Maha Assapura sutra – the sermon did in the Assapura village.
- I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One, was in Assapura
village in the Anga country. Then the lord Buddha addressed the
monks. “Yes lord” monks replied as thus. Lord Buddha then preached
this sermon. - Monks, people recognize you as “ascetics, ascetics”. You also should
reply to them when they ask who are you as “we are ascetics”. Monks
when you say like that; you too should be disciplined as “If there are
certain natures that make one an ascetic, that makes one a brahmin,
we should be well established in those natures. Then our asceticism is
true. Our reply also becomes a reality. Also if we use someone’s robes,
foods, temples, medicines; those their givings to us will yield them
great results. Our this ascetic life will not be empty. We will have good
results. We will have progress.” - Monks, what are the natures that make one an ascetic, that makes
one a real brahmin? - Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “we will establish
ourselves in shame for doing sins and fear for doing sins”. - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. That is enough. We did the asceticism. We got the results of
ascetic life. There is nothing more to do.” You may come to satisfaction
in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do, may
you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “our
bodily actions are clean. Clear. Spotless and without holes. Because of
that clean bodily actions, we will not show ourselves as high and
disrespect others as low”. - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Clear. Spotless and
without holes. Also because of that clean bodily actions, we do not
show ourselves as high and disrespect others as low. That is enough. We did the asceticism. We got the results of ascetic life. There is
nothing more to do.” You may come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do, may
you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “our
verbal actions are clean. Clear. Spotless and without holes. Because of
that clean verbal actions, we will not think ourselves as high and
consider others as low by arrogance”. - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Our verbal actions are
also clean. Clear. Spotless and without holes. Because of that clean
verbal actions, we do not think of ourselves as high and consider
others as low by arrogance. That is enough. We did the asceticism. We
got the results of ascetic life. There is nothing more to do.” You may
come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do,
may you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “our
mental actions are clean. Clear. Spotless and without holes. Because of
that clean mental actions, we will not consider ourselves as high and
consider others as low”. - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Our verbal actions are
also clean. Our mental actions are also clean. Clear. Spotless and
without holes. Because of that clean mental actions, we do not
consider ourselves as high and consider others as low. That is enough. We did the asceticism. We got the results of ascetic life. There is
nothing more to do.” You may come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do,
may you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “our
correct livelihood virtue is clean. Clear. Spotless and without holes.
Because of that clean correct livelihood virtue, we will not consider
ourselves as high and consider others as low by arrogance”. - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Our verbal actions are
also clean. Our mental actions are also clean. Our correct livelihood
virtue is also clean. Clear. Spotless and without holes. Because of that
clean correct livelihood virtue, we do not consider ourselves as high
and consider others as low by arrogance. That is enough. We did the
asceticism. We got the results of ascetic life. There is nothing more to
do.” You may come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do,
may you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as
“should establish well in sense organs virtue. Will not take signs when
sees forms by the eye. Will not remember the figure of forms when
sees by the eye. The one who does not protect the eye is attacked by
childish fermentations. Hence will discipline the eye. Will protect the
eye. Will not take signs when hears sounds by the ear… Will not take
signs when feels fragrances by the nose… Will not take signs when
feels tastes by the tongue… Will not take signs when feels touches by
the body… Will not take signs when thinks thoughts by the mind. Will not remember the figures of useless thoughts (related to 5 dark covers
of mind) when thinks by the mind. The one who does not protect the
mind is attacked by childish defilements. Hence will discipline the mind.
Will protect the mind.” - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Our verbal actions are
also clean. Our mental actions are also clean. Our correct livelihood
virtue is also clean. We are established in the sense organs virtue too.
That is enough. We did the asceticism. We got the results of ascetic life.
