Aṅguttara Nikāya 1
Translators: sujato
Numbered Discourses 1.394–574
29. Aparaaccharāsaṅghātavagga
Another Chapter on a Finger-Snap
394
“Accharāsaṅghātamattampi ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ bhāveti, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave:
“If, mendicants, a mendicant develops the first absorption, even as long as a finger-snap, they are called
‘bhikkhu arittajjhāno viharati, satthusāsanakaro ovādapatikaro, amoghaṁ raṭṭhapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjati’.
a mendicant who does not lack absorption, who follows the Teacher’s instructions, who responds to advice, and who does not eat the country’s alms in vain.
Ko pana vādo ye naṁ bahulīkarontī”ti.
How much more so those who make much of it!”
395–401
“Accharāsaṅghātamattampi ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ bhāveti …pe…
“If, mendicants, a mendicant develops the second …
tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ bhāveti …pe…
third …
catutthaṁ jhānaṁ bhāveti …pe…
or fourth absorption …
mettaṁ cetovimuttiṁ bhāveti …pe…
or the heart’s release by love …
karuṇaṁ cetovimuttiṁ bhāveti …pe…
or the heart’s release by compassion …
muditaṁ cetovimuttiṁ bhāveti …pe…
or the heart’s release by rejoicing …
upekkhaṁ cetovimuttiṁ bhāveti …pe….
or the heart’s release by equanimity, even as long as a finger-snap …
402–405
Kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ …pe…
If a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body …
vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati …
feelings …
citte cittānupassī viharati …
mind …
dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world, even for the time of a finger-snap …
406–409
Anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;
If they generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise, even for the time of a finger-snap …
uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.
If they generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up, even for the time of a finger-snap …
Anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati;
If they generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have not arisen do arise, even for the time of a finger-snap …
uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.
If they generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development, even for the time of a finger-snap …
410–413
Chandasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti …
If they develop the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort …
vīriyasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti …
the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort …
cittasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti …
the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort …
vīmaṁsāsamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti ….
the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort, even for the time of a finger-snap …
414–418
Saddhindriyaṁ bhāveti …
If they develop the faculty of faith …
vīriyindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of energy …
satindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of mindfulness …
samādhindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of immersion …
paññindriyaṁ bhāveti ….
the faculty of wisdom, even for the time of a finger-snap …
419–423
Saddhābalaṁ bhāveti …
If they develop the power of faith …
vīriyabalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of energy …
satibalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of mindfulness …
samādhibalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of immersion …
paññābalaṁ bhāveti ….
the power of wisdom, even for the time of a finger-snap …
424–430
Satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …
If they develop the awakening factor of mindfulness …
dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …
the awakening factor of investigation of principles …
vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …
the awakening factor of energy …
pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …
the awakening factor of rapture …
passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …
the awakening factor of tranquility …
samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …
the awakening factor of immersion …
upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti ….
the awakening factor of equanimity, even for the time of a finger-snap …
431–438
Sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti …
If they develop right view …
sammāsaṅkappaṁ bhāveti …
right thought …
sammāvācaṁ bhāveti …
right speech …
sammākammantaṁ bhāveti …
right action …
sammāājīvaṁ bhāveti …
right livelihood …
sammāvāyāmaṁ bhāveti …
right effort …
sammāsatiṁ bhāveti …
right mindfulness …
sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti ….
right immersion, even for the time of a finger-snap …
439–446
Ajjhattaṁ rūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati parittāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni.
Perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
… ajjhattaṁ rūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati appamāṇāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni.
Perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
… ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati parittāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni.
Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
… ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati appamāṇāni suvaṇṇadubbaṇṇāni.
Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
… ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati nīlāni nīlavaṇṇāni nīlanidassanāni nīlanibhāsāni.
Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally that are blue, with blue color and blue appearance.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
… ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati pītāni pītavaṇṇāni pītanidassanāni pītanibhāsāni.
Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally that are yellow, with yellow color and yellow appearance.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
… ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati lohitakāni lohitakavaṇṇāni lohitakanidassanāni lohitakanibhāsāni.
Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally that are red, with red color and red appearance.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
… ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati odātāni odātavaṇṇāni odātanidassanāni odātanibhāsāni.
Not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally that are white, with white color and white appearance.
Tāni abhibhuyya:
Having mastered this, they are aware that:
‘jānāmi passāmī’ti—
‘I know and see.’ …
evaṁsaññī hoti.
