Ātāpin; Ātappa

Renderings

• ātāpin: vigorously applied (to the practice)

• ātāpin: vigorously

• ātāpin: vigorous

• ātappa: vigorous endeavour

• ātappaṃ karoti: to vigorously apply oneself (to the practice)

• ātappaṃ karoti: to vigorously endeavour

Introduction

Ātāpin: vigorously

Ātāpin has been called ‘ardent’ since 1875 when Childer’s dictionary was published, which means ‘enthusiastic.’ But the scriptures more strongly suggest ‘vigorous’ or ‘vigorously,’ and DOP appropriately calls it ‘energetic.’ But, two points:

1) It usually an adverb, so it mostly means ‘vigorously’ not ‘vigorous.’

2) Its link to various qualifiersshow that it is an abbreviation, and must be parenthesised in translation.

Ātāpin: three qualifiers

We parenthesise ātāpin in accordance with suttas where it is linked to some qualifier. In the following examples it is linked to ‘inward striving’ ‘contemplating’ and ‘practising the teaching’. It is from the last (‘practising as I instructed him’) that we render it as ‘vigorously applied (to the practice)’:

• We will abide using blocks of wood as cushions, and be diligently and vigorously applied to inward striving.
☸ Kaliṅgarūpadhānā viharissāma appamattā ātāpino padhānasmin ti (S.2.267-8).

• A bhikkhu abides contemplating the nature of the body, vigorously, fully consciously, and mindfully, having eliminated greed and dejection in regard to the world (of phenomena)
☸ bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṃ (S.5.182).

• My disciple who abides diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied (to the practice) for one night and day, practising as I instructed him, might experience exclusively happiness for a hundred years.
☸ Idha mama sāvako… ekaṃ rattindivaṃ appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto yathā mayānusiṭṭhaṃ tathā paṭipajjamāno satampi vassāni ekanta sukhapaṭisaṃvedī vihareyya (A.5.86).

Illustrations

Illustration: anātāpī, not vigorously applied (to the practice); ātappaṃ karoti, vigorously apply himself (to the practice)

―In this regard, friend, a bhikkhu thinks:

‘If unarisen unvirtuous, spiritually unwholesome factors arise in me, this would lead to my harm,’ but he does not vigorously apply himself (to the practise).
Idhāvuso bhikkhu anuppannā me pāpakā akusalā dhammā uppajjamānā anatthāya saṃvatteyyunti na ātappaṃ karoti

… In this way he is someone not vigorously applied (to the practice).
☸ Evaṃ kho āvuso anātāpī hoti (S.2.195-6).

Illustration: ātāpī, vigorously applied (to the practice)

These four modes of inward striving were explained by the enlightened kinsman of the Sun clan, by means of which a bhikkhu who is vigorously applied (to the practice) can attain the destruction of suffering.
☸ Ete padhānā cattāro desitādiccabandhunā
Yehi bhikkhu idhātāpī khayaṃ dukkhassa pāpuṇe ti (A.2.17).

Illustration: ātāpī, vigorously applied (to the practice)

Bhante, it would be good if the Blessed One would explain the teaching to me in brief, so that, having heard the teaching from the Blessed One, I might abide alone, withdrawn (from human fellowship, sensuous pleasures, and spiritually unwholesome factors), diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied (to the practice).
☸ sādhu me bhante bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṃ desetu yamahaṃ bhagavato dhammaṃ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyanti (S.4.145).

Illustration: ātāpī, vigorously applied (to the practice)

If, while he is walking, any greed in a bhikkhu is done away with, any ill will, any lethargy and torpor, any restlessness and anxiety, any doubt (about the excellence of the teaching) is done away with;
Carato ce pi bhikkhave bhikkhuno abhijjhā vigatā hoti vyāpādo vigato hoti thīnamiddhaṃ vigataṃ hoti uddhaccakukkuccaṃ vigataṃ hoti vicikicchā pahīṇā hoti.

