SN 47.10

Bhikkhunupassayasutta

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena aññataro bhikkhunupassayo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhuniyo yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho tā bhikkhuniyo āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ:

The Nuns’ Quarters

Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the nuns’ quarters, and sat down on the seat spread out. Then several nuns went up to Venerable Ānanda bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Idha, bhante ānanda, sambahulā bhikkhuniyo catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacittā viharantiyo uḷāraṁ pubbenāparaṁ visesaṁ sañjānantī”ti. “Evametaṁ, bhaginiyo, evametaṁ, bhaginiyo. Yo hi koci, bhaginiyo, bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacitto viharati, tassetaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ: ‘uḷāraṁ pubbenāparaṁ visesaṁ sañjānissatī’”ti.

“Honorable Ānanda, several nuns meditate with their minds firmly established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. They have realized a higher distinction than they had before.” “That’s how it is, sisters! That’s how it is, sisters! Any monk or nun who meditates with their mind firmly established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation can expect to realize a higher distinction than they had before.”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando tā bhikkhuniyo dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena aññataro bhikkhunupassayo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ. Atha kho, bhante, sambahulā bhikkhuniyo yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho, bhante, tā bhikkhuniyo maṁ etadavocuṁ: ‘idha, bhante ānanda, sambahulā bhikkhuniyo catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacittā viharantiyo uḷāraṁ pubbenāparaṁ visesaṁ sañjānantī’ti. Evaṁ vuttāhaṁ, bhante, tā bhikkhuniyo etadavocaṁ: ‘evametaṁ, bhaginiyo, evametaṁ, bhaginiyo. Yo hi koci, bhaginiyo, bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacitto viharati, tassetaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—uḷāraṁ pubbenāparaṁ visesaṁ sañjānissatī’”ti.

Then Ānanda educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired those nuns with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left. Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“Evametaṁ, ānanda, evametaṁ, ānanda. Yo hi koci, ānanda, bhikkhu vā bhikkhunī vā catūsu satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacitto viharati, tassetaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ: ‘uḷāraṁ pubbenāparaṁ visesaṁ sañjānissati’.

“That’s so true, Ānanda! That’s so true! Any monk or nun who meditates with their mind firmly established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation can expect to realize a higher distinction than they had before.

Katamesu catūsu? Idhānanda, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Tassa kāye kāyānupassino viharato kāyārammaṇo vā uppajjati kāyasmiṁ pariḷāho, cetaso vā līnattaṁ, bahiddhā vā cittaṁ vikkhipati. Tenānanda, bhikkhunā kismiñcideva pasādanīye nimitte cittaṁ paṇidahitabbaṁ. Tassa kismiñcideva pasādanīye nimitte cittaṁ paṇidahato pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedayati. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yassa khvāhaṁ atthāya cittaṁ paṇidahiṁ, so me attho abhinipphanno. Handa dāni paṭisaṁharāmī’ti. So paṭisaṁharati ceva na ca vitakketi na ca vicāreti. ‘Avitakkomhi avicāro, ajjhattaṁ satimā sukhamasmī’ti pajānāti.

What four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they meditate observing an aspect of the body, based on the body there arises sweltering in the body, or mental sluggishness, or the mind is externally scattered. That mendicant should direct their mind toward an inspiring subject as a basis for meditation. As they do so, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. Then they reflect: ‘I have accomplished the goal for which I directed my mind. Let me now relax.’ They relax, and neither place the mind nor keep it connected. They understand: ‘I’m neither placing the mind nor keeping it connected. Mindful within myself, I’m happy.’

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Tassa dhammesu dhammānupassino viharato dhammārammaṇo vā uppajjati kāyasmiṁ pariḷāho, cetaso vā līnattaṁ, bahiddhā vā cittaṁ vikkhipati. Tenānanda, bhikkhunā kismiñcideva pasādanīye nimitte cittaṁ paṇidahitabbaṁ. Tassa kismiñcideva pasādanīye nimitte cittaṁ paṇidahato pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedayati. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yassa khvāhaṁ atthāya cittaṁ paṇidahiṁ, so me attho abhinipphanno. Handa dāni paṭisaṁharāmī’ti. So paṭisaṁharati ceva na ca vitakketi na ca vicāreti. ‘Avitakkomhi avicāro, ajjhattaṁ satimā sukhamasmī’ti pajānāti. Evaṁ kho, ānanda, paṇidhāya bhāvanā hoti.

