The Buddha teaches the cultivation of the noble fivefold right collectedness with vivid similes, and shares how one who has cultivated this can realize any phenomenon realizable by direct knowledge.

AN 5.28  Pañcaṅgika sutta - Fivefold Collectedness

“Ariyassa, bhikkhave, pañcaṅgikassa sammāsamādhissa bhāvanaṁ desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I will teach the |cultivation::development, meditation [bhāvanā]| of the noble fivefold |right collectedness::perfect stability of mind, correct mental composure [sammāsamādhi]|. Listen to this and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Yes, venerable sir,” the bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One then said this:

“Katamā ca, bhikkhave, ariyassa pañcaṅgikassa sammāsamādhissa bhāvanā?

“And what, bhikkhus, is the cultivation of the noble fivefold right collectedness?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So imameva kāyaṁ vivekajena pītisukhena abhisandeti parisandeti paripūreti parippharati; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa vivekajena pītisukhena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dakkho nhāpako nhāpakantevāsī kaṁsathāle nhānīyacuṇṇāni ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ sanneyya. Sāyaṁ nhānīyapiṇḍi snehānugatā snehaparetā santarabāhirā phuṭā snehena, na ca paggharinī. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṁ vivekajena pītisukhena abhisandeti parisandeti paripūreti parippharati; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa vivekajena pītisukhena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Ariyassa, bhikkhave, pañcaṅgikassa sammāsamādhissa ayaṁ paṭhamā bhāvanā.

1) Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures and |unwholesome::unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, or karmically unprofitable [akusala]| mental states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is |accompanied by reflection::with thinking [savitakka]| and |examination::with investigation, evaluation [savicāra]|, |born from seclusion::secluded from the defilements [vivekaja]|, and is |filled with joyful pleasure::imbued with joy and happiness, with delight and ease, sometimes experienced as an intense joy or pleasure, rapture [pītisukha]|. He suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates his entire body with joyful pleasure born of seclusion, so that there is no part of his body not suffused by the joyful pleasure born of seclusion. Just as a skilled bath attendant or his apprentice might knead bathing powder in a bronze bowl, sprinkling water again and again until the lump becomes permeated with moisture, saturated inside and out, yet does not drip. In the same way, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates his entire body with joyful pleasure born of seclusion, so that there is no part of his body not suffused by the joyful pleasure born of seclusion. This, bhikkhus, is the first cultivation of the noble fivefold right collectedness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So imameva kāyaṁ samādhijena pītisukhena abhisandeti parisandeti paripūreti parippharati; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa samādhijena pītisukhena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udakarahado gambhīro ubbhidodako. Tassa nevassa puratthimāya disāya udakassa āyamukhaṁ, na pacchimāya disāya udakassa āyamukhaṁ, na uttarāya disāya udakassa āyamukhaṁ, na dakkhiṇāya disāya udakassa āyamukhaṁ, devo ca kālena kālaṁ sammā dhāraṁ nānuppaveccheyya. Atha kho tamhāva udakarahadā sītā vāridhārā ubbhijjitvā tameva udakarahadaṁ sītena vārinā abhisandeyya parisandeyya paripūreyya paripphareyya; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato udakarahadassa sītena vārinā apphuṭaṁ assa. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṁ samādhijena pītisukhena abhisandeti parisandeti paripūreti parippharati; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa samādhijena pītisukhena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Ariyassa, bhikkhave, pañcaṅgikassa sammāsamādhissa ayaṁ dutiyā bhāvanā.

2) Furthermore, bhikkhus, with the |settling::calming, conciliation, subsiding [vūpasama]| of reflection and examination, the bhikkhu enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which is characterized by internal |tranquility::calming, settling, confidence [sampasādana]| and |unification::singleness, integration [ekodibhāva]| of mind, is without reflection and examination, |born from collectedness::born from a stable mind [samādhija]|, and is filled with joyful pleasure. He suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates his entire body with joyful pleasure born of collectedness, so that there is no part of his body not suffused by joyful pleasure born of collectedness. Just as a deep lake fed by an underground spring—with no inflow from the east direction, west direction, north direction, or the south direction, and no rainclouds showering water—would have cool streams welling up from within to thoroughly suffuse, pervade, fill, and permeate the entire lake, leaving no part uncovered by cool water. In the same way, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates his entire body with the joyful pleasure born of collectedness, so that there is no part of his body not suffused by joyful pleasure born of collectedness. This, bhikkhus, is the second cultivation of the noble fivefold right collectedness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So imameva kāyaṁ nippītikena sukhena abhisandeti parisandeti paripūreti parippharati; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa nippītikena sukhena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, uppaliniyaṁ paduminiyaṁ puṇḍarīkiniyaṁ appekaccāni uppalāni padumāni puṇḍarīkāni udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni anto nimuggaposīni. Tāni yāva caggā yāva ca mūlā sītena vārinā abhisannāni parisannāni paripūrāni paripphuṭāni; nāssa kiñci sabbāvataṁ uppalānaṁ padumānaṁ puṇḍarīkānaṁ sītena vārinā apphuṭaṁ assa. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṁ nippītikena sukhena abhisandeti parisandeti paripūreti parippharati; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa nippītikena sukhena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Ariyassa, bhikkhave, pañcaṅgikassa sammāsamādhissa ayaṁ tatiyā bhāvanā.

