘iti-pi-me vitakkā a-kusalā,
 thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) un-skillful,
iti-pi-me vitakkā s-āvajjā,
 thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) blameworthy,
iti-pi-me vitakkā dukkha-vipākā’ti.
 thus-indeed-my thoughts (have) suffering-(as the)-result.'
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 Then those thoughts
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 (whose) dangers (were) deeply-inspected,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(simile of wearing carcass around neck)

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Just-as, *********,
itthī vā puriso vā
 (a) woman (or) man **
daharo yuvā
 (who is) young, (a) youth
maṇḍana-kajātiko
 fond-of-ornaments,
ahi-kuṇapena vā
 [if a] snake-carcass or
kukkura-kuṇapena vā
dog-carcass or
manussa-kuṇapena vā
 human-carcass **
kaṇṭhe āsattena
 {were worn around their} neck,
aṭṭiyeyya
 (they) might-be-anxious,
harāyeyya
 (they) might-be-ashamed,
jiguccheyya;
 (they) might-be-disgusted;

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

tassa ce bhikkhuno
 Then if (a) monk,
tamhāpi nimittā
 (away from) some sign,
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 (towards) another sign (his) mind-attends
kusal-ūpasaṃhitaṃ
 connected-with-the-skillful,
uppajjant-eva pāpakā a-kusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then, monks, (a) monk,
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts,
ādīnavo upa-par-ikkhitabbo:
 (their) danger (he) should-deeply-inspect:
‘iti-pi-me vitakkā a-kusalā,
 thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) un-skillful,
iti-pi-me vitakkā s-āvajjā,
 thus-indeed-my thoughts (are) blameworthy,
iti-pi-me vitakkā dukkha-vipākā’ti.
 thus-indeed-my thoughts (have) suffering-(as the)-result.'
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 Then those thoughts
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 (whose) dangers (were) deeply-inspected,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(3. Forget, give no attention)

Tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 Then if, monks, (a) monk,
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [regarding] those thoughts
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 (whose) dangers (were being) deeply-inspected,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave,bhikkhunā
 Then, *********, *********
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 those thoughts
a-sati-a-manasi-kāro āpajjitabbo.
 {he should endeavor to} forget-(and)-not-pay-attention (to them).
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 regarding those thoughts (for which he)
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 [is trying to] not-remember-(and)-not-pay-attention-to,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(simile of closing eyes to not see)

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Just-like, ********,
cakkhumā puriso
 {a man} [with good] eyes
āpātha-gatānaṃ rūpānaṃ
 within-range (of) [visible]-form
a-dassana-kāmo
 {who desires to}-not-see (it)
assa;
 ****;
so nimīleyya vā
 he should-close-his-eyes or
aññena vā apalokeyya;
 (he) should look away;
evameva kho, bhikkhave,
 even so, monks,

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

tassa ce bhikkhuno
 Then if (the) monk,
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [regarding] those thoughts
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 (whose) dangers (were being) deeply-inspected,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave,bhikkhunā
 Then, *********, *********
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 those thoughts
a-sati-a-manasi-kāro āpajjitabbo.
 {he should endeavor to} forget-(and)-not-pay-attention (to them).
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 regarding those thoughts (for which he)
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 [is trying to] not-remember-(and)-not-pay-attention-to,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(4. Progressive slow down)

Tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 then if, *********, ********
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [regarding] those thoughts (for which he)
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 [is trying to] not-remember-(and)-not-pay-attention-to,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 Then, *********, *********
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts,
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-kātabbaṃ.
 Thought-formation-stilling (should be his) mind’s-activity
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 if,-while (regarding) those thoughts,
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 Thought-formation-stilling (is his) mind’s-activity
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(simile of walking, standing, ...)

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Just-as, ***********,
puriso sīghaṃ gaccheyya.
 (a) man {might be walking} swiftly.
Tassa evamassa:
 He considers:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ sīghaṃ gacchāmi?
 'Why the heck (am) I swiftly walking?
Yannūn-āhaṃ saṇikaṃ gaccheyyan’ti.
 Coudn't-I slowly walk?'
So saṇikaṃ gaccheyya.
 [Then] he {might walk} slowly.
Tassa evamassa:
 He considers:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ saṇikaṃ gacchāmi?
 'Why the heck (am) I slowly walking?
Yannūn-āhaṃ tiṭṭheyyan’ti.
 Couldn't-I stand?'
So tiṭṭheyya.
 [Then] he might-stand.
Tassa evamassa:
 He considers:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ ṭhito?
 'Why the heck (am) I standing?
Yannūnāhaṃ nisīdeyyan’ti.
 Couldn't-I sit?'
So nisīdeyya.
 [Then] he might-sit.
Tassa evamassa:
 He considers:
‘kiṃ nu kho ahaṃ nisinno?
 'Why the heck (am) I sitting?
Yannūnāhaṃ nipajjeyyan’ti.
 Couldn't-I lie-down?'
So nipajjeyya.
 [Then] he might-lie-down.
Evañhi so, bhikkhave,
 In such a way, monks,
puriso oḷārikaṃ oḷārikaṃ iriyāpathaṃ abhinivajjetvā
 (the) man {having removed a} very coarse posture
sukhumaṃ sukhumaṃ iriyāpathaṃ kappeyya.
 (with a) much finer posture (he) might-adopt.
Evameva kho, bhikkhave,
 Just-like that, monks,

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

tassa ce bhikkhuno
 then if, *********, ********
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 [regarding] those thoughts (for which he)
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 [is trying to] not-remember-(and)-not-pay-attention-to,
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 Then, *********, *********
tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts,
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-kātabbaṃ.
 Thought-formation-stilling (should be his) mind’s-activity
Tassa tesaṃ vitakkānaṃ
 if,-while (regarding) those thoughts,
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 Thought-formation-stilling (is his) mind’s-activity
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,