There is nothing more to do.” You may come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do,
may you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “we
will take food knowing the correct proportion. We will only use food
knowing by wisdom. That is; not eating for the enjoyment, not for
becoming a strong man like a fighter, not to build the body, not to
make the body beautiful, not to play games, not to feed the love for
tastes. But only for living, only as a help for the ascetic life, only to
destroy the hunger, only to obtain the necessary strength. Without
letting rigidity and torpor to overcome us.” - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Our verbal actions are
also clean. Our mental actions are also clean. Our correct livelihood
virtue is also clean. We are established in the sense organs virtue too.
Also, we take food knowing the correct proportion. That is enough. We
did the asceticism. We got the results of ascetic life. There is nothing
more to do.” You may come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do,
may you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “we
will clear the mind from 5 dark covers in the daytime by walking
meditations and sitting meditations. And also we will clear the mind
from 5 dark covers in the first part of nighttime by walking meditations
and sitting meditations. Also, resolving to wake up as soon as possible,
keeping the left leg on the right leg, sleeping on the right side of the
body, as a lion sleeps, and after sleeping in the middle part of the night,
we will clear the mind from 5 dark covers in the final part of night time
by walking meditations and sitting meditations.” - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Our verbal actions are
also clean. Our mental actions are also clean. Our correct livelihood
virtue is also clean. We are established in the sense organs virtue too.
Also, we take food knowing the correct proportion. And also we are
practicing meditations without sleeping. (less sleep) That is enough.
We did the asceticism. We got the results of ascetic life. There is
nothing more to do.” You may come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do,
may you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? Monks, you should discipline yourselves as “we
will establish ourselves in the sanity of concentration meditations and
wisdom meditations. When going forth, when coming back, when
looking directions, when stretch hands or legs, when using the begging
bowl and robes, when eating; we will stay in sanity. When go to the
toilet, when walking, when standing, when sitting, when laying, when awake, when talk, when silent; we will do all these actions staying in
sanity.” - Monks, you may think “we have shame for doing sins and fear for
doing sins. Our bodily actions are also clean. Our verbal actions are
also clean. Our mental actions are also clean. Our correct livelihood
virtue is also clean. We are established in the sense organs virtue too.
We take food knowing the correct proportion. We are practicing
meditations without sleeping. And also we are established ourselves in
the sanity of concentration meditations and wisdom meditations. That
is enough. We did the asceticism. We got the results of ascetic life.
There is nothing more to do.” You may come to satisfaction in just that. - Monks, I tell you, I inform you; having more other things to do,
may you not destroy your ascetic life by thinking that we have already
obtained the results of the ascetic life. Monks, what other things do
you have to complete? That ascetic should associate with secluded
depopulated silent places. What are they? Forests, roots of trees,
mountains, rock caves, cemeteries, groups of trees deep inside forests,
open grounds, grass grounds, places that dumped hay. Then after he
taking the meal, sitting in the meditation posture, he erects his upper
body, and keeps the sanity to the meditation. He stays abandoning
love in mind that is craving. He stays abandoning anger in mind that is
hatred. He lives having mercy to all creatures. Abandoning drowsiness
and laziness; he lives in the recognition of light. Without uneasiness
(distraction) and repentance; he stays in a calm mind. Also, he has no
uncertainty in Dharma. (explaining 5 dark covers of mind) - Monks, just like a man invests on a business by borrowing a loan,
and if his business becomes successful, if pays the old loan completely,
and also if still there remains some money to feed his wife and children,
he thinks like this “in the past, I did a business by borrowing a loan. My actions became successful. If I took any loan, I could repay it
completely. Yet I have some other money to feed my wife and
children.” He becomes happy due to free of debt. He comes to joy. - Monks, just like a sick man, having many pains, having become
dangerously sick, if he doesn’t have an appetite for food also, if his
body is also weak but later becomes healthy and gets back the
appetite for food, body strength; he thinks like this “I had a dangerous
sickness before, I was in much pain, I was very sick, I could not even
eat foods, my body also became weak. But now I am healthy. Also, I
have my food appetite now. I have a good body strength also.” He
becomes happy due to free from the sickness. He comes to joy. - Monks, just like a man caught in prison later becomes free from
that prison and also if his wealth is still existing intact, he thinks like
this “I was inside the prison before. Now I am free from the prison.
