{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an8.30/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an8.30","id":"suttacentral_an8.30","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an8.30/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile\u2019s Bellow, in the deer park at Bhesaka\u1e37\u0101\u2019s Wood. And at that time Venerable Anuruddha was staying in the land of the Cet\u012bs in the Park of the East-Raftered Hall. Then as Anuruddha was in private retreat this thought came to his mind: \u201cThis teaching is for those of few wishes, not those of many wishes. It\u2019s for the contented, not those who lack contentment. It\u2019s for the secluded, not those who enjoy company. It\u2019s for the energetic, not the lazy. It\u2019s for the mindful, not the unmindful. It\u2019s for those with immersion, not those without immersion. It\u2019s for the wise, not the witless.\u201d Then the Buddha knew Anuruddha\u2019s train of thought. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the deer park at Bhesaka\u1e37\u0101\u2019s Wood in the land of the Bhaggas and reappeared in front of Anuruddha in the Park of the East-Raftered Hall in the land of the Cet\u012bs, and sat down on the seat spread out. Anuruddha bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: \u201cGood, good, Anuruddha! It\u2019s good that you reflect on these thoughts of a great man: \u2018This teaching is for those of few wishes, not those of many wishes. It\u2019s for the contented, not those who lack contentment. It\u2019s for the secluded, not those who enjoy company. It\u2019s for the energetic, not the lazy. It\u2019s for the mindful, not the unmindful. It\u2019s for those with immersion, not those without immersion. It\u2019s for the wise, not the witless.\u2019 Well then, Anuruddha, you should also reflect on the following eighth thought of a great man: \u2018This teaching is for those who don\u2019t enjoy proliferating and don\u2019t like to proliferate, not for those who enjoy proliferating and like to proliferate.\u2019 First you\u2019ll reflect on these eight thoughts of a great man. Then as far as you want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, you\u2019ll enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. You\u2019ll enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. You\u2019ll enter and remain in the third absorption, where you\u2019ll meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, \u2018Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.\u2019 With the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, you\u2019ll enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. First you\u2019ll reflect on these eight thoughts of a great man, and you\u2019ll get the four absorptions\u2014blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind\u2014when you want, without trouble or difficulty. Then as you live contented, your rag robe will seem to you like a chest full of garments of different colors seems to a householder or householder\u2019s child. It will be for your enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. As you live contented, your scraps of almsfood will seem to you like boiled fine rice with the dark grains picked out, served with many soups and sauces seems to a householder or householder\u2019s child. It will be for your enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. As you live contented, your lodging at the root of a tree will seem to you like a bungalow, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with door fastened and window shuttered seems to a householder or householder\u2019s child. It will be for your enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. As you live contented, your grass mat for lodging will seem to you like a couch spread with woolen covers\u2014shag-piled, pure white, or embroidered with flowers\u2014and spread with a fine deer hide, with a canopy above and red pillows at both ends seems to a householder or householder\u2019s child. It will be for your enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. As you live contented your rancid urine as medicine will seem to you like various medicines\u2014ghee, butter, oil, honey, and molasses\u2014seem to a householder or householder\u2019s child. It will be for your enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. Well then, Anuruddha, for the next rainy season residence you should stay right here in the land of the Cet\u012bs in the Park of the East-Raftered Hall.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d Anuruddha replied. After advising Anuruddha like this, the Buddha\u2014as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the Park of the East-Raftered Hall in the land of the Cet\u012bs and reappeared in the deer park at Bhesaka\u1e37\u0101\u2019s Wood in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile\u2019s Bellow. He sat down on the seat spread out and addressed the mendicants: \u201cMendicants, I will teach you the eight thoughts of a great man. Listen \u2026 And what are the eight thoughts of a great man? This teaching is for those of few wishes, not those of many wishes. It\u2019s for the contented, not those who lack contentment. It\u2019s for the secluded, not those who enjoy company. It\u2019s for the energetic, not the lazy. It\u2019s for the mindful, not the unmindful. It\u2019s for those with immersion, not those without immersion. It\u2019s for the wise, not the witless. It\u2019s for those who don\u2019t enjoy proliferating and don\u2019t like to proliferate, not for those who enjoy proliferating and like to proliferate. \u2018This teaching is for those of few wishes, not those of many wishes.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? A mendicant with few wishes doesn\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as having few wishes!\u2019 When contented, they don\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as contented!\u2019 When secluded, they don\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as secluded!\u2019 When energetic, they don\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as energetic!\u2019 When mindful, they don\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as mindful!\u2019 When immersed, they don\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as immersed!\u2019 When wise, they don\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as wise!\u2019 When not enjoying proliferation, they don\u2019t wish: \u2018May they know me as one who doesn\u2019t enjoy proliferating!\u2019 \u2018This teaching is for those of few wishes, not those of many wishes.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018This teaching is for the contented, not those who lack contentment.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? It\u2019s for a mendicant who\u2019s content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. \u2018This teaching is for the contented, not those who lack contentment.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018This teaching is for the secluded, not those who enjoy company.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? It\u2019s for a mendicant who lives secluded. But monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, rulers and their chief ministers, monastics of other religions and their disciples go to visit them. With a mind slanting, sloping, and inclining to seclusion, withdrawn, and loving renunciation, that mendicant invariably gives a talk concerned only with sending them away. \u2018This teaching is for the secluded, not those who enjoy company.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018This teaching is for the energetic, not the lazy.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? It\u2019s for a mendicant who lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They\u2019re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. \u2018This teaching is for the energetic, not the lazy.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018This teaching is for the mindful, not the unmindful.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? It\u2019s for a mendicant who\u2019s mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. \u2018This teaching is for the mindful, not the unmindful.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018This teaching is for those with immersion, not those without immersion.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? It\u2019s for a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption \u2026 second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption. \u2018This teaching is for those with immersion, not those without immersion.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018This teaching is for the wise, not the witless.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? It\u2019s for a mendicant who\u2019s wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. \u2018This teaching is for the wise, not the witless.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it. \u2018This teaching is for those who don\u2019t enjoy proliferating and don\u2019t like to proliferate, not for those who enjoy proliferating and like to proliferate.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, but why did I say it? It\u2019s for a mendicant whose mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided regarding the cessation of proliferation. \u2018This teaching is for those who don\u2019t enjoy proliferating and don\u2019t like to proliferate, not for those who enjoy proliferating and like to proliferate.\u2019 That\u2019s what I said, and this is why I said it.\u201d Then Anuruddha stayed the next rainy season residence right there in the land of the Cet\u012bs in the Park of the East-Raftered Hall. And Anuruddha, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. He understood: \u201cRebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.\u201d And Venerable Anuruddha became one of the perfected. And on the occasion of attaining perfection he recited these verses: \u201cKnowing my thoughts, the supreme Teacher in the world came to me in a mind-made body, using his psychic power. He taught me more than I had thought of. The Buddha who loves non-proliferation taught me non-proliferation. Understanding that teaching, I happily did his bidding. I\u2019ve attained the three knowledges, and have fulfilled the Buddha\u2019s instructions.\u201d","title":"Anuruddha and the Great Thoughts","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":1776}