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- Anguttara Nikaya VIII.30
- Anuruddha Sutta
- To Anuruddha
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
Once the Blessed One was staying among the Bhaggas in the Deer
Park at Bhesakala Grove, near Crocodile Haunt. And at that time
Ven. Anuruddha was living among the Cetis in the Eastern Bamboo Park.
Then, as he was alone in seclusion, this line of thinking arose in Ven. Anuruddha's
awareness: "This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who is
self-aggrandizing. This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent.
This Dhamma is for one who is reclusive, not for one who is entangled. This Dhamma is for
one whose persistence is aroused, not for one who is lazy. This Dhamma is for one whose
mindfulness is established, not for one whose mindfulness is confused. This Dhamma is for
one whose mind is centered, not for one whose mind is uncentered. This Dhamma is for one
endowed with discernment, not for whose discernment is weak."
Then the Blessed One, realizing with his awareness the line of thinking in Ven.
Anuruddha's awareness -- just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his
extended arm -- disappeared from among the Bhaggas in the Deer Park at Bhesakala Grove,
near Crocodile Haunt, and re-appeared among the Cetis in the Eastern Bamboo Park, right in
front of Ven. Anuruddha. There he sat down on a prepared seat. As for Ven. Anuruddha,
having bowed down to the Blessed One, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there the
Blessed One said to him, "Good, Anuruddha, very good. It's good that you think these
thoughts of a great person: 'This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who is
self-aggrandizing. This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent.
This Dhamma is for one who is reclusive, not for one who is entangled. This Dhamma is for
one whose persistence is aroused, not for one who is lazy. This Dhamma is for one whose
mindfulness is established, not for one whose mindfulness is confused. This Dhamma is for
one whose mind is centered, not for one whose mind is uncentered. This Dhamma is for one
endowed with discernment, not for one whose discernment is weak.' Now then, Anuruddha,
think the eighth thought of a great person: 'This Dhamma is for one who enjoys
non-complication, who delights in non-complication, not for one who enjoys & delights
in complication.'
"Anuruddha, when you think these eight thoughts of a great person, then --
whenever you want -- quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful qualities,
you will enter & remain in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from
withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. When you think these eight
thoughts of a great person, then -- whenever you want -- with the stilling of directed
thought and evaluation, you will enter & remain in the second jhana: rapture &
pleasure born of composure, unification of awareness free from directed thought &
evaluation -- internal assurance...with the fading of rapture, you will remain in
equanimity, mindful & alert, physically sensitive to pleasure. You will enter &
remain in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare, 'Equanimous and mindful, he
has a pleasurable abiding.' When you think these eight thoughts of a great person, then --
whenever you want -- with the abandoning of pleasure & pain, as with the earlier
disappearance of elation & distress, you will enter & remain in the fourth jhana:
purity of equanimity & mindfulness, neither-pleasure-nor-pain.
"Now, when you think these eight thoughts of a great person and become a person
who can attain at will, without trouble or difficulty, these four jhanas -- heightened
mental states providing a pleasant abiding in the here & now -- then your robe of
cast-off rags will seem to you to be just like the clothes chest of a householder or
householder's son, full of clothes of many colors. As you live contented, it will serve
for your delight, for a comfortable abiding, for non-agitation, & for alighting on
Unbinding.
"When you think these eight thoughts of a great person and become a person who can
attain at will, without trouble or difficulty, these four jhanas -- heightened mental
states providing a pleasant abiding in the here & now -- then your meal of almsfood
will seem to you to be just like the rice & wheat of a householder or householder's
son, cleaned of black grains, and served with a variety of sauces & seasonings...your
dwelling at the foot of a tree will seem to you to be just like the gabled mansion of a
householder or householder's son, plastered inside & out, draft-free, bolted, and with
its shutters closed...your bed on a spread of grass will seem to you like the couch of a
householder or householder's son, spread with long-haired coverlets, white woolen
coverlets, embroidered coverlets, antelope-hide & deer-skin rugs, covered with a
canopy, and with red cushions for the head & feet...
"When you think these eight thoughts of a great person and become a person who can
attain at will, without trouble or difficulty, these four jhanas -- heightened mental
states providing a pleasant abiding in the here & now -- then your medicine of
strong-smelling urine will seem to you to be just like the various tonics of a householder
or householder's son: ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, and molasses sugar. As you live
contented, it will serve for your delight, for a comfortable abiding, for non-agitation,
& for alighting on Unbinding.
"Now, then, Anuruddha, you are to stay right here among the Cetis for the coming
Rains Retreat."
"As you say, venerable sir," Ven. Anuruddha replied.
Then, having given this exhortation to Ven. Anuruddha, the Blessed One -- as a strong
man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm -- disappeared from the Eastern
Bamboo Park of the Cetis and reappeared among the Bhaggas in the Deer Park at Bhesakala
Grove, near Crocodile Haunt. He sat down on a prepared seat and, as he was sitting there,
he addressed the monks: "Monks, I will teach you the eight thoughts of a great
person. Listen & pay close attention. I will speak."
"Yes, lord," the monks responded.
The Blessed One said, "Now, what are the eight thoughts of a
great person? This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who is self-aggrandizing.