Also, my wealth remain intact.” He becomes happy due to being free
from the prison. He comes to joy. - Monks, just like a man who is subordinate to someone else, a
servant that cannot go anywhere according to his will, but later if he
becomes a free man, if he becomes not a servant of anyone, if he
receives the ability to do according to his wish, he thinks like this “I was
a man subordinate to someone else before. I could not do anything
according to my will. I could not move anywhere according to my wish.
I was a servant. But now I can do whatever I want. I am not a servant
anymore. I am a free man.” He becomes happy due to freedom. He
comes to joy. - Monks, just like in a situation where a man has to move on a long
desert road with a large amount of wealth, later without any trouble if
he passed that desert, he thinks like this “I had to move through a long
desert road with a large amount of wealth before. But now I have passed the dangerous desert safely with my wealth.” He becomes
happy due to coming to the fearless land. He comes to joy. - Monks, like this, an ascetic should see correctly the 5 dark covers
that are still in his mind as a debt, as a sickness, as a prison, as being a
servant, as moving on a long desert road. Monks, an ascetic should see
correctly the 5 dark covers that have vanished from his mind as a
debtlessness, as a good health, as a freedom from the prison, as
becoming a free man, as a fearless land.
Attaining 4 form trances:
- That ascetic, abandoning the 5 dark covers of mind which are
defilements, which are the causes for weakening the intelligence,
having separated himself from lust, having separated himself from
demeritorious states, attains to the 1st form plane meditative level
that has initial application of thought, sustained application of thought,
bliss and pleasure. He wets his entire body from the bliss and pleasure
that occurred from solitude. He wets everywhere, touches from
everywhere. There is no place in his body that is not touched by the
bliss and pleasure that occurred from solitude. Monks, as a bathing
man or a servant of a bathing man, by putting in a vessel some bathing
powder and mixing it with water again and again, then making bathing
powder balls, those balls are well mixed with water inside and outside
and they stay huddled, without flowing water, without breaking. Just
like that, that ascetic wets his entire body from the bliss and pleasure
that occurred from solitude. He wets everywhere, touches from
everywhere. - Monks, furthermore, that ascetic calming down the initial
application of thought and sustained application of thought, making
more purity in consciousness element, filled with bliss and pleasure,
attains to the 2nd form plane meditative level that occurs from the concentration without initial application of thought and sustained
application of thought. He wets his entire body from the bliss and
pleasure that occurred from the concentration without initial
application of thought and sustained application of thought. He wets
everywhere, touches from everywhere. There is no place in his body
that is not touched by the bliss and pleasure that occurred from the
concentration without initial application of thought and sustained
application of thought. Monks, there is a pool completely filled with
cold water. It has no paths from the east, west, north, and south to
receive water. Rain also does not provide water to this pool. But from
this pool’s springs, comes up water and the pool itself is filled with
water without an effort. And it completely fills the pool. There is no
place in the pool that was not touched by the cold water of the pool.
Just like that, that ascetic wets his entire body from the bliss and
pleasure that occurred from the concentration without initial
application of thought and sustained application of thought. He wets
everywhere, touches from everywhere. - Monks, furthermore, that ascetic dwells without clinging to the
bliss. With sanity, he dwells in pleasure. In this world, if noble men say
for some trance as “non-clinging to the bliss, with sanity, with
pleasure”; he attains to that 3rd form plane meditative level. He wets
his entire body from the pleasure without bliss. He wets everywhere,
touches from everywhere. There is no place in his body that is not
touched by the pleasure without bliss. Monks, if in some water lily
flower pond, or in a white lotus pond, or in a red lotus pond, if a
certain water lily flower or a white lotus flower or a red lotus flower
becomes from the water, develops inside the water, without coming
outside from the water if grows staying in the water; that flower from
root to the top is wetted by the water. Completely covered by the water. Water touches all parts of that flower. There is no part in that
flower that is not touched by the cold water of that pond. Just like that,
that ascetic wets his entire body from the pleasure without bliss. He
wets everywhere, touches from everywhere. - Monks, furthermore, that ascetic by removing bodily pleasures and
woes, by removing mental happiness and sorrow, having sanity
begotten from the equanimity which is free from both grief and
pleasure; attains to that 4th form plane meditative level. He pervades
extremely pure consciousness element in his body. There is no place in
his body that is not touched by the extremely pure consciousness
element. Monks, just like a man completely covers himself including
his head with a bright white cloth, then just as there is no place in his
body that is not touched by that bright white cloth; that ascetic
pervades extremely pure consciousness element in all his body.
