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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

9: The Book of the Nines

II. The Lion’s Roar — AN 9.18: The Sabbath with Nine Factors

1“Mendicants, the observance of the sabbath with its nine factors is very fruitful and beneficial and splendid and bountiful. And how should it be observed?

It’s when a noble disciple reflects: ‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They are scrupulous and kind, and live full of compassion for all living beings. I, too, for this day and night will give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. I’ll be scrupulous and kind, and live full of compassion for all living beings. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its first factor. …

2‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up high and luxurious beds. They sleep in a low place, either a small bed or a straw mat. I, too, for this day and night will give up high and luxurious beds. I’ll sleep in a low place, either a small bed or a straw mat. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its eighth factor.

3They meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. This is its ninth factor.

4The observance of the sabbath with its nine factors in this way is very fruitful and beneficial and splendid and bountiful.”

1"Navahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro. Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati:  ‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti; ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi; uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti … pe … . (1–7.)

2‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappenti – mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā; ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemi – mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi; uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (8)

3Mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharati. Iminā navamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (9)

4Evaṁ upavuttho kho, bhikkhave, navahaṅgehi samannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro"ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.