KETOKHILA-SUTTA –
BARRENNESS AND BONDAGE
24. ‘And further, O Bhikkhus, when a brother has not adopted the religious life in the aspiration of belonging to some one or other of the angel hosts, thinking to himself: “By this morality, or by this observance, or by this austerity, or by this religious life, I shall become an angel, or one of the angels!”–
‘Whatsoever brother, O Bhikkhus, has not
adopted the religious life in the aspiration of belonging to some one or other of the angel hosts, thinking to himself: “By this morality, or by this observance, or by this austerity, or by this religious life, I shall become an angel, or one of the angels!” his mind does incline to zeal, exertion, perseverance, and struggle.
‘But whosesoever mind inclineth towards zeal, exertion, perseverance, and struggle, he has become free from this fifth spiritual bondage.
‘It is such a one, O Bhikkhus, who has broken through the five kinds of spiritual bondage.
Ketokhila-Sutta: Barreness And Bondage
Translated from Pâli by T. W. Rhys Davids [1881]