2.
The Second Discourse on Mahānāma
12.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Nigrodha Monastery.
Now at that time Mahānāma the Sakyan had recovered from illness, not long after recovering from sickness.
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, etc. 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 recollection of the Buddha, Mahānāma, you should develop while walking, you should develop while standing, you should develop while sitting, you should develop while lying down, you should develop while engaged in work, you should develop while dwelling in a home crowded with children.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, you should recollect the Teaching - etc. you should recollect the Community - etc. you should recollect your own moral practices - etc. you should recollect your own generosity - etc. you should recollect the deities - 'There are the gods ruled by the four great kings, etc. 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... is endowed with learning... is endowed with generosity... 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 recollection of the deities, Mahānāma, you should develop even while walking, you should develop even while standing, you should develop even while sitting, you should develop even while lying down, you should develop even while engaged in work, you should develop even while dwelling in the confinement of wife and children." The second.