Aṅguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
Mahāyañña-Vagga
Sutta 46
Vitthata-Satta-Saññā Suttaɱ
Second on Perceptions
Translated from the Pali
by Sister Upalavanna
Bhikkhus, these seven perceptions developed and made much are very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and end in deathlessness.
What seven?
The perception of loathing,
of death,
loathing food,
non-attachment to all the world,
impermanence,
unpleasantness of impermanence and
lack of a self in unpleasantness.
Bhikkhus, these seven perceptions developed and made much are very beneficial,
a dive in deathlessness and
end in deathlessness.
Bhikkhus, why was it said,
the perception of loathing,
developed and made much
is very beneficial,
a dive in deathlessness and
ends in deathlessness?
Bhikkhus, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing and abiding much in it,
the sexual thought keeps away,
it shrinks and rolls away.
The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing.
Like a cock's feather or a tendon with nerves,
put in the fire would draw back,
shrink and turn away,
would not stretch.
In the same manner to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing and abiding much in it the sexual thought keeps away,
it shrinks and rolls away.
The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing and abiding much in it, the mind follows after the sexual thought gets established in it, does not loathe it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is not developed in the perception of loathing. I do not see any difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have not reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing and abiding much in it, the mind does not follow after the sexual thought, does not get established in it, loathes it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of loathing. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this. Bhikkhus, if it was said, the perception of loathing, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness, it was said on account of this.
Bhikkhus, why was it said, the perception of death, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness?
Bhikkhus, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of death and abiding much in it, the desire to live keeps away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing. Like a cock's feather or a tendon with nerves put in the fire would draw back, shrink and turn away, would not stretch. In the same manner, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of death and abiding much in it, the desire to live keeps away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of death and abiding much in it, the mind follows after the desire to live gets established in it, does not loathe it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is not developed in the perception of death I do not see any difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have not reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of death and abiding much in it, the mind does not follow after the desire to live, does not get established in it, loathes it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of death. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if it was said, the perception of death, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness, it was said on account of this.
Bhikkhus, why was it said, the perception of loathing food, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness?
Bhikkhus, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing food and abiding much in it, the craving for tastes keep away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing. Like a cock's feather or a tendon with nerves put in the fire would draw back, shrink and turn away, would not stretch. In the same manner, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing food and abiding much in it, the craving for tastes keep away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing food and abiding much in it, the mind follows after the craving for tastes gets established in it, does not loathe it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is not developed in the perception of loathing food. I do not see any difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have not reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of loathing food and abiding much in it, the mind does not follow after the craving for tastes, does not get established in it, loathes it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of loathing food. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if it was said, the perception of loathing food, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness, it was said on account of this.
Bhikkhus, why was it said, the perception of non-attachment to all the world, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness?
Bhikkhus, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of non-attachment to all the world and abiding much in it, the manifold beauty of the world, keeps away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing. Like a cock's feather or a tendon with nerves, put in the fire would draw back, shrink and turn away, would not stretch. In the same manner, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of non-attachment to all the world and abiding much in it, the manifold beauty of the world keeps away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of non-attachment to all the world and abiding much in it, the mind follows after the manifold beauty of the world, gets established in it, does not loathe it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is not developed in the perception of non-attachment to all the world. I do not see any difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have not reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of non-attachment to all the world and abiding much in it, the mind does not follow after the manifold beauty of the world, does not get established in it, loathes it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of non-attachment to all the world. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if it was said, the perception of non-attachment to all the world, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness, it was said on account of this.
Bhikkhus, why was it said, the perception of impermanence, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness?
Bhikkhus, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of impermanence and abiding much in it, gain, honour and fame keeps away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing. Like a cock's feather or a tendon with nerves, put in the fire would draw back, shrink and turn away, would not stretch. In the same manner, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of impermanence and abiding much in it, gain, honour and fame keeps away, it shrinks and rolls away. The mind stretches out and gets established in equanimity or loathing.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of impermanence and abiding much in it, the mind follows after gain, honour and fame gets established in it, does not loathe it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is not developed in the perception of impermanence. I do not see any difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have not reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of impermanence and abiding much in it, the mind does not follow after gain, honour and fame, does not get established in it, loathes it. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of impermanence. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if it was said, the perception of impermanence, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness, it was said on account of this.
Bhikkhus, why was it said, the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness?
Bhikkhus, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence and abiding much in it, a keen perception of fear, for laziness, distraction, negligence and non-reflection gets established, like to a slayer with raised sword.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence and abiding much in it, a keen perception of fear, for laziness, distraction, negligence and non reflection does not get established, like to a slayer with raised sword The bhikkhu should know. My mind is not developed in the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence. I do not see any difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have not reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence and abiding much in it, a keen perception of fear, for laziness, distraction, negligence and non reflection gets established, like to a slayer with raised sword The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if it was said, the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence, developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness, it was said on account of this.
Bhikkhus, why was it said, the perception of lacking a self in unpleasantnes developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness?
Bhikkhus, to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of lacking a self in unpleasantness and abiding much in it, whatever distinctions arise as superior, inferior or equal in the sixfold conscious body and all external signs, are appeased and well released.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of lacking a self in unpleasàntness and abiding much in it, a distinction arises as superior, inferior or equal in the sixfold conscious body and all external signs, are not appeased and not well released. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is not developed in the perception of lacking a self in unpleasantness. I do not see any difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have not reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if to the bhikkhu practicing the perception of lacking a self in unpleasantness and abiding much in it, a distinction does not arise as superior, inferior or equal in the sixfold conscious body and all external signs, is appeased and well released. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of lacking a self in unpleasantness. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this. The bhikkhu should know. My mind is developed in the perception of unpleasantness in impermanence. I see the difference in my mind, earlier and now. I have reached the power of my development. He should be aware of this.
Bhikkhus, if it was said, the perception of lacking a self in unpleasantness developed and made much is very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and ends in deathlessness, it was said on account of this.
Bhikkhus, these seven perceptions developed and made much are very beneficial, a dive in deathlessness and end in deathlessness.
