The Realm of Consciousness

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

[1][pts] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time Old Man Moggallāna The Great,
Sāvatthī-town revisiting,
Jeta Grove,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There then Old Man Moggallāna The Great addressed the beggars:

"Beggars, my friends!"

"Friend!" the beggars responded to Moggallāna.

Old Man Moggallāna The Great said to them:

"Here, friends,
as I had retreated into solitude
there arose in my heart
this train of thought:

'"The Realm of Consciousness!
The Realm of Consciousness!"
so they say.

Now what then is The Realm of Consciousness?'

So then it recurred to me, friends:

'Here a beggar,
passing entirely beyond The Realm of Space
thinking "Endless Consciousness!"
abides getting a grip
on The Realm of Consciousness.

This is what they call The Realm of Consciousness.'

Then I, friends,
passing entirely beyond The Realm of Space
thinking 'Endless Consciousness!'
abided getting a grip
on The Realm of Consciousness.

But then, friends,
as I abided in this abiding,
there arose and came about me
attention of mind to
perceptions connected to The Realm of Space.

There then, friends,
The Lucky man, through his majesty,
approached me and said:

'Moggallāna!

Moggallāna!

Do not, Brahmin,
be careless with The Realm of Consciousness!

Set your heart on The Realm of Consciousness!

Make one with your heart The Realm of Consciousness.

Steady your heart in The Realm of Consciousness!'

So then I, friends,
passing entirely beyond The Realm of Space
thinking 'Endless Consciousness!'
abided getting a grip
on The Realm of Consciousness.

He who would, speaking highly of one, friends, say:

'The Master brought the student
to attainment of great higher knowledge,'

would, speaking highly of me, say:

'The Master brought the student
to attainment of great higher knowledge.'"