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Linked Discourses 54.8 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 54.8

1. One Thing – 1. Ekadhammavagga

SN 54.8 The Simile of the Lamp – Padīpopamasutta

 

“Bhikkhū, when samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

“Ānāpānassatisamādhi, bhikkhave, bhāvito bahulīkato mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso.

How so?

Kathaṁ bhāvito ca, bhikkhave, ānāpānassatisamādhi kathaṁ bahulīkato mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso?

It’s when a bhikkhu has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut. They sit down cross-legged, with their body straight, and establish mindfulness right there.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.

Just mindful, they breathe in. Mindful, they breathe out.

So satova assasati, satova passasati.

When breathing in heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing in heavily.’ When breathing out heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing out heavily.’ …

Dīghaṁ vā assasanto ‘dīghaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti …pe…

They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing letting go.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing letting go.’

‘paṭinissaggānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘paṭinissaggānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.

That’s how samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, is very fruitful and beneficial.

Evaṁ bhāvito kho, bhikkhave, ānāpānassatisamādhi evaṁ bahulīkato mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso.

Before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I too usually practiced this kind of meditation.

Ahampi sudaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddho bodhisattova samāno iminā vihārena bahulaṁ viharāmi.

And while I was usually practicing this kind of meditation neither my body nor my eyes became fatigued.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, iminā vihārena bahulaṁ viharato neva kāyo kilamati na cakkhūni;

And my mind was freed from defilements by not grasping.

anupādāya ca me āsavehi cittaṁ vimucci.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘May neither my body nor my eyes became fatigued. And may my mind be freed from grasping without defilements.’

‘neva me kāyo kilameyya na cakkhūni, anupādāya ca me āsavehi cittaṁ vimucceyyā’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘May I give up memories and thoughts of the lay life.’

‘ye me gehasitā sarasaṅkappā te pahīyeyyun’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘May I meditate perceiving the repulsive in the unrepulsive.’

‘appaṭikūle paṭikūlasaññī vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘May I meditate perceiving the unrepulsive in the repulsive.’

‘paṭikūle appaṭikūlasaññī vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘May I meditate perceiving the repulsive in the unrepulsive and the repulsive.’

‘paṭikūle ca appaṭikūle ca paṭikūlasaññī vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘May I meditate perceiving the unrepulsive in the repulsive and the unrepulsive.’

‘paṭikūle ca appaṭikūle ca appaṭikūlasaññī vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘May I meditate staying equanimous, mindful and aware, rejecting both the repulsive and the unrepulsive.’

‘appaṭikūlañca paṭikūlañca tadubhayaṁ abhinivajjetvā upekkhako vihareyyaṁ sato sampajāno’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, may I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.’

‘vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, may I enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of samādhi, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.’

‘vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘With the fading away of rapture, may I enter and remain in the third absorption, where I will meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, “Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.”’

‘pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca vihareyyaṁ sato ca sampajāno, sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeyyaṁ, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti—upekkhako satimā sukhavihārīti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the ending of former happiness and sadness, may I enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.’

‘sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘Going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that “space is infinite”, may I enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space.’

‘sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that “consciousness is infinite”, may I enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness.’

‘sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma anantaṁ viññāṇanti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that “there is nothing at all”, may I enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness.’

‘sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma natthi kiñcīti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, may I enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’

‘sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

Now, a bhikkhu might wish:

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cepi ākaṅkheyya:

‘Going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, may I enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling.’

‘sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti,

So let them closely focus on this samādhi due to mindfulness of breathing.

ayameva ānāpānassatisamādhi sādhukaṁ manasi kātabbo.

When mindfulness of breathing has been developed and cultivated in this way, if they feel a pleasant feeling, they understand that it’s anicca, that they’re not attached to it, and that they don’t take pleasure in it.

Evaṁ bhāvite kho, bhikkhave, ānāpānassatisamādhimhi evaṁ bahulīkate, sukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, sā ‘aniccā’ti pajānāti, ‘anajjhositā’ti pajānāti, ‘anabhinanditā’ti pajānāti;

If they feel a painful feeling, they understand that it’s anicca, that they’re not attached to it, and that they don’t take pleasure in it.

dukkhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, sā ‘aniccā’ti pajānāti, ‘anajjhositā’ti pajānāti, ‘anabhinanditā’ti pajānāti;

If they feel a neutral feeling, they understand that it’s anicca, that they’re not attached to it, and that they don’t take pleasure in it.

adukkhamasukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, ‘sā aniccā’ti pajānāti, ‘anajjhositā’ti pajānāti, ‘anabhinanditā’ti pajānāti.

If they feel a pleasant feeling, they feel it detached.

Sukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, visaṁyutto naṁ vedayati;

If they feel a painful feeling, they feel it detached.

dukkhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, visaṁyutto naṁ vedayati;

If they feel a neutral feeling, they feel it detached.

adukkhamasukhañce vedanaṁ vedayati, visaṁyutto naṁ vedayati.

Feeling the end of the body approaching, they understand: ‘I feel the end of the body approaching.’ Feeling the end of life approaching, they understand: ‘I feel the end of life approaching.’

So kāyapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘kāyapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti, jīvitapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘jīvitapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti,

They understand: ‘When my body breaks up and my life has come to an end, everything that’s felt, since I no longer take pleasure in it, will become cool right here.’

‘kāyassa bhedā uddhaṁ jīvitapariyādānā idheva sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sītībhavissantī’ti pajānāti.

Suppose an oil lamp depended on oil and a wick to burn.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, telañca paṭicca, vaṭṭiñca paṭicca telappadīpo jhāyeyya,

As the oil and the wick are used up, it would be extinguished due to lack of fuel.

tasseva telassa ca vaṭṭiyā ca pariyādānā anāhāro nibbāyeyya;

In the same way, feeling the end of the body approaching, they understand: ‘I feel the end of the body approaching.’ Feeling the end of life approaching, they understand: ‘I feel the end of life approaching.’

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāyapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘kāyapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti, jīvitapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayamāno ‘jīvitapariyantikaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti,

They understand: ‘When my body breaks up and my life has come to an end, everything that’s felt, since I no longer take pleasure in it, will become cool right here.’”

‘kāyassa bhedā uddhaṁ jīvitapariyādānā idheva sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sītībhavissantī’ti pajānātī”ti.