FIVE SUBJECTS WE MUST FREQUENTLY CONTEMPLATE
Sutta Meditation Series
In this session, we examine the Buddha’s teaching on FIVE SUBJECTS WE MUST FREQUENTLY CONTEMPLATE.
The session is broken into the following sections:
– Introduction to Abhiṇhapaccavekkhitabbaṭhāna Sutta (AN 5.57)
– Finding support for this teaching - various suttas that support or intersect with this teaching
– “Deep dive” into the five contemplations
– Fruits of this Practice
– Short instructions on how to meditate on this sutta
Suttas that are mentioned in this talk:
– Vatthupama Sutta (MN 7) - The Simile of the Cloth
– Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta (MN 9) – Right View
– Māgaṇḍiya Sutta (MN 75) – To Māgaṇḍiya
– Assu Sutta (SN 15.3) – Tears
– Jātidhammā Sutta (SN 35.33–42_ Subject to Birth
– Dukkhatā Sutta (SN45.165) – Painful States
– Jarādhamma Sutta (SN 48.41) – Old Age
– Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) - Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma
– Devadūta Sutta (AN 3.36) – Messengers of the Gods
– Sukhamāla Sutta (AN 3.39) – Delicate
– Paṭhamabhaya Sutta (AN 4.119) – Fear 1st
– Pāṭibhoga Sutta (AN 4.182) – Guarantee/Security
– Pāṇātipātī Sutta (AN 4.224) – Killing Living Beings
– Paṭhamamagga Sutta (AN 4.225) – The Path 1st
– Pariyesanā Sutta (AN 4.255) – Searches
– Alabbhanīyaṭhāna Sutta (AN 5.48) – Things That Cannot Be Obtained
— Nibbedhika Sutta (AN 6.63) – Penetrative
– Adhammacariyā Sutta (AN 10.220) – Unrighteous Conduct
– Saṁsappanīya Sutta (AN 10.216) - Creeping
– Pesakaradhita Vatthu (Dhp 174) – Story of the Weaver Girl
– Tayojanapabbajita Vatthu (Dhp209-12) - Story of Three Ascetics
The AUDIO has been uploaded to the Sutta Meditation Series podcast channel hosted at https://anchor.fm/suttameditationseries.
It can also be accessed on multiple podcast platforms including
Spotify, Podcast Addict, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and more.
AN 6.25 (A iii 312)
Anussatiṭṭhāna Sutta
— Subjects of recollection —
This sutta defines what are the six subjects of recollection.
Note: info·bubbles on “underdotted” English words
“chayimāni, bhikkhave, anussatiṭṭhānāni. katamāni cha?
idha,
bhikkhave, ariyasāvako tathāgataṃ anussarati: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṃ
sammāsambuddho, vijjācaraṇasampanno, sugato, lokavidū, anuttaro
purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṃ, buddho bhagavā’ti. yasmiṃ,
bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako tathāgataṃ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṃ
samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti,
na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṃ samaye cittaṃ
hoti, nikkhantaṃ muttaṃ vuṭṭhitaṃ gedhamhā. ‘gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave,
pañcannetaṃ kāmaguṇānaṃ adhivacanaṃ. idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṃ
karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
“puna
caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhammaṃ anussarati: ‘svākkhāto
bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṃ
veditabbo viññūhī’ti. yasmiṃ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako dhammaṃ
anussarati, nevassa tasmiṃ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na
dosapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti;
ujugatamevassa tasmiṃ samaye cittaṃ hoti, nikkhantaṃ muttaṃ vuṭṭhitaṃ
gedhamhā. ‘gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṃ kāmaguṇānaṃ adhivacanaṃ.
idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṃ karitvā evamidhekacce sattā
visujjhanti.
