[77] Bhikkhus, contemplating these five future perils, it is enough for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell heedful, ardent (ātāpī), and resolute, for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized. What five?
Here, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. But while I am dwelling alone in the forest, a snake might bite me, a scorpion might sting me, or a centipede might bite me. On that account I might die; that would be an obstacle for me. Come now, let me arouse energy (vīriya) for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.' This, bhikkhus, is the first future peril, contemplating which it is enough for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. But while I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might stumble and fall; the food I have eaten might disagree with me; my bile might become disturbed, my phlegm might become disturbed, or knife-like winds within me might become disturbed. On that account I might die; that would be an obstacle for me. Come now, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.' This, bhikkhus, is the second future peril, contemplating which it is enough for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. But while I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might encounter wild beasts—a lion, a tiger, a leopard, a bear, or a hyena—and they might take my life. On that account I might die; that would be an obstacle for me. Come now, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.' This, bhikkhus, is the third future peril, contemplating which it is enough for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. But while I am dwelling alone in the forest, I might encounter young ruffians, whether they have already done their deed or have not yet done it, and they might deprive me of life. On that account I might die; that would be an obstacle for me. Come now, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.' This, bhikkhus, is the fourth future peril, contemplating which it is enough for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a forest-dwelling bhikkhu reflects thus: 'I am now dwelling alone in the forest. But there are in the forest ferocious non-human beings, and they might deprive me of life. On that account I might die; that would be an obstacle for me. Come now, let me arouse energy for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.' This, bhikkhus, is the fifth future peril, contemplating which it is enough for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.
These, bhikkhus, are the five future perils, contemplating which it is enough for a forest-dwelling bhikkhu to dwell heedful, ardent, and resolute, for the attainment of what has not yet been attained, for the achievement of what has not yet been achieved, for the realization of what has not yet been realized.
End of the Seventh Sutta.
8. The Second Discourse on Future Perils (Anāgata Sutta II)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.