(5. Mind crush mind)

“tassa ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 “then if, monks, (a) monk,
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts,
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 Thought-formation-stilling (is his) mind’s-activity
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then, monks, (a) monk,
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue (to the) roof-of-the-mouth, pressed-against-it,
cetasā cittaṃ
 (with) mind (on) mind
abhi-niggaṇhitabbaṃ
 {he should} restrain (it),
abhi-nippīḷetabbaṃ
 {he should} crush (it),
abhi-santāpetabbaṃ.
 {he should} burn (it).
tassa
 While (he),
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue (to the) roof-of-the-mouth, pressed-against-it,
cetasā cittaṃ
 (with) mind (on) mind
Abhi-niggaṇhato
 retraining (it),
Abhi-nippīḷayato
 crushing (it),
Abhi-santāpayato
 burning (it) ,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,

(ekodi & samādhi are 2nd jhāna hallmarks)

ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(simile of strong man crushing weak man)

seyyathāpi, bhikkhave,
 Just-as, monks,
balavā puriso dub-balataraṃ purisaṃ
 (a) powerful man (to a) weak-powered man
sīse vā gale vā khandhe vā gahetvā
 {having-grabbed him by the} head or neck or trunk **
abhi-niggaṇheyya
 (he) would-restrain (him),
abhi-nippīḷeyya
 (he) would-crush (him),
abhi-santāpeyya;
 (he) would-burn (him);

(repeat verbatim instructions before simile)

evameva kho, bhikkhave,
 like that, monks,
tassa ce bhikkhuno
 if a monk
tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts,
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 Thought-formation-stilling (is his) mind’s-activity
uppajjanteva pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 (there) {still}-arises evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā
 then, monks, (a) monk,
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue (to the) roof-of-the-mouth, pressed-against-it,
cetasā cittaṃ
 (with) mind (on) mind
abhi-niggaṇhitabbaṃ
 {he should} restrain (it),
abhi-nippīḷetabbaṃ
 {he should} crush (it),
abhi-santāpetabbaṃ.
 {he should} burn (it).
tassa
 While (he),
Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue (to the) roof-of-the-mouth, pressed-against-it,
cetasā cittaṃ
 (with) mind (on) mind
Abhi-niggaṇhato
 retraining (it),
Abhi-nippīḷayato
 crushing (it),
Abhi-santāpayato
 burning (it) ,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(conclusion)

Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno
 so then, monks, (for a) monk,

(1.)

yaṃ nimittaṃ āgamma
 some sign comes,
yaṃ nimittaṃ manasi-karoto
 some sign (that he was) giving-attention (to),
uppajjanti pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 [causes] arising-of evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
Tassa tamhā nimittā
 Then [because of] that ***** ******
aññaṃ nimittaṃ manasikaroto
 other sign attended-to
kusalūpasaṃhitaṃ
 [which is] connected-with-the-skillful,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(2.)

Tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 Then (those) thoughts
ādīnavaṃ upa-par-ikkhato
 (whose) dangers (were) deeply-inspected,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,

(3.)

tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts (for which he)
a-sati-a-manasi-kāraṃ āpajjato
 [is trying to] not-remember-(and)-not-pay-attention-to,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(4.)

tesampi vitakkānaṃ
 (regarding) those thoughts,
Vitakka-saṅkhāra-saṇṭhānaṃ manasi-karoto
 Thought-formation-stilling (is his) mind’s-activity
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,

(5.)

Dante-bhi-danta-mādhāya
 with teeth clenched,
jivhāya tāluṃ āhacca
 tongue (to the) roof-of-the-mouth, pressed-against-it,
cetasā cittaṃ
 (with) mind (on) mind
Abhi-niggaṇhato
 retraining (it),
Abhi-nippīḷayato
 crushing (it),
Abhi-santāpayato
 burning (it) ,
ye pāpakā akusalā vitakkā
 any evil un-skillful thoughts
chand-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-desire,
dos-ūpasaṃhitāpi
 connected-with-aversion,
moh-ūpasaṃhitāpi,
 connected-with-delusion,
te pahīyanti te abbhatthaṃ gacchanti.
 they (are) abandoned, they {go to} subsiding.
Tesaṃ pahānā
 (with) that abandoning,
ajjhattameva cittaṃ
 internally (his) mind
santiṭṭhati sannisīdati
 becomes-still, settles,
ekodi hoti samādhiyati.
 unified, is concentrated.

(Master of thought)

ayaṃ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu
 This (is) called, **********, (a) monk
vasī vitakka-pariyāya-pathesu.
 (who is a) master (of) thought-order-pathways.
yaṃ vitakkaṃ ākaṅkhissati
 The thoughts (he) wishes,
taṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkessati,
 those thoughts (he) thinks.
yaṃ vitakkaṃ n-ākaṅkhissati
 The thoughts (he does) not wish,
na taṃ vitakkaṃ vitakkessati.
 those thoughts (he does) {not} think.
ac-checchi taṇhaṃ,
 Fully-cut-off craving,
vivattayi saṃyojanaṃ,
 Flung-away (the) fetters,
sammā mān-ābhisamayā
 Right {penetration}-of-conceit,
anta-m-akāsi dukkhassā”ti.
 end-reached (for) suffering."
♦ idam-avoca bhagavā.
 this-(was)-said (by) the-blessed-one.
attamanā te bhikkhū
 Glad (were) those monks.
bhagavato bhāsitaṃ abhi-nandunti.
 The-blessed-one words delighted (them).
♦ vitakka-saṇṭhāna-suttaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ
 (thought-composition-discourse (is) finished)