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Translated
from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
I
have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi in the
Eastern Monastery, the palace of Migara's mother, together with many well-known
elder disciples -- with Ven. Sariputta, Ven. Maha Moggallana,
Ven. Maha Kassapa, Ven. Maha Kaccana, Ven. Maha Kotthita, Ven. Maha Kappina, Ven. Maha Cunda, Ven. Revata,
Ven. Ananda, and other well-known elder disciples. On that occasion the elder
monks were teaching & instructing. Some elder monks were teaching &
instructing ten monks, some were teaching & instructing twenty monks, some
were teaching & instructing thirty monks, some were teaching &
instructing forty monks. The new monks, being taught & instructed by the
elder monks, were discerning grand, successive distinctions.
Now
on that occasion -- the Uposatha day of the fifteenth, the full-moon night of
the Pavarana ceremony -- the Blessed One was seated in the open air surrounded
by the community of monks. Surveying the silent community of monks, he
addressed them:
"Monks,
I am content with this practice. I am content at heart with this practice. So
arouse even more intense persistence for the attaining of the
as-yet-unattained, the reaching of the as-yet-unreached, the realization of the
as-yet-unrealized. I will remain right here at Savatthi [for another month]
through the 'White water-lily' month, the fourth month of the rains."
The
monks in the countryside heard, "The Blessed One, they say, will remain
right there at Savatthi through the White water-lily month, the fourth month of
the rains." So they left for Savatthi to see the Blessed One.
Then
the elder monks taught & instructed even more intensely. Some elder monks
were teaching & instructing ten monks, some were teaching & instructing
twenty monks, some were teaching & instructing thirty monks, some were
teaching & instructing forty monks. The new monks, being taught &
instructed by the elder monks, were discerning grand, successive distinctions.
Now
on that occasion -- the Uposatha day of the fifteenth, the full-moon night of
the White water-lily month, the fourth month of the rains -- the Blessed One
was seated in the open air surrounded by the community of monks. Surveying the
silent community of monks, he addressed them:
"Monks, this assembly is free from idle chatter, devoid of
idle chatter, and is established on pure heartwood: such is this community of
monks, such is this assembly. The sort of assembly that is worthy of gifts,
worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect, an incomparable
field of merit for the world: such is this community of monks, such is this
assembly. The sort of assembly to which a small gift, when given, becomes
great, and a great gift greater: such is this community of monks, such is this
assembly. The sort of assembly that it is rare to see in the world: such is
this community of monks, such is this assembly -- the sort of assembly that it
would be worth traveling for leagues, taking along provisions, in order to see.
"In
this community of monks there are monks who are Arahants, whose mental
effluents are ended, who have reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the
burden, attained the true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and
who are released through right gnosis: such are the monks in this community of
monks.
"In
this community of monks there are monks who, with the total ending of the first
set of five fetters, are due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to be
totally unbound, never again to return from that world: such are the monks in
this community of monks.
"In
this community of monks there are monks who, with the total ending of [the
first] three fetters, and with the attenuation of passion, aversion, &
delusion, are once-returners, who -- on returning only one more time to this
world -- will make an ending to stress: such are the monks in this community of
monks.
"In
this community of monks there are monks who, with the total ending of [the
first] three fetters, are stream-winners, steadfast, never again destined for
states of woe, headed for self-awakening: such are the monks in this community
of monks.
"In
this community of monks there are monks who remain devoted to the development
of the four frames of reference... the four right exertions... the four bases
of power... the five faculties... the five strengths... the seven factors of
awakening... the noble eightfold path: such are the monks in this community of
monks.
"In
this community of monks there are monks who remain devoted to the development
of good will... compassion... appreciation... equanimity...[the perception of
the] foulness [of the body]... the perception of inconstancy: such are the
monks in this community of monks.
"In
this community of monks there are monks who remain devoted to mindfulness of
in-&-out breathing.
"Mindfulness
of in-&-out breathing, when developed & pursued, is of great fruit, of
great benefit. Mindfulness of in-&-out breathing, when developed &
pursued, brings the four frames of reference to their culmination. The four
frames of reference, when developed & pursued, bring the seven factors of
awakening to their culmination. The seven factors of awakening, when developed
& pursued, bring clear knowing & release to their culmination.
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