Majjhima Nikāya 62

Translators: sujato

Middle Discourses 62

Mahārāhulovādasutta

The Longer Advice to Rāhula

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Āyasmāpi kho rāhulo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.
And Venerable Rāhula also robed up and followed behind the Buddha.

Atha kho bhagavā apaloketvā āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Buddha looked back at Rāhula and said,

“yaṁ kiñci, rāhula, rūpaṁ—atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā—sabbaṁ rūpaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabban”ti.
“Rāhula, you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’”

“Rūpameva nu kho, bhagavā, rūpameva nu kho, sugatā”ti?
“Only form, Blessed One? Only form, Holy One?”

“Rūpampi, rāhula, vedanāpi, rāhula, saññāpi, rāhula, saṅkhārāpi, rāhula, viññāṇampi, rāhulā”ti.
“Form, Rāhula, as well as feeling and perception and choices and consciousness.”

Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo “ko najja bhagavatā sammukhā ovādena ovadito gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisissatī”ti tato paṭinivattitvā aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.
Then Rāhula thought, “Who would go to the village for alms today after being advised directly by the Buddha?” Turning back, he sat down cross-legged at the root of a certain tree, setting his body straight, and establishing mindfulness in front of him.

Addasā kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.
Venerable Sāriputta saw him sitting there,

Disvāna āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ āmantesi:
and addressed him,

“ānāpānassatiṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
“Rāhula, develop mindfulness of breathing.

Ānāpānassati, rāhula, bhāvanā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti.
When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.”

Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā rāhulo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then in the late afternoon, Rāhula came out of retreat, went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“kathaṁ bhāvitā nu kho, bhante, ānāpānassati, kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti?
“Sir, how is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated to be very fruitful and beneficial?”

“Yaṁ kiñci, rāhula, ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ kakkhaḷaṁ kharigataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—
“Rāhula, the interior earth element is said to be anything hard, solid, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual. This includes:

kesā lomā nakhā dantā taco maṁsaṁ nhāru aṭṭhi aṭṭhimiñjaṁ vakkaṁ hadayaṁ yakanaṁ kilomakaṁ pihakaṁ papphāsaṁ antaṁ antaguṇaṁ udariyaṁ karīsaṁ, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ kakkhaḷaṁ kharigataṁ upādinnaṁ—
head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, or anything else hard, solid, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual.

ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu.
This is called the interior earth element.

Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu yā ca bāhirā pathavīdhātu, pathavīdhāturevesā.
The interior earth element and the exterior earth element are just the earth element.

Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā pathavīdhātuyā nibbindati, pathavīdhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.
When you truly see with right understanding, you reject the earth element, detaching the mind from the earth element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, āpodhātu?
And what is the water element?

Āpodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.
The water element may be interior or exterior.

Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu?
And what is the interior water element?

Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ āpo āpogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—
Anything that’s water, watery, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual. This includes:

pittaṁ semhaṁ pubbo lohitaṁ sedo medo assu vasā kheḷo siṅghāṇikā lasikā muttaṁ, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ āpo āpogataṁ upādinnaṁ—
bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine, or anything else that’s water, watery, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual.

ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu.
This is called the interior water element.

Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā āpodhātu yā ca bāhirā āpodhātu āpodhāturevesā.
The interior water element and the exterior water element are just the water element.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā āpodhātuyā nibbindati, āpodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.
When you truly see with right understanding, you reject the water element, detaching the mind from the water element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, tejodhātu?
And what is the fire element?

Tejodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.
The fire element may be interior or exterior.

Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu?
And what is the interior fire element?

Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ tejo tejogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—
Anything that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual. This includes:

yena ca santappati yena ca jīrīyati yena ca pariḍayhati yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ sammā pariṇāmaṁ gacchati, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ tejo tejogataṁ upādinnaṁ—
that which warms, that which ages, that which heats you up when feverish, that which properly digests food and drink, or anything else that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual.

ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu.
This is called the interior fire element.

Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā tejodhātu yā ca bāhirā tejodhātu tejodhāturevesā.
The interior fire element and the exterior fire element are just the fire element.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā tejodhātuyā nibbindati, tejodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.
When you truly see with right understanding, you reject the fire element, detaching the mind from the fire element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, vāyodhātu?
And what is the air element?

Vāyodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.
The air element may be interior or exterior.

Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu?
And what is the interior air element?

Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ vāyo vāyogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—
Anything that’s air, airy, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual. This includes:

uddhaṅgamā vātā, adhogamā vātā, kucchisayā vātā, koṭṭhāsayā vātā, aṅgamaṅgānusārino vātā, assāso passāso iti, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ vāyo vāyogataṁ upādinnaṁ—
winds that go up or down, winds in the belly or the bowels, winds that flow through the limbs, in-breaths and out-breaths, or anything else that’s air, airy, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual.

ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu.
This is called the interior air element.

Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā vāyodhātu yā ca bāhirā vāyodhātu vāyodhāturevesā.
The interior air element and the exterior air element are just the air element.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā vāyodhātuyā nibbindati, vāyodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.
When you truly see with right understanding, you reject the air element, detaching the mind from the air element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, ākāsadhātu?
And what is the space element?

Ākāsadhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.
The space element may be interior or exterior.

Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu?
And what is the interior space element?

Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ ākāsaṁ ākāsagataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—
Anything that’s space, spacious, and appropriated that’s internal, pertaining to an individual. This includes:

kaṇṇacchiddaṁ nāsacchiddaṁ mukhadvāraṁ, yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ ajjhoharati, yattha ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ santiṭṭhati, yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ adhobhāgaṁ nikkhamati, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ ākāsaṁ ākāsagataṁ, aghaṁ aghagataṁ, vivaraṁ vivaragataṁ, asamphuṭṭhaṁ, maṁsalohitehi upādinnaṁ—
the ear canals, nostrils, and mouth; and the space for swallowing what is eaten and drunk, the space where it stays, and the space for excreting it from the nether regions.

ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu.
This is called the interior space element.

Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu yā ca bāhirā ākāsadhātu ākāsadhāturevesā.
The interior space element and the exterior space element are just the space element.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā ākāsadhātuyā cittaṁ nibbindati, ākāsadhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.
When you truly see with right understanding, you reject the space element, detaching the mind from the space element.

Pathavīsamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Rāhula, meditate like the earth.

Pathavīsamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.
For when you meditate like the earth, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

Seyyathāpi, rāhula, pathaviyā sucimpi nikkhipanti, asucimpi nikkhipanti, gūthagatampi nikkhipanti, muttagatampi nikkhipanti, kheḷagatampi nikkhipanti, pubbagatampi nikkhipanti, lohitagatampi nikkhipanti, na ca tena pathavī aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;
Suppose they were to toss both clean and unclean things on the earth, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The earth isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, pathavīsamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
In the same way, meditate like the earth.

Āposamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate like water.

Āposamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.
For when you meditate like water, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

Seyyathāpi, rāhula, āpasmiṁ sucimpi dhovanti, asucimpi dhovanti, gūthagatampi dhovanti, muttagatampi dhovanti, kheḷagatampi dhovanti, pubbagatampi dhovanti, lohitagatampi dhovanti, na ca tena āpo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;
Suppose they were to wash both clean and unclean things in the water, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The water isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, āposamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
In the same way, meditate like water.

Tejosamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate like fire.

Tejosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.
For when you meditate like fire, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

Seyyathāpi, rāhula, tejo sucimpi dahati, asucimpi dahati, gūthagatampi dahati, muttagatampi dahati, kheḷagatampi dahati, pubbagatampi dahati, lohitagatampi dahati, na ca tena tejo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;
Suppose a fire were to burn both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The fire isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, tejosamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
In the same way, meditate like fire.

Vāyosamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate like wind.

Vāyosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.
For when you meditate like wind, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

Seyyathāpi, rāhula, vāyo sucimpi upavāyati, asucimpi upavāyati, gūthagatampi upavāyati, muttagatampi upavāyati, kheḷagatampi upavāyati, pubbagatampi upavāyati, lohitagatampi upavāyati, na ca tena vāyo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;
Suppose the wind were to blow on both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The wind isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, vāyosamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
In the same way, meditate like the wind.

Ākāsasamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate like space.

Ākāsasamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.
For when you meditate like space, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

Seyyathāpi, rāhula, ākāso na katthaci patiṭṭhito;
Just as space is not established anywhere,

evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, ākāsasamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
in the same way, meditate like space.

Mettaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate on love.

Mettañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo byāpādo so pahīyissati.
For when you meditate on love any ill will will be given up.

Karuṇaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate on compassion.

Karuṇañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yā vihesā sā pahīyissati.
For when you meditate on compassion any cruelty will be given up.

Muditaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate on rejoicing.

Muditañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yā arati sā pahīyissati.
For when you meditate on rejoicing any discontent will be given up.

Upekkhaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate on equanimity.

Upekkhañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo paṭigho so pahīyissati.
For when you meditate on equanimity any repulsion will be given up.

Asubhaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate on ugliness.

Asubhañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo rāgo so pahīyissati.
For when you meditate on ugliness any lust will be given up.

Aniccasaññaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Meditate on impermanence.

Aniccasaññañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo asmimāno so pahīyissati.
For when you meditate on impermanence any conceit ‘I am’ will be given up.

Ānāpānassatiṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.
Develop mindfulness of breathing.

Ānāpānassati hi te, rāhula, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā.
When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, rāhula, ānāpānassati, kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā?
And how is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated to be very fruitful and beneficial?

Idha, rāhula, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.
It’s when a mendicant—gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut—sits down cross-legged, sets their body straight, and establishes mindfulness in front of them.

So satova assasati satova passasati.
Just mindful, they breath in. Mindful, they breath out.

Dīghaṁ vā assasanto ‘dīghaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, dīghaṁ vā passasanto ‘dīghaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti;
Breathing in heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing in heavily.’ Breathing out heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing out heavily.’

rassaṁ vā assasanto ‘rassaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, rassaṁ vā passasanto ‘rassaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti.
When breathing in lightly they know: ‘I’m breathing in lightly.’ Breathing out lightly they know: ‘I’m breathing out lightly.’

‘Sabbakāyappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘sabbakāyappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing the whole body.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing the whole body.’

‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in stilling the physical process.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out stilling the physical process.’

‘Pītippaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘pītippaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing rapture.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing rapture.’

‘sukhappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘sukhappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing bliss.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing bliss.’

‘cittasaṅkhārappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘cittasaṅkhārappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing mental processes.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing mental processes.’

‘passambhayaṁ cittasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘passambhayaṁ cittasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in stilling mental processes.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out stilling mental processes.’

‘Cittappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘cittappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing the mind.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing the mind.’

‘abhippamodayaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘abhippamodayaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in gladdening the mind.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out gladdening the mind.’

‘samādahaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘samādahaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in immersing the mind in samādhi.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out immersing the mind in samādhi.’

‘vimocayaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘vimocayaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in freeing the mind.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out freeing the mind.’

‘Aniccānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘aniccānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing impermanence.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing impermanence.’

‘virāgānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘virāgānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing fading away.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing fading away.’

‘nirodhānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘nirodhānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing cessation.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing cessation.’

‘paṭinissaggānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘paṭinissaggānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing letting go.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing letting go.’

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, rāhula, ānāpānassati, evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā.
Mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated in this way, is very fruitful and beneficial.

Evaṁ bhāvitāya, rāhula, ānāpānassatiyā, evaṁ bahulīkatāya yepi te carimakā assāsā tepi viditāva nirujjhanti no aviditā”ti.
When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated in this way, even as the final breaths cease they are known, not unknown.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.

Attamano āyasmā rāhulo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.
Satisfied, Venerable Rāhula was happy with what the Buddha said.

Mahārāhulovādasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dutiyaṁ.