3.
The Discourse on Mahānāma the Sakyan
74.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Nigrodha Monastery.
Now at that time the Blessed One had recovered from illness, not long after recovering from sickness.
Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, Mahānāma the Sakyan said this to the Blessed One -
"For a long time, venerable sir, I have understood the Teaching expounded thus by the Blessed One -
'Knowledge is for one who is concentrated, not for one who is unconcentrated.'
Is concentration first, venerable sir, and knowledge afterwards;
or is knowledge first and concentration afterwards?"
Then this occurred to the Venerable Ānanda:
"The Blessed One has recovered from illness, not long after recovering from sickness.
And this Mahānāma the Sakyan is asking the Blessed One a very profound question.
What if I were to lead Mahānāma the Sakyan aside and expound the Teaching to him."
Then the Venerable Ānanda, having taken Mahānāma the Sakyan by the arm and led him aside, said this to Mahānāma the Sakyan - "Mahānāma, the morality of a trainee has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and the morality of one beyond training has been spoken of by the Blessed One; the concentration of a trainee has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and the concentration of one beyond training has been spoken of by the Blessed One; the wisdom of a trainee has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and the wisdom of one beyond training has been spoken of by the Blessed One. And what, Mahānāma, is the morality of a trainee? Here, Mahānāma, a monk is virtuous, he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, etc. having accepted the training rules he trains in them. This is called, Mahānāma, the morality of a trainee."
"And what, Mahānāma, is the concentration of a trainee? Here, Mahānāma, a monk, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, etc. he enters and dwells in the fourth meditative absorption. This is called, Mahānāma, the concentration of a trainee.
"And what, Mahānāma, is the wisdom of a trainee? Here, Mahānāma, a monk understands as it really is: 'This is suffering', etc. he understands as it really is: 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This is called, Mahānāma, the wisdom of a trainee.
"That noble disciple, Mahānāma, thus accomplished in morality, thus accomplished in concentration, thus accomplished in wisdom, with the elimination of the mental corruptions, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, dwells in the liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom that are without mental corruptions. Thus, Mahānāma, morality of one in training has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and morality of one beyond training has been spoken of by the Blessed One; the concentration of a trainee has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and the concentration of one beyond training has been spoken of by the Blessed One; wisdom of one in training has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and wisdom of one beyond training has been spoken of by the Blessed One." The third.