Overview
The “Protector-making qualities” (Nāthakaraṇadhamma) are virtues that make a monastic independent, spiritually safe, and loved by their community. The Buddha sets out ten of them in the Paṭhamanātha Sutta (AN 10.17).
The List
- Sīla - Virtue: Dwelling strictly restrained by the Pāṭimokkha, seeing danger in the slightest faults.
- Bahussuta - Much Learning: Memorizing and deeply understanding the texts of the Dhamma.
- Kalyāṇamittatā - Good Friendship: Associating only with wise, virtuous spiritual companions.
- Suvaco - Teachability: Being easy to speak to, accepting correction without anger, and acting respectfully when admonished.
- Kiṅkaraṇīyesu dakkho - Helpfulness: Being skillful and diligent in assisting fellow monks with their chores (making robes, etc.).
- Dhammakāmo - Love of the Dhamma: Delighting in the teaching, experiencing lofty joy regarding the Abhidhamma and Abhivinaya.
- Āraddhaviriyo - Aroused Energy: Unwavering, strenuous effort in abandoning unwholesome states.
- Santuṭṭho - Contentment: Being perfectly satisfied with whatever robes, food, lodging, and medicine are offered.
- Satimā - Mindfulness: Possessing supreme mindfulness and discernment, able to remember and recall what was done and said long ago.
- Paññā - Wisdom: Possessing the noble, penetrative insight into the arising and passing away of phenomena.
Quote
“Sanāthā, bhikkhave, viharatha, mā anāthā. Dukkhaṃ, bhikkhave, anātho viharati. Dasayime, bhikkhave, nāthakaraṇā dhammā. Katame dasa? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṃvarasaṃvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti … pe … samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu, ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
“Monks, live under a protector, not without a protector. Monks, one without a protector lives in suffering. Monks, there are these ten qualities that serve as a protector. What ten? Here, monks, a bhikkhu is virtuous; he dwells restrained by the Pātimokkha, possessed of good conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults. Undertaking the training rules, he trains in them. Since a bhikkhu is virtuous … trains in them, this is a quality that serves as a protector.— Aṅguttara Nikāya (AN 10.17, Paṭhamanātha Sutta; opening and first item) · TPR
Textual References
- Canonical: Paṭhamanātha Sutta (AN 10.17) – The Buddha instructs the monks to live “with a protector” (by possessing these qualities) because living without a protector leads to suffering.