One Who Is Constantly Complacent

Monks, if a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while walking, and he tolerates it, does not abandon it, dispel it, terminate it, and obliterate it, then that Monk is said to be lacking of effort and moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously complacent and lacking in energy while walking.

If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while standing, and he tolerates it, does not abandon it, dispel it, terminate it, and obliterate it, then that Monk is said to be lacking of effort and moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously complacent and lacking in energy while standing.

If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while sitting, and he tolerates it, does not abandon it, dispel it, terminate it, and obliterate it, then that Monk is said to be lacking of effort and moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously complacent and lacking in energy while sitting.

If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while wakefully lying down, and he tolerates it, does not abandon it, dispel it, terminate it, and obliterate it, then that Monk is said to be lacking of effort and moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously complacent and lacking in energy while wakefully lying down.

(Reference: AN 4.11)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the opposite of The Teaching in Chapter 59. Here, The Buddha is describing a Practitioner who is complacent lacking effort, moral concern, and energy.

A Practitioner who is complacent will not attain Enlightenment.

Complacency is one of The Five Hindrances and this needs to be eliminated from the mind through understanding and practicing The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

Detailed explanation of The Seven Factors of Enlightenment is available in this same book series found in Chapter 3 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

Detailed explanation of moral wrongdoing and moral concern is available in this same book series found in Chapter 25 of the book “Generosity” (Volume 13).