Plain text of Linked Discourses 46 · 1. Mountains (2)
sn46.15:4 That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna approved what the Buddha said. And that’s how he recovered from that illness.
2. Sick
Sick (3rd)
sn46.16:1 At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time he was sick, suffering, gravely ill. Then Venerable Mahācunda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “Cunda, express your understanding of the awakening factors.”
sn46.16:2 “Sir, the Buddha has rightly explained these seven awakening factors. When developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to awakening, and to extinguishment. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These are the seven awakening factors that the Buddha has rightly explained. When developed and cultivated, they lead to direct knowledge, to awakening, and to extinguishment.” “Indeed, Cunda, these are awakening factors! Indeed, Cunda, these are awakening factors!”
sn46.16:3 That is what Cunda said, and the Teacher concurred. And that’s how the Buddha recovered from that illness.
2. Sick
Going to the Far Shore
sn46.17:1 “Mendicants, when these seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.
sn46.17:2 Few are those among humans who cross to the far shore. The rest just run around on the near shore.
sn46.17:3 When the teaching is well explained, the people who practice accordingly will cross over Death’s dominion so hard to pass.
sn46.17:4 Rid of dark qualities, an astute person would develop the bright. Having left home for homelessness in seclusion, where joy is hard,
sn46.17:5 they’d long for satisfaction there. Forsaking sensual pleasures, owning nothing, an astute person would cleanse themselves of mental corruptions.
sn46.17:6 And those whose minds are rightly developed in the awakening factors; who, letting go of attachments, delight in not grasping— with defilements ended, brilliant, they are quenched in this world.”
2. Sick
Missed Out
sn46.18:1 “Mendicants, whoever has missed out on the seven awakening factors has missed out on the noble path to the complete ending of suffering. Whoever has undertaken the seven awakening factors has undertaken the noble path to the complete ending of suffering. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. Whoever has missed out on these seven awakening factors has missed out on the noble path to the complete ending of suffering. Whoever has undertaken these seven awakening factors has undertaken the noble path to the complete ending of suffering.”
2. Sick
Noble
sn46.19:1 “Mendicants, when these seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they are noble and emancipating, and bring one who practices them to the complete ending of suffering. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. When these seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they are noble and emancipating, and bring one who practices them to the complete ending of suffering.”
2. Sick
Disillusionment
sn46.20:1 “Mendicants, the seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, lead solely to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, lead solely to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.”
3. With Udāyī
To Awakening
sn46.21:1 Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and said to him:
sn46.21:2 “Sir, they speak of the ‘awakening factors’. How are the awakening factors defined?” “Mendicant, they’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening. A mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. They’re called awakening factors because they lead to awakening.”
3. With Udāyī
A Teaching on the Awakening Factors
sn46.22:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you the seven awakening factors. Listen … And what are the seven awakening factors? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These are the seven awakening factors.”
3. With Udāyī
Grounds
sn46.23:1 “Mendicants, when you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for sensual greed, sensual desire arises, and once arisen it increases and grows. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for ill will, ill will arises, and once arisen it increases and grows. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for dullness and drowsiness, dullness and drowsiness arise, and once arisen they increase and grow. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for restlessness and remorse, restlessness and remorse arise, and once arisen they increase and grow. When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for doubt, doubt arises, and once arisen it increases and grows.
sn46.23:2 When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for the awakening factor of mindfulness, the awakening factor of mindfulness arises, and once arisen it’s fully developed. … When you frequently apply the mind to things that are grounds for the awakening factor of equanimity, the awakening factor of equanimity arises, and once arisen it’s fully developed.”
3. With Udāyī
Irrational Application of Mind
sn46.24:1 “Mendicants, when you apply the mind irrationally, sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt arise, and once arisen they increase and grow. And the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity don’t arise, or if they’ve already arisen, they cease.
sn46.24:2 When you apply the mind rationally, sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt don’t arise, or if they’ve already arisen they’re given up.
sn46.24:3 And the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity arise, and once they’ve arisen, they’re fully developed.”
3. With Udāyī
Non-decline
sn46.25:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen … And what are the seven principles that prevent decline? They are the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These are the seven principles that prevent decline.”