If unflagging energy is aroused; if unmuddled mindfulness is established; if his body is tranquil and peaceful; if his mind is collected and concentrated
Āraddhaṃ hoti viriyaṃ asallīnaṃ upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā passaddho kāyo asāraddho samāhitaṃ cittaṃ ekaggaṃ

then a bhikkhu walking like this is said to be constantly and continuously afraid of wrongdoing, and vigorously, energetically, and resolutely applied (to the practice).
carampi bhikkhave bhikkhu evambhūto ātāpī ottappī satataṃ samitaṃ āraddhaviriyo pahitatto ti vuccati (It.118-9).

Illustration: ātāpino, vigorously applied

Bhikkhus, at the present time the Licchavis dwell using blocks of wood as cushions; they are diligently and vigorously applied to the practice of archery.
☸ Kaliṅgarūpadhānā bhikkhave etarahi licchavī viharanti appamattā ātāpino upāsanasmiṃ.

Bhikkhus, at the present time the bhikkhus dwell using blocks of wood as cushions; they are diligently and vigorously applied to inward striving.
☸ Kaliṅgarūpadhānā bhikkhave etarahi bhikkhū viharanti appamattā ātāpino padhānasmiṃ (S.2.267-8).

Illustration: ātappaṃ karaṇīyaṃ, vigorously endeavour

Three occasions when one should vigorously endeavour.
☸ Tīhi bhikkhave ṭhānehi ātappaṃ karaṇīyaṃ. Katamehi tīhi:

1) One should vigorously endeavour to prevent the arising of unarisen unvirtuous, spiritually unwholesome factors.
☸ anuppannānaṃ pāpakānaṃ akusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ anuppādāya ātappaṃ karaṇīyaṃ.

2) One should vigorously endeavour to arouse unarisen spiritually wholesome factors
☸ Anuppannānaṃ kusalānaṃ dhammānaṃ uppādāya ātappaṃ karaṇīyaṃ.

3) One should vigorously endeavour to endure arisen bodily sense impressions that are unpleasant, acute, sharp, piercing, displeasing, objectionable, and life-threatening
☸ Uppannānaṃ sārīrikānaṃ vedanānaṃ dukkhānaṃ tibbānaṃ kharānaṃ kaṭukānaṃ asātānaṃ amanāpānaṃ pāṇaharānaṃ adhivāsanāya ātappaṃ karaṇīyaṃ (A.1.153).

Illustration: ātāpī, vigorously applied (to the practice)

If a sensuous thought, unbenevolent thought, or malicious thought arises in a bhikkhu while he is walking, and he tolerates it, does not abandon it, dispel it, put an end to it, and eradicate it, then that bhikkhu is said to be not vigorously applied (to the practice), unafraid of wrongdoing, constantly and continuously lazy and slothful while walking.
☸ Carato cepi bhikkhave bhikkhuno uppajjati kāmavitakko vā vyāpādavitakko vā vihiṃsāvitakko vā. Tañca bhikkhu adhivāseti nappajahati na vinodeti na vyantīkaroti na anabhāvaṃ gameti. Carampi bhikkhave bhikkhu evambhūto anātāpī anottāpī satataṃ samitaṃ kusīto hīnaviriyo’ti vuccati (A.2.13).

Illustration: ātāpino, vigorously applied (to the practice)

Like a good horse touched by the whip, be vigorously applied (to the practice) and have an earnest attitude (to the practice).
☸ Asso yathā bhadro kasāniviṭṭho ātāpino saṃvegino bhavātha (Dh.v.144).

Comment

Saṃvegino: earnest attitude (to the practice). See Glossary sv Saṃvega.

Illustration: ātāpino, vigorously applied (to the practice)

In what way, Anuruddhas, do you abide diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied (to the practice)?
Yathākathampana tumhe anuruddhā appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharathāti?

In this regard, bhante… whoever notices the pots of water for drinking, washing, or for the toilets is empty or drained, he replenishes them… And every fifth night we sit together all night and discuss the teaching.
☸ Idha pana bhante… yo passati pānīyaghaṭaṃ vā paribhojanīyaghaṭaṃ vā vaccaghaṭaṃ vā rittaṃ tucchaṃ so upaṭṭhapeti… Pañcāhikaṃ kho pana mayaṃ bhante sabbarattikaṃ dhammiyā kathāya sannisīdāma (M.1.207).

Illustration: ātappaṃ, vigorous endeavour (to practise the teaching)

The vigorous endeavour (to practise the teaching) must be made today.
☸ ajje va kiccaṃ ātappaṃ (M.3.187).

