Aṇguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
IV. Devatā Vagga
The Book of Sevens
Sutta 38
Paṭisambhidā Suttaṃ
Intuitive Apprehension
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time, Bhagava, Sāvatthi-town revisiting.
There then he said this to the beggars:
"Not long after being possessed of seven things, beggars,
a beggar will witness for himself,
incorporate and abide with,
the four intuitive-apprehension higher knowledges.[1]
What seven?
Here, beggars, of a dull heart,[2] a beggar thinks:
'There is dullness of heart in me'
knowing it as it really is.
Or, of the heart concentrated on internals, thinks:
'My heart is concentrated on internals'
knowing it as it really is.
Or, of the heart distracted by externals, thinks:
'My heart is distracted by externals.'
knowing it as it really is.
He is one in whom, recognized, sense-experiences arise,
recognized, stay,
recognized, come to resolution.
He is one in whom, recognized, perceptions arise,
recognized, stay,
recognized, come to resolution.
He is one in whom, recognized, thoughts arise,
recognized, stay,
recognized, come to resolution.
Then further, he is one in whom things
whether beneficial or not,
lowly or exalted
with the signs of their
dark/bright/beneficial/unbeneficial[3] aspects
well understood,
well-studied,
made familiar,[4]
are well-seen by him with wisdom.
Not long after being possessed of these seven things, beggars,
a beggar will witness for himself,
incorporate and abide with,
the four intuitive-apprehension higher knowledges.
Sāriputta, beggars, being possessed of seven things,
witnesses for himself,
incorporates and abides with,
the four intuitive-apprehension higher knowledges.
What seven?
Here, beggars, Sāriputta, if dull of heart, thinks:
'There is dullness of heart in me'
knowing it as it really is.
Or, of the heart concentrated on internals, thinks:
'My heart is concentrated on internals'
knowing it as it really is.
Or, of the heart distracted by externals, thinks:
'My heart is distracted by externals.'
knowing it as it really is.
He is one in whom, recognized, sense-experiences arise,
recognized, stay,
recognized, come to resolution.
He is one in whom, recognized, perceptions arise,
recognized, stay,
recognized, come to resolution.
He is one in whom, recognized, thoughts arise,
recognized, stay,
recognized, come to resolution.
Then further, things
whether beneficial or not,
lowly or exalted
with the signs of their
dark/bright/beneficial/unbeneficial aspects
well understood,
well-studied,
made familiar,
are well-seen by him with wisdom.
Sāriputta, beggars, being possessed of these seven things,
witnesses for himself,
incorporates and abides with,
the four intuitive-apprehension higher knowledges."
[1] Catasso paṭisambhidā abhiññā. Paṭisambhidā: breaking up into detail, drawing distinctions, discrimination between fine points, analysis. All this with the strong overtones of perception at a higher than ordinary level.
The Four:
Attha- Intuitive apprehension of the point or goal or profit, or intended meaning of a thing;
Dhamma- Intuitive apprehension of intended meaning of a given Dhamma teaching;
Nnirutti- Intuitive apprehension of derivation of words and terms;
Paṭibhāna- Intuitive apprehension of precision or accuracy of understanding or the degree to which one can place confidence in such understanding. Includes the understanding of the previous three.
[2] 'Of a dull heart' inserted to make sense of the statement. There is an issue here as to whether or not Sāriputta would at this point be experiencing dullness of heart. This sutta may have been delivered early in his career.
[3]'Unbeneficial' inserted. I believe it is implied but could have been accidentally omitted. Otherwise it could be understood as incorporated into the understanding of the beneficial.
[4] Sūpadhārita. 'well worn.' The sense is of a thing that has been understood through practice.
