Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
52. Anuruddha Saṃyutta
1. Raho-Gata Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
52. Kindred Sayings about Anuruddha
1. In Solitude
Sutta 9
Sabba or Ambapāla Suttaṃ
The All or Ambapālī
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 Anuruddha and Sāriputta were staying at Vesālī, in Ambapālī's Grove.[1]
Now the venerable Sāriputta,
rising from his solitude at eventide,
went to visit the venerable Anuruddha,
and on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.
As he thus sat he said this to the venerable Anuruddha:
"Serene, friend Anuruddha,
is your air![2]
Very clear and shining
is your complexion!
In what manner of living
does the venerable Anuruddha
now generally spend his time?"
"Friend, my mind is well grounded
in four arisings of mindfulness.
That is how I generally spend my time.
What are the four?
[268] Herein, friends, I dwell in body contemplating body
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
So also, friends, I dwell in feelings contemplating feelings
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
I dwell in mind contemplating mind
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
I dwell in mind-states contemplating mind-states
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.
It is in these four arisings of mindfulness, friend,
that my mind is well grounded,
and that is how I generally spend my time.
Friend, the monk who is Arahant,
who has destroyed the āsavas,
who has lived the life,
done his task,
lifted the burden,
won his own welfare,
who has worn out the fetters of becoming,
who has won full realization
and is liberated, -
such an one generally spends his time
with mind well grounded
in these four arisings of mindfulness."
"A gain for us, friend!
Well gotten by us, friend,
that face to face with the venerable Anuruddha
we have heard him utter
his lordly utterance!"[3]
[1] Cf. supra, text, 142 n.
[2] Indriyāni, lit. 'sense-faculties.' Cf. K.S. ii, 186. [also: SN 3.28.1]
[3] Āsabhī-vācā ('bull-like'). Cf. D. ii, 15. Comy. calls it 'supreme utterance denoting the state of Arahantship.'