3) Furthermore, bhikkhus, with the fading away of joyful pleasure, the bhikkhu dwells in a |state of equanimity::mental poised, mentally balanced, equanimous, non-reactive, disregarding [upekkhaka]|, |mindful and fully aware::attentive and completely comprehending [sata + sampajāna]|, experiencing |ease::comfort, contentedness, happiness, pleasure [sukha]| with the body. He enters and dwells in the third jhāna, which the Noble Ones describe as, ‘one who dwells equanimous, mindful, and at ease.’ He suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates his entire body with ease devoid of joyful pleasure, so that there is no part of his entire body that is not suffused with ease devoid of joyful pleasure. Just as, bhikkhus, in a pond of blue, red, or white lotuses, some lotuses born in the water grow entirely submerged, and remain nourished from within by cool water that thoroughly suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates them from their tips to their roots, leaving no part untouched by cool water. In the same way, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates his entire body with ease devoid of joyful pleasure, so that there is no part of his body that is not suffused with ease devoid of joyful pleasure. This, bhikkhus, is the third cultivation of the noble fivefold right collectedness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. So imameva kāyaṁ parisuddhena cetasā pariyodātena pharitvā nisinno hoti; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa parisuddhena cetasā pariyodātena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso odātena vatthena sasīsaṁ pārupitvā nisinno assa; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa odātena vatthena apphuṭaṁ assa. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu imameva kāyaṁ parisuddhena cetasā pariyodātena pharitvā nisinno hoti; nāssa kiñci sabbāvato kāyassa parisuddhena cetasā pariyodātena apphuṭaṁ hoti. Ariyassa, bhikkhave, pañcaṅgikassa sammāsamādhissa ayaṁ catutthā bhāvanā.

4) Furthermore, bhikkhus, with the abandoning of ease and |discontentment::discomfort, unpleasantness, something unsatisfactory, stress [dukkha]|, and with the settling down of |joy and sorrow::craving and aversion, pleasure and displeasure, satisfaction and dissatisfaction, gladness and dejection, positive state of mind and negative state of mind [somanassadomanassa]|, the bhikkhu enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna, which is characterized by purification of |mindfulness::full awareness and recollection of the body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities, observing them clearly with sustained attention, free from craving and distress [sati]| through |equanimity::mental poise, mental balance, equipoise, non-reactivity, composure [upekkhā]|, experiencing a feeling which is neither-painful-nor-pleasant. He suffuses, pervades, fills, and permeates his entire body with a purified and clear mind, so that there is no part of his body that is not suffused by this purified and clear mind. Just as, bhikkhus, a person covered from head to toe in a spotless white cloth with no part of his body uncovered. In the same way, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu sits pervading this very body with a pure mind, so purified and clarified, that there is no part of his whole body not pervaded by the pure mind. In the same way, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu sits pervading this very body with a pure mind, so purified and clarified, that there is no part of his whole body not pervaded by the pure mind. This, bhikkhus, is the fourth cultivation of the noble fivefold right collectedness.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno paccavekkhaṇānimittaṁ suggahitaṁ hoti sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ suppaṭividdhaṁ paññāya. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, aññova aññaṁ paccavekkheyya, ṭhito nisinnaṁ paccavekkheyya, nisinno nipannaṁ paccavekkheyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno paccavekkhaṇānimittaṁ suggahitaṁ hoti sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ suppaṭividdhaṁ paññāya. Ariyassa, bhikkhave, pañcaṅgikassa sammāsamādhissa ayaṁ pañcamā bhāvanā.