“puna
caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano sīlāni anussarati akhaṇḍāni
acchiddāni asabalāni akammāsāni bhujissāni viññu·p·pasatthāni
a·parāmaṭṭhāni samādhi·saṃvattanikāni. yasmiṃ, bhikkhave, samaye
ariyasāvako sīlaṃ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṃ samaye rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṃ
cittaṃ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na mohapariyuṭṭhitaṃ
cittaṃ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṃ samaye cittaṃ hoti, nikkhantaṃ muttaṃ
vuṭṭhitaṃ gedhamhā. ‘gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṃ kāmaguṇānaṃ
adhivacanaṃ. idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṃ karitvā evamidhekacce
sattā visujjhanti.
“puna
caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako devatā anussarati: ‘santi devā
cātumahārājikā, santi devā tāvatiṃsā, santi devā yāmā, santi devā
tusitā, santi devā nimmānaratino, santi devā paranimmitavasavattino,
santi devā brahmakāyikā, santi devā tatuttari. yathārūpāya saddhāya
samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā
saddhā saṃvijjati. yathārūpena sīlena samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā
tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā sīlā saṃvijjati. sutena samannāgatā
tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā sutā saṃvijjati.
cāgena samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha upapannā; mayhampi
tathārūpā cāgā saṃvijjati. paññāya samannāgatā tā devatā ito cutā tattha
upapannā; mayhampi tathārūpā paññā saṃvijjatī’” ti. “yasmiṃ, bhikkhave,
samaye ariyasāvako attano ca tāsañca devatānaṃ saddhañca sīlañca
sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarati nevassa tasmiṃ samaye
rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na
mohapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṃ samaye cittaṃ hoti,
nikkhantaṃ muttaṃ vuṭṭhitaṃ gedhamhā. ‘gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave,
pañcannetaṃ kāmaguṇānaṃ adhivacanaṃ. idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṃ
karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
English
There are, bhikkhus, these six subjects of recollection. Which six?
Here,
bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the Tathāgata: ‘Truly, the
Fortunate One is an arahant, fully enlightened, accomplished in true
knowledge and good conduct, sublime, a knower of the worlds, the supreme
trainer of men to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, awakened,
fortunate.’ When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the Tathāgata,
then at that time his mind is neither under the sway of avidity, nor
under the sway of hatred, nor under the sway of delusion. Then his mind
is just upright, he has left greed behind, released himself from it, he
has emerged from it. ‘Greed’, bhikkhus, is an expression for the five
strands of sensuality. Having made this a foundation, some beings get
purified in this way.
Also,
bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the Dhamma: ‘The Dhamma is well
expounded by the Fortunate One, visible directly, immediate, inviting to
come and see, efficient, to be experienced individually by the wise.’
When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the Dhamma, then at that
time his mind is neither under the sway of avidity, nor under the sway
of hatred, nor under the sway of delusion. Then his mind is just
upright, he has left greed behind, released himself from it, he has
emerged from it. ‘Greed’, bhikkhus, is an expression for the five
strands of sensuality. Having made this a foundation, some beings get
purified in this way.
“puna
caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saṅghaṃ anussarati: ‘suppaṭipanno
bhagavato sāvaka·saṅgho, uju·paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka·saṅgho,
ñāya·paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka·saṅgho, sāmīci·paṭipanno bhagavato
sāvaka·saṅgho, yadidaṃ cattāri purisa·yugāni aṭṭha purisa·puggalā, esa
bhagavato sāvaka·saṅgho āhuneyyo, pāhuneyyo, dakkhiṇeyyo,
añjali·karaṇīyo, anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassā’ti. yasmiṃ, bhikkhave,
samaye ariyasāvako saṅghaṃ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṃ samaye
rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na
mohapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṃ samaye cittaṃ hoti,
nikkhantaṃ muttaṃ vuṭṭhitaṃ gedhamhā. ‘gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave,
pañcannetaṃ kāmaguṇānaṃ adhivacanaṃ. idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṃ
karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Also,
bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the Sangha: ‘The Sangha of the
Fortunate One’s disciples is practicing well, the Sangha of the
Fortunate One’s disciples is practicing straightforwardly, the Sangha of
the Fortunate One’s disciples is practicing rightly, the Sangha of the
Fortunate One’s disciples is practicing correctly, that is, the four
pairs of men, the eight [types of] individuals, this Sangha of the
Fortunate One’s disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality,
worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutations, the unsurpassed
field of merit for the world.’ When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple
recollects the Sangha, then at that time his mind is neither under the
sway of avidity, nor under the sway of hatred, nor under the sway of
delusion. Then his mind is just upright, he has left greed behind,
released himself from it, he has emerged from it. ‘Greed’, bhikkhus, is
an expression for the five strands of sensuality. Having made this a
foundation, some beings get purified in this way.
