AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.25 Topics for Recollection

Numbered Discourses 6.25 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.25

3. Unsurpassable – 3. Anuttariyavagga

AN 6.25 Topics for Recollection – Anussatiṭṭhānasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these six topics for recollection.

“Chayimāni, bhikkhave, anussatiṭṭhānāni.

1.2

What six?

Katamāni cha?

1.3

Firstly, a noble disciple recollects the Realized One:

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati:

1.4

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

‘itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

1.5

When a noble disciple recollects the Realized One their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;

1.6

At that time their mind is unswerving. They’ve left behind greed; they’re free of it and have risen above it.

ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.

1.7

‘Greed’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

1.8

Relying on this, some sentient beings are purified in this way.

Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

2.1

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the teaching:

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhammaṁ anussarati:

2.2

‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo …pe… paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

2.3

When a noble disciple recollects the teaching their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako dhammaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;

2.4

ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.

2.5

‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

2.6

Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

3.1

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha:

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghaṁ anussarati:

3.2

‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, methodical, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that 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.’

‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti.

3.3

When a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako saṅghaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;

3.4

ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.

3.5

‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

3.6

Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

4.1

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their own ethical precepts, which are unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to samādhi.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano sīlāni anussarati akhaṇḍāni …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikāni.

4.2

When a noble disciple recollects their ethical precepts their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako sīlaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;

4.3

ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.

4.4

‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

4.5

Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

5.1

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their own generosity:

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano cāgaṁ anussarati:

5.2

‘I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate!

‘lābhā vata me. Suladdhaṁ vata me …pe…

5.3

Among people full of the stain of stinginess I live at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.’

yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.

5.4

When a noble disciple recollects their generosity their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …

…pe…

5.5

Evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

6.1

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the deities:

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako devatā anussarati:

6.2

‘There are the Gods of the Four Great Kings, the Gods of the Thirty-Three, the Gods of Yama, the Joyful Gods, the Gods Who Love to Create, the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others, the Gods of Brahmā’s Host, and gods even higher than these.

‘santi devā cātumahārājikā, santi devā tāvatiṁsā, santi devā yāmā, santi devā tusitā, santi devā nimmānaratino, santi devā paranimmitavasavattino, santi devā brahmakāyikā, santi devā tatuttari.

6.3

When those deities passed away from here, they were reborn there because of their faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. I, too, have the same kind of faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.’

Yathārūpāya saddhāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā saddhā saṁvijjati.

6.4

Yathārūpena sīlena …

6.5

sutena …

6.6

cāgena …

6.7

paññāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā paññā saṁvijjatī’ti.

7.1

When a noble disciple recollects the faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom of both themselves and the deities their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako attano ca tāsañca devatānaṁ saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarati nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti;

7.2

At that time their mind is unswerving. They’ve left behind greed; they’re free of it and have risen above it.

ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā.

7.3

‘Greed’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

7.4

Relying on this, some sentient beings are purified in this way.

Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

8.1

These are the six topics for recollection.”

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anussatiṭṭhānānī”ti.

8.2

Pañcamaṁ.