Reflecting on five future perils, the Buddha advises a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained.

AN 5.77  Paṭhama anāgatabhaya sutta - Future Perils (First)

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, anāgatabhayāni sampassamānena alameva āraññikena bhikkhunā appamattena ātāpinā pahitattena viharituṁ appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya. Katamāni pañca?

“Bhikkhus, considering these five future perils, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]|, |resolute::determined, intent [pahitatta]|, and |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]| for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the |personal realization::intimate experience [sacchikiriyā]| of the as-yet-unrealized. What five?

Idha, bhikkhave, āraññiko bhikkhu iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ kho etarahi ekako araññe viharāmi. Ekakaṁ kho pana maṁ araññe viharantaṁ ahi maṁ ḍaṁseyya, vicchiko maṁ ḍaṁseyya, satapadī maṁ ḍaṁseyya, tena me assa kālaṅkiriyā, so mamassa antarāyo; handāhaṁ vīriyaṁ ārabhāmi appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāyā’ti. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamaṁ anāgatabhayaṁ sampassamānena alameva āraññikena bhikkhunā appamattena ātāpinā pahitattena viharituṁ appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya.

1.) Here, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: ‘I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, a snake might bite me, a scorpion might sting me, or a centipede might sting me. Because of that I might die, which would be an obstacle for me. Let me now arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.’ This, bhikkhus, is the first future peril, considering which, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, āraññiko bhikkhu iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ kho etarahi ekako araññe viharāmi. Ekako kho panāhaṁ araññe viharanto upakkhalitvā papateyyaṁ, bhattaṁ bhuttaṁ me byāpajjeyya, pittaṁ me kuppeyya, semhaṁ me kuppeyya, satthakā me vātā kuppeyyuṁ, tena me assa kālaṅkiriyā, so mamassa antarāyo; handāhaṁ vīriyaṁ ārabhāmi appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāyā’ti. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyaṁ anāgatabhayaṁ sampassamānena alameva āraññikena bhikkhunā appamattena ātāpinā pahitattena viharituṁ appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya.

2.) Furthermore, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: ‘I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might trip and fall down, or the food I have eaten might turn out to be harmful, or my bile might flare up, or my phlegm might become disturbed, or piercing winds might flare up in me. Because of that I might die, which would be an obstacle for me. Let me now arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.’ This, bhikkhus, is the second future peril, considering which, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, āraññiko bhikkhu iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ kho etarahi ekako araññe viharāmi. Ekako kho panāhaṁ araññe viharanto vāḷehi samāgaccheyyaṁ, sīhena byagghena dīpinā acchena taracchena vā, te maṁ jīvitā voropeyyuṁ, tena me assa kālaṅkiriyā, so mamassa antarāyo; handāhaṁ vīriyaṁ ārabhāmi appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāyā’ti. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyaṁ anāgatabhayaṁ sampassamānena alameva āraññikena bhikkhunā appamattena ātāpinā pahitattena viharituṁ appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya.

3.) Furthermore, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: ‘I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might encounter wild beasts—a lion, a tiger, a leopard, a bear, or a hyena—and they might take my life. Because of that I might die, which would be an obstacle for me. Let me now arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.’ This, bhikkhus, is the third future peril, considering which, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, āraññiko bhikkhu iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ kho etarahi ekako araññe viharāmi. Ekako kho panāhaṁ araññe viharanto māṇavehi samāgaccheyyaṁ katakammehi akatakammehi vā, te maṁ jīvitā voropeyyuṁ, tena me assa kālaṅkiriyā, so mamassa antarāyo; handāhaṁ vīriyaṁ ārabhāmi appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāyā’ti. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, catutthaṁ anāgatabhayaṁ sampassamānena alameva āraññikena bhikkhunā appamattena ātāpinā pahitattena viharituṁ appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya.

4.) Furthermore, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: ‘I am now dwelling alone in the forest. While I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might encounter young men—criminals or non-criminals—and they might take my life. Because of that I might die, which would be an obstacle for me. Let me now arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.’ This, bhikkhus, is the fourth future peril, considering which, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, āraññiko bhikkhu iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ kho etarahi ekako araññe viharāmi. Santi kho panāraññe vāḷā amanussā, te maṁ jīvitā voropeyyuṁ, tena me assa kālaṅkiriyā, so mamassa antarāyo; handāhaṁ vīriyaṁ ārabhāmi appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāyā’ti. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamaṁ anāgatabhayaṁ sampassamānena alameva āraññikena bhikkhunā appamattena ātāpinā pahitattena viharituṁ appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāya.

5.) I am now dwelling alone in the forest. But there are savage non-human beings in the forest, and they might take my life. Because of that I might die, which would be an obstacle for me. Let me now arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.’ This, bhikkhus, is the fifth future peril, considering which, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca anāgatabhayāni sampassamānena alameva āraññikena bhikkhunā appamattena ātāpinā pahitattena viharituṁ appattassa pattiyā anadhigatassa adhigamāya asacchikatassa sacchikiriyāyā”ti.

These, bhikkhus, are the five future perils, considering which, it is fitting for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, and for the personal realization of the as-yet-unrealized.”

Topics & Qualities:

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
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Continuous effort

Continuous effort

The flame of effort. It is the application of diligence put into moment-to-moment continuity

Also known as: unremitting effort, ardent, persistent, zealous, unflagging endeavor
Pāli: ātāpī, parakkamma
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Recollection of death

Recollection of death

Keeping in view the certainty and nearness of death. Recollection of death ignites wholesome desire for awakening and sustains uphill vigour against habitual tendencies.

Also known as: mindfulness of death
Pāli: maraṇassati
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Rousing of energy

Rousing of energy

The arousing of effort and determination in body and mind. It begins with confidence and reflection on purpose, stirring energy for wholesome action.

Also known as: determination, being energetic, taking initiative, making a mental decision to act
Pāli: vīriyārambha, āraddhavīriya, uṭṭhānavant, atandita, pahitatta
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Last updated on December 24, 2025