Cetokhilasutta

Suttapiṭaka · Majjhimanikāya · Vol. 12 · Section 228

[228] Which are the five stakes in the heart (cetokhīla) that he has not abandoned? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has doubts about the Teacher, is uncertain, does not resolve upon him, and is not settled in confidence in him. Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu has doubts about the Teacher, is uncertain, does not resolve upon him, and is not settled in confidence in him, his mind (citta) does not incline to ardor (ātappa), to application, to perseverance, to striving. That his mind does not incline to ardor, to application, to perseverance, to striving — thus is this the first stake in the heart that he has not abandoned. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has doubts about the Dhamma, is uncertain, does not resolve upon it, and is not settled in confidence in it … He has doubts about the Saṅgha, is uncertain, does not resolve upon it, and is not settled in confidence in it … He has doubts about the training, is uncertain, does not resolve upon it, and is not settled in confidence in it. Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu has doubts about the training, is uncertain, does not resolve upon it, and is not settled in confidence in it, his mind does not incline to ardor, to application, to perseverance, to striving. That his mind does not incline to ardor, to application, to perseverance, to striving — thus is this the fourth stake in the heart that he has not abandoned. Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is angry with his companions in the holy life, displeased, with a mind struck by resentment, his heart having become hardened like a stake (khīlajāta). Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu is angry with his companions in the holy life, displeased, with a mind struck by resentment, his heart having become hardened like a stake, his mind does not incline to ardor, to application, to perseverance, to striving. That his mind does not incline to ardor, to application, to perseverance, to striving — thus is this the fifth stake in the heart that he has not abandoned. These are the five stakes in the heart that he has not abandoned.

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.

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