[219] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu, in Nigrodha's Park. Now on that occasion Mahānāma the Sakyan had recovered from illness, being not long recovered from his sickness. And on that occasion many bhikkhus were making a robe for the Blessed One, thinking, "When the robe is finished, with the passing of the three months, the Blessed One will set out on a wandering tour." Mahānāma the Sakyan heard: "Many bhikkhus, it is said, are making a robe for the Blessed One, thinking, 'When the robe is finished, with the passing of the three months, the Blessed One will set out on a wandering tour.'" 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: "This has been heard, venerable sir: 'Many bhikkhus, it is said, are making a robe for the Blessed One, thinking, "When the robe is finished, with the passing of the three months, the Blessed One will set out on a wandering tour."' Venerable sir, for us who dwell by various dwellings, by which dwelling should we dwell?"
"Good, good, Mahānāma! It is fitting for you clansmen that you should approach the Tathāgata and ask: 'Venerable sir, for us who dwell by various dwellings, by which dwelling should we dwell?' One with faith, Mahānāma, is one who succeeds (ārādhaka), not one without faith; one of aroused energy is one who succeeds, not one who is lazy; one with mindfulness established is one who succeeds, not one of muddled mindfulness; one who is concentrated is one who succeeds, not one who is unconcentrated; one who is wise is one who succeeds, not one who is unwise. Established in these five qualities, Mahānāma, you should further develop six things.
"Here, Mahānāma, you should recollect the Tathāgata: 'Thus indeed is that Blessed One … teacher of devas and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.' At whatever time, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the Tathāgata, on that occasion his mind (citta) is not obsessed by lust (rāga), not obsessed by hatred, not obsessed by delusion; on that occasion his mind is simply straight, based on the Tathāgata. A noble disciple whose mind is 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 filled with rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil feels pleasure; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. This recollection of the Buddha (buddhānussati), Mahānāma, you should develop while walking, you should develop while standing, you should develop while sitting, you should develop while lying down, you should develop while applying yourself to work, and you should develop while dwelling in a home crowded with children.
"Furthermore, Mahānāma, you should recollect the Dhamma … you should recollect the Saṅgha … you should recollect your own virtues (sīla) … you should recollect your own generosity (cāga) … you should recollect the deities: 'There are the devas of the Four Great Kings (Cātummahārājikā); there are the devas … and those still higher than these. Endowed with faith of such a kind, those deities, having passed away from here, were reborn there; faith of such a kind is found in me too. Endowed with virtue of such a kind … with learning … with generosity … with wisdom of such a kind, those deities, having passed away from here, were reborn there; wisdom of such a kind is found in me too.' At whatever time, Mahānāma, a noble disciple recollects the faith, the virtue, the learning, the generosity, and the 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 is simply straight, based on the deities. A noble disciple whose mind is 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 filled with rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil feels pleasure; for one who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. This recollection of the deities (devatānussati), Mahānāma, you should develop while walking, you should develop while standing, you should develop while sitting, you should develop while lying down, you should develop while applying yourself to work, and you should develop while dwelling in a home crowded with children."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.