“Monks, live under a refuge, not without a refuge. One without a refuge, lives in suffering. There are these ten qualities that serve as a refuge. What ten?
(1) Here monks, a monk is virtuous; he dwells restrained by the monastic discipline, possessed of good conduct and demeanor, seeing danger in even slight faults. Having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them. Having considered: ‘This monk is truly virtuous; he dwells restrained by the monastic discipline, possessed of good conduct and demeanor, seeing danger in even slight faults. Having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(2) Again, monks, a monk has learned much Dhamma, remembers what he has learned, and retains the Dhamma he has learned. The Dhamma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing, which proclaim the perfectly complete and pure spiritual life—he has learned much of the Dhamma, retained it in mind, recited it verbally, investigated it mentally, and penetrated it well by view. Having considered: ‘This monk has learned much Dhamma, remembers what he has learned, and retains the Dhamma he has learned. The Dhamma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing, which proclaim the perfectly complete and pure spiritual life—he has learned much of the Dhamma, retained it in mind, recited it verbally, investigated it mentally, and penetrated it well by view,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(3) Again, monks, a monk has good friends, good companions, good associates. Having considered: ‘This monk has good friends, good companions, good associates,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(4) Again, monks, a monk is obedient and possesses qualities that make him easy to correct; he is patient and receives instruction gracefully and with much respect. Having considered: ‘This monk is obedient and possesses qualities that make him easy to correct; he is patient and receives instruction gracefully and with much respect,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(5) Again, monks, a monk is skillful and diligent in attending to the different chores and disciplinary tasks that are to be done for his fellow monks; he is not lazy and possesses sound judgment about them to carry out and arrange them properly. Having considered: ‘This monk is skillful and diligent in attending to the different chores that are to be done for his fellow monks; he is not lazy and possesses sound judgment about them in order to carry out and arrange them properly,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(6) Again, monks, a monk loves the Dhamma and preaches the Dhamma gracefully. He is filled with spiritual joy for the deep Dhamma and discipline. Having considered: ‘This monk loves the deep Dhamma and preaches the Dhamma gracefully. He is filled with a spiritual joy for the deep Dhamma and discipline,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(7) Again, monks, a monk has aroused energy for abandoning unwholesome qualities and developing wholesome qualities; he is strong, firm in effort, not casting off the duty of cultivating wholesome qualities. Having considered: ‘This monk has aroused energy for abandoning unwholesome qualities and developing wholesome qualities; he is strong, firm in effort, not casting off the duty of cultivating wholesome qualities,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(8) Again, monks, a monk is content with any kind of robe, alms food, lodging and medicines. Having considered: ‘This monk is content with any kind of robe, alms food, lodging and medicines,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(9) Again, monks, a monk is mindful, possessing supreme mindfulness and alertness, one who remembers and recollects what was done and said long ago. Having considered: ‘This monk is mindful, possessing supreme mindfulness and alertness, one who remembers and recollects what was done and said long ago,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
(10) Again, monks, a monk is wise; he possesses the wisdom that concerns arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative and leads to the complete destruction of suffering. Having considered: ‘This monk is wise; he possesses the wisdom that concerns arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative and leads to the complete destruction of suffering,’ the senior monks think…, those of middle standing monks think…, and the junior monks think that he is worthy of advice and instructions. Since they all have compassion for him, only growth in wholesome qualities and not decline is to be expected for him. This is a quality that serves as a refuge.
Monks, live under a refuge, not without a refuge. One without a refuge lives in suffering. Monks, these are the ten qualities that serve as a refuge.”
