Recollection of the Buddha ☀️ bright
In The Path of Dhamma (Dhammapada)
DhammaPada verses 179-196 describe the boundless and traceless nature of the Buddha, the teachings of all the Buddhas, rarity of a human birth, rarity of the arising of a Buddha, what is a safe refuge that leads to release from suffering, and the merit gained by ones who honor the Buddhas or their disciples.
Dhammapada verses 235-255 emphasize on the urgency of striving swiftly, not being negligent, discerning gradually, stains of various qualities. A contrast is drawn on the lives of one who is shameless and one with a sense of right and wrong, on finding the faults of others and one’s own, and on the path of the Tathāgatas.
Dhammapada verses 290–305 share on the renunciation of lesser happiness for greater joy, mindfulness of the body, and applying effort to overcome defilements. Further, the verses highlight the harm of neglecting what should be done, consequence of imposing suffering on another, while praising recollection of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha as well as the qualities of mindfulness, non-violence, and cultivation. The verses conclude with the benefits of solitude and the wilderness for those who are energetic and self-restrained.
In As It Was Said (Itivuttaka)
The Blessed One explains the two thoughts that frequently arise in him - the thought of safety for beings and the thought of seclusion.
The Blessed One explains the two principles of explaining the Dhamma - 1) ‘See harm as harm’ and 2) ‘Having seen harm as harm, become disenchanted with it, become detached from it, and be released from it.’
The Buddha describes the sentient beings who lack in wisdom as truly deprived, dwelling in suffering, annoyance, hardship, and distress.
The Buddha shares on the three kinds of persons who arise in the world for the welfare of the many - 1) the Tathāgata, 2) the Arahant, and 3) the trainee.
The Buddha shares the three kinds of best confidence - 1) in the Buddha, 2) in the mental quality of fading of desire, and 3) in the community of the Blessed One’s disciples.
The Buddha shares the importance of giving, sharing, assisting and making an offering of the Dhamma.
The Buddha explains why he is called the Tathāgata, the one who has perfectly understood the world, its arising, cessation, and the way of practice leading to its cessation.
In Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya)
When his foster mother, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī, offers a robe to the Buddha, he encourages her to offer it to the Saṅgha instead. He then classifies offerings directed to individuals, contrasts them with those directed to the Saṅgha, and explains four kinds of offering purification.
In Linked Discourses (Saṃyutta Nikāya)
The Buddha explains that even a Wheel-Turning Monarch, if not endowed with four qualities, is not freed from hell, the animal realm, the ghost realm, and the lower realms. On the other hand, a noble disciple, endowed with four qualities, is freed from these states.
A disciple of the Noble Ones who is endowed with four qualities becomes a stream-enterer, not liable to states of suffering, and destined for Nibbāna.
The Buddha visits the dying lay disciple Dīghāvu and guides him to reflect on his solid foundation of faith and virtue (stream-entry), and then on deeper insights into impermanence. After his death, the Buddha declares him a wise non-returner, now bound for final Nibbāna.
The venerable Ānanda asks the venerable Sāriputta about the qualities that make a person a stream-enterer, no longer subject to downfall, fixed in destiny, and headed for full awakening.
The Buddha describes the four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease. The fourth quality is virtue.
The Buddha describes the four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease. The fourth quality is generosity.
The Buddha describes the four streams of merit, outflows of good, and supports for ease. The fourth quality is wisdom.
A disciple of the Noble Ones endowed with four qualities is called ‘wealthy, of great wealth, of great possessions.’
A disciple of the Noble Ones endowed with four qualities is called ‘wealthy, of great wealth, of great possessions, of great fame.’
In Numerical Discourses (Aṅguttara Nikāya)
The Buddha shares the importance of recollection of the Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha, one’s virtue, generosity, deities, in-and-out breathing, death, body, and peace.
The Buddha describes the four assurances possessed by the Tathāgata.
When the Buddha asks the bhikkhus on how they cultivate recollection of death, their answers reveal a negligent mindset. The Buddha then instructs to cultivate recollection of death with diligence and keenness, which leads to the wearing away of the taints.
In Inspired Utterances (Udāna)
The story of Suppavāsā, a noblewoman of the Koliyan clan, who endures a difficult pregnancy and ultimately gives birth to a healthy son with the blessings of the Buddha. Overjoyed, she declares she would endure it again. The Buddha then utters a verse on how suffering, disguised as pleasure, overpowers the negligent.
The venerable Upasena reflects on his fortunate spiritual life and his teacher, the Buddha. The Buddha, perceiving Upasena's thoughts, expresses an inspired utterance.