Seeing past lives:
- And now when the consciousness element is pure, extremely pure,
supreme, without defilements, very soft, able to do anything at will,
steady, not shaking; that ascetic bends his mind to the distinctive
intelligence of seeing past lives. He sees his various past lives. How?
One life, 2 lives, 3 lives, 4 lives, 5 lives, 10 lives, 20 lives, 30 lives, 40
lives, 50 lives, 100 lives, 1000 lives, 100000 lives, many destroying
(galaxies) kalpas, many creating (galaxies) kalpas, many destroying and
creating kalpa times; “in such a place I was such a person, I had such a
name. My clan was such. My body color was such. I ate such foods. I
felt such pleasures and woes. I died like this. Dying there, I was born in
such another world. There my name was such. My family was such. My
body color was such. I ate such foods. I felt such pleasures and griefs.
And I died like that. And I by dying there, was born in another world again” like that he sees his past lives. Monks, just like a man who goes
from his village to another village and then to some another village and
after some time returns to his home village thinks “I went to that
village from my village. There I stayed like this. There I sat like that. I
spoke like that. I became silent like that. Also, I went to another village
from that village. There I stayed like this. There I sat like that. I spoke
like that. I became silent like that. After moving a long distance, I came
back to my home village”. Monks, just like that, that ascetic checks his
past lives.
Seeing by divine eye:
- And, furthermore, now when the consciousness element is pure,
extremely pure, supreme, without defilements, very soft, able to do
anything at will, steady, not shaking; that ascetic bends his mind to the
distinctive intelligence of divine eye. He sees by the divine eye which
surpasses human vision; fine beings, gross beings, beautiful beings,
ugly beings, and various other creatures. He sees creatures in heaven
worlds and hell worlds. He sees creatures born according to their own
karmas. How? “these creatures certainly did bodily sins, verbal sins,
mental sins. Disrespected supreme noble men. Had wrong views about
the nature. Did karmas related to wrong visions. And after death, they
were born in these none-pleasureful, hell worlds which have states of
woe. These creatures certainly did bodily merits, verbal merits, mental
merits. Honored supreme noble men. Had correct views about the
nature. Did karmas related to right visions. And after death, they were
born in these pleasureful, heaven worlds which have states of bliss”.
Like this, he sees by the god’s eye which surpasses human vision; fine
beings, gross beings, beautiful beings, ugly beings, and various other
creatures. Monks, just as if there are 2 houses with 2 doors and in the middle of those 2 houses if a man that has eyes is standing, he sees all
humans that walk into those 2 houses and who come outside. Monks,
just like that, that ascetic checks by the divine eye which surpasses
human vision; fine beings, gross beings, beautiful beings, ugly beings,
and various other creatures. He sees creatures in good worlds and bad
worlds.
Ending all cankers:
- And, furthermore, now when the consciousness element is pure,
extremely pure, supreme, without defilements, very soft, able to do
anything at will, steady, not shaking; that ascetic bends his mind to the
distinctive intelligence of destroying all defilements. He knows ‘this is
the woe’ according to reality. He knows ‘this is the cause for the
creation of woe’ according to reality. He knows ‘this is the cessation of
woe’ according to reality. He knows ‘this is the correct path leading to
the cessation of woe’ according to reality. He knows the truth as it is.
