AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.102 Foundations

Numbered Discourses 3.102 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.102

10. A Lump of Salt – 10. Loṇakapallavagga

AN 3.102 Foundations – Nimittasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a bhikkhu committed to the higher mind should focus on three foundations from time to time:

“Adhicittamanuyuttena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā tīṇi nimittāni kālena kālaṁ manasi kātabbāni—

1.2

the foundation of samādhi, the foundation of exertion, and the foundation of equanimity.

kālena kālaṁ samādhinimittaṁ manasi kātabbaṁ, kālena kālaṁ paggahanimittaṁ manasi kātabbaṁ, kālena kālaṁ upekkhānimittaṁ manasi kātabbaṁ.

1.3

If a bhikkhu dedicated to the higher mind focuses solely on the foundation of samādhi, it’s likely their mind will incline to laziness.

Sace, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyutto bhikkhu ekantaṁ samādhinimittaṁyeva manasi kareyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ kosajjāya saṁvatteyya.

1.4

If they focus solely on the foundation of exertion, it’s likely their mind will incline to restlessness.

Sace, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyutto bhikkhu ekantaṁ paggahanimittaṁyeva manasi kareyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ uddhaccāya saṁvatteyya.

1.5

If they focus solely on the foundation of equanimity, it’s likely their mind won’t properly become immersed in samādhi for the ending of defilements.

Sace, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyutto bhikkhu ekantaṁ upekkhānimittaṁyeva manasi kareyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ na sammā samādhiyeyya āsavānaṁ khayāya.

1.6

But when a bhikkhu dedicated to the higher mind focuses from time to time on the foundation of samādhi, the foundation of exertion, and the foundation of equanimity, their mind becomes pliable, workable, and radiant, not brittle, and has properly entered samādhi for the ending of defilements.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyutto bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ samādhinimittaṁ manasi karoti, kālena kālaṁ paggahanimittaṁ manasi karoti, kālena kālaṁ upekkhānimittaṁ manasi karoti, taṁ hoti cittaṁ muduñca kammaniyañca pabhassarañca, na ca pabhaṅgu, sammā samādhiyati āsavānaṁ khayāya.

2.1

It’s like when a goldsmith or a goldsmith’s apprentice prepares a forge, fires the crucible, picks up some gold with tongs and puts it in the crucible. From time to time they fan it, from time to time they sprinkle water on it, and from time to time they just watch over it.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, suvaṇṇakāro vā suvaṇṇakārantevāsī vā ukkaṁ bandheyya, ukkaṁ bandhitvā ukkāmukhaṁ ālimpeyya, ukkāmukhaṁ ālimpetvā saṇḍāsena jātarūpaṁ gahetvā ukkāmukhe pakkhipeyya, ukkāmukhe pakkhipitvā kālena kālaṁ abhidhamati, kālena kālaṁ udakena paripphoseti, kālena kālaṁ ajjhupekkhati.

2.2

If they solely fanned it, the gold would likely be scorched.

Sace, bhikkhave, suvaṇṇakāro vā suvaṇṇakārantevāsī vā taṁ jātarūpaṁ ekantaṁ abhidhameyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ jātarūpaṁ ḍaheyya.

2.3

If they solely sprinkled water on it, the gold would likely cool down.

Sace, bhikkhave, suvaṇṇakāro vā suvaṇṇakārantevāsī vā taṁ jātarūpaṁ ekantaṁ udakena paripphoseyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ jātarūpaṁ nibbāpeyya.

2.4

If they solely watched over it, the gold would likely not be properly processed.

Sace, bhikkhave, suvaṇṇakāro vā suvaṇṇakārantevāsī vā taṁ jātarūpaṁ ekantaṁ ajjhupekkheyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ jātarūpaṁ na sammā paripākaṁ gaccheyya.

2.5

But when that goldsmith fans it from time to time, sprinkles water on it from time to time, and watches over it from time to time, that gold becomes pliable, workable, and radiant, not brittle, and is ready to be worked.

Yato ca kho, bhikkhave, suvaṇṇakāro vā suvaṇṇakārantevāsī vā taṁ jātarūpaṁ kālena kālaṁ abhidhamati, kālena kālaṁ udakena paripphoseti, kālena kālaṁ ajjhupekkhati, taṁ hoti jātarūpaṁ muduñca kammaniyañca pabhassarañca, na ca pabhaṅgu, sammā upeti kammāya.

2.6

Then the goldsmith can successfully create any kind of ornament they want, whether a bracelet, earrings, a necklace, or a golden garland.

Yassā yassā ca pilandhanavikatiyā ākaṅkhati—yadi paṭṭikāya, yadi kuṇḍalāya, yadi gīveyyake, yadi suvaṇṇamālāya—tañcassa atthaṁ anubhoti.

3.1

In the same way, a bhikkhu committed to the higher mind should focus on three foundations from time to time:

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyuttena bhikkhunā tīṇi nimittāni kālena kālaṁ manasi kātabbāni—

3.2

the foundation of samādhi, the foundation of exertion, and the foundation of equanimity. …

kālena kālaṁ samādhinimittaṁ manasi kātabbaṁ, kālena kālaṁ paggahanimittaṁ manasi kātabbaṁ, kālena kālaṁ upekkhānimittaṁ manasi kātabbaṁ.

3.3

Sace, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyutto bhikkhu ekantaṁ samādhinimittaṁyeva manasi kareyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ kosajjāya saṁvatteyya.

3.4

Sace, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyutto bhikkhu ekantaṁ paggahanimittaṁyeva manasi kareyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ uddhaccāya saṁvatteyya.

3.5

Sace, bhikkhave, adhicittamanuyutto bhikkhu ekantaṁ upekkhānimittaṁyeva manasi kareyya, ṭhānaṁ taṁ cittaṁ na sammā samādhiyeyya āsavānaṁ khayāya.

3.6

When a bhikkhu dedicated to the higher mind focuses from time to time on the foundation of samādhi, the foundation of exertion, and the foundation of equanimity, their mind becomes pliable, workable, and radiant, not brittle, and has properly entered samādhi for the ending of defilements.

3.7

They become capable of realizing anything that can be realized by insight to which they extend the mind, in each and every case.

Yassa yassa ca abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati satiāyatane.

4.1

If they wish: ‘May I wield the many kinds of psychic power’ …

So sace ākaṅkhati: ‘anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhaveyyaṁ …pe…

4.2

‘With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, may I hear both kinds of sounds, human and divine, whether near or far.’ …

(cha abhiññā vitthāretabbā.)

4.3

‘May I recollect many kinds of past lives.’ …

4.4

‘With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, may I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn.’ …

4.5

‘May I realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with my own insight due to the ending of defilements.’

Āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

4.6

They are capable of realizing it, in each and every case.”

tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati satiāyatane”ti.

4.7

Ekādasamaṁ.

4.8

Loṇakapallavaggo pañcamo.

5.0

Tassuddānaṁ

5.1

Accāyikaṁ pavivekaṁ,

5.2

Sarado parisā tayo;

5.3

Ājānīyā potthako ca,

5.4

Loṇaṁ dhovati nimittānīti.

5.5

Dutiyo paṇṇāsako samatto.