[58] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Bhaggas at Suṃsumāragira, in the Bhesakaḷā Grove, the Deer Park. Now on that occasion the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was sitting nodding with drowsiness in the village of Kallavālamutta among the Magadhans. The Blessed One, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, saw the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna sitting nodding with drowsiness in the village of Kallavālamutta among the Magadhans. Having seen him, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so the Blessed One vanished from among the Bhaggas, from Suṃsumāragira in the Bhesakaḷā Grove, the Deer Park, and appeared before the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna in the village of Kallavālamutta among the Magadhans. The Blessed One sat down on the seat prepared for him, and having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Are you nodding, Moggallāna? Are you nodding, Moggallāna?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Therefore, Moggallāna, whatever perception you are dwelling with when that drowsiness (middha) descends upon you, you should attend to that perception, you should make much of that perception. It is possible that, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness will be abandoned. But if, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should think over in your mind the Dhamma as you have heard it and learned it, you should examine it, you should mentally review it. It is possible that, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness will be abandoned. But if, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should recite in detail the Dhamma as you have heard it and learned it. It is possible that, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness will be abandoned. But if, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should tug both your earlobes and rub your limbs with your hand. It is possible that, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness will be abandoned. But if, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, rising from your seat, having washed your eyes with water, you should survey the directions and look up at the constellations, the stars. It is possible that, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness will be abandoned. But if, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should attend to the perception of light, you should resolve upon the perception of day: as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day. Thus, with a mind open and unenveloped, you should develop a mind (citta) imbued with luminosity. It is possible that, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness will be abandoned. But if, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, percipient of what is behind and before, you should resolve upon walking back and forth, with your faculties turned inward, with your mind not straying outward. It is possible that, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness will be abandoned. But if, as you dwell thus, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should lie down lion-like on your right side, placing one foot upon the other, mindful and clearly comprehending (sato sampajāno), having attended to the perception of rising. And on awakening, Moggallāna, you should get up quickly, thinking: 'I shall not dwell devoted to the pleasure of lying down, the pleasure of reclining, the pleasure of drowsiness.' Thus indeed, Moggallāna, should you train.
"Therefore, Moggallāna, you should train thus: 'I shall not approach families with trunk uplifted.' Thus indeed, Moggallāna, should you train. If, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu approaches families with trunk uplifted — there are, Moggallāna, tasks and duties in families on account of which people may not pay attention to a bhikkhu who has come — then the bhikkhu thinks: 'Who now has turned this family against me? These people now seem disaffected toward me.' Thus, through not gaining anything, there is dismay; in one dismayed there is restlessness; in one restless there is lack of restraint; in one unrestrained the mind is far from concentration (samādhi). Therefore, Moggallāna, you should train thus: 'I shall not engage in disputatious talk.' Thus indeed, Moggallāna, should you train. When there is disputatious talk, Moggallāna, much talking is to be expected; when there is much talking, there is restlessness; in one restless there is lack of restraint; in one unrestrained the mind is far from concentration. I do not, Moggallāna, praise association with all; nor yet, Moggallāna, do I not praise association with all. I do not, Moggallāna, praise association with householders and those gone forth; but as for those lodgings that are quiet, with little noise, with an atmosphere free of people, fit for lying hidden from humans, suitable for retreat — association with such lodgings I do praise."
When this was said, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this to the Blessed One: "In brief, venerable sir, in what way is a bhikkhu liberated through the destruction of craving (taṇhā), one who has reached the ultimate end, ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate consummation, foremost among devas and humans?"
"Here, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu has heard: 'All dhammas are not worth adhering to.' And when, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu has heard thus: 'All dhammas are not worth adhering to,' he directly knows all dhammas; having directly known all dhammas, he fully understands all dhammas; having fully understood all dhammas, whatever feeling (vedanā) he feels — whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant — he dwells contemplating impermanence in those feelings, dwells contemplating fading away, dwells contemplating cessation (nirodha), dwells contemplating relinquishment. Dwelling contemplating impermanence in those feelings, dwelling contemplating fading away, dwelling contemplating cessation, dwelling contemplating relinquishment, he does not cling to anything in the world. Not clinging, he is not agitated; unagitated, he personally attains Nibbāna. He understands: 'Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.' To this extent, Moggallāna, in brief, a bhikkhu is liberated through the destruction of craving, one who has reached the ultimate end, ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate consummation, foremost among devas and humans."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.