➥ nipaka and nepakka.

• for nipaka:
  • mindful
  • aware
• for nepakka:
  • awareness
• nipako: aware; mindful
• nipakā: aware; mindful
• nepakkena: awareness
• nipakassa: mindful
• nipakaṁ: mindful

The problem of nipaka

The meaning of nipaka is unsettled. Translators render it as follows:

• PED: intelligent, clever, prudent, wise.
• Bodhi: worthy (MN iii 154).
• Bodhi: alert (AN iii 138).
• Norman: zealous (Snp 1038; Dhp 328).
• Horner: intelligent (MN i 340).
• Horner: apt (Vin.1.350).
• Ireland: discerning (Iti 93).

Nepakka (nipaka’s noun) is a quality that a good bhikkhu is keen to develop (satinepakke tibbacchando hoti, DN iii 253). Although ‘discernment’ would fit well here as a quality to strive for, could a bhikkhu be fittingly described as eager to develop zeal, or alertness, or intelligence?

Not discernment

Developing the quality of nipaka is considered part of ethical conduct, together with sato (sato ca nipako ca. Etadānuttariyaṁ bhante purisasīlasamācāre DN iii 107). This counts against nipaka being ‘discerning,’ which is part of penetrative discernment not ethical conduct―although this is somewhat unclear in the scriptures, because of the division changes. For example, the Mahāsīhanāda Sutta would place discernment under paññāsampadā (DN i 174), and sato not under sīlasampadā (DN i 172), but under cittasampadā (DN i 173). But nonetheless, the point is clear: however the factors are divided, nipaka is not part of paññā, so it is not discernment.

Nipaka and sati

Nipaka and nepakka are repeatedly linked to sati. For example:

• ‘There are bhikkhus who are nipakā nipakavuttino who abide with their minds well established in the [contemplation of the] four bases of mindfulness’ (nipakā nipakavuttino te catusu satipaṭṭhānesu sūpaṭṭhitacittā viharanti MN i 339). Nipakā is therefore a quality of those who practise satipaṭṭhāna.
• ‘A bhikkhu is mindful. He is possessed of paramount mindfulness and nepakka’ (bhikkhu satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato DN iii 267). Here, nepakka is part of satimā hoti.

This suggests that sati and nepakka both mean ‘mindfulness,’ though when the words occur together, we call nepakka ‘awareness’ and nipaka ‘aware.’

Adjective for conduct

Finding the correct word for nipaka is again challenged where it is used as an adjective for ‘conduct.’ Here, ‘mindful’ seems the only way to resolve the translation:

• There are, Kandaraka, bhikkhus in this community of bhikkhus who are disciples in training whose virtue is consistent, whose conduct is consistent, who are mindful, whose conduct is mindful. They abide with their minds well established in the [contemplation of the] four bases of mindfulness.

Santi pana kandaraka bhikkhū imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe sekhā santatasīlā santatavuttino nipakā nipakavuttino. Te catusu satipaṭṭhānesu sūpaṭṭhitacittā viharanti. (MN i 339)

Illustration: nipaka, aware

Come on, friend, abide with sense portals guarded [by mindfulness]. Take mindfulness as your supervisor. Be aware and mindful, and have a mind that is supervised [by mindfulness], a mind under the supervision of mindfulness.

Etha tumhe āvuso indriyesu guttadvārā viharatha ārakkhasatino nipakkasatino sārakkhitamānasā satārakkhena cetasā samannāgatāti. (AN iii 138)

➥ nipako: (main article see: nipaka)

Illustration: nipako, aware

One who is proficient [in discerning] the telltale signs of the mind, and who knows the sweetness of physical seclusion, being meditative, aware, and mindful, can attain unworldly pleasure.

Cittanimittassa kovido pavivekarasaṁ vijāniya
Jhāyaṁ nipako patissato adhigaccheyya sukhaṁ nirāmisan ti. (Tha 85)

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.

Tenahātappaṁ karohi idheva nipako sato
Ito sutvāna nigghosaṁ sikkhe nibbānamattano. (Snp 1062)

Abandoning the five hindrances, ever energetic, he enters the jhānas. His mind is concentrated. He is aware and mindful.

Pañcanīvaraṇe hitvā niccaṁ āraddhaviriyo
Jhānāni upasampajja ekodi nipako sato. (AN iii 354)

Illustration: nipako, mindful

One who is not vain or puffed up, who is mindful, whose sense faculties are restrained [from grasping, through mindfulness], looks glorious in rag-robes. He is like a lion in a mountain cave.

Anuddhato acapalo nipako saṁvutindriyo
Sobhati paṁsukūlena sīho va girigabbhare. (Tha 1081)

➥ nipakā: (main article see: nipaka)

Illustration: nipakā, aware

Those of peaceful minds, who are aware, mindful, and meditative, rightly see the nature of reality, and long not for sensuous pleasures.

Ye santacittā nipakā satimanto ca jhāyinoSammā dhammaṁ vipassanti kāmesu anapekkhino. (Iti 39)

Illustration: nipakā, mindful

Thus living in unity, being mindful, you will put an end to suffering.

Tato samaggā nipakā dukkhassantaṁ karissathā ti. (Snp 283; AN iv 172)

There are, Kandaraka, bhikkhus in this community of bhikkhus who are disciples in training whose virtue is consistent, whose conduct is consistent, who are mindful, whose conduct is mindful. They abide with their minds well established in the [contemplation of the] four bases of mindfulness.

Santi pana kandaraka bhikkhū imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe sekhā santatasīlā santatavuttino nipakā nipakavuttino. Te catusu satipaṭṭhānesu sūpaṭṭhitacittā viharanti. (MN i 339)

➥ nepakkena: (main article see: nipaka)

Illustration: nepakkena, awareness

A bhikkhu is mindful. He is possessed of paramount mindfulness and awareness. He recalls and recollects what was done and said long ago.

Puna ca paraṁ āvuso bhikkhu satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā. (DN iii 267)

In this regard a bhikkhu is keenly eager to develop mindfulness and awareness and his dedication to this does not dwindle away in the course of time

Satinepakke tibbacchando hoti āyatiñca satinepakke avigatapemo. (DN iii 253)

➥ nipakassa: (main article see: nipaka)

Illustration: nipakassa, mindful

For one whose āsavas are destroyed, who is mindful and meditative, having reached the end of birth and death, he does not strain for he has reached the Far Shore.

khīṇāsavassa nipakassa jhāyino
Pappuyya jātimaraṇassa antaṁ nāyūhati pāragato hi soti. (SN i 48)

➥ nipakaṁ: (main article see: nipaka)

Illustration: nipakaṁ, mindful

If one should find a mindful companion, a wise comrade of good disposition, then, overcoming all adversities, pleased and mindful, one should live the religious life with him.

Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāriṁ dhīraṁ
Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni careyya tenattamano satimā. (Snp 45; MN iii 154; Dhp 328; Vin.1.350)