3. With Udāyī
The Ending of Craving
sn46.26:1 “Mendicants, you should develop the path and the practice that leads to the ending of craving. And what is the path and the practice that leads to the ending of craving? It is the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.” When he said this, Udāyī said to him: “Sir, how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to the ending of craving?”
sn46.26:2 “Udāyī, it’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factor of mindfulness, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. And it is abundant, expansive, limitless, and free of ill will. As they do so, craving is given up. When craving is given up, deeds are given up. When deeds are given up, suffering is given up. … A mendicant develops the awakening factor of equanimity, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. And it is abundant, expansive, limitless, and free of ill will. As they do so, craving is given up. When craving is given up, deeds are given up. When deeds are given up, suffering is given up. And so, Udāyī, when craving ends, deeds end; when deeds end suffering ends.”
3. With Udāyī
The Cessation of Craving
sn46.27:1 “Mendicants, you should develop the path and the practice that leads to the cessation of craving. And what is the path and the practice that leads to the cessation of craving? It is the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. And how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to the cessation of craving?
sn46.27:2 It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. This is how the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to lead to the cessation of craving.”
3. With Udāyī
Helping Penetration
sn46.28:1 “Mendicants, I will teach you a path that helps penetration. Listen … And what is the path that helps penetration? It is the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.” When he said this, Udāyī said to him: “Sir, how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to penetration?”
sn46.28:2 “Udāyī, it’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factor of mindfulness, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. And it is abundant, expansive, limitless, and free of ill will. With a mind that has developed the awakening factor of mindfulness, they penetrate and shatter the mass of greed, the mass of hate, and the mass of delusion for the first time. … A mendicant develops the awakening factor of equanimity, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. And it is abundant, expansive, limitless, and free of ill will. With a mind that has developed the awakening factor of equanimity, they penetrate and shatter the mass of greed, the mass of hate, and the mass of delusion for the first time. This is how are the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to lead to penetration.”
3. With Udāyī
One Thing
sn46.29:1 “Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that, when it is developed and cultivated like this, leads to giving up the things that tighten the fetters like the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. And how are the seven awakening factors developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the things that tighten the fetters?
sn46.29:2 It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the things that tighten the fetters.
sn46.29:3 And what are the things that tighten the fetters? The eye is something that tightens the fetters. This is where these fetters, shackles, and attachments arise. The ear … nose … tongue … body … mind is something that tightens the fetters. This is where these fetters, shackles, and attachments arise. These are called the things that tighten the fetters.”
3. With Udāyī
With Udāyī
sn46.30:1 At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sumbhas, near the town of the Sumbhas named Sedaka. Then Venerable Udāyī went up to the Buddha … and said to him:
sn46.30:2 “It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! How helpful my fondness and respect for the Buddha have been, and my sense of conscience and prudence. For when I was still a layman, I wasn’t helped much by the teaching or the Saṅgha. But when I considered my fondness and respect for the Buddha, and my sense of conscience and prudence, I went forth from the lay life to homelessness. The Buddha taught me the Dhamma: ‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form. Such is feeling … Such is perception … Such are choices … Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’
sn46.30:3 Then, while staying in an empty hut, I followed the churning of the five grasping aggregates. I truly understood: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. I comprehended the teaching, sir, I acquired the path. This, when developed and cultivated by me meditating in just such a way, will bring me to such a state that I will understand: ‘Attachment to this world is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’
sn46.30:4 I acquired the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. Each of these, when developed and cultivated by me meditating in just such a way, will bring me to such a state that I will understand: ‘Attachment to this world is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’ This is the path that I acquired which, when developed and cultivated by me meditating in just such a way, will bring me to such a state that I will understand: ‘Attachment to this world is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”
sn46.30:5 “Good, good, Udāyī! For that is indeed the path that you acquired which, when developed and cultivated by you meditating in just such a way, will bring you to such a state that you will understand: ‘Attachment to this world is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”
4. Hindrances
Skillful (1st)
sn46.31:1 “Mendicants, whatever qualities are skillful, part of the skillful, on the side of the skillful, all of them are rooted in diligence and meet at diligence, and diligence is said to be the best of them. A mendicant who is diligent can expect to develop and cultivate the seven awakening factors.
sn46.31:2 And how does a diligent mendicant develop and cultivate the seven awakening factors? It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how a diligent mendicant develops and cultivates the seven awakening factors.”
4. Hindrances
Skillful (2nd)
sn46.32:1 “Mendicants, whatever qualities are skillful, part of the skillful, on the side of the skillful, all of them are rooted in rational application of mind and meet at rational application of mind, and rational application of mind is said to be the best of them. A mendicant accomplished in rational application of mind can expect to develop and cultivate the seven awakening factors.
sn46.32:2 And how does a mendicant with rational application of mind develop and cultivate the seven awakening factors? It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how a mendicant with rational application of mind develops and cultivates the seven awakening factors.”
