{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an8.63/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an8.63","id":"suttacentral_an8.63","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an8.63/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, \u201cSir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I\u2019ve heard it, I\u2019ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.\u201d \u201cThis is exactly how some futile people ask me for something. But when the teaching has been explained they think only of following me around.\u201d \u201cSir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief! May the Holy One teach me the Dhamma in brief! Hopefully I can understand the meaning of what the Buddha says! Hopefully I can be an heir of the Buddha\u2019s teaching!\u201d \u201cWell then, mendicant, you should train like this: \u2018My mind will be steady and well settled internally. And bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen will not occupy my mind.\u2019 That\u2019s how you should train. When your mind is steady and well settled internally, and bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen don\u2019t occupy your mind, then you should train like this: \u2018I will develop the heart\u2019s release by love. I\u2019ll cultivate it, make it my vehicle and my basis, keep it up, consolidate it, and properly implement it.\u2019 That\u2019s how you should train. When this immersion is developed and cultivated in this way, you should develop it while placing the mind and keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind, merely keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind or keeping it connected. You should develop it with rapture. You should develop it without rapture. You should develop it with pleasure. You should develop it with equanimity. When this immersion is well developed in this way, you should train like this: \u2018I will develop the heart\u2019s release by compassion \u2026\u2019 \u2026 \u2018I will develop the heart\u2019s release by rejoicing \u2026\u2019 \u2026 \u2018I will develop the heart\u2019s release by equanimity. I\u2019ll cultivate it, make it my vehicle and my basis, keep it up, consolidate it, and properly implement it.\u2019 That\u2019s how you should train. When this immersion is well developed in this way, you should develop it while placing the mind and keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind, merely keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind or keeping it connected. You should develop it with rapture. You should develop it without rapture. You should develop it with pleasure. You should develop it with equanimity. When this immersion is well developed in this way, you should train like this: \u2018I\u2019ll meditate observing an aspect of the body\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.\u2019 That\u2019s how you should train. When this immersion is developed and cultivated in this way, you should develop it while placing the mind and keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind, merely keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind or keeping it connected. You should develop it with rapture. You should develop it without rapture. You should develop it with pleasure. You should develop it with equanimity. When this immersion is well developed in this way, you should train like this: \u2018I\u2019ll meditate on an aspect of feelings \u2026\u2019 \u2026 \u2018I\u2019ll meditate on an aspect of the mind \u2026\u2019 \u2026 \u2018I\u2019ll meditate on an aspect of principles\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.\u2019 That\u2019s how you should train. When this immersion is developed and cultivated in this way, you should develop it while placing the mind and keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind, merely keeping it connected. You should develop it without placing the mind or keeping it connected. You should develop it with rapture. You should develop it without rapture. You should develop it with pleasure. You should develop it with equanimity. When this immersion is well developed in this way, wherever you walk, you\u2019ll walk comfortably. Wherever you stand, you\u2019ll stand comfortably. Wherever you sit, you\u2019ll sit comfortably. Wherever you lie down, you\u2019ll lie down comfortably.\u201d When that mendicant had been given this advice by the Buddha, he rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. Then that mendicant, 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 that mendicant became one of the perfected.","title":"A Teaching in Brief","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":780}