Knowing like this, seeing like this; his consciousness element is freed
from all the sensual defilements. His consciousness element is freed
from all the defilements related to the existence. His consciousness
element is freed from all the defilements related to the ignorance. And
when he got the supreme liberation there becomes a distinctive
intelligence in his consciousness element as “liberated”. Destroyed the
reincarnation process. Came to the end of ascetic life. Did what should
be done. Will never be born again. He will know as thus. Monks, if
there is a clean, unshaking, clear water filled pool on a top of a
mountain, if a man who has eyes is sitting on the embankment; he can
see clearly moving or not moving oysters, stones, packs of fishes. He
then thinks “This pool is clean. Unshaking. Has very clear water. In this
pool there are moving or not moving oysters, stones, packs of fishes”. Just like this, monks, that ascetic knows ‘this is the woe’ according to
true nature. He knows ‘this is the cause for the creation of woe’
according to true nature. He knows ‘this is the cessation of woe’
according to true nature. He knows ‘this is the accurate path leading to
the cessation of woe’ according to true nature. He knows the truth as
it is. Knowing like this, seeing like this; his consciousness element is
freed from all the sensual fermentations. His consciousness element is
freed from all the fermentations related to the existence. His
consciousness element is freed from all the fermentations related to
the ignorance. And when he got the supreme liberation there becomes
a distinctive intelligence in his consciousness element as “liberated”.
Destroyed the reincarnation process. Came to the end of ascetic life.
Did what should be done. Will never be born again. He will know as
thus. - Monks, this ascetic is an Ascetic, this ascetic is the true Brahmin,
the Nahathaka, the Vedagu, the Soththiya, the Arya, the Arhant. - Monks, how does an ascetic become an ascetic? He calms down
childish sinful demeritorious natures that make the consciousness
element impure, that creates reincarnation process again and again,
that gives various troubles, that gives painful sensations as results, that
causes birth decaying and death. Monks, this is how an ascetic
becomes an ascetic. - Monks, how does an ascetic become a brahmin? He abandons
childish sinful demeritorious natures that make the consciousness
element impure, that creates reincarnation process again and again,
that gives various troubles, that gives painful sensations as results, that
causes birth decaying and death. Monks, this is how an ascetic
becomes a brahmin. - Monks, how does an ascetic become the Nahathaka? He washes
away all childish sinful demeritorious natures that make the
consciousness element impure, that creates reincarnation process
again and again, that gives various troubles, that gives painful
sensations as results, that causes birth decaying and death. Monks,
this is how an ascetic becomes the Nahathaka. - Monks, how does an ascetic become the Vedagu? He fully realizes
by penetrating all childish sinful demeritorious natures that makes the
consciousness element impure, that creates reincarnation process
again and again, that gives various troubles, that gives painful
sensations as results, that causes birth decaying and death. Monks,
this is how an ascetic becomes the Vedagu. - Monks, how does an ascetic become the Soththiya? He vanishes all
childish sinful demeritorious natures that make the consciousness
element impure, that creates reincarnation process again and again,
that gives various troubles, that gives painful sensations as results, that
causes birth decaying and death. Monks, this is how an ascetic
becomes the Soththiya. - Monks, how does an ascetic become the Arya? He removes from a
long distance childish sinful demeritorious natures that makes the
consciousness element impure, that creates reincarnation process
again and again, that gives various troubles, that gives painful
sensations as results, that causes birth decaying and death. Monks,
this is how an ascetic becomes the Arya. - Monks, how does an ascetic become the Arhant? He, without a
remainder, fully removes from a long distance all the childish sinful
demeritorious natures that make the consciousness element impure,
that creates reincarnation process again and again, that gives various troubles, that gives painful sensations as results, that causes birth
decaying and death. Monks, this is how an ascetic becomes the Arhant.
Lord Buddha preached this sermon. The monks happily accepted the
Dharma. (End of this sutta)
(This information is from the Practical Meditation Guide By A Forest Monk book.)