Aṅguttara Nikāya — Discursos Numerados — 5.135 — Aspiration (1st)

1“Mendicants, an anointed aristocratic king’s eldest son with five factors aspires to kingship. What five?

2It’s when an anointed aristocratic king’s eldest son is well born on both his mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation.

3He is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty.

4He is dear and beloved to his parents.

5He is dear and beloved to the people of town and country.

6He is trained and skilled in the arts of anointed aristocratic kings, such as elephant riding, horse riding, driving a chariot, archery, and swordsmanship.

7He thinks: ‘I’m well born on both my mother’s and father’s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship? I’m attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship? I’m dear and beloved to my parents. Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship? I’m dear and beloved to the people of town and country. Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship? I’m trained and skilled in the arts of anointed aristocratic kings, such as elephant riding, horse riding, driving a chariot, archery, and swordsmanship. Why shouldn’t I aspire to kingship?’ An anointed aristocratic king’s eldest son with these five factors aspires to kingship.

8In the same way, a mendicant with five qualities aspires to end the defilements. What five?

9It’s when a mendicant has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

10They are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation.

11They’re not devious or deceitful. They reveal themselves honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions.

12They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

13They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

14They think: ‘I am a person of faith; I have faith in the Realized One’s awakening … Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements? I’m rarely ill or unwell. My stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation. Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements? I’m not devious or deceitful. I reveal myself honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions. Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements? I live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. I’m strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements? I’m wise. I have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. Why shouldn’t I aspire to end the defilements?’

15A mendicant with these five qualities aspires to end the defilements.”