Also,
bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects his own virtues, which are
entire, not defective, unspotted, unblemished, liberating, praised by
the wise, without attachment, leading to concentration. When, bhikkhus, a
noble disciple recollects his own virtues, then at that time his mind
is neither under the sway of avidity, nor under the sway of hatred, nor
under the sway of delusion. Then his mind is just upright, he has left
greed behind, released himself from it, he has emerged from it. ‘Greed’,
bhikkhus, is an expression for the five strands of sensuality. Having
made this a foundation, some beings get purified in this way.
“puna
caparaṃ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako attano cāgaṃ anussarati: ‘lābhā vata
me! suladdhaṃ vata me! yohaṃ maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitāya pajāya
vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṃ ajjhāvasāmi muttacāgo payatapāṇi
vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṃvibhāgarato’ti. yasmiṃ, bhikkhave, samaye
ariyasāvako attano cāgaṃ anussarati, nevassa tasmiṃ samaye
rāgapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na dosapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti, na
mohapariyuṭṭhitaṃ cittaṃ hoti; ujugatamevassa tasmiṃ samaye cittaṃ hoti,
nikkhantaṃ muttaṃ vuṭṭhitaṃ gedhamhā. ‘gedho’ti kho, bhikkhave,
pañcannetaṃ kāmaguṇānaṃ adhivacanaṃ. idampi kho, bhikkhave, ārammaṇaṃ
karitvā evamidhekacce sattā visujjhanti.
Also,
bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects his own generosity: ‘Truly, it is
a gain for me! Truly, it has been well gained by me that in this
generation given to the stain of avarice, I live at home with a mind
devoid of the stain of avarice, freely generous, openhanded, delighting
in donations, accessible to requests, delighting in giving and sharing.’
When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects his own generosity, then at
that time his mind is neither under the sway of avidity, nor under the
sway of hatred, nor under the sway of delusion. Then his mind is just
upright, he has left greed behind, released himself from it, he has
emerged from it. ‘Greed’, bhikkhus, is an expression for the five
strands of sensuality. Having made this a foundation, some beings get
purified in this way.
Also,
bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the devas: ‘There are the devas
of the four Maharajas, there are the devas of Tāvatiṃsa, there are the
devas of Yāma, there are the devas of Tusita, there are the devas who
delight in creation, there are the devas who control what is created by
others, there are the devas of Brahma’s retinue, there are devas higher
than those. I have in me the kind of conviction endowed with which, on
passing away from here, they reappeared as such. I have in me the kind
of virtue endowed with which, on passing away from here, they reappeared
as such. I have in me the kind of learning endowed with which, on
passing away from here, they reappeared as such. I have in me the kind
of generosity endowed with which, on passing away from here, they
reappeared as such. I have in me the kind of discernment endowed with
which, on passing away from here, they reappeared as such. When,
bhikkhus, a noble disciple recollects the conviction, virtue, learning,
generosity and discernment in himself as well as in those devas, then at
that time his mind is neither under the sway of avidity, nor under the
sway of hatred, nor under the sway of delusion. Then his mind is just
upright, he has left greed behind, released himself from it, he has
emerged from it. ‘Greed’, bhikkhus, is an expression for the five
strands of sensuality. Having made this a foundation, some beings get
purified in this way.
imāni kho, bhikkhave, cha anussatiṭṭhānānī”ti.
These, bhikkhus, are the six subjects of recollection.