Aṅguttara Nikāya 11.11

Translators: sujato

Numbered Discourses 11.11

2. Anussativagga
2. Recollection

Paṭhamamahānāmasutta

With Mahānāma (1st)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti:
At that time several mendicants were making a robe for the Buddha, thinking that

“niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī”ti.
when his robe was finished and the three months of the rains residence had passed the Buddha would set out wandering.

Assosi kho mahānāmo sakko:
Mahānāma the Sakyan heard about this.

“sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti:

‘niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’”ti.

Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
He went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante:
“Sir, I have heard that

‘sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti—
several mendicants are making a robe for the Buddha, thinking that

niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti.
when his robe was finished and the three months of the rains residence had passed the Buddha would set out wandering.

Tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban”ti?
Now, we spend our life in various ways. Which of these should we practice?”

“Sādhu sādhu, mahānāma.
“Good, good, Mahānāma!

Etaṁ kho, mahānāma, tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ kulaputtānaṁ, yaṁ tumhe tathāgataṁ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyātha:
It’s appropriate that gentlemen such as you come to me and ask:

‘tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban’ti?
‘We spend our life in various ways. Which of these should we practice?’

Saddho kho, mahānāma, ārādhako hoti, no assaddho;
The faithful succeed, not the faithless.

āraddhavīriyo ārādhako hoti, no kusīto;
The energetic succeed, not the lazy.

upaṭṭhitassati ārādhako hoti, no muṭṭhassati;
The mindful succeed, not the unmindful.

samāhito ārādhako hoti, no asamāhito;
Those with immersion succeed, not those without immersion.

paññavā ārādhako hoti, no duppañño.
The wise succeed, not the witless.

Imesu kho tvaṁ, mahānāma, pañcasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya cha dhamme uttari bhāveyyāsi.
When you’re grounded on these five things, go on to develop six further things.

Idha tvaṁ, mahānāma, tathāgataṁ anussareyyāsi:
Firstly, you should recollect the Realized One:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi 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, mahānāma, 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 tathāgataṁ ārabbha.
At that time their mind is unswerving, based on the Realized One.

Ujugatacitto kho pana, mahānāma, ariyasāvako labhati atthavedaṁ, labhati dhammavedaṁ, labhati dhammūpasaṁhitaṁ pāmojjaṁ.
A noble disciple whose mind is unswerving finds inspiration in the meaning and the teaching, and finds joy connected with the teaching.

Pamuditassa pīti jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.
When they’re joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, they feel bliss. And when they’re blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.

Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, ariyasāvako visamagatāya pajāya samappatto viharati, sabyāpajjāya pajāya abyāpajjo viharati, dhammasotasamāpanno buddhānussatiṁ bhāveti.
This is called a noble disciple who lives in balance among people who are unbalanced, and lives untroubled among people who are troubled. They’ve entered the stream of the teaching and developed the recollection of the Buddha.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, mahānāma, dhammaṁ anussareyyāsi:
Furthermore, you should recollect the teaching:

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko 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, mahānāma, 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 dhammaṁ ārabbha.

Ujugatacitto kho pana, mahānāma, ariyasāvako labhati atthavedaṁ, labhati dhammavedaṁ, labhati dhammūpasaṁhitaṁ pāmojjaṁ.

Pamuditassa pīti jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, ariyasāvako visamagatāya pajāya samappatto viharati, sabyāpajjāya pajāya abyāpajjo viharati, dhammasotasamāpanno dhammānussatiṁ bhāveti.
This is called a noble disciple who lives in balance among people who are unbalanced, and lives untroubled among people who are troubled. They’ve entered the stream of the teaching and developed the recollection of the teaching.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, mahānāma, saṅghaṁ anussareyyāsi:
Furthermore, you should recollect the Saṅgha:

‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā, esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.
‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, sincere, 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, mahānāma, 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 saṅghaṁ ārabbha.

