6.
The Second Discourse on Kāmabhū
348.
On one occasion the Venerable Kāmabhū was dwelling at Macchikāsaṇḍa in the Ambāṭaka Grove.
Then the householder Citta approached the Venerable Kāmabhū;
having approached, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the householder Citta said this to the Venerable Kāmabhū -
"How many, venerable sir, are the activities?"
"There are three activities, householder -
bodily activity, verbal activity, mental activity."
"Good, venerable sir," the householder Citta, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Venerable Kāmabhū had said, asked the Venerable Kāmabhū a further question -
"But which, venerable sir, is bodily activity, which is verbal activity, which is mental activity?"
"In-breath and out-breath, householder, is bodily activity, applied and sustained thought is verbal activity, perception and feeling is mental activity."
"Good, venerable sir," the householder Citta, etc. asked a further question - "But why, venerable sir, is in-breath and out-breath bodily activity, why is applied and sustained thought verbal activity, why is perception and feeling mental activity?" "In-breath and out-breath, householder, are bodily. These are mental states connected to the body, therefore in-breath and out-breath is bodily activity. First, householder, having applied thought and having sustained thought, afterwards one breaks into speech, therefore applied and sustained thought is verbal activity. Perception and feeling are mental. These are mental states connected to consciousness, therefore perception and feeling is mental activity."
Good, etc. asked a further question - "But how, venerable sir, does the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling come about?" "Indeed, householder, for a monk attaining the cessation of perception and feeling, it does not occur thus - 'I shall attain the cessation of perception and feeling' or 'I am attaining the cessation of perception and feeling' or 'I have attained the cessation of perception and feeling.' Rather, his mind has been previously developed in such a way that it leads him to that state."
Good, etc. asked a further question - "But, venerable sir, for a monk attaining the cessation of perception and feeling, which mental states cease first - whether bodily activity, or verbal activity, or mental activity?" "For a monk attaining the cessation of perception and feeling, householder, verbal activity ceases first, then bodily activity, then mental activity."
Good, etc. asked a further question - "This one, venerable sir, who is dead, deceased, and this monk who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling - what is the difference between them?" "This one, householder, who is dead, deceased - his bodily activity has ceased and calmed, his verbal activity has ceased and calmed, his mental activity has ceased and calmed, his vitality is exhausted, his heat has subsided, his faculties are destroyed. But this monk, householder, who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling - his bodily activity too has ceased and calmed, his verbal activity has ceased and calmed, his mental activity has ceased and calmed, but his vitality is not exhausted, his heat has not subsided, his faculties are very clear. This one, householder, who is dead, deceased, and this monk who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling - this is their difference."
Good, etc. asked a further question - "But how, venerable sir, does emergence from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling come about?" "Indeed, householder, for a monk emerging from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling, it does not occur thus - 'I shall emerge from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling' or 'I am emerging from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling' or 'I have emerged from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling.' Rather, his mind has been previously developed in such a way that it leads him to that state."
Good, venerable sir. Etc. asked a further question - "But, venerable sir, for a monk emerging from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling, which mental states arise first - whether bodily activity, or verbal activity, or mental activity?" "For a monk emerging from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling, householder, mental activity arises first, then bodily activity, then verbal activity."
Good, etc. asked a further question - "But, venerable sir, how many contacts touch a monk who has emerged from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling?" "Householder, three contacts touch a monk who has emerged from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling - empty contact, signless contact, desireless contact."
Good, etc. asked a further question - "But, venerable sir, for a monk who has emerged from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling, towards what does the mind slant, towards what does it slope, towards what does it incline?" "For a monk who has emerged from the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling, householder, the mind slants towards seclusion, slopes towards seclusion, inclines towards seclusion."
"Good, venerable sir," the householder Citta, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Venerable Kāmabhū had said, asked the Venerable Kāmabhū a further question - "But, venerable sir, how many mental states are very helpful for the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling?" "Surely, householder, you ask what should be asked first. But I will explain to you. Householder, two mental states are very helpful for the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling - serenity and insight." The sixth.