{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an4.190/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an4.190","id":"suttacentral_an4.190","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an4.190/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in the stilt longhouse of Mig\u0101ra\u2019s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Now, at that time it was the sabbath, and the Buddha was sitting surrounded by the Sa\u1e45gha of monks. Then the Buddha looked around the Sa\u1e45gha of monks, who were so very silent. He addressed them: \u201cThis assembly has no chaff, monks, it is free of chaff, pure, and consolidated in the core. Such is this Sa\u1e45gha of monks, such is this assembly! An assembly such as this is rarely seen in the world. An assembly such as this is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. For an assembly such as this, giving little becomes much, while giving much becomes even more. An assembly such as this is worth traveling many leagues to see, even if you have to carry your own provisions in a knapsack. There are mendicants staying in this Sa\u1e45gha who have attained to the gods. There are mendicants staying in this Sa\u1e45gha who have attained to divinity. There are mendicants staying in this Sa\u1e45gha who have attained to the imperturbable. There are mendicants staying in this Sa\u1e45gha who have attained to nobility. And how has a mendicant attained to the gods? It\u2019s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption \u2026 As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption \u2026 That\u2019s how a mendicant has attained to the gods. And how has a mendicant attained to divinity? Firstly, a mendicant meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Furthermore, a mendicant meditates spreading a heart full of compassion \u2026 rejoicing \u2026 equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world\u2014abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. That\u2019s how a mendicant has attained to divinity. And how has a mendicant attained to the imperturbable? It\u2019s when a mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that \u2018space is infinite\u2019, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that \u2018consciousness is infinite\u2019, he enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that \u2018there is nothing at all\u2019, he enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness. Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, he enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. That\u2019s how a mendicant has attained to the imperturbable. And how has a mendicant attained to nobility? It\u2019s when they truly understand: \u2018This is suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the origin of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the cessation of suffering\u2019 \u2026 \u2018This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering\u2019. That\u2019s how a mendicant has attained to nobility.\u201d","title":"Sabbath","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":586}