The Benefits from Residing Possessed of Virtue

Monks, reside possessed of virtue (practicing moral conduct), possessed of the training guidelines, restrained with the restraint of the training guidelines, perfect in conduct and course of action in a difficult situation, and seeing danger in the slightest faults, train by undertaking the training precepts.

If a Monk should aspire: May I be dear and agreeable to my companions in the holy life, respected and admired by them, let him fulfill the precepts, be devoted to internal serenity of mind, not neglect meditation, be possessed of wisdom, and reside in empty huts.

If a Monk should aspire: May I be one to obtain robes, almsfood, resting place, and medicinal supplies, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May the services of those whose robes, almsfood, resting place, and medicinal supplies I use bring them great fruit and benefit, let him fulfill the precepts...

If a Monk should aspire: When my kinsmen and relatives who have passed away and died remember me with confidence in their minds, may that bring them great fruit and great benefit, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I become a conqueror of sadness and excitement, and may sadness and excitement not conquer me; may I reside transcending sadness and excitement whenever they arise, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I become a conqueror of fear and dread, and may fear and dread not conquer me; may I reside transcending fear and dread whenever they arise, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I become one to obtain at will, without trouble or difficulty, the four Jhānas that constitute the higher mind and provide a peaceful residing here and now, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I with the destruction of three fetters, become a Stream-Enterer, no longer subject to hell, bound (for liberation), headed for Enlightenment, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I, with the destruction of three fetters and with the fading of craving, anger, and ignorance, become a Once-Returner, returning once to this world to make an end of discontentedness, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, become due to reappear spontaneously (in the heavenly realm) and there attain Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment), without ever returning from that world, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I wield the various kinds of supernormal power, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I with the divine ear element, which is purified and surpasses the human, hear both kinds of sounds, the divine and the human, those that are far as well as near, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I understand the minds of other beings, of other persons, having encompassed them with my own mind, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I recollect (recall/remember) my countless past lives, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I, with the divine eye (third eye), which is purified and surpasses the human, see beings passing away and reappearing, let him fulfill the precepts…

If a Monk should aspire: May I, by realizing for myself with direct knowledge (experience), here and now enter upon and reside in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are taintless with the destruction of the taints, let him fulfill the precepts, be devoted to internal serenity of mind, not neglect meditation, be possessed of wisdom, and reside in empty huts.

So it was with reference to this that it was said: Monks, reside possessed of virtue (practicing moral conduct), possessed of the training guidelines, restrained with the restraint of the training guidelines, perfect in conduct and course of action in a difficult situation, and seeing danger in the slightest faults, train by undertaking the training precepts.

(Reference: MN 6)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares “The Benefits from Residing Possessed of Virtue” conduct and behavior. Using The Precepts as a basis, The Buddha points to specific aspects of training that one can aspire to learn and practice that will improve one’s life practice, thus, improving the condition of the mind and life.