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 2

A-Vitakka Suttaṃ

Without Directed Thought^[1]

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[180]

[1][olds] THUS have I heard:

ONCE the venerable Moggallāna 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:^[ed1]

'They say "the second trance,
the second trance!"

Now what is the second trance?'

Then, friends, this occurred to me:

'Herein when a brother,
by the calming down
of thought directed and sustained,
attains the inward calm,
that one-pointedness of will,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
born of concentration,
zestful and full of ease,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein,
this is called the second trance.'

So I, friends, by the calming down
of thought directed and sustained,
attaining the inward calm,
that one-pointedness of will,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
born of concentration,
zestful and full of ease,
entered on the second trance
and abode therein.

But when I had so done
(and had emerged from trance),
perception and work of mind
connected with directed thought
still continued.

Thereupon, friends, the Exalted One
by magic power
came to me and said:

"Moggallāna,
Moggallāna,
be not remiss in the second trance, brahmin!

Make steadfast thy mind in the second trance.

In the second trance make the mind one-pointed.

In the second trance compose the mind."

So after that, friends, by the calming down
of thought directed and sustained,
attaining the inward calm,
that one-pointedness of will,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
born of concentration,
zestful and full of ease,
I entered upon
and abode in the second trance.

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.'"

 

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^[1] Avitakka.

 

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^[ed1] Woodward summarizes the nidana with: "(I thought, friends):"