Nivaranam pahana

Nīvaraṇānaṃ Pahāna

— Removal of hindrances —
[nīvaraṇa pahāna]

This formula can be considered a characteristic of the Sekha Paṭipadā, as it appears if and only if one of its versions or the other is being taught. It is always preceded by Vivitta Senāsanena Bhajana, either A+B or sometimes A+C (q.v.), and always folllowed by the Cattāro Jhānā. It is thus presented as the compulsory preparation which has to be duly completed in order to reach the jhānas.

Note: info·bubbles on all words

Occurences in the Sutta Pitaka

DN	MN	SN	AN	KN	Total
15	12	0	5	0	32

So abhijjhaṃ loke pahāya vigat·ābhijjhena cetasā viharati, abhijjhāya cittaṃ parisodheti; byāpāda·padosaṃ pahāya a·byāpanna·citto viharati sabba·pāṇa·bhūta·hitānukampī, byāpāda·padosā cittaṃ parisodheti; thina·middhaṃ pahāya vigata·thina·middho viharati āloka·saññī sato sampajāno, thina·middhā cittaṃ parisodheti; uddhacca·kukkuccaṃ pahāya anuddhato viharati ajjhattaṃ vūpasanta·citto, uddhacca·kukkuccā cittaṃ parisodheti; vicikicchaṃ pahāya tiṇṇa·vicikiccho viharati akathaṃkathī kusalesu dhammesu, vicikicchāya cittaṃ parisodheti.

Having given up abhijjhā towards loka, he dwells with citta devoid of abhijjhā, he purifies citta from abhijjhā; having given up byāpāda and anger, he dwells with a non-malevolent citta, friendly and compassionate towards all living beings, he purifies citta from byāpāda and anger; having given up thina·middha, he dwells without thina·middha, perceiving the light, sato and sampajāno, he purifies citta from thina·middha; having given up uddhacca·kukkucca, he dwells unconceited,{1} with citta inwardly appeased, he purifies citta from uddhacca·kukkuccā; having given up vicikiccha, he dwells having gone beyond vicikiccha unperplexed about kusala dhammas, he purifies citta from vicikiccha.

So abhijjhaṃ loke pahāya	Having given up abhijjhā towards loka, he
vigat·ābhijjhena cetasā viharati,	dwells with citta devoid of abhijjhā,
abhijjhāya cittaṃ parisodheti;	he purifies citta from abhijjhā;
byāpāda·padosaṃ pahāya	having given up byāpāda and anger,
a·byāpanna·citto viharati	he dwells with a non-malevolent citta,
sabba·pāṇa·bhūta·hitānukampī,	friendly and compassionate towards all living beings,
byāpāda·padosā cittaṃ parisodheti;	he purifies citta from byāpāda and anger;
thina·middhaṃ pahāya	having given up thina·middha,
vigata·thina·middho viharati	he dwells without thina·middha,
āloka·saññī sato sampajāno,	perceiving the light, sato and sampajāno,
thina·middhā cittaṃ parisodheti;	he purifies citta from thina·middha;
uddhacca·kukkuccaṃ pahāya	having given up uddhacca·kukkucca,
anuddhato viharati	he dwells unconceited,{1}
ajjhattaṃ vūpasanta·citto,	with citta inwardly appeased,
uddhacca·kukkuccā cittaṃ parisodheti;	he purifies citta from uddhacca·kukkuccā;
vicikicchaṃ pahāya	having given up vicikiccha,
tiṇṇa·vicikiccho viharati	he dwells having gone beyond vicikiccha
akathaṃkathī kusalesu dhammesu,	unperplexed about kusala dhammas,
vicikicchāya cittaṃ parisodheti.	he purifies citta from vicikiccha.

Note

1. unconceited: anuddhata means according to PTS and VRI dictionaries: not puffed up, not proud, unconceited, calm, subdued. B. Bodhi translates 'unagitated' and Thanissaro B. generally renders 'undisturbed'.