[185] Bhikkhus, there are these eight grounds of laziness (kusītavatthu). What eight?
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has work to be done. He thinks thus: 'I shall have work to do; but while I am doing the work my body will become tired. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy (vīriya) for the attainment of what has not been attained, for the achievement of what has not been achieved, for the realization of what has not been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the first ground of laziness.
Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has done some work. He thinks thus: 'I have done work; but while I was doing the work my body became tired. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy for the attainment of what has not been attained, for the achievement of what has not been achieved, for the realization of what has not been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the second ground of laziness.
Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has a journey to go on. He thinks thus: 'I shall have a journey to go on; but while I am going on the journey my body will become tired. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy for the attainment of what has not been attained, for the achievement of what has not been achieved, for the realization of what has not been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the third ground of laziness.
Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has gone on a journey. He thinks thus: 'I have gone on a journey; but while I was going on the journey my body became tired. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy for the attainment of what has not been attained, for the achievement of what has not been achieved, for the realization of what has not been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the fourth ground of laziness.
Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, walking for alms in a village or town, does not obtain his fill of food, whether coarse or fine, as much as he needs. He thinks thus: 'Walking for alms in a village or town, I did not obtain my fill of food, whether coarse or fine, as much as I needed. My body is tired and unwieldy. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy … This, bhikkhus, is the fifth ground of laziness.
Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, walking for alms in a village or town, obtains his fill of food, whether coarse or fine, as much as he needs. He thinks thus: 'Walking for alms in a village or town, I obtained my fill of food, whether coarse or fine, as much as I needed. My body is heavy and unwieldy—like a load of soaked beans, I should think. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy … This, bhikkhus, is the sixth ground of laziness.
Again, bhikkhus, a slight ailment has arisen in a bhikkhu. He thinks thus: 'This slight ailment has arisen in me. There is a good reason to lie down. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy … This, bhikkhus, is the seventh ground of laziness.
Again, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has recovered from illness, has not long recovered from sickness. He thinks thus: 'I have recovered from illness, I have not long recovered from sickness. My body is weak and unwieldy. Come now, let me lie down.' He lies down; he does not arouse energy for the attainment of what has not been attained, for the achievement of what has not been achieved, for the realization of what has not been realized. This, bhikkhus, is the eighth ground of laziness.
These, bhikkhus, are the eight grounds of laziness.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.