AN 9 The Book of the Nines – Navakanipāta > AN 9.3 With Meghiya

Numbered Discourses 9.3 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 9.3

1. Awakening – 1. Sambodhivagga

AN 9.3 With Meghiya – Meghiyasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Cālikā, on the Cālikā mountain.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā cālikāyaṁ viharati cālikāpabbate.

1.2

Now, at that time Venerable Meghiya was the Buddha’s attendant.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā meghiyo bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti.

1.3

Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.4

“Sir, I’d like to enter Jantu village for alms.”

“icchāmahaṁ, bhante, jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisitun”ti.

1.5

“Please, Meghiya, go at your convenience.”

“Yassadāni tvaṁ, meghiya, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.

2.1

Then Meghiya robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Jantu village for alms.

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

2.2

After the meal, on his return from almsround in Jantu village, he went to the shore of Kimikālā river.

Jantugāme piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkami.

2.3

As he was going for a walk along the shore of the river he saw a lovely and delightful mango grove.

Addasā kho āyasmā meghiyo kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīre jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno ambavanaṁ pāsādikaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.

2.4

It occurred to him,

Disvānassa etadahosi:

2.5

“Oh, this mango grove is lovely and delightful! It’s truly good enough for meditation for a kinsman who wants to meditate.

“pāsādikaṁ vatidaṁ ambavanaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ, alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāya.

2.6

If the Buddha allows me, I’ll come back to this mango grove to meditate.”

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, āgaccheyyāhaṁ imaṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.

3.1

Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding,

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

4.1

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

4.2

Jantugāme piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ.

4.3

Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīre jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno ambavanaṁ pāsādikaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.

4.4

Disvāna me etadahosi:

4.5

‘pāsādikaṁ vatidaṁ ambavanaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.

4.6

Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāya.

4.7

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, āgaccheyyāhaṁ imaṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā’ti.

4.8

“If the Buddha allows me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.”

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.

4.9

“We’re alone, Meghiya. Wait until another bhikkhu comes.”

“Āgamehi tāva, meghiya. Ekakamhi tāva yāva aññopi koci bhikkhu āgacchatī”ti.

5.1

For a second time Meghiya said to the Buddha,

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

5.2

“Sir, the Buddha has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement.

“bhagavato, bhante, natthi kiñci uttari karaṇīyaṁ, natthi katassa paṭicayo.

5.3

But I have.

Mayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, atthi uttari karaṇīyaṁ, atthi katassa paṭicayo.

5.4

If you allow me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.”

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.

5.5

“We’re alone, Meghiya. Wait until another bhikkhu comes.”

“Āgamehi tāva, meghiya, ekakamhi tāva yāva aññopi koci bhikkhu āgacchatī”ti.

6.1

For a third time Meghiya said to the Buddha,

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

6.2

“Sir, the Buddha has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement.

“bhagavato, bhante, natthi kiñci uttari karaṇīyaṁ, natthi katassa paṭicayo.

6.3

But I have.

Mayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, atthi uttari karaṇīyaṁ, atthi katassa paṭicayo.

6.4

If you allow me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.”

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.

6.5

“Meghiya, since you speak of meditation, what can I say?

“Padhānanti kho, meghiya, vadamānaṁ kinti vadeyyāma.

6.6

Please, Meghiya, go at your convenience.”

Yassadāni tvaṁ, meghiya, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.

7.1

Then Meghiya got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went to that mango grove, and, having plunged deep into it, sat at the root of a certain tree for the day’s meditation.

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena taṁ ambavanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ ambavanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi.

7.2

But while Meghiya was meditating in that mango grove he was beset mostly by three kinds of bad, unskillful thoughts, namely,

Atha kho āyasmato meghiyassa tasmiṁ ambavane viharantassa yebhuyyena tayo pāpakā akusalā vitakkā samudācaranti, seyyathidaṁ—

7.3

sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko.

7.4

Then he thought,

Atha kho āyasmato meghiyassa etadahosi:

7.5

“It’s incredible, it’s amazing!

“acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.

7.6

I’ve gone forth from the lay life to homelessness out of faith,

Saddhāya ca vatamhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā;

7.7

but I’m still harassed by these three kinds of bad, unskillful thoughts:

atha ca panimehi tīhi pāpakehi akusalehi vitakkehi anvāsattā—

7.8

sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.”

kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkenā”ti.

8.1

Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

9.1

“Idha mayhaṁ, bhante, tasmiṁ ambavane viharantassa yebhuyyena tayo pāpakā akusalā vitakkā samudācaranti, seyyathidaṁ—

9.2

kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko.

9.3

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi:

9.4

‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.

9.5

Saddhāya ca vatamhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā;

9.6

atha ca panimehi tīhi pāpakehi akusalehi vitakkehi anvāsattā—

9.7

kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkenā’”ti.

10.1

“Meghiya, when the heart’s release is not ripe, five things help it ripen.

“Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā pañca dhammā paripakkāya saṁvattanti.

10.2

What five?

Katame pañca?

10.3

Firstly, a bhikkhu has good friends, companions, and associates.

Idha, meghiya, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.

10.4

This is the first thing …

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ paṭhamo dhammo paripakkāya saṁvattati.

11.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

11.2

This is the second thing …

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ dutiyo dhammo paripakkāya saṁvattati.

12.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, samādhi, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

12.2

This is the third thing …

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ tatiyo dhammo paripakkāya saṁvattati.

13.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

13.2

This is the fourth thing …

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ catuttho dhammo paripakkāya saṁvattati.

14.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

14.2

This is the fifth thing that, when the heart’s release is not ripe, helps it ripen.

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ pañcamo dhammo paripakkāya saṁvattati.

15.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa:

15.2

be ethical …

‘sīlavā bhavissati …pe… samādāya sikkhissati sikkhāpadesu’.

16.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa:

16.2

take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart …

‘yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpiyā kathāya nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī’.

17.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be energetic …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa: ‘āraddhavīriyo viharissati …pe… anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu’.

18.1

A bhikkhu with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be wise …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa: ‘paññavā bhavissati …pe… sammādukkhakkhayagāminiyā’.

19.1

But then, a bhikkhu grounded on these five things should develop four further things.

Tena ca pana, meghiya, bhikkhunā imesu pañcasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya cattāro dhammā uttari bhāvetabbā—

19.2

They should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, mindfulness of breathing to cut off thinking, and perception of anicca to uproot the conceit ‘I am’.

asubhā bhāvetabbā rāgassa pahānāya, mettā bhāvetabbā byāpādassa pahānāya, ānāpānassati bhāvetabbā vitakkupacchedāya, aniccasaññā bhāvetabbā asmimānasamugghātāya.

19.3

When you perceive anicca, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized.

Aniccasaññino, meghiya, anattasaññā saṇṭhāti.

19.4

Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain extinguishment in this very life.”

Anattasaññī asmimānasamugghātaṁ pāpuṇāti diṭṭheva dhamme nibbānan”ti.

19.5

Tatiyaṁ.