Illustration: ātappaṃ, vigorous endeavour (to practise the teaching)

The vigorous endeavour (to practise the teaching) must be made by you yourselves. Perfect Ones are just path-proclaimers.
☸ tumhehi kiccaṃ ātappaṃ akkhātāro tathāgatā (Dh.v.276).

Illustration: ātāpiniyo, vigorously applied (to the practice)

Gotami, I hope the bhikkhunīs are abiding diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied (to the practice).
☸ kacci gotami bhikkhuniyo appamattā ātāpiniyo pahitattā viharantī ti.

Bhante, how could the bhikkhunīs be diligently applied (to the practice)? The masters, the Group-of-Six bhikkhus, are getting the bhikkhunīs to wash, dye, and comb sheep wool. Thus the bhikkhunīs are neglecting the recitation, the interrogation, the higher virtue, the higher mental states, and the higher penetrative discernment.
☸ Kuto bhante bhikkhunīnaṃ appamādo. Ayyā chabbaggiyā bhikkhunīhi eḷakalomāni dhovāpenti pi rajāpenti pi vijaṭāpenti pi. Bhikkhunīyo eḷakalomāni dhovantiyo rajantiyo vijaṭentiyo riñcanti uddesaṃ paripucchaṃ adhisīlaṃ adhicittaṃ adhipaññanti (Vin.3.235).

Illustration: ātāpī, vigorously applied (to the practice)

A bhikkhu who is mindful and vigorously applied (to the practice) can disentangle this tangle.
☸ Ātāpī nipako bhikkhu so imaṃ vijaṭaye jaṭanti (S.1.13).

Illustration: ātāpī, vigorously

A bhikkhu abides contemplating the nature of the body, vigorously, fully consciously, and mindfully, having eliminated greed and dejection in regard to the world (of phenomena)
☸ bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṃ (S.5.182).

Illustration: ātāpi, vigorously

She does not despise her husband, the man who always and constantly and vigorously and eagerly supports her, bringing her everything she wants.
☸ Yo naṃ bharati sabbadā niccaṃ ātāpi ussuko
Sabbakāmaharaṃ posaṃ bhattāraṃ nātimaññati (A.3.38).

Illustration: ātappāya, vigorous endeavour

His mind inclines to vigorous endeavour, application, perseverance, and inward striving.
☸ tassa cittaṃ namati ātappāya anuyogāya sātaccāya padhānāya (A.5.19).

Illustration: ātappamakaruṃ, vigorously endeavoured

‘Bhikkhus, watch the approaching host of devas.’
☸ Devakāyā abhikkantā te vijānātha bhikkhavo

Hearing the Buddha’s call, the bhikkhus vigorously endeavoured to comply.
☸ Te ca ātappamakaruṃ sutvā buddhassa sāsanaṃ (D.2.256).

Illustration: ātappamanvāya, vigorous endeavour

A certain ascetic or Brahmanist through vigorous endeavour, exertion, application, diligence, and right contemplation
☸ ekacco samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā ātappamanvāya padhānamanvāya anuyogamanvāya appamādamanvāya sammāmanasikāramanvāya

attains to such a state of inward collectedness that he thereby recalls his manifold past lives.
☸ tathārūpaṃ cetosamādhiṃ phusati yathā samāhite citte anekavihitaṃ pubbenivāsaṃ anussarati (D.1.13).

Illustration: ātappaṃ karohi, vigorously apply yourself (to the practice)

Therefore vigorously apply yourself (to the practice). Be aware and mindful right here and now. Having heard my word, train yourself in the quenching of the ego.
☸ Tenahātappaṃ karohi idheva nipako sato
Ito sutvāna nigghosaṃ sikkhe nibbānamattano (Sn.v.1062).

Illustration: ātāpino, vigorous

When profound truths become manifest to the vigorous, meditative Brahman, then all his unsureness (about the excellence of the teaching) disappears, for he discerns the conditioned nature of reality.
☸ Yadā have pātubhavanti dhammā ātāpino jhāyato brāhmaṇassa
Athassa kaṅkhā vapayanti sabbā yato pajānāti sahetudhamman ti (Ud.1).