[281] 10. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu, in Nigrodha's Park. Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Mahānāma the Sakyan said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, that noble disciple (ariyasāvaka) who has attained the fruit and understood the teaching — in what abiding does he dwell for the most part?"
"Mahānāma, that noble disciple who has attained the fruit and understood the teaching dwells for the most part in this abiding. Here, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the Tathāgata thus: 'Such indeed is that Blessed One: accomplished (arahaṃ), fully self-enlightened, perfect in true knowledge and conduct, well-gone, knower of the world, unsurpassed charioteer of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.' On whatever occasion, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the Tathāgata, on that occasion his mind (citta) is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind goes straight, with the Tathāgata as its basis. And a noble disciple whose mind has gone straight, Mahānāma, gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma. In one who is gladdened, rapture (pīti) is born; for one whose mind is uplifted by rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil experiences happiness; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated (samādhi). This, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who, among a generation gone astray, dwells having attained the even; who, among an afflicted generation, dwells unafflicted; who, having entered upon the stream of the Dhamma, develops the recollection of the Buddha (buddhānussati).
"Again, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the Dhamma thus: 'Well proclaimed by the Blessed One is the Dhamma: to be seen for oneself, timeless, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be experienced individually by the wise.' On whatever occasion, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the Dhamma, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind goes straight, with the Dhamma as its basis. And a noble disciple whose mind has gone straight, Mahānāma, gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma. In one who is gladdened, rapture is born; for one whose mind is uplifted by rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil experiences happiness; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. This, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who, among a generation gone astray, dwells having attained the even; who, among an afflicted generation, dwells unafflicted; who, having entered upon the stream of the Dhamma, develops the recollection of the Dhamma (dhammānussati).
"Again, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha thus: 'Of good conduct is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples; of upright conduct is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples; of right conduct is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples; of proper conduct is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples — that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight individuals. This Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.' On whatever occasion, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind goes straight, with the Saṅgha as its basis. And a noble disciple whose mind has gone straight, Mahānāma, gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma. In one who is gladdened, rapture is born; for one whose mind is uplifted by rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil experiences happiness; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. This, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who, among a generation gone astray, dwells having attained the even; who, among an afflicted generation, dwells unafflicted; who, having entered upon the stream of the Dhamma, develops the recollection of the Saṅgha (saṅghānussati).
"Again, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects his own virtues — unbroken, untorn, unblemished, unmottled, liberating, praised by the wise, ungrasped-at, conducive to concentration. On whatever occasion, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects his own virtues, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind goes straight, with virtue as its basis. And a noble disciple whose mind has gone straight, Mahānāma, gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma. In one who is gladdened, rapture is born; for one whose mind is uplifted by rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil experiences happiness; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. This, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who, among a generation gone astray, dwells having attained the even; who, among an afflicted generation, dwells unafflicted; who, having entered upon the stream of the Dhamma, develops the recollection of virtue (sīlānussati).
"Again, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects his own generosity thus: 'It is a gain for me, it is well gained by me, that among a generation obsessed by the stain of stinginess I dwell at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess — freely generous, open-handed, delighting in relinquishment, devoted to charity, delighting in giving and sharing.' On whatever occasion, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects his generosity, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind goes straight, with generosity as its basis. And a noble disciple whose mind has gone straight, Mahānāma, gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma. In one who is gladdened, rapture is born; for one whose mind is uplifted by rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil experiences happiness; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. This, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who, among a generation gone astray, dwells having attained the even; who, among an afflicted generation, dwells unafflicted; who, having entered upon the stream of the Dhamma, develops the recollection of generosity (cāgānussati).
"Again, Mahānāma, a noble disciple develops the recollection of the deities (devatānussati): 'There are the devas of the Four Great Kings; there are the devas of the Thirty-three (Tāvatiṃsa); there are the Yāma devas; there are the Tusita devas; there are the devas who rejoice in their own creations; there are the devas who lord over the creations of others; there are the devas of Brahmā's retinue; there are devas beyond these. Endowed with such faith, those deities, having passed away from here, were reborn there; such faith is found in me too. Endowed with such virtue, those deities, having passed away from here, were reborn there; such virtue is found in me too. Endowed with such learning, those deities, having passed away from there, were reborn there; such learning is found in me too. Endowed with such generosity, those deities, having passed away from here, were reborn there; such generosity is found in me too. Endowed with such wisdom, those deities, having passed away from here, were reborn there; such wisdom is found in me too.' On whatever occasion, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom both of himself and of those deities, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind goes straight, with the deities as its basis. And a noble disciple whose mind has gone straight, Mahānāma, gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma. In one who is gladdened, rapture is born; for one whose mind is uplifted by rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil experiences happiness; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. This, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who, among a generation gone astray, dwells having attained the even; who, among an afflicted generation, dwells unafflicted; who, having entered upon the stream of the Dhamma, develops the recollection of the deities.
"Mahānāma, that noble disciple who has attained the fruit and understood the teaching dwells for the most part in this abiding."
The Āhuneyya Chapter, the first.
Its summary (uddāna):
Two on those worthy of gifts, the faculties,
the powers, three on the thoroughbred,
the unsurpassed things, the recollections —
with Mahānāma, these make ten.
The Sāraṇīya (etc.) Chapter, the second.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.