3.
The First Discourse on Ānanda
989.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One -
"Is there indeed, venerable sir, one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils four things, four things which when developed and cultivated fulfil seven things, seven things which when developed and cultivated fulfil two things?"
"There is indeed, Ānanda, one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils four things, four things which when developed and cultivated fulfil seven things, seven things which when developed and cultivated fulfil two things."
"But what, venerable sir, is the one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils four things, four things which when developed and cultivated fulfil seven things, seven things which when developed and cultivated fulfil two things?" "The concentration of mindfulness of breathing, Ānanda, is the one thing which when developed and cultivated fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness, the four establishments of mindfulness which when developed and cultivated fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment, the seven factors of enlightenment which when developed and cultivated fulfil true knowledge and liberation."
"How, Ānanda, is the concentration of mindfulness of breathing developed, how is it cultivated so that it fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness? Here, Ānanda, 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. Breathing in long, he understands: 'I breathe in long'; or breathing out long, he understands: 'I breathe out long'; etc. he trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe out.'" "At the time, Ānanda, when a monk breathing in long understands: 'I breathe in long', or breathing out long understands: 'I breathe out long'; or short, etc. he trains: 'Calming the bodily activity, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Calming the bodily activity, I shall breathe out' - at that time, Ānanda, a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. What is the reason for this? I say, Ānanda, that this is a certain body, that is to say - the in-breath and out-breath. Therefore, Ānanda, at that time a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world."
"At the time, Ānanda, when a monk trains: 'Experiencing rapture, I shall breathe in'; etc. experiencing happiness; etc. experiencing mental activity; etc. he trains: 'Calming mental activity, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Calming mental activity, I shall breathe out' - at that time, Ānanda, the monk dwells observing feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. What is the reason for this? I say this is a certain feeling, Ānanda, that is to say - thorough attention to the in-breath and out-breath. Therefore, Ānanda, at that time the monk dwells observing feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.
"At the time, Ānanda, when a monk trains: 'Experiencing the mind, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Experiencing the mind, I shall breathe out'; gladdening the mind... etc. concentrating the mind... etc. trains: 'Releasing the mind, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Releasing the mind, I shall breathe out' - at that time, Ānanda, the monk dwells observing mind in mind, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. What is the reason for this? I do not, Ānanda, speak of the development of concentration through mindfulness of breathing for one who is unmindful and not fully aware. Therefore, Ānanda, at that time the monk dwells observing mind in mind, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.
"At the time, Ānanda, when a monk observing impermanence... etc. observing dispassion... etc. observing cessation... etc. trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe out' - at that time, Ānanda, the monk dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. He, having seen with wisdom that abandoning of covetousness and displeasure, becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity. Therefore, Ānanda, at that time the monk dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.
"Thus developed, Ānanda, the concentration through mindfulness of breathing, thus cultivated, fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness.
"And how, Ānanda, are the four establishments of mindfulness developed, how are they cultivated, so that they fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment? At the time, Ānanda, when a monk dwells observing the body in the body - at that time his mindfulness is established and unconfused. At the time, Ānanda, when a monk's mindfulness is established and unconfused - at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"He, dwelling thus mindful, investigates that phenomenon with wisdom, examines it, and commits to thorough inquiry. At the time, Ānanda, when a monk dwelling thus mindful investigates that phenomenon with wisdom, examines it, and commits to thorough inquiry - at that time the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, at that time the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For him, investigating that phenomenon with wisdom, examining it, committing to thorough inquiry, energy is aroused and unsluggish. At the time, Ānanda, when for a monk investigating that phenomenon with wisdom, examining it, committing to thorough inquiry, energy is aroused and unsluggish - at that time the enlightenment factor of energy is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of energy, at that time the enlightenment factor of energy goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one with aroused energy, spiritual rapture arises. At the time, Ānanda, when for a monk with aroused energy spiritual rapture arises - at that time the enlightenment factor of rapture is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of rapture, at that time the enlightenment factor of rapture goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one whose mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm and the mind becomes calm. At the time, Ānanda, when for a monk whose mind is filled with rapture the body becomes calm and the mind becomes calm - at that time the enlightenment factor of tranquillity is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, at that time the enlightenment factor of tranquillity goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one whose body is calm, who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. At the time, Ānanda, when for a monk whose body is calm, who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated - at that time the enlightenment factor of concentration is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of concentration, at that time the enlightenment factor of concentration goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"He becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. At the time, Ānanda, when a monk becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated - at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"At the time, Ānanda, when a monk in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena - at that time his mindfulness is established and unconfused. At the time, Ānanda, when a monk's mindfulness is established and unconfused - at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"He becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. At the time, Ānanda, when a monk becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated - at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity goes to fulfilment through development for the monk. Thus developed, Ānanda, the four establishments of mindfulness, thus cultivated, fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment.
"And how, Ānanda, are the seven factors of enlightenment developed, how are they cultivated, so that they fulfil true knowledge and liberation? Here, Ānanda, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release; he develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena... etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus developed, Ānanda, the seven factors of enlightenment, thus cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation." The third.