Aṅguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
XI: Samaṇa-Saññā-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
X. The Book of the Tens
XI: Ideas of a Recluse
Sutta 102
Bojjhaṅga Suttaɱ
Limbs of Wisdom[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One said this:
2. "Monks, these seven limbs of wisdom,
if made to grow,
if made much of,
complete the threefold knowledge.
What are the seven?
The limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
the limb of wisdom which is investigation of Dhamma,
the limb of wisdom which is energy,
the limb of wisdom which is zest,[2]
the limb of wisdom which is tranquillity,
the limb of wisdom which is concentration,
and the limb of wisdom that is equanimity.
These seven complete the threefold knowledge.[3]
§
What is that?
[149] In this connexion a monk recalls his manifold former dwelling,
for instance:
One birth,
two births,
three, four, five,
even ten births,
twenty, thirty, forty, fifty births;
even a hundred births,
a thousand, a hundred thousand births.
Likewise the divers folding up of aeons,
the divers unfolding of aeons,
the divers folding-unfolding of aeons.
(remembering):
At that time I had such a name,
was of such a family,
of such complexion,
was thus supported,
thus and thus experienced weal and woe,
had such and such span of life.
As that one,
I deceasing thence
rose up again at that time;
then too I had such a name,
was of such a family,
of such complexion,
was thus supported,
thus and thus experienced weal and woe,
had such and such span of life.
As that one,
I deceasing thence rose up again here.
Thus with all details and characteristics
he recalls his manifold former dwellings.
§
With the deva-sight,
purified and surpassing that of men,
he beholds beings deceasing
and rising up again;
beings both mean and excellent,
fair and foul,
gone to a happy bourn,
gone to an ill-bourn
according to their deeds
(so as to say):
Alas, sirs, these beings,
given to the practice of evil deeds,
of evil words,
of evil thoughts,
scoffing at the Ariyans,
of perverted view
and reaping the fruits of their perverted view -
these beings,
when body broke up,
beyond death rose up again in the Waste,
the Ill-bourn,
the Downfall,
in Purgatory!
Or:
Ah, sirs, these beings,
given to the practice of good deeds,
of good words,
of good thoughts,
no scoffers at the Ariyans,
but of sound view
and reaping the fruits of their sound view -
these beings,
when body broke up,
beyond death rose up again in the Happy Bourn
in the heaven world.
Thus with the deva-sight,
purified and surpassing that of men,
beholds beings deceasing
and rising up again;
beings both mean and excellent,
fair and foul,
gone to a happy bourn,
gone to an ill-bourn
according to their deeds.
§
By the destruction of the cankers,
in this same visible state
he attains the heart's release,
the release by insight
that is freed of the cankers,
himself thoroughly comprehending it,
and realizing it abides therein.
So these seven limbs of wisdom, monks, complete this threefold knowledge.'
[1] K.S. v, 51.
[2] K.S. omits.
[3] Bases of psychic power at K.S. v, 236
