Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.25
Translators: sujato
Numbered Discourses 6.25
3. Anuttariyavagga
3. Unsurpassable
Anussatiṭṭhānasutta
Topics for Recollection
“Chayimāni, bhikkhave, anussatiṭṭhānāni.
“Mendicants, there are these six topics for recollection.
Katamāni cha?
What six?
Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati:
Firstly, a noble disciple recollects the Realized One:
‘itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.
‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’
Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;
When a noble disciple recollects the Realized One their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion.
ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.
At that time their mind is unswerving. They’ve left behind greed; they’re free of it and have risen above it.
‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Greed’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Relying on this, some sentient beings are purified in this way.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhammaṁ anussarati:
Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the teaching:
‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo …pe… paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.
‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’
Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako dhammaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;
When a noble disciple recollects the teaching their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.
‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghaṁ anussarati:
Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha:
‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.
‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’
Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako saṅghaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;
When a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.
‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano sīlāni anussarati akhaṇḍāni …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikāni.
Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their own ethical precepts, which are unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion.
Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako sīlaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;
When a noble disciple recollects their ethical precepts their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.
‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano cāgaṁ anussarati:
Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their own generosity:
‘lābhā vata me. Suladdhaṁ vata me …pe…
‘I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate!
yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.
Among people full of the stain of stinginess I live at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.’
…pe…
When a noble disciple recollects their generosity their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
Evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako devatā anussarati:
Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the deities:
‘santi devā cātumahārājikā, santi devā tāvatiṁsā, santi devā yāmā, santi devā tusitā, santi devā nimmānaratino, santi devā paranimmitavasavattino, santi devā brahmakāyikā, santi devā tatuttari.
‘There are the Gods of the Four Great Kings, the Gods of the Thirty-Three, the Gods of Yama, the Joyful Gods, the Gods Who Love to Imagine, the Gods Who Control what is Imagined by Others, the Gods of Brahmā’s Host, and gods even higher than these.
Yathārūpāya saddhāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā saddhā saṁvijjati.
When those deities passed away from here, they were reborn there because of their faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. I, too, have the same kind of faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.’
Yathārūpena sīlena …
sutena …
cāgena …
paññāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā paññā saṁvijjatī’ti.
Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako attano ca tāsañca devatānaṁ saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarati nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;
When a noble disciple recollects the faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom of both themselves and the deities their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion.
ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.
At that time their mind is unswerving. They’ve left behind greed; they’re free of it and have risen above it.
‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Greed’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Relying on this, some sentient beings are purified in this way.
Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anussatiṭṭhānānī”ti.
These are the six topics for recollection.”
Pañcamaṁ.