Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
40. Moggallāna Saṃyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
40. Kindred Sayings about Moggallāna
Sutta 1
Sa-Vitakka Suttaṃ
Together with Thought Directed
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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ONCE the venerable Moggallāna[1] the Great was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the venerable Moggallāna the Great
addressed the brethren, saving:
"Brethren."
"Yes, brother," replied those brethren
to the venerable Moggallāna the Great.
"Friends, when I was meditating alone here,
this consideration arose in me:[2]
'They speak of the first trance,
the first trance!
Now what is the first trance?'
Then I thought:
'Herein when a brother,
aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
attains the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,[3]
which is born of solitude,
full of zest,
and ease,
and abides therein,
this is called 'the first trance.'
Now, friends, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
I entered on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
which is born of solitude,
full of zest,
and ease,
and abode therein.
But, friends, when I had remained in this condition
(and had emerged from trance),
perception and work of mind
connected with sensuality
still continued.[4]
Thereupon, friends, the Exalted One
by magic power[5]
came [180] to me and said:
'Moggallāna,
Moggallāna,
be not remiss[6]
in the first trance, brahmm!
Make steadfast thy mind
in the first trance.
In the first trance
make the mind one-pointed.[7]
In the first trance
compose the mind.'
So after that, friends,
aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
I entered on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
which is born of solitude,
full of zest,
and ease,
and abode therein.
Now, friends, if anyone would say rightly:
'Helped by the Master
the disciple won great super-knowledge,'
he would say of me:
'Helped by the Master
did the disciple win great super-knowledge.'"
[1] Spelt throughout in text with one l, hut undoubtedly should be spelt as here.
[2] Cf. K.S. ii, 184.
[3] Sa-vitakka, a property of the first trance.
[4] Kāma-sahagatā. 'Pañca-nīvaraṇa-sahagatā. i.e the five hindrances of sensual life induced him to give up his efforts (hāna-bhāqiyā) Comy., which adds the words I have bracketed in the text trsns.
[5] Iddhiyā.
[6] Mā pamādo, hero aorist of pamajjati, Cf. S ii, 273.
[7] Ekodi-karohi.
