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Ūmibhaya Sutta

v.l. Ummi Sutta.– Four perils have to be faced by those who go down into the water: waves (ūmi), crocodiles (kumbhīla), whirlpools (āvaṭṭa), and fierce fish (susukā). Similar perils await those who go from the household life to homelessness.

  1. Having gone forth in faith, seeing danger in saṃsāra, his fellow monks instruct him on how to go and come, how to wear the robe, etc., and he becomes annoyed and dissatisfied, reverting to lay life. This is the peril of waves.
  2. His follow monks admonish him: “Eat this, do not eat this, this is allowable, this is not allowable, etc.” He becomes annoyed and dissatisfied, reverting to lay life. This is the peril of crocodiles.
  3. On going for alms, unmindful and with senses unrestrained, he sees householder enjoying sensual pleasures. Wishing to enjoy sensual pleasures as before, he reverts to the lay life. This is the peril of whirlpools.
  4. On going for alms, unmindful and with senses unrestrained, he sees women scantily dressed, and becoming lustful, he reverts to the lay life. This is the peril of fierce fishes.

A.ii.123 ff. This sutta is included as part of the Cātuma Sutta (M.i.460 f).