AN 6.25

Anussatiṭṭhānasutta

“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 evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

Topics for Recollection

“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 fit for training, 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 quite 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 in this way.

Puna 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 evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the teaching: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present 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. …

Puna 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 evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. 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 cupped 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. …

Puna 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 evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their own ethical precepts, which are intact, 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. …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano cāgaṁ anussarati: ‘lābhā vata me. Suladdhaṁ vata me …pe… yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti. …pe… Evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

Furthermore, a noble disciple recollects their generosity: ‘I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate! Among people full of the stain of stinginess I live at home with heart 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. …

Puna 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.

Furthermore, 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 what is created by others, the gods of the Divinity’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.’

Yasmiṁ, 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 evam’idhekacce sattā visujjhanti.

When 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 quite 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 in this way.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anussatiṭṭhānānī”ti.

These are the six topics for recollection.”