[466] What ten things are of great help? Ten qualities that make a protector (nāthakaraṇā dhammā).
Herein, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous; he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in proper conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them. Friends, in that a bhikkhu is virtuous, dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in proper conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and, having undertaken the training rules, trains in them — this is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu has learned much; he is a bearer of what he has learned, a storer-up of what he has learned. Those teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, which, with meaning and with phrasing, proclaim the holy life (brahmacariya) utterly complete and pure — such teachings have been much learned by him, borne in mind, rehearsed verbally, pondered over in the mind, and well penetrated by view. Friends, in that a bhikkhu has learned much … well penetrated by view — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu has good friends, good companions, good comrades. Friends, in that a bhikkhu has good friends, good companions, good comrades — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, endowed with qualities that make him easy to admonish; he is patient and receives instruction respectfully. Friends, in that a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, endowed with qualities that make him easy to admonish, is patient and receives instruction respectfully — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, whatever the various duties there are to be done for his companions in the holy life, a bhikkhu is skillful in them and not lazy; he is endowed with the investigation of the means appropriate to them, able to carry them out, able to arrange them. Friends, in that, whatever the various duties there are to be done for his companions in the holy life, a bhikkhu is skillful in them and not lazy, endowed with the investigation of the means appropriate to them, able to carry them out, able to arrange them — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu loves the Dhamma, is pleasing in converse, and has abundant gladness in the higher Dhamma and the higher Discipline. Friends, in that a bhikkhu loves the Dhamma, is pleasing in converse, and has abundant gladness in the higher Dhamma and the higher Discipline — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu is content with whatever robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick he receives. Friends, in that a bhikkhu is content with whatever robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick he receives — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu dwells with energy (vīriya) aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome qualities and for the acquisition of wholesome qualities; he is strong, of firm exertion, not laying down the burden with regard to wholesome qualities. Friends, in that a bhikkhu dwells with energy aroused … — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu has mindfulness (sati); he is endowed with supreme mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting even what was done long ago and what was said long ago. Friends, in that a bhikkhu has mindfulness, is endowed with supreme mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting even what was done long ago and what was said long ago — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
And furthermore, friends, a bhikkhu is wise; he is endowed with wisdom directed to rise and fall, which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete destruction of suffering (dukkha). Friends, in that a bhikkhu is wise … leads to the complete destruction of suffering — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
These ten things are of great help.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.