1.
The First Discourse on Mahānāma
11.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Nigrodha Monastery.
Now at that time several monks were doing robe-making work for the Blessed One -
"When the robe is finished, the Blessed One will set out on a journey after the three months."
Mahānāma the Sakyan heard -
"It seems several monks are doing robe-making work for the Blessed One -
'When the robe is finished, the Blessed One will set out on a journey after the three months.'"
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 - "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'It seems several monks are doing robe-making work for the Blessed One - When the robe is finished, the Blessed One will set out on a journey after the three months.' For us who dwell with various abidings, venerable sir, with which abiding should we dwell?"
"Good, good, Mahānāma! This indeed, Mahānāma, is proper for you, sons of good family, that having approached the Truth-finder you should ask - 'For us who dwell with various abidings, venerable sir, with which abiding should we dwell?'" One with faith, Mahānāma, is one who succeeds, not one without faith; one with aroused energy is one who succeeds, not one who is lazy; one who is mindful is one who succeeds, not one who is unmindful; one who is concentrated is one who succeeds, not one who is unconcentrated; one who is wise is one who succeeds, not one who lacks wisdom. Having established yourself, Mahānāma, in these five qualities, you should further develop six qualities. "Here, Mahānāma, you should recollect the Truth-finder - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' Mahānāma, at the time when a noble disciple recollects the Truth-finder, at that time his mind is not pervaded by lust, his mind is not pervaded by hate, his mind is not pervaded by delusion; at that time his mind is upright, based on the Truth-finder. And, Mahānāma, a noble disciple whose mind is upright obtains inspiration regarding the meaning, obtains inspiration regarding the Teaching, obtains gladness connected with the Teaching. In one who is gladdened, rapture arises; when the mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm; one whose body is calm feels happiness; the mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This is called, Mahānāma, a noble disciple who dwells having attained evenness among a generation gone to unevenness, who dwells without affliction among a generation with affliction, who has attained the stream of the Teaching, develops recollection of the Buddha.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, you should recollect the Teaching - 'Well proclaimed by the Blessed One is the Teaching, visible here and now, immediately effective, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be individually experienced by the wise.' Mahānāma, at the time when a noble disciple recollects the Teaching, at that time his mind is not pervaded by lust, his mind is not pervaded by hate, his mind is not pervaded by delusion; at that time his mind is upright, based on the Teaching. And, Mahānāma, a noble disciple whose mind is upright obtains inspiration regarding the meaning, obtains inspiration regarding the Teaching, obtains gladness connected with the Teaching. In one who is gladdened, rapture arises; when the mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm; one whose body is calm feels happiness; the mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This is called, Mahānāma, a noble disciple who dwells having attained evenness among a generation gone to unevenness, who dwells without affliction among a generation with affliction, who has attained the stream of the Teaching, develops recollection of the Teaching.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, you should recollect the Community - 'The Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing well, the Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing uprightly, the Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing by the true method, the Community of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing properly, that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals; this Community of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.' Mahānāma, at the time when a noble disciple recollects the Community, at that time his mind is not pervaded by lust, his mind is not pervaded by hate, his mind is not pervaded by delusion; at that time his mind is upright, based on the Community. And, Mahānāma, a noble disciple whose mind is upright obtains inspiration regarding the meaning, obtains inspiration regarding the Teaching, obtains gladness connected with the Teaching. In one who is gladdened, rapture arises; when the mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm; one whose body is calm feels happiness; the mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This is called, Mahānāma, a noble disciple who dwells having attained evenness among a generation gone to unevenness, who dwells without affliction among a generation with affliction, who has attained the stream of the Teaching, develops recollection of the Community.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, you should recollect your own moral practices that are unbroken, without holes, unspotted, unblemished, liberating, praised by the wise, not adhered to, and conducive to concentration. Mahānāma, at the time when a noble disciple recollects morality, at that time his mind is not pervaded by lust, his mind is not pervaded by hate, his mind is not pervaded by delusion; at that time his mind is upright, based on morality. And, Mahānāma, a noble disciple whose mind is upright obtains inspiration regarding the meaning, obtains inspiration regarding the Teaching, obtains gladness connected with the Teaching. In one who is gladdened, rapture arises; when the mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm; one whose body is calm feels happiness; the mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This is called, Mahānāma, a noble disciple who dwells having attained evenness among a generation gone to unevenness, who dwells without affliction among a generation with affliction, who has attained the stream of the Teaching, develops recollection of morality.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, you should recollect your own generosity - 'It is a gain for me indeed, it is well-gained for me indeed, that I who, among a generation pervaded by the stain of stinginess, dwell at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, generous in giving, with purified hands, delighting in relinquishment, accessible to requests, delighting in giving and sharing.' Mahānāma, at the time when a noble disciple recollects generosity, at that time his mind is not pervaded by lust, his mind is not pervaded by hate, his mind is not pervaded by delusion; at that time his mind is upright, based on generosity. And, Mahānāma, a noble disciple whose mind is upright obtains inspiration regarding the meaning, obtains inspiration regarding the Teaching, obtains gladness connected with the Teaching. In one who is gladdened, rapture arises; when the mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm; one whose body is calm feels happiness; the mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This is called, Mahānāma, a noble disciple who dwells having attained evenness among a generation gone to unevenness, who dwells without affliction among a generation with affliction, who has attained the stream of the Teaching, develops recollection of generosity.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, you should recollect the deities - 'There are the gods ruled by the four great kings, there are the gods of the Thirty-three, there are the Yāma gods, there are the Tusita gods, there are the gods who delight in creation, there are the gods who wield power over others' creations, there are the gods of Brahmā's retinue, there are gods beyond that. Endowed with such faith as those deities were endowed with, having passed away from here, they were reborn there; such faith is also found in me. Endowed with such morality as those deities were endowed with, having passed away from here, they were reborn there; such morality is also found in me. Endowed with such learning as those deities were endowed with, having passed away from here, they were reborn there; such learning is also found in me. Endowed with such generosity as those deities were endowed with, having passed away from here, they were reborn there; such generosity is also found in me. Endowed with such wisdom as those deities were endowed with, having passed away from here, they were reborn there; such wisdom is also found in me.' Mahānāma, at the time when a noble disciple recollects the faith and morality and learning and generosity and wisdom of oneself and of those deities, at that time his mind is not pervaded by lust, his mind is not pervaded by hate, his mind is not pervaded by delusion; at that time his mind is upright, based on the deities. And, Mahānāma, a noble disciple whose mind is upright obtains inspiration regarding the meaning, obtains inspiration regarding the Teaching, obtains gladness connected with the Teaching. In one who is gladdened, rapture arises; when the mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm; one whose body is calm feels happiness; the mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This is called, Mahānāma, a noble disciple who dwells having attained evenness among a generation gone to unevenness, who dwells without affliction among a generation with affliction, who has attained the stream of the Teaching, develops recollection of the deities." The first.