6: The Book of the Sixes
III. Unsurpassable — AN 6.25: Topics for Recollection
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1“Mendicants, there are these six topics for recollection. What six?
Firstly, a noble disciple recollects the Realized One: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ When a noble disciple recollects the Realized One their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. At that time their mind is unswerving. They’ve left behind greed; they’re free of it and have risen above it. ‘Greed’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation. Relying on this some sentient beings are purified.
2Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the teaching: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha — visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’ When a noble disciple recollects the teaching their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
3Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, straightforward, methodical, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’ When a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
4Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their own ethical precepts, which are unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion. When a noble disciple recollects their ethical precepts their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
5Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their own generosity: ‘I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate! Among people full of the stain of stinginess I live at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.’ When a noble disciple recollects their generosity their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. …
6Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the deities: ‘There are the Gods of the Four Great Kings, the Gods of the Thirty-Three, the Gods of Yama, the Joyful Gods, the Gods Who Love to Create, the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others, the Gods of Brahmā’s Host, and gods even higher than these. When those deities passed away from here, they were reborn there because of their faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. I, too, have the same kind of faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.’
7When a noble disciple recollects the faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom of both themselves and the deities their mind is not full of greed, hate, and delusion. At that time their mind is unswerving. They’ve left behind greed; they’re free of it and have risen above it. ‘Greed’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation. Relying on this some sentient beings are purified.
8These are the six topics for recollection.”
1"Chayimāni, bhikkhave, anussatiṭṭhānāni. Katamāni cha?
Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati: ‘itipi so bhagavā … pe … satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako tathāgataṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā. ‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ. Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti. (1)
2Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhammaṁ anussarati: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo … pe … paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti. Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako dhammaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā. ‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ. Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti. (2)
3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghaṁ anussarati: ‘suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho … pe … anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā’ti. Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako saṅghaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā. ‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ. Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti. (3)
4Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano sīlāni anussarati akhaṇḍāni … pe … samādhisaṁvattanikāni. Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako sīlaṁ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā. ‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ. Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti. (4)
5Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano cāgaṁ anussarati: ‘lābhā vata me. Suladdhaṁ vata me … pe … yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti. … pe … Evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti. (5)
6Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako devatā anussarati: ‘santi devā cātumahārājikā, santi devā tāvatiṁsā, santi devā yāmā, santi devā tusitā, santi devā nimmānaratino, santi devā paranimmitavasavattino, santi devā brahmakāyikā, santi devā tatuttari. Yathārūpāya saddhāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā saddhā saṁvijjati. Yathārūpena sīlena … sutena … cāgena … paññāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā paññā saṁvijjatī’ti.
7Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako attano ca tāsañca devatānaṁ saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarati nevassa tasmiṁ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṁ cittaṁ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṁ samaye cittaṁ hoti, nikkhantaṁ muttaṁ vuṭṭhitaṁ gedhamhā. ‘Gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ. Idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṁ karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti. (6)
8Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anussatiṭṭhānānī"ti.
Pañcamaṁ.