Retelling: Vova Pyatsky and Smadar Pyatsky (based on the translations of the suttas published on Theravada.ru and SuttaCentral.net)

Russian Version: Ванапаттха сутта, Лесная обитель, Мадджхима Никая 17 | Три Ваджры

Translation to English: Roni Sherman and Marina Sherman

A place suitable for practice

The Buddha discusses with the monks the choice of a place that is most suitable for practice. The discussion begins with the question of when a monk should stay at and when he should leave an abode in the forest. This is followed by a similar discussion about staying or leaving a village, city, country and patron providing the monk means of subsistence. 

The right choice

The Buddha considers four possibilities 1) the place and surroundings do not promote practice, and means for subsistence are obtained with difficulty 2) the place and surroundings do not promote practice, but means for subsistence are obtained easily; 3) the place and surroundings promote practice, but means for subsistence are obtained with difficulty; 4) the place and surroundings promote practice and means for subsistence are obtained easily. 

In the first case, the practitioner should leave this place and seek another abode. In the second case, practitioners should think: “We do not lead the life of ascetics for the sake of comfortable living conditions but for the sake of success in practice — therefore we should leave this abode and seek another.” In the third case, practitioners should think: “We do not lead the life of ascetics for the sake of comfortable living conditions but for the sake of success in practice — therefore we should stay in this abode and patiently practice.” In the fourth case, practitioners should stay in this place without diverting to search for another abode.