Ujugatacitto kho pana, mahānāma, ariyasāvako labhati atthavedaṁ, labhati dhammavedaṁ, labhati dhammūpasaṁhitaṁ pāmojjaṁ.

Pamuditassa pīti jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, ariyasāvako visamagatāya pajāya samappatto viharati, sabyāpajjāya pajāya abyāpajjo viharati, dhammasotasamāpanno saṅghānussatiṁ bhāveti.
This is called a noble disciple who lives in balance among people who are unbalanced, and lives untroubled among people who are troubled. They’ve entered the stream of the teaching and developed the recollection of the Saṅgha.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, mahānāma, attano sīlāni anussareyyāsi akhaṇḍāni acchiddāni asabalāni akammāsāni bhujissāni viññuppasatthāni aparāmaṭṭhāni samādhisaṁvattanikāni.
Furthermore, you should recollect your own ethical conduct, which is intact, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion.

Yasmiṁ, mahānāma, 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 conduct their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …

ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti sīlaṁ ārabbha.

Ujugatacitto kho pana, mahānāma, ariyasāvako labhati atthavedaṁ, labhati dhammavedaṁ, labhati dhammūpasaṁhitaṁ pāmojjaṁ.

Pamuditassa pīti jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, ariyasāvako visamagatāya pajāya samappatto viharati, sabyāpajjāya pajāya abyāpajjo viharati, dhammasotasamāpanno sīlānussatiṁ bhāveti.
This is called a noble disciple who lives in balance among people who are unbalanced, and lives untroubled among people who are troubled. They’ve entered the stream of the teaching and developed the recollection of their ethical conduct.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, mahānāma, attano cāgaṁ anussareyyāsi:
Furthermore, you should recollect your own generosity:

‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me,
‘I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate.

yohaṁ maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitāya pajāya vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasāmi muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.
Among people with hearts full of the stain of stinginess I live at home rid of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.’

Yasmiṁ, mahānāma, samaye ariyasāvako cāgaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;
When a noble disciple recollects their own generosity their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …

ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti cāgaṁ ārabbha.

Ujugatacitto kho pana, mahānāma, ariyasāvako labhati atthavedaṁ, labhati dhammavedaṁ, labhati dhammūpasaṁhitaṁ pāmojjaṁ.

Pamuditassa pīti jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vediyati, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, ariyasāvako visamagatāya pajāya samappatto viharati, sabyāpajjāya pajāya abyāpajjo viharati, dhammasotasamāpanno cāgānussatiṁ bhāveti.
This is called a noble disciple who lives in balance among people who are unbalanced, and lives untroubled among people who are troubled. They’ve entered the stream of the teaching and developed the recollection of generosity.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, mahānāma, devatā anussareyyāsi:
Furthermore, you should recollect 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 the Divinity’s host, and gods even higher than these.

Yathārūpāya saddhāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tatthūpapannā, 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 samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tatthūpapannā, mayhampi tathārūpaṁ sīlaṁ saṁvijjati.

Yathārūpena sutena samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tatthūpapannā, mayhampi tathārūpaṁ sutaṁ saṁvijjati.

Yathārūpena cāgena samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tatthūpapannā, mayhampi tathārūpo cāgo saṁvijjati.

Yathārūpāya paññāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tatthūpapannā, mayhampi tathārūpā paññā saṁvijjatī’ti.

Yasmiṁ, mahānāma, 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 devatā ārabbha.
At that time their mind is unswerving, based on the deities.

Ayaṁ vuccati, mahānāma, ariyasāvako visamagatāya pajāya samappatto viharati, sabyāpajjāya pajāya abyāpajjo viharati, dhammasotasamāpanno devatānussatiṁ bhāvetī”ti.
This is called a noble disciple who lives in balance among people who are unbalanced, and lives untroubled among people who are troubled. They’ve entered the stream of the teaching and developed the recollection of the deities.”

Paṭhamaṁ.