AN 7.16

Aniccānupassīsutta

“Sattime, bhikkhave, puggalā āhuneyyā pāhuneyyā dakkhiṇeyyā añjalikaraṇīyā anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Katame satta? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharati, aniccasaññī, aniccapaṭisaṁvedī satataṁ samitaṁ abbokiṇṇaṁ cetasā adhimuccamāno paññāya pariyogāhamāno. So āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo puggalo āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

Observing Impermanence

“Mendicants, these seven individuals are worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and are the supreme field of merit for the world. What seven? First, take an individual who meditates observing impermanence in all conditions. They perceive impermanence and experience impermanence. Constantly, continually, and without interruption, they apply the mind and fathom with wisdom. They’ve realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements. This is the first individual.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharati, aniccasaññī, aniccapaṭisaṁvedī satataṁ samitaṁ abbokiṇṇaṁ cetasā adhimuccamāno paññāya pariyogāhamāno. Tassa apubbaṁ acarimaṁ āsavapariyādānañca hoti jīvitapariyādānañca. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo puggalo āhuneyyo …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

Next, take an individual who meditates observing impermanence in all conditions. Their defilements and their life come to an end at exactly the same time. This is the second individual.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco puggalo sabbasaṅkhāresu aniccānupassī viharati, aniccasaññī, aniccapaṭisaṁvedī satataṁ samitaṁ abbokiṇṇaṁ cetasā adhimuccamāno paññāya pariyogāhamāno. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti …pe… upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti …pe… asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti …pe… sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti …pe… uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo puggalo āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Ime kho, bhikkhave, satta puggalā āhuneyyā pāhuneyyā dakkhiṇeyyā añjalikaraṇīyā anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

Next, take an individual who meditates observing impermanence in all conditions. With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next. … With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished upon landing. … With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished without extra effort. … With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished with extra effort. … With the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm. This is the seventh individual. These are the seven individuals who are worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and are the supreme field of merit for the world.”