Saṁyutta Nikāya 54.13

Translators: sujato

Linked Discourses 54.13

2. Dutiyavagga
Chapter Two

Paṭhamaānandasutta

With Ānanda (1st)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“atthi nu kho, bhante, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato cattāro dhamme paripūreti, cattāro dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta dhamme paripūrenti, satta dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā dve dhamme paripūrentī”ti?
“Sir, is there one thing that, when developed and cultivated, fulfills four things; and those four things, when developed and cultivated, fulfill seven things; and those seven things, when developed and cultivated, fulfill two things?”

“Atthi kho, ānanda, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato cattāro dhamme paripūreti, cattāro dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta dhamme paripūrenti, satta dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā dve dhamme paripūrentī”ti.
“There is, Ānanda.”

“Katamo pana, bhante, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato cattāro dhamme paripūreti, cattāro dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta dhamme paripūrenti, satta dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā dve dhamme paripūrentī”ti?
“Sir, what is that one thing?”

“Ānāpānassatisamādhi kho, ānanda, ekadhammo bhāvito bahulīkato cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūreti, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti, satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti.
“Immersion due to mindfulness of breathing is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, fulfills the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. And the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, when developed and cultivated, fulfill the seven awakening factors. And the seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, fulfill knowledge and freedom.

Kathaṁ bhāvito, ānanda, ānāpānassatisamādhi kathaṁ bahulīkato cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūreti?
And how is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the four kinds of mindfulness meditation?

Idhānanda, 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 their presence.

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

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

‘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.’

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu dīghaṁ vā assasanto ‘dīghaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, dīghaṁ vā passasanto ‘dīghaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti;
There’s a time when a mendicant is breathing in heavily, and they know: ‘I’m breathing in heavily.’ Breathing out heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing out heavily.’

rassaṁ vā …pe…
…

‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati—
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in stilling physical processes.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out stilling physical processes.’

kāye kāyānupassī, ānanda, bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
At such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Kāyaññatarāhaṁ, ānanda, etaṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ—assāsapassāsaṁ.
Because the breath is a certain aspect of the body, I say.

Tasmātihānanda, kāye kāyānupassī bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
Therefore, at such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu ‘pītippaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati,
There’s a time when a mendicant practices like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing rapture …

sukhappaṭisaṁvedī …pe…
bliss …

cittasaṅkhārappaṭisaṁvedī …
mind …’ …

‘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.’

vedanāsu vedanānupassī, ānanda, bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
At such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Vedanāññatarāhaṁ, ānanda, etaṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ—assāsapassāsānaṁ sādhukaṁ manasikāraṁ.
Because careful application of mind to the in-breaths and out-breaths is a certain aspect of feelings, I say.

Tasmātihānanda, vedanāsu vedanānupassī bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
Therefore, at such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu ‘cittappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘cittappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
There’s a time when a mendicant practices like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing the mind.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing the mind.’

abhippamodayaṁ cittaṁ …pe…
They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in gladdening the mind …

samādahaṁ cittaṁ …
immersing the mind in samādhi …

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

citte cittānupassī, ānanda, bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
At such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Nāhaṁ, ānanda, muṭṭhassatissa asampajānassa ānāpānassatisamādhibhāvanaṁ vadāmi.
Because there is no development of immersion due to mindfulness of breathing for someone who is unmindful and lacks awareness, I say.

Tasmātihānanda, citte cittānupassī bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
Therefore, at such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu aniccānupassī …pe…
There’s a time when a mendicant practices like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing impermanence …

virāgānupassī …
fading away …

nirodhānupassī …
cessation …

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

dhammesu dhammānupassī, ānanda, bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
At such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

So yaṁ taṁ hoti abhijjhādomanassānaṁ pahānaṁ taṁ paññāya disvā sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti.
Having seen with wisdom the giving up of covetousness and displeasure, they watch closely over with equanimity.

Tasmātihānanda, dhammesu dhammānupassī bhikkhu tasmiṁ samaye viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
Therefore, at such a time a mendicant is meditating by observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

Evaṁ bhāvito kho, ānanda, ānāpānassatisamādhi evaṁ bahulīkato cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūreti.
That’s how immersion due to mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā cānanda, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā kathaṁ bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti?
And how are the four kinds of mindfulness meditation developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the seven awakening factors?

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati—
Whenever a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body,

upaṭṭhitāssa tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno sati hoti asammuṭṭhā.
their mindfulness is established and lucid.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhuno upaṭṭhitā sati hoti asammuṭṭhā—satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, satisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of mindfulness; they develop it and perfect it.

So tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati.
As they live mindfully in this way they investigate, explore, and inquire into that principle with wisdom.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu tathā sato viharanto taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati—
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of investigation of principles; they develop it and perfect it.

dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

Tassa taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ.
As they investigate principles with wisdom in this way their energy is roused up and unflagging.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhuno taṁ dhammaṁ paññāya pavicinato pavicarato parivīmaṁsamāpajjato āraddhaṁ hoti vīriyaṁ asallīnaṁ—
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of energy; they develop it and perfect it.

vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, vīriyasambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

Āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā.
When you’re energetic, rapture not of the flesh arises.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhuno āraddhavīriyassa uppajjati pīti nirāmisā—
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of rapture; they develop it and perfect it.

pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, pītisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

Pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati.
When the mind is full of rapture, the body and mind become tranquil.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhuno pītimanassa kāyopi passambhati, cittampi passambhati—
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of tranquility; they develop it and perfect it.

passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, passaddhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

Passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.
When the body is tranquil and one feels bliss, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhuno passaddhakāyassa sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati—
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of immersion; they develop it and perfect it.

samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, samādhisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

So tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti.
They closely watch over that mind immersed in samādhi.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti—
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of equanimity; they develop it and perfect it.

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhu vedanāsu …pe…
Whenever a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of feelings …

citte …pe…
mind …

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati—
principles,

upaṭṭhitāssa tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno sati hoti asammuṭṭhā.
their mindfulness is established and lucid.

Yasmiṁ samaye, ānanda, bhikkhuno upaṭṭhitā sati hoti asammuṭṭhā—
At such a time, a mendicant has activated the awakening factor of mindfulness; they develop it and perfect it. …

satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno āraddho hoti, satisambojjhaṅgaṁ tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu bhāveti, satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhikkhuno bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

(Yathā paṭhamaṁ satipaṭṭhānaṁ, evaṁ vitthāretabbaṁ.)
(Tell in full as for the first kind of mindfulness meditation.)

So tathāsamāhitaṁ cittaṁ sādhukaṁ ajjhupekkhitā hoti.
They closely watch over that mind immersed in samādhi.

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, ānanda, cattāro satipaṭṭhānā evaṁ bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti.
That’s how the four kinds of mindfulness meditation are developed and cultivated so as to fulfill the seven awakening factors.

Kathaṁ bhāvitā, ānanda, satta bojjhaṅgā kathaṁ bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti?
And how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to fulfill knowledge and freedom?

Idhānanda, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ,
It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness,

dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe…
investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion,

upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, ānanda, satta bojjhaṅgā evaṁ bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrentī”ti.
That’s how the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to fulfill knowledge and freedom.”

Tatiyaṁ.