This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent. This Dhamma is for
one who is reclusive, not for one who is entangled. This Dhamma is for one whose
persistence is aroused, not for one who is lazy. This Dhamma is for one whose mindfulness
is established, not for one whose mindfulness is confused. This Dhamma is for one whose
mind is centered, not for one whose mind is uncentered. This Dhamma is for one endowed
with discernment, not for one whose discernment is weak. This Dhamma is for one who enjoys
non-complication, who delights in non-complication, not for one who enjoys & delights
in complication.
"'This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who is self-aggrandizing.'
Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk,
being modest, does not want it to be known that 'He is modest.' Being content, he does not
want it to be known that 'He is content.' Being reclusive, he does not want it to be known
that 'He is reclusive.' His persistence being aroused, he does not want it to be known
that 'His persistence is aroused.' His mindfulness being established, he does not want it
to be known that 'His mindfulness is established.' His mind being centered, he does not
want it to be known that 'His mind is centered.' Being endowed with discernment, he does
not want it to be known that 'He is endowed with discernment.' Enjoying non-complication,
he does not want it to be known that 'He is enjoying non-complication.' 'This Dhamma is
for one who is modest, not for one who is self-aggrandizing.' Thus was it said. And with
reference to this was it said.
"'This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent.' Thus was
it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk is content
with any old robe cloth at all, any old almsfood, any old lodging, any old medicinal
requisites for curing sickness at all. 'This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one
who is discontent.' Thus was it said. And with reference to this was it said.
"'This Dhamma is for one who is reclusive, not for one who is entangled.' Thus was
it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk, when living
in seclusion, is visited by monks, nuns, lay men, lay women, kings, royal ministers,
sectarians & their disciples. With his mind bent on seclusion, tending toward
seclusion, inclined toward seclusion, aiming at seclusion, relishing renunciation, he
converses with them only as much is necessary for them to take their leave. 'This Dhamma
is for one who is reclusive, not for one in entanglement.' Thus was it said. And with
reference to this was it said.
"'This Dhamma is for one whose persistence is aroused, not for one who is lazy.'
Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk keeps
his persistence aroused for abandoning unskillful mental qualities and taking on skillful
mental qualities. He is steadfast, solid in his effort, not shirking his duties with
regard to skillful mental qualities. 'This Dhamma is for one whose persistence is aroused,
not for one who is lazy.' Thus was it said. And with reference to this was it said.
"'This Dhamma is for one whose mindfulness is established, not for one whose
mindfulness is confused.' Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is
the case where a monk is mindful, highly meticulous, remembering & able to call to
mind even things that were done & said long ago. 'This Dhamma is for one whose
mindfulness is established, not for one whose mindfulness is confused.' Thus was it said.
And with reference to this was it said.
"'This Dhamma is for one whose mind is centered, not for one whose mind is
uncentered.' Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where
a monk, quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful mental qualities,
enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from withdrawal,
accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. With the stilling of directed thought
& evaluation, he enters & remains in the second jhana: rapture & pleasure born
of composure, unification of awareness free from directed thought & evaluation --
internal assurance. With the fading of rapture he remains in equanimity, mindful &
alert, and physically sensitive of pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana,
of which the Noble Ones declare, 'Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasurable abiding.'
With the abandoning of pleasure & pain -- as with the earlier disappearance of elation
& distress -- he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity &
mindfulness, neither pleasure nor pain. 'This Dhamma is for one whose mind is centered,
not for one whose mind is uncentered.' Thus was it said. And with reference to this was it
said.
"'This Dhamma is for one endowed with discernment, not for one whose discernment
is weak.' Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a
monk is discerning, endowed with discernment of arising & passing away -- noble,
penetrating, leading to the right ending of stress. 'This Dhamma is for one endowed with
discernment, not for one whose discernment is weak.' Thus was it said. And with reference
to this was it said.
"'This Dhamma is for one who enjoys non-complication, who delights in
non-complication, not for one who enjoys & delights in complication.' Thus was it
said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk's mind leaps up,
grows confident, steadfast, & is firm in the cessation of complication. 'This Dhamma
is for one who enjoys non-complication, who delights in non-complication, not for one who
enjoys & delights in complication.' Thus was it said. And with reference to this was
it said."
Now, during the following Rains Retreat, Ven. Anuruddha stayed
right there in the Eastern Bamboo Park among the Cetis. Dwelling alone, secluded, heedful,
ardent, & resolute, he in no long time reached & remained in the supreme goal of
the holy life for which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, knowing
& realizing it for himself in the here & now. He knew: "Birth is ended, the
holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this
world." And thus Ven. Anuruddha became another one of the arahants. Then, on
attaining arahantship, he uttered this verse:
Knowing my thoughts,
the Teacher, unexcelled in the cosmos,
came to me through his power
in a body made of mind.
He taught in line with my thoughts,
and then further.
The Buddha,
delighting in non-complication,
taught non-complication.
Knowing his Dhamma,
I kept delighting in his bidding.
The three knowledges
have been attained;
the Buddha's bidding,
done.
See also: SN XLVIII.10; AN
IV.28; AN VIII.53.