KETOKHILA-SUTTA –
BARRENNESS AND BONDAGE
1. Thus have I heard. The Blessed One was once dwelling at Sâvatthi, in the park of Anâtha Pindika.
There the Blessed One addressed the brethren, saying, ‘Brethren!’
‘Yea, Lord!’ said those brethren, in assent, to the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One spake:
2. ‘Whatsoever brother, O Bhikkhus, has not quite become free from the five kinds of spiritual barrenness[1], has not altogether broken through the five kinds of mental bondage[2]–that such a one should reach up to the full advantage of, should attain to the full growth in, to full breadth in, this doctrine and discipline[3]–that can in no wise be!’
3. ‘And who has not become free from the five kinds of spiritual barrenness?’
‘In the first place, O Bhikkhus, when a brother
doubts in the Teacher (Satthâ), is uncertain regarding him, has not confidence in him, and has not faith in him; then is his mind not inclined towards zeal, exertion, perseverance, and struggle.
‘But whosesoever mind inclineth not towards zeal, exertion, perseverance, and struggle, he has not become free from this first spiritual barrenness.
Notes from the introduction:
The ten fetters are–
1. The delusion of self (sakkâya-ditthi).
2. Doubt (vikikikkhâ).
3. Reliance on the efficacy of rites and ceremonies (sîlabbata-parâmâsa).
4. The bodily lusts or passions (kâma).
5. Hatred, ill-feeling (patigha).
6. Desire for a future life in the worlds of form (rûparâga).
7. Desire for a future life in the formless worlds (arûparâga).
8. Pride (mâno).
9. Self-righteousness (uddhakka).
10. Ignorance (aviggâ).
Here the 4th fetter is correlative to our first bondage; the 6th fetter to our 2nd and 3rd bondage; and part of the 3rd fetter to our 5th bondage.
The 2nd, 3rd, and 5th bondage are in fact but a new way of stating the fundamental Buddhist doctrine that good must be pursued without any ulterior motive; and that that man is not spiritually free in whom there is still the least hankering after any future life beyond the grave.
Ketokhila-Sutta: Barreness And Bondage
Translated from Pâli by T. W. Rhys Davids [1881]