By actively protecting the mind from enticing, irritating, deceptive, and intoxicating phenomena, a practitioner attains freedom from fear, wavering, and they do not go by the mere word of an ascetic.

AN 4.117 Ārakkha sutta - Guarding

“Catūsu, bhikkhave, ṭhānesu attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo. Katamesu catūsu?

“|Bhikkhus,::::| in four situations |diligence::quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamāda]|, |mindfulness::active presence of mind and lucid retention, recollection, keeping in mind [sati]|, and guarding of the mind should be observed by a sensible person. What four?

‘Mā me rajanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ rajjī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo;

Thinking, ‘Let my mind not become impassioned by |enticing::arousing, tantalizing [rajanīya]| phenomena,’ diligence, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind should be observed by a sensible person.

‘mā me dosanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ dussī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo;

Thinking, ‘Let my mind not become averse towards |irritating::hatred-inducing; lit. cause to be hated [dosanīya]| phenomena,’ diligence, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind should be observed by a sensible person.

‘mā me mohanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ muyhī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo;

Thinking, ‘Let my mind not become |deluded::dull, forgetful [muyhi]| by |deceptive::illusory, delusion-inducing [mohanīya]| phenomena,’ diligence, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind should be observed by a sensible person.

‘mā me madanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ majjī’ti attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo.

Thinking, ‘Let my mind not |become intoxicated::become arrogant, be with self-importance [majja]| by |intoxicating::befuddling, stupefying [madanīya]| phenomena,’ diligence, mindfulness, and guarding of the mind should be observed by a sensible person.

Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno rajanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na rajjati vītarāgattā, dosanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na dussati vītadosattā, mohanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na muyhati vītamohattā, madanīyesu dhammesu cittaṁ na majjati vītamadattā, so na chambhati na kampati na vedhati na santāsaṁ āpajjati, na ca pana samaṇavacanahetupi gacchatī”ti.

When|, bhikkhus,::::| a bhikkhu’s mind does not become impassioned by enticing phenomena through being |free from passion::free from intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust [vītarāga]|; when his mind does not become averse towards irritating phenomena through being |free from aversion::free from hatred, free from ill will [vītadosa]|; when his mind does not become deluded by deceptive phenomena through being |free from delusion::free from confusion [vītamoha]|; and when his mind does not become intoxicated by intoxicating phenomena through being free from intoxication—he does not fear, does not tremble, does not waver, and does not fall into terror; nor does he go by the mere word of an ascetic.”

Topics & Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
View all discourses →
Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
View all discourses →
Diligence

Diligence

The protective quality of guarding the mind amidst sensory experience. By restraining the faculties, the mind remains unsoiled by attraction.

Also known as: alertness, carefulness, heedfulness, conscientiousness, vigilance
Pāli: appamāda, uṭṭhāna
View all discourses →
Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
View all discourses →
Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
View all discourses →
Sense restraint

Sense restraint

A practice of guarding the sense doors by not grasping at the general features or details of sense objects when seeing, hearing, sensing, and cognizing.

Also known as: guarding the sense faculties, watching the sense doors, not grasping at the prominent features or details of sense objects, moderation in eating
Pāli: indriya saṁvara
View all discourses →
Vanity

Vanity

A swelling intoxication arising from youth, health, life, beauty, or possessions that blinds one to impermanence and breeds negligence. Like a soiled cloth, it stains the mind with conceit and craving, obstructing clear seeing.

Also known as: drinking one's own cool-aid, excess, extravagance, indulgence, intoxication, being misguided
Pāli: mada, mogha
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 23, 2026