9.
The Discourse on Nanda
9.
'A son of good family,' monks, one speaking rightly would say of Nanda.
'Powerful,' monks, one speaking rightly would say of Nanda.
'Pleasing,' monks, one speaking rightly would say of Nanda.
'One of intense lust,' monks, one speaking rightly would say of Nanda.
How else, monks, could Nanda, with guarded doors in the sense faculties, knowing moderation in food, devoted to wakefulness, endowed with mindfulness and full awareness, be able to live the holy life that is complete and pure!
Herein, monks, is Nanda's guarding the doors of the sense faculties.
If, monks, Nanda needs to look towards the eastern direction, having collected together with the whole mind, Nanda looks towards the eastern direction -
'Thus as I look towards the eastern direction, covetousness and displeasure, evil unwholesome mental states, will not flow in upon me.'
Thus he is fully aware there.
If, monks, Nanda needs to look towards the western direction... etc. needs to look towards the northern direction... needs to look towards the southern direction... needs to look upwards... needs to look downwards... needs to survey the intermediate directions, having collected together with the whole mind, Nanda surveys the intermediate directions - 'Thus as I survey the intermediate directions, covetousness and displeasure, evil unwholesome mental states, will not flow in upon me.' Thus he is fully aware there. This, monks, is Nanda's guarding the doors of the sense faculties.
Herein, monks, is Nanda's moderation in eating. Here, monks, Nanda, having reflected wisely, takes food - 'Not for amusement, not for intoxication, not for adornment, not for beautification, only for the presence and sustenance of this body, for the cessation of harm, for the support of the holy life, thus: "I shall ward off the old feeling and shall not give rise to a new feeling, and there will be for me progress, blamelessness, and comfortable dwelling."' This, monks, is Nanda's moderation in eating.
Herein, monks, is Nanda's devotion to wakefulness. Here, monks, Nanda during the day by walking and sitting purifies the mind of obstructive mental states; during the first watch of the night by walking and sitting he purifies the mind of obstructive mental states; during the middle watch of the night he lies down in the lion's posture on the right side, overlapping foot upon foot, mindful and fully aware, having attended to the perception of rising; during the last watch of the night, having risen, by walking and sitting he purifies the mind of obstructive mental states. This, monks, is Nanda's devotion to wakefulness.
Herein, monks, is Nanda's mindfulness and full awareness. Here, monks, for Nanda feelings arise as known, continue as known, pass away as known; perceptions arise as known... etc. applied thoughts arise as known... etc. pass away as known. This, monks, is Nanda's mindfulness and full awareness.
"What else, monks, is Nanda with guarded doors in the sense faculties, knowing moderation in food, devoted to wakefulness, endowed with mindfulness and full awareness, by which Nanda is able to live the holy life that is complete and pure!" The ninth.