[296] Bhikkhus, there are these six subjects of recollection (anussatiṭṭhāna). What six? Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple (ariyasāvaka) recollects the Tathāgata: "Thus indeed is that Blessed One … teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One." Bhikkhus, on the occasion when 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 is simply straight — gone out, released, risen up from greed (gedha). "Greed," bhikkhus, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇa). Having made this too their basis, some beings here are purified in this way.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the Dhamma: "Well proclaimed is the Dhamma by the Blessed One … to be personally experienced by the wise." Bhikkhus, on the occasion when 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 is simply straight — gone out, released, risen up from greed. "Greed," bhikkhus, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure. Having made this too their basis, some beings here are purified in this way.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha: "Of good conduct is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples … an unsurpassed field of merit for the world." Bhikkhus, on the occasion when 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 is simply straight — gone out, released, risen up from greed. "Greed," bhikkhus, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure. Having made this too their basis, some beings here are purified in this way.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects his own virtues, as "unbroken … conducive to concentration (samādhi)." Bhikkhus, on the occasion when a noble disciple recollects virtue, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind is simply straight — gone out, released, risen up from greed. "Greed," bhikkhus, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure. Having made this too their basis, some beings here are purified in this way.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects his own generosity (cāga): "It is truly a gain for me, truly well gained by me, that I … am devoted to those who ask, delighting in giving and sharing." Bhikkhus, on the occasion when a noble disciple recollects generosity, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust, not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind is simply straight — gone out, released, risen up from greed. "Greed," bhikkhus, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure. Having made this too their basis, some beings here are purified in this way.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the deities: "There are the devas of the realm of the Four Great Kings (Cātummahārājikā); there are the Tāvatiṃsa devas; there are the Yāma devas; there are the Tusita devas; there are the devas who rejoice in their own creations (Nimmānaratī); there are the devas who lord over the creation of others (Paranimmitavasavattī); there are the devas of Brahmā's retinue; there are devas higher than these. Those deities, endowed with faith of such a kind, passed away from here and were reborn there; faith of such a kind is found in me too. Those deities, endowed with virtue of such a kind, with learning, with generosity, with wisdom of such a kind, passed away from here and were reborn there; wisdom of such a kind is found in me too." Bhikkhus, on the occasion when a noble disciple recollects the faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom of both himself and 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 is simply straight — gone out, released, risen up from greed. "Greed," bhikkhus, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure. Having made this too their basis, some beings here are purified in this way. These, bhikkhus, are the six subjects of recollection.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.