[472] What ten things are hard to penetrate (duppaṭivijjhā)? The ten abodes of the noble ones (ariyavāsā). Friends, here a bhikkhu has abandoned five factors, is endowed with six factors, has a single guard, has four supports, has dispelled the individual truths (paccekasacca), has entirely relinquished searching, has unclouded intentions, has tranquilized the bodily formation (kāyasaṅkhāra), is well liberated in mind (citta), and is well liberated by wisdom (paññā).
And how, friends, has a bhikkhu abandoned five factors? Here, friends, a bhikkhu has abandoned sensual desire (kāmacchanda), has abandoned ill will (byāpāda), has abandoned dullness and drowsiness (thīna-middha), has abandoned restlessness and remorse (uddhacca-kukkucca), has abandoned doubt (vicikicchā). It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu has abandoned five factors.
And how, friends, is a bhikkhu endowed with six factors? Here, friends, a bhikkhu, having seen a form with the eye, is neither glad nor dejected; he dwells equanimous, mindful, clearly comprehending. Having heard a sound with the ear … Having smelt an odor with the nose … Having tasted a flavor with the tongue … Having touched a tangible with the body … Having cognized a dhamma with the mind, he is neither glad nor dejected; he dwells equanimous, mindful, clearly comprehending. It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu is endowed with six factors.
And how, friends, does a bhikkhu have a single guard? Here, friends, a bhikkhu is endowed with a mind guarded by mindfulness (sati). It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu has a single guard.
And how, friends, does a bhikkhu have four supports? Here, friends, a bhikkhu, having reflected, uses one thing; having reflected, endures one thing; having reflected, avoids one thing; having reflected, dispels one thing. It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu has four supports.
And how, friends, has a bhikkhu dispelled the individual truths? Here, friends, whatever manifold individual truths there are of the manifold ascetics and brahmins, all of these have been dispelled by a bhikkhu — dispelled, discarded, vomited forth, released, abandoned, relinquished. It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu has dispelled the individual truths.
And how, friends, has a bhikkhu entirely relinquished searching? Here, friends, the search for sensual pleasures has been abandoned by a bhikkhu, the search for existence has been abandoned, the search for the holy life has been relinquished. It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu has entirely relinquished searching.
And how, friends, does a bhikkhu have unclouded intentions? Here, friends, the intention of sensuality has been abandoned by a bhikkhu, the intention of ill will has been abandoned, the intention of cruelty has been abandoned. It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu has unclouded intentions.
And how, friends, has a bhikkhu tranquilized the bodily formation? Here, friends, with the abandoning of pleasure and the abandoning of pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the fourth absorption (jhāna), which is neither-painful-nor-pleasant and possesses purity of mindfulness born of equanimity. It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu has tranquilized the bodily formation.
And how, friends, is a bhikkhu well liberated in mind? Here, friends, a bhikkhu's mind is liberated from lust (rāga), his mind is liberated from hatred, his mind is liberated from delusion. It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu is well liberated in mind.
And how, friends, is a bhikkhu well liberated by wisdom? Here, friends, a bhikkhu understands: 'Lust has been abandoned by me, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future.' 'Hatred has been abandoned by me …' 'Delusion has been abandoned by me, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future.' It is thus, friends, that a bhikkhu is well liberated by wisdom.
These are the ten things hard to penetrate.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.