| A.10_072 | Ka.n.thaka Sutta | Various distinguished Licchavites were racing their chariots in noise and uproar to visit the Buddha. Distinguished monks namely Caala, Upacaala, Kakka.ta, Ka.limbha, Nika.ta and Ka.tissaha thought to themselves, "such noise and uproar is a thorn [obstacle] to our absorptions -- let us retreat to the seclusion of the woods to continue our practice" and did so. Later the Buddha praised them for their decision saying that noise and uproar was only one of no less than ten different sorts of "thorn" as follows: 1. gregariousness is a thorn to seclusion; 2. beauty is a thorn to the contemplation of loathesomeness; 3. entertainment is a thorn to restraint of the senses; 4. consorting with womanfolk is a thorn to the Brahma-faring; 5. sound is a thorn to the first absorption; 6. initial application of mind [vitakka] and continued application of mind [vicaara] are thorns to the second absorption; 7. joy [piti] is a thorn to the third absorption; 8. in-and-out breathing is a thorn to the fourth absorption; 9. perception [sa~n~naa] and feeling [vedanaa] are thorns to deep meditation [nirodha-samapati], and; 10. greed, hatred and delusion are thorns. | 38/230 | Dasaka Nipaata, Dutiya Pa.n.naasaka | A"nguttara | A.i. | |