4. Hindrances
Corruptions
sn46.33:1 “Mendicants, there are these five corruptions of native gold. When native gold is corrupted by these it’s not pliable, workable, or radiant, but is brittle and not completely ready for working. What five? Iron, copper, tin, lead, and silver. When native gold is corrupted by these five corruptions it’s not pliable, workable, or radiant, but is brittle and not completely ready for working.
sn46.33:2 In the same way, there are these five corruptions of the mind. When the mind is corrupted by these it’s not pliable, workable, or radiant. It’s brittle, and not rightly immersed in samādhi for the ending of defilements. What five? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. These are the five corruptions of the mind. When the mind is corrupted by these it’s not pliable, workable, or radiant. It’s brittle, and not rightly immersed in samādhi for the ending of defilements.”
4. Hindrances
Not Corruptions
sn46.34:1 “Mendicants, these seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom.”
4. Hindrances
Irrational Application of Mind
sn46.35:1 “Mendicants, when you apply the mind irrationally, sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt arise, and once arisen they increase and grow.”
sn46.35:2 “Mendicants, when you apply the mind rationally, the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity arise, and once they’ve arisen, they’re fully developed.”
4. Hindrances
Growth
sn46.36:1 “Mendicants, when the seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they lead to growth and progress. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. When these seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they lead to growth and progress.”
4. Hindrances
Obstacles
sn46.37:1 “Mendicants, there are these five obstacles and hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom. What five? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. These are the five obstacles and hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom.
sn46.37:2 There are these seven awakening factors that are not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or corruptions of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom.”
4. Hindrances
Without Obstacles
sn46.38:1 “Mendicants, sometimes a noble disciple pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens to the teaching. At such a time the five hindrances are absent, and the seven awakening factors are fully developed.
sn46.38:2 What are the five hindrances that are absent? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. These are the five hindrances that are absent.
sn46.38:3 And what are the seven awakening factors that are fully developed? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These are the seven awakening factors that are fully developed. Sometimes a noble disciple pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens to the teaching. At such a time the five hindrances are absent, and the seven awakening factors are fully developed.”
4. Hindrances
Trees
sn46.39:1 “Mendicants, there are large trees with tiny seeds and big bodies, which grow up and around other trees as parasites. The trees they engulf break apart, collapse, and fall. And what are those large trees with tiny seeds and big bodies? The peepal, banyan, wavy leaf fig, cluster fig, Moreton Bay fig, and white fig. These are the large trees with tiny seeds and big bodies, which grow up and around other trees as parasites. The trees they engulf break apart, collapse, and fall. In the same way, take a certain gentleman who has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness, abandoning sensual pleasures. But beset by sensual pleasures that are similar, or even worse, he breaks apart, collapses, and falls.
sn46.39:2 There are these five obstacles and hindrances, parasites of the mind that weaken wisdom. What five? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. These are the five obstacles and hindrances, parasites of the mind that weaken wisdom.
sn46.39:3 These seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or parasites of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or parasites of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom.”
4. Hindrances
Hindrances
sn46.40:1 “Mendicants, these five hindrances are destroyers of sight, vision, and knowledge. They block wisdom, they’re on the side of distress, and they don’t lead to extinguishment. What five? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. These five hindrances are destroyers of sight, vision, and knowledge. They block wisdom, they’re on the side of distress, and they don’t lead to extinguishment.
sn46.40:2 These seven awakening factors are creators of vision and knowledge. They grow wisdom, they’re on the side of solace, and they lead to extinguishment. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors are creators of vision and knowledge. They grow wisdom, they’re on the side of solace, and they lead to extinguishment.”
5. A Wheel-Turning Monarch
Discriminations
sn46.41:1 At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, all the ascetics and brahmins in the past who have given up the three discriminations have done so by developing and cultivating the seven awakening factors. All the ascetics and brahmins in the future who will give up the three discriminations will do so by developing and cultivating the seven awakening factors. All the ascetics and brahmins in the present who are giving up the three discriminations do so by developing and cultivating the seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. All the ascetics and brahmins in the past … future … and present who give up the three discriminations do so by developing and cultivating the seven awakening factors.”
5. A Wheel-Turning Monarch
A Wheel-Turning Monarch
sn46.42:1 “Mendicants, when a Wheel-Turning Monarch appears seven treasures appear. What seven? The wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander. When a Wheel-Turning Monarch appears these seven treasures appear.
sn46.42:2 When a Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha appears the seven treasures of the awakening factors appear. What seven? The treasures of the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. When a Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha appears these seven treasures of the awakening factors appear.”