Furthermore, a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. As they meditate observing an aspect of principles, based on principles there arises sweltering in the body, or mental sluggishness, or the mind is externally scattered. That mendicant should direct their mind toward an inspiring subject as a basis for meditation. As they do so, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. Then they reflect: ‘I have accomplished the goal for which I directed my mind. Let me now relax.’ They relax, and neither place the mind nor keep it connected. They understand: ‘I’m neither placing the mind nor keeping it connected. Mindful within myself, I’m happy.’ That’s how there is directed development.

Kathañcānanda, appaṇidhāya bhāvanā hoti? Bahiddhā, ānanda, bhikkhu cittaṁ appaṇidhāya ‘appaṇihitaṁ me bahiddhā cittan’ti pajānāti. Atha pacchāpure ‘asaṅkhittaṁ vimuttaṁ appaṇihitan’ti pajānāti. Atha ca pana ‘kāye kāyānupassī viharāmi ātāpī sampajāno satimā sukhamasmī’ti pajānāti. Bahiddhā, ānanda, bhikkhu cittaṁ appaṇidhāya ‘appaṇihitaṁ me bahiddhā cittan’ti pajānāti. Atha pacchāpure ‘asaṅkhittaṁ vimuttaṁ appaṇihitan’ti pajānāti. Atha ca pana ‘vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharāmi ātāpī sampajāno satimā sukhamasmī’ti pajānāti. Bahiddhā, ānanda, bhikkhu cittaṁ appaṇidhāya ‘appaṇihitaṁ me bahiddhā cittan’ti pajānāti. Atha pacchāpure ‘asaṅkhittaṁ vimuttaṁ appaṇihitan’ti pajānāti. Atha ca pana ‘citte cittānupassī viharāmi ātāpī sampajāno satimā sukhamasmī’ti pajānāti. Bahiddhā, ānanda, bhikkhu cittaṁ appaṇidhāya ‘appaṇihitaṁ me bahiddhā cittan’ti pajānāti. Atha pacchāpure ‘asaṅkhittaṁ vimuttaṁ appaṇihitan’ti pajānāti. Atha ca pana ‘dhammesu dhammānupassī viharāmi ātāpī sampajāno satimā sukhamasmī’ti pajānāti. Evaṁ kho, ānanda, appaṇidhāya bhāvanā hoti.

And how is there undirected development? Not directing their mind externally, a mendicant understands: ‘My mind is not directed externally.’ And they understand: ‘Before and behind, it’s unconstricted, freed, and undirected.’ And they also understand: ‘I meditate observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, mindful; I am happy.’ Not directing their mind externally, a mendicant understands: ‘My mind is not directed externally.’ And they understand: ‘Before and behind, it’s unconstricted, freed, and undirected.’ And they also understand: ‘I meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, mindful; I am happy.’ Not directing their mind externally, a mendicant understands: ‘My mind is not directed externally.’ And they understand: ‘Before and behind, it’s unconstricted, freed, and undirected.’ And they also understand: ‘I meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, mindful; I am happy.’ Not directing their mind externally, a mendicant understands: ‘My mind is not directed externally.’ And they understand: ‘Before and behind, it’s unconstricted, freed, and undirected.’ And they also understand: ‘I meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, mindful; I am happy.’ That’s how there is undirected development.

Iti kho, ānanda, desitā mayā paṇidhāya bhāvanā, desitā appaṇidhāya bhāvanā. Yaṁ, ānanda, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Etāni, ānanda, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyathānanda, mā pamādattha; mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

So, Ānanda, I’ve taught you directed development and undirected development. Out of sympathy, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples. Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, Ānanda! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā ānando bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda approved what the Buddha said.