9.
The Discourse on Sirivaḍḍha
395.
On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Now at that time the householder Sirivaḍḍha was sick, afflicted, severely ill.
Then the householder Sirivaḍḍha addressed a certain man -
"Come, my good man, go to where the Venerable Ānanda is;
having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Venerable Ānanda's feet -
'The householder Sirivaḍḍha, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill.
He pays respect with his head at the Venerable Ānanda's feet.'
And say this:
'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Venerable Ānanda would approach the dwelling of the householder Sirivaḍḍha, out of compassion.'"
"Yes, venerable sir," that man replied to the householder Sirivaḍḍha and approached the Venerable Ānanda;
having approached, he paid respect to the Venerable Ānanda and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, that man said this to the Venerable Ānanda -
"The householder Sirivaḍḍha, venerable sir, is sick, afflicted, severely ill; he pays respect with his head at the Venerable Ānanda's feet.
And he says thus:
'It would be good, venerable sir, if the Venerable Ānanda would approach the dwelling of the householder Sirivaḍḍha, out of compassion.'"
The Venerable Ānanda consented by silence.
Then the Venerable Ānanda, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of the householder Sirivaḍḍha; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the householder Sirivaḍḍha - "Is it bearable for you, householder, is it endurable? Are unpleasant feelings receding, not advancing; is their receding evident, not their advancing?" "It is not bearable for me, venerable sir, not endurable. Excessive unpleasant feelings are advancing for me, not receding; their advancing is evident, not their receding."
"Therefore, householder, you should train thus - 'I will dwell observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. I will dwell observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.' Thus indeed, householder, should you train."
"These four establishments of mindfulness, venerable sir, that have been taught by the Blessed One exist, those qualities are in me, and I am seen in those qualities. For I, venerable sir, dwell observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. I dwell observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. And these five lower mental fetters, venerable sir, that have been taught by the Blessed One, I do not, venerable sir, regard any of them as not abandoned in myself." "It is a gain for you, householder, it is well gained for you, householder! The fruition of non-returning has been declared by you, householder." The ninth.