9.
The Discourse at Vesālī
985.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Now at that time the Blessed One was speaking to the monks in many ways about the talk on foulness, praising foulness, praising the development of foulness.
Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: "I wish, monks, to go into seclusion for a fortnight. I should not be approached by anyone except for one bringing almsfood." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks, having assented to the Blessed One, no one approached the Blessed One there except for one bringing almsfood.
Then those monks - "The Blessed One speaks in many ways about the talk on foulness, praises foulness, praises the development of foulness" - dwelling engaged in the pursuit of the development of foulness in various ways. They, being troubled, ashamed, and disgusted with this body, seek one who would take their life with a knife. Even ten monks in one day bring the knife, even twenty, etc. even thirty monks in one day bring the knife.
Then the Blessed One, by the elapse of that fortnight, having emerged from seclusion, addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "Why indeed, Ānanda, does the Community of monks seem to have become diminished?" "Because indeed, venerable sir, 'The Blessed One speaks to the monks in many ways about the talk on foulness, praises foulness, praises the development of foulness' - they dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of foulness in various ways. They, being troubled, ashamed, and disgusted with this body, seek one who would take their life with a knife. Even ten monks in one day bring the knife, even twenty monks... even thirty monks in one day bring the knife. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would explain another method by which this Community of monks might become established through final knowledge."
"Then, Ānanda, assemble in the assembly hall all the monks who are dwelling in dependence on Vesālī." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and having assembled all the monks who were dwelling in dependence on Vesālī in the assembly hall, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said this to the Blessed One - "The Community of monks has assembled, venerable sir. Now let the Blessed One do as he thinks fit, venerable sir."
Then the Blessed One approached the assembly hall; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed the monks: "This too, monks, the concentration of mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, is peaceful and sublime and an unadulterated pleasant dwelling, and it causes to disappear with reason and cause whatever evil unwholesome mental states have arisen, and appeases them.
"Just as, monks, in the last month of summer, the dust and dirt that has been raised up, a great untimely rain cloud causes to disappear with reason and cause, and appeases it; so too, monks, the concentration of mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, is peaceful and sublime and an unadulterated pleasant dwelling, and it causes to disappear with reason and cause whatever evil unwholesome mental states have arisen, and appeases them. And how, monks, is the concentration of mindfulness of breathing developed, how is it cultivated so that it is peaceful and sublime and an unadulterated pleasant dwelling, and causes to disappear with reason and cause whatever evil unwholesome mental states have arisen, and appeases them?
"Here, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, or having gone to the root of a tree, or having gone to an empty house, sits down, folding his legs crosswise, directing his body upright, having established mindfulness in front of him. He, mindful, breathes in; mindful, he breathes out, etc. he trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe out.' Thus developed, monks, the concentration of mindfulness of breathing, thus cultivated, is peaceful and sublime and a delicious and happy dwelling, and causes to disappear with reason and cause whatever evil unwholesome mental states have arisen, and appeases them." The ninth.