SN 46.4

Vatthasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā sāriputto sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto bhikkhū āmantesi: “āvuso bhikkhavo”ti. “Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:

Clothes

At one time Venerable Sāriputta was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There Sāriputta addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, mendicants!” “Reverend,” they replied. Sāriputta said this:

“Sattime, āvuso, bojjhaṅgā. Katame satta? Satisambojjhaṅgo, dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo, vīriyasambojjhaṅgo, pītisambojjhaṅgo, passaddhisambojjhaṅgo, samādhisambojjhaṅgo, upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo— ime kho, āvuso, satta bojjhaṅgā. Imesaṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ yena yena bojjhaṅgena ākaṅkhāmi pubbaṇhasamayaṁ viharituṁ, tena tena bojjhaṅgena pubbaṇhasamayaṁ viharāmi; yena yena bojjhaṅgena ākaṅkhāmi majjhanhikaṁ samayaṁ viharituṁ, tena tena bojjhaṅgena majjhanhikaṁ samayaṁ viharāmi; yena yena bojjhaṅgena ākaṅkhāmi sāyanhasamayaṁ viharituṁ, tena tena bojjhaṅgena sāyanhasamayaṁ viharāmi. Satisambojjhaṅgo iti ce me, āvuso, hoti, ‘appamāṇo’ti me hoti, ‘susamāraddho’ti me hoti, tiṭṭhantañca naṁ ‘tiṭṭhatī’ti pajānāmi. Sacepi me cavati, ‘idappaccayā me cavatī’ti pajānāmi …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo iti ce me, āvuso, hoti, ‘appamāṇo’ti me hoti, ‘susamāraddho’ti me hoti, tiṭṭhantañca naṁ ‘tiṭṭhatī’ti pajānāmi. Sacepi me cavati, ‘idappaccayā me cavatī’ti pajānāmi.

“There are these seven awakening factors. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These are the seven awakening factors. In the morning, I meditate on whichever of these seven awakening factors I want. At midday, and in the evening, I meditate on whichever of these seven awakening factors I want. If it’s the awakening factor of mindfulness, I know that it’s limitless and that it’s properly implemented. While it remains I understand that it remains. And if it subsides in me I understand the specific reason it subsides. … If it’s the awakening factor of equanimity, I know that it’s limitless and that it’s properly implemented. While it remains I understand that it remains. And if it subsides I understand the specific reason it subsides.

Seyyathāpi, āvuso, rañño vā rājamahāmattassa vā nānārattānaṁ dussānaṁ dussakaraṇḍako pūro assa. So yaññadeva dussayugaṁ ākaṅkheyya pubbaṇhasamayaṁ pārupituṁ, taṁ tadeva dussayugaṁ pubbaṇhasamayaṁ pārupeyya; yaññadeva dussayugaṁ ākaṅkheyya majjhanhikaṁ samayaṁ pārupituṁ, taṁ tadeva dussayugaṁ majjhanhikaṁ samayaṁ pārupeyya; yaññadeva dussayugaṁ ākaṅkheyya sāyanhasamayaṁ pārupituṁ, taṁ tadeva dussayugaṁ sāyanhasamayaṁ pārupeyya. Evameva khvāhaṁ, āvuso, imesaṁ sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ yena yena bojjhaṅgena ākaṅkhāmi pubbaṇhasamayaṁ viharituṁ, tena tena bojjhaṅgena pubbaṇhasamayaṁ viharāmi; yena yena bojjhaṅgena ākaṅkhāmi majjhanhikaṁ samayaṁ viharituṁ, tena tena bojjhaṅgena majjhanhikaṁ samayaṁ viharāmi; yena yena bojjhaṅgena ākaṅkhāmi sāyanhasamayaṁ viharituṁ, tena tena bojjhaṅgena sāyanhasamayaṁ viharāmi. Satisambojjhaṅgo iti ce me, āvuso, hoti, ‘appamāṇo’ti me hoti, ‘susamāraddho’ti me hoti, tiṭṭhantañca naṁ ‘tiṭṭhatī’ti pajānāmi. Sacepi me cavati, ‘idappaccayā me cavatī’ti pajānāmi …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo iti ce me, āvuso, hoti, ‘appamāṇo’ti me hoti, ‘susamāraddho’ti me hoti, tiṭṭhantañca naṁ ‘tiṭṭhatī’ti pajānāmi. Sacepi me cavati, ‘idappaccayā me cavatī’ti pajānāmī”ti.

Suppose that a ruler or their chief minister had a chest full of garments of different colors. In the morning, they’d don whatever pair of garments they wanted. At midday, and in the evening, they’d don whatever pair of garments they wanted. In the same way, in the morning, at midday, and in the evening, I meditate on whichever of these seven awakening factors I want. If it’s the awakening factor of mindfulness, I know that it’s limitless and that it’s properly implemented. While it remains I understand that it remains. And if it subsides I understand the specific reason it subsides. … If it’s the awakening factor of equanimity, I know that it’s limitless and that it’s properly implemented. While it remains I understand that it remains. And if it subsides I understand the specific reason it subsides.”