AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.190 Sabbath

Numbered Discourses 4.190 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.190

19. Brahmins – 19. Brāhmaṇavagga

AN 4.190 Sabbath – Uposathasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

1.2

Now, at that time it was the sabbath, and the Buddha was sitting surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto nisinno hoti.

1.3

Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of monks, who were so very silent. He addressed them:

Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

2.1

“This assembly has no nonsense, bhikkhū, it’s free of nonsense. It consists purely of the essential core.

“Apalāpāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā nippalāpāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā suddhā sāre patiṭṭhitā.

2.2

Such is this Saṅgha of monks, such is this assembly!

Tathārūpo ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhusaṅgho, tathārūpāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā.

2.3

An assembly such as this is rarely seen in the world.

Yathārūpā parisā dullabhā dassanāyapi lokasmiṁ, tathārūpo ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhusaṅgho, tathārūpāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā.

2.4

An assembly such as this is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.

Yathārūpā parisā āhuneyyā pāhuneyyā dakkhiṇeyyā añjalikaraṇīyā anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa, tathārūpo ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhusaṅgho, tathārūpāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā.

2.5

Even a small gift to an assembly such as this is plentiful, while giving more is even more plentiful.

Yathārūpāya parisāya appaṁ dinnaṁ bahu hoti bahu dinnaṁ bahutaraṁ, tathārūpo ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhusaṅgho, tathārūpāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā.

2.6

An assembly such as this is worth traveling many leagues to see, even if you have to carry your own provisions in a shoulder bag.

Yathārūpaṁ parisaṁ alaṁ yojanagaṇanānipi dassanāya gantuṁ api puṭosenāpi, tathārūpo ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhusaṅgho, tathārūpāyaṁ, bhikkhave, parisā.

3.1

There are monks staying in this Saṅgha who have attained to the gods.

Santi, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe devappattā viharanti;

3.2

There are monks staying in this Saṅgha who have attained to Brahmā.

santi, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe brahmappattā viharanti;

3.3

There are monks staying in this Saṅgha who have attained to the imperturbable.

santi, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe āneñjappattā viharanti;

3.4

There are monks staying in this Saṅgha who have attained to nobility.

santi, bhikkhave, bhikkhū imasmiṁ bhikkhusaṅghe ariyappattā viharanti.

4.1

And how has a monk attained to the gods?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu devappatto hoti?

4.2

It’s when a monk, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption …

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati;

4.3

As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption …

vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

4.4

That’s how a monk has attained to the gods.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu devappatto hoti.

5.1

And how has a monk attained to Brahmā?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu brahmappatto hoti?

5.2

Firstly, a monk meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.

5.3

Furthermore, a monk meditates spreading a heart full of compassion …

Karuṇā …

5.4

rejoicing …

muditā …

5.5

equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati.

5.6

That’s how a monk has attained to Brahmā.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu brahmappatto hoti.

6.1

And how has a monk attained to the imperturbable?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āneñjappatto hoti?

6.2

It’s when a monk—going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity—aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

6.3

Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, he enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness.

Sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

6.4

Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, he enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness.

Sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

6.5

Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, he enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

Sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

6.6

That’s how a monk has attained to the imperturbable.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āneñjappatto hoti.

7.1

And how has a monk attained to nobility?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyappatto hoti?

7.2

It’s when they truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

7.3

That’s how a monk has attained to nobility.”

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyappatto hotī”ti.

7.4

Dasamaṁ.

7.5

Brāhmaṇavaggo catuttho.

8.0

Tassuddānaṁ

8.1

Yodhā pāṭibhogasutaṁ,

8.2

Abhayaṁ brāhmaṇasaccena pañcamaṁ;

8.3

Ummaggavassakāro,

8.4

Upako sacchikiriyā ca uposathoti.