447–454
Rūpī rūpāni passati …
Having physical form, they see forms …
ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati …
not perceiving form internally, they see forms externally …
subhanteva adhimutto hoti …
they’re focused only on beauty …
sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati …
going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space …
sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma anantaṁ viññāṇanti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati …
going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness …
sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma natthi kiñcīti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati …
going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, they enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness …
sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati …
going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, they enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …
sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati ….
going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling …
455–464
Pathavikasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
They develop the meditation on universal earth …
āpokasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal water …
tejokasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal fire …
vāyokasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal air …
nīlakasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal blue …
pītakasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal yellow …
lohitakasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal red …
odātakasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal white …
ākāsakasiṇaṁ bhāveti …
the meditation on universal space …
viññāṇakasiṇaṁ bhāveti …. (…)
the meditation on universal consciousness …
465–474
Asubhasaññaṁ bhāveti …
They develop the perception of ugliness …
maraṇasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of death …
āhāre paṭikūlasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of the repulsiveness of food …
sabbaloke anabhiratisaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of dissatisfaction with the whole world …
aniccasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of impermanence …
anicce dukkhasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of suffering in impermanence …
dukkhe anattasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of not-self in suffering …
pahānasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of giving up …
virāgasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of fading away …
nirodhasaññaṁ bhāveti ….
the perception of cessation …
475–484
Aniccasaññaṁ bhāveti …
They develop the perception of impermanence …
anattasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of not-self …
maraṇasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of death …
āhāre paṭikūlasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of the repulsiveness of food …
sabbaloke anabhiratisaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of dissatisfaction with the whole world …
aṭṭhikasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of a skeleton …
puḷavakasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of the worm-infested corpse …
vinīlakasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of the livid corpse …
vicchiddakasaññaṁ bhāveti …
the perception of the split open corpse …
uddhumātakasaññaṁ bhāveti ….
the perception of the bloated corpse …
485–494
Buddhānussatiṁ bhāveti …
They develop the recollection of the Buddha …
dhammānussatiṁ bhāveti …
the recollection of the teaching …
saṅghānussatiṁ bhāveti …
the recollection of the Saṅgha …
sīlānussatiṁ bhāveti …
the recollection of ethical conduct …
cāgānussatiṁ bhāveti …
the recollection of generosity …
devatānussatiṁ bhāveti …
the recollection of the deities …
ānāpānassatiṁ bhāveti …
mindfulness of breathing …
maraṇassatiṁ bhāveti …
the recollection of death …
kāyagatāsatiṁ bhāveti …
mindfulness of the body …
upasamānussatiṁ bhāveti ….
the recollection of peace …
495–574
Paṭhamajjhānasahagataṁ saddhindriyaṁ bhāveti …
They develop the faculty of faith together with the first absorption …
vīriyindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of energy …
satindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of mindfulness …
samādhindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of immersion …
paññindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of wisdom …
saddhābalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of faith …
vīriyabalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of energy …
satibalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of mindfulness …
samādhibalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of immersion …
paññābalaṁ bhāveti ….
the power of wisdom together with the first absorption …
Dutiyajjhānasahagataṁ …pe…
Together with the second absorption …
tatiyajjhānasahagataṁ …pe…
the third absorption …
catutthajjhānasahagataṁ …pe…
the fourth absorption …
mettāsahagataṁ …pe…
love …
karuṇāsahagataṁ …pe…
compassion …
muditāsahagataṁ …pe…
rejoicing …
upekkhāsahagataṁ saddhindriyaṁ bhāveti …
They develop the faculty of faith together with equanimity …
vīriyindriyaṁ bhāveti …
They develop the faculty of energy …
satindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of mindfulness …
samādhindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of immersion …
paññindriyaṁ bhāveti …
the faculty of wisdom …
saddhābalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of faith …
vīriyabalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of energy …
satibalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of mindfulness …
samādhibalaṁ bhāveti …
the power of immersion …
paññābalaṁ bhāveti.
the power of wisdom.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave:
That mendicant is called
‘bhikkhu arittajjhāno viharati satthusāsanakaro ovādapatikaro, amoghaṁ raṭṭhapiṇḍaṁ bhuñjati’.
a mendicant who does not lack absorption, who follows the Teacher’s instructions, who responds to advice, and who does not eat the country’s alms in vain.
Ko pana vādo ye naṁ bahulīkarontī”ti.
How much more so those who make much of it!”
(Aparaaccharāsaṅghātavaggo.)