5) Furthermore, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu’s |object of contemplation::object under review, reviewing of mental states [paccavekkhaṇānimitta]| is |well grasped::correctly understood, firmly retained [suggahita]|, well attended to, |well reflected upon::carefully considered and examined [sūpadhārita]|, and |thoroughly penetrated::completely comprehended [suppaṭividdha]| by |wisdom::distinctive knowledge, discernment [pañña]|. Just as, bhikkhus, a person standing might clearly observe someone seated, or a seated person might clearly observe someone lying down. In the same way, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu’s object of contemplation is well grasped, well attended to, well reflected upon, and thoroughly penetrated by wisdom. This, bhikkhus, is the fifth cultivation of the noble fivefold right collectedness.

Evaṁ bhāvite kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariye pañcaṅgike sammāsamādhimhi evaṁ bahulīkate yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

When, bhikkhus, the noble fivefold right collectedness is cultivated and frequently practiced in this way, then, there being a suitable basis, the bhikkhu is capable of realizing any phenomenon realizable by |direct knowledge::experiential understanding [abhiññāya]| by directing his mind towards it.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, udakamaṇiko ādhāre ṭhapito pūro udakassa samatittiko kākapeyyo. Tamenaṁ balavā puriso yato yato āvajjeyya, āgaccheyya udakan”ti?

Bhikkhus, suppose a water jar is placed on a stand, filled right up to the brim such that crows could drink from it. If a strong man were to tilt it in any direction, would the water flow out?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ bhāvite ariye pañcaṅgike sammāsamādhimhi evaṁ bahulīkate yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

“So too, bhikkhus, when the noble fivefold right collectedness is cultivated and frequently practiced in this way, then, there being a suitable basis, the bhikkhu is capable of realizing any phenomenon realizable by direct knowledge by directing his mind towards it.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, same bhūmibhāge pokkharaṇī caturaṁsā ālibaddhā pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Tamenaṁ balavā puriso yato yato āliṁ muñceyya, āgaccheyya udakan”ti?

Bhikkhus, imagine a four-sided pond on level ground, enclosed by |embankments::a wall or bank of earth or stone built to prevent a water body flooding an area [ālibaddhā]|, filled with water up to the brim. If a strong man were to breach the embankment at any point, would the water flow out?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ bhāvite ariye pañcaṅgike sammāsamādhimhi evaṁ bahulīkate yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

So too, bhikkhus, when the noble fivefold right collectedness is cultivated and frequently practiced in this way, then, there being a suitable basis, the bhikkhu is capable of realizing any phenomenon realizable by direct knowledge by directing his mind towards it.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, subhūmiyaṁ catumahāpathe ājaññaratho yutto assa ṭhito odhastapatodo. Tamenaṁ dakkho yoggācariyo assadammasārathi abhiruhitvā vāmena hatthena rasmiyo gahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena patodaṁ gahetvā yenicchakaṁ yadicchakaṁ sāreyyapi paccāsāreyyapi. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ bhāvite ariye pañcaṅgike sammāsamādhimhi evaṁ bahulīkate yassa yassa abhiññāsacchikaraṇīyassa dhammassa cittaṁ abhininnāmeti abhiññāsacchikiriyāya, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

Bhikkhus, imagine a chariot yoked to thoroughbred horses standing ready at a level crossroads, with a whip ready at hand. A skilled horse-taming charioteer, a master trainer, mounts it, takes the reins with his left hand and the whip with his right, and drives it forward or back wherever he wishes. So too, bhikkhus, when the noble fivefold right collectedness is cultivated and frequently practiced in this way, then, there being a suitable basis, the bhikkhu is capable of realizing any phenomenon realizable by direct knowledge by directing his mind towards it.

So sace ākaṅkhati: ‘anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhaveyyaṁekopi hutvā bahudhā assaṁ, bahudhāpi hutvā eko assaṁ; āvibhāvaṁ tirobhāvaṁ; tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamāno gaccheyyaṁ, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ kareyyaṁ, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gaccheyyaṁ, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kameyyaṁ, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parāmaseyyaṁ parimajjeyyaṁ; yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vatteyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

If he wishes: ‘May I realize the various kinds of |psychic powers::supernormal abilities, psychic potency, spiritual power [iddhi]| such as—being one, become many; having been many, become one; appear and disappear; pass through walls, enclosures, and mountains unhindered as if through space; dive into and emerge from the earth as if it were water; walk on water without sinking as though on solid ground; fly cross-legged through the sky, like a bird; with hand, touch and stroke the moon and the sun, so mighty and powerful; with the body, exercise control even as far as the |Brahmā world::heavenly realm|,’ then, in each case, he is capable of realizing it, there being a suitable basis.

