AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.28 Proper Occasions (2nd)

Numbered Discourses 6.28 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.28

3. Unsurpassable – 3. Anuttariyavagga

AN 6.28 Proper Occasions (2nd) – Dutiyasamayasutta

1.1

At one time several senior bhikkhū were staying near Benares, in the deer park at Isipatana.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā therā bhikkhū bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye.

1.2

Then after the meal, on their return from almsround, this discussion came up among them while sitting together in the pavilion.

Atha kho tesaṁ therānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantānaṁ maṇḍalamāḷe sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi:

1.3

“Reverends, how many occasions are there for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu?”

“ko nu kho, āvuso, samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti?

2.1

When this was said, one of the bhikkhū said to the senior bhikkhū:

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu there bhikkhū etadavoca:

2.2

“Reverends, there’s a time after an esteemed bhikkhu’s meal when they return from almsround. Having washed their feet they sit down cross-legged, with their body straight, and establish mindfulness right there. That is the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.”

“yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

3.1

When this was said, one of the bhikkhū said to that bhikkhu:

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“Reverend, that’s not the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

3.3

For at that time the fatigue from walking and from eating has not faded away.

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pāde pakkhāletvā nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, cārittakilamathopissa tasmiṁ samaye appaṭippassaddho hoti, bhattakilamathopissa tasmiṁ samaye appaṭippassaddho hoti.

3.4

Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

3.5

There’s a time late in the afternoon when an esteemed bhikkhu comes out of retreat. They sit in the shade of their porch cross-legged, with their body straight, and establish mindfulness right there. That is the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.”

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito vihārapacchāyāyaṁ nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

4.1

When this was said, one of the bhikkhū said to that bhikkhu:

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

4.2

“Reverend, that’s not the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

4.3

For at that time they are still practicing the same meditation subject as a foundation of samādhi that they focused on during the day.

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito vihārapacchāyāyaṁ nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, yadevassa divā samādhinimittaṁ manasikataṁ hoti tadevassa tasmiṁ samaye samudācarati.

4.4

Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

4.5

There’s a time when an esteemed bhikkhu has risen at the crack of dawn. They sit down cross-legged, with their body straight, and establish mindfulness right there. That is the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.”

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

5.1

When this was said, one of the bhikkhū said to that bhikkhu:

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

5.2

“Reverend, that’s not the proper occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.

“na kho, āvuso, so samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

5.3

For at that time their body is full of vitality and they find it easy to focus on the instructions of the Buddhas.”

Yasmiṁ, āvuso, samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya nisinno hoti pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā, ojaṭṭhāyissa tasmiṁ samaye kāyo hoti phāsussa hoti buddhānaṁ sāsanaṁ manasi kātuṁ.

5.4

Tasmā so asamayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.

6.1

When this was said, Venerable Mahākaccāna said to those senior bhikkhū:

Evaṁ vutte āyasmā mahākaccāno there bhikkhū etadavoca:

6.2

“Reverends, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

“sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ:

6.3

‘Bhikkhū, there are six occasions for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.

‘chayime, bhikkhu, samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

7.1

What six?

Katame cha?

7.2

Firstly, there’s a time when a bhikkhu’s heart is overcome and mired in sensual desire, and they don’t truly understand the escape from sensual desire that has arisen. On that occasion they should go to an esteemed bhikkhu and say:

Idha, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti, tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

7.3

“My heart is overcome and mired in sensual desire, and I don’t truly understand the escape from sensual desire that has arisen.

“ahaṁ kho, āvuso, kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharāmi kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṁ yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmi.

7.4

Venerable, please teach me how to give up sensual desire.”

Sādhu vata me āyasmā kāmarāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ desetū”ti.

7.5

Then that esteemed bhikkhu teaches them how to give up sensual desire.

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu kāmarāgassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti.

7.6

This is the first occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, paṭhamo samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

8.1

Furthermore, there’s a time when a bhikkhu’s heart is overcome and mired in ill will …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu byāpādapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati …pe….

9.1

dullness and drowsiness …

Thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati ….

10.1

restlessness and remorse …

Uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati ….

11.1

doubt …

Vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati ….

12.1

Furthermore, there’s a time when a bhikkhu doesn’t understand what kind of meditation they need to focus on in order to end the defilements in the present life. On that occasion they should go to an esteemed bhikkhu and say,

Yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, taṁ nimittaṁ na jānāti na passati, tasmiṁ samaye manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu upasaṅkamitvā evamassa vacanīyo:

12.2

“I don’t understand what kind of meditation to focus on in order to end the defilements in the present life.

“ahaṁ kho, āvuso, yaṁ nimittaṁ āgamma yaṁ nimittaṁ manasikaroto anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti taṁ nimittaṁ na jānāmi na passāmi.

12.3

Venerable, please teach me how to end the defilements.”

Sādhu vata me āyasmā āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ desetū”ti.

12.4

Then that esteemed bhikkhu teaches them how to end the defilements.

Tassa manobhāvanīyo bhikkhu āsavānaṁ khayāya dhammaṁ deseti.

12.5

This is the sixth occasion for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.’

Ayaṁ, bhikkhu, chaṭṭho samayo manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ’.

13.1

Reverends, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

Sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ:

13.2

‘These are the six occasions for going to see an esteemed bhikkhu.’”

‘ime kho, bhikkhu, cha samayā manobhāvanīyassa bhikkhuno dassanāya upasaṅkamitun’”ti.

13.3

Aṭṭhamaṁ.