So sace ākaṅkhati: ‘dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇeyyaṁdibbe ca mānuse ca ye dūre santike cā’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

If he wishes: ‘May I, with the |divine ear element::clairaudience, the divine auditory faculty [sotadhātu]|, which is purified and surpasses the human level, hear both kinds of sounds, divine and human, whether distant or near,’ he is capable of realizing it, there being a suitable basis.

So sace ākaṅkhati: ‘parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajāneyyaṁ sarāgaṁ cittaṁ sarāgaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vītarāgaṁ cittaṁ vītarāgaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; sadosaṁ cittaṁ sadosaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vītadosaṁ cittaṁ vītadosaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; samohaṁ cittaṁ samohaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vītamohaṁ cittaṁ vītamohaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; saṅkhittaṁ cittaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, vikkhittaṁ cittaṁ vikkhittaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; mahaggataṁ cittaṁ mahaggataṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, amahaggataṁ cittaṁ amahaggataṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; sauttaraṁ cittaṁ sauttaraṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, anuttaraṁ cittaṁ anuttaraṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; samāhitaṁ cittaṁ samāhitaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, asamāhitaṁ cittaṁ asamāhitaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ; vimuttaṁ cittaṁ vimuttaṁ cittanti pajāneyyaṁ, avimuttaṁ cittaṁ avimuttaṁ cittanti pajāneyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

If he wishes: ‘May I, having discerned others’ minds with my own mind, understand: a mind with lust as a mind with lust, and a mind free from lust as a mind free from lust; a mind with hatred as a mind with hatred, and a mind free from hatred as a mind free from hatred; a mind with delusion as a mind with delusion, and a mind free from delusion as a mind free from delusion; a contracted mind as a contracted mind, and a distracted mind as a distracted mind; an exalted mind as an exalted mind, and an unexalted mind as an unexalted mind; an inferior mind as an inferior mind, and an unsurpassable mind as an unsurpassable mind; a collected mind as a collected mind, and an uncollected mind as an uncollected mind; a liberated mind as a liberated mind, and an unliberated mind as an unliberated mind,’ he is capable of realizing it, there being a suitable basis.

So sace ākaṅkhati: ‘anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussareyyaṁ, seyyathidaṁekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattālīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jāti satasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappeamutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapannoti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussareyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

If he wishes: ‘May I recollect my manifold past lives, such as: one birth, two births, three births, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand births; many cycles of [universal] contraction, many cycles of [universal] expansion, and many cycles of [universal] contraction and expansion; in such a place I was named so-and-so, of such a clan, with such an appearance, such was my food, such was my experience of pleasure and pain, such was my lifespan; and passing away from there, I was reborn elsewhere; and there too I had such a name, such a clan, such an appearance, such food, experiencing such pleasure and pain, with such a lifespan; and passing away from there, I was reborn here. Thus, with all details and aspects, may I recollect my manifold past lives,’ he is capable of realizing it, there being a suitable basis.

So sace ākaṅkhati: ‘dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passeyyaṁ cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajāneyyaṁime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā; ime pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannāti, iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passeyyaṁ cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajāneyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane.

If he wishes: ‘May I, with the |divine eye::the faculty of clairvoyance, the ability to see beyond the ordinary human range [dibbacakkhu]|, purified and surpassing human vision, see beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in fortunate and unfortunate destinations—and understand beings according to their actions: These beings, engaged in bodily, verbal, and mental misconduct, revilers of the Noble Ones, holding wrong views, undertaking actions based on wrong views—upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, a place of ruin, even in hell. But these beings, engaged in good bodily, verbal, and mental conduct, not revilers of the Noble Ones, holding right views and undertaking actions based on right views—upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a good destination, the heavenly world. In this way, may I, with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human vision, see beings as they pass away and are reborn, inferior and superior, beautiful and unattractive, in fortunate and unfortunate destinations, and understand beings according to their actions,’ he is capable of realizing it, there being a suitable basis.

So sace ākaṅkhati: ‘āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyan’ti, tatra tatreva sakkhibhabbataṁ pāpuṇāti sati sati āyatane”ti.

If he wishes: ‘May I, through the wearing away of the |mental defilements::mental outflows, discharges, taints [āsava]|, dwell having directly realized and attained in this very life the taintless |liberation of mind::mental liberation, emancipation of heart, a meditation attainment [cetovimutti]| and |liberation by wisdom::emancipation by insight [paññāvimutti]|, achieved by one’s own direct knowledge,’ he is capable of realizing it, there being a suitable basis.

Last updated on July 28, 2025

CC0 License Button