Saṃyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
47. Sati-Paṭṭhāna Saṃyutta
1. Ambapāli-Vagga
Sutta 10
Bhikkhuni-Vāsaka Suttaṃ
The Nun's Investiture
Translated from the Pāḷi
By
Michael M. Olds
[1][pts][bodh][olen] I Hear Tell:
Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthī-town revisiting,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Jeta-forest park.
There then the elder Ānanda,
at an early hour,
taking up bowl and robes,
approached a certain sisters' retreat
and drew near;
having drawn near,
sat on the wisdom-seat.[1]
There then a large number of sisters
approached the elder Ānanda
and drew near
having drawn near,
took seats to one side
sitting to one side,
one sister said to the elder Ānanda:
"Here, Bhante Ānanda, a large number of sisters
are living,
having got by heart the four settings-up of mind,
in a progressively[2] more excellently-refined self-awareness."
"So it goes, sister!
So it goes!
Whomsoever it may be, sister,
bhikkhu or bhikkhunī,
living,
having got by heart the four settings-up of mind —
of such
a progressively more excellently-refined self-awareness
is to be expected."
After that then the elder Ānanda,
having instructed,
convinced,
invigorated,
and pleased those sisters
with a discourse on Dhamma,
rose from his seat and departed.
Then after that the elder Ānanda,
having gone on his beggar's rounds in Sāvatthi,
having eaten his meal,
approached the Lucky Man and drew near.
Having drawn near,
having exchanged greetings,
he took a seat to one side.
Seated to one side then,
the elder Ānanda said this to the Lucky Man:
"Here Bhante, I, at an early hour,
taking up bowl and robes,
approached a certain sisters' retreat
and drew near;
having drawn near,
sat on the wisdom-seat.
There then a large number of sisters
approached me
and drew near
having drawn near,
took seats to one side
sitting to one side,
one sister said:
'Here, Bhante Ānanda, a large number of sisters
are living,
having got by heart the four settings-up of mind,
in a progressively more excellently refined self-awareness.'
'So it goes, sister!' I said,
'So it goes!
Whomsoever it may be, sister,
bhikkhu or bhikkhunī,
living,
having got by heart the four settings-up of mind —
of such
a progressively more excellently-refined self-awareness
is to be expected.'
§
"So it goes Ānanda!
So it goes!
Whomsoever it may be, Ānanda,
bhikkhu or bhikkhunī,
living,
having got by heart the four settings-up of mind —
of such
a progressively more excellently-refined self-awareness
is to be expected.
Of what do these four consist?
Here Ānanda, a beggar living in body
oversees body
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
disciplining worldly covetousness and depression.
In such a one, living in body overseeing body,
prompted by body or
arising from body,
passions[3] of the heart or
sluggish externals
distract the heart.
Then, Ānanda, that beggar should set his heart
on the track of some happy state.
In the heart set on the track of some happy state joy is born.
With enjoyment enthusiasm is born.
Enthusiastic in mind the body becomes impassive.
Impassive in body happiness is experienced.
Happy at heart one is serene.
He then determines:
'Such as was the attainment of heart to which I aspired,
such attainment has been produced in me.
In that case, it is now time to withdraw!'
And thus he withdraws
and does not think
and does not ponder.
Understanding:
'Without thinking,
without pondering,
internally recollected,
I am happy.'
■
Again Ānanda, and deeper than that,
a beggar living in sense experience
oversees sense experience
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
disciplining worldly covetousness and depression.
In such a one, living in sense experience overseeing sense experience,
prompted by sense experience or
arising from body,
passions of the heart or
sluggish externals
distract the heart.
Then, Ānanda, that beggar should set his heart
on the track of some happy state.
In the heart set on the track of some happy state joy is born.
With enjoyment enthusiasm is born.
Enthusiastic in mind the body becomes impassive.
Impassive in body happiness is experienced.
Happy at heart one is serene.
He then determines:
'Such as was the attainment of heart to which I aspired,
such attainment has been produced in me.
In that case, it is now time to withdraw!'
And thus he withdraws
and does not think
and does not ponder.
Understanding:
'Without thinking,
without pondering,
internally recollected,
I am happy.'
■
Again Ānanda, and deeper than that,
a beggar living in the heart
oversees the heart
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
disciplining worldly covetousness and depression.
In such a one, living in the heart overseeing the heart,
prompted by the heart or
arising from body,
passions of the heart or
sluggish externals
distract the heart.
Then, Ānanda, that beggar should set his heart
on the track of some happy state.
In the heart set on the track of some happy state joy is born.
With enjoyment enthusiasm is born.
Enthusiastic in mind the body becomes impassive.
Impassive in body happiness is experienced.
Happy at heart one is serene.
He then determines:
'Such as was the attainment of heart to which I aspired,
such attainment has been produced in me.
In that case, it is now time to withdraw!'
And thus he withdraws
and does not think
and does not ponder.
Understanding:
'Without thinking,
without pondering,
internally recollected,
I am happy.'
■
Again Ānanda, and deeper than that,
a beggar living in the Dhamma
oversees the Dhamma
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
disciplining worldly covetousness and depression.
In such a one, living in the Dhamma overseeing the Dhamma,
prompted by things or
arising from body,
passions of the heart or
sluggish externals
distract the heart.
Then, Ānanda, that beggar should set his heart
on the track of some happy state.
In the heart set on the track of some happy state joy is born.
With enjoyment enthusiasm is born.
Enthusiastic in mind the body becomes impassive.
Impassive in body happiness is experienced.
Happy at heart one is serene.
He then determines:
'Such as was the attainment of heart to which I aspired,
such attainment has been produced in me.
In that case, it is now time to withdraw!'
And thus he withdraws
and does not think
and does not ponder.
Understanding:
'Without thinking,
without pondering,
internally recollected,
I am happy.'
This far Ānanda is having developed intent.[4]
§
And what, Ānanda, is having developed no intent?
A beggar's heart not being intent on externals, Ānanda,
he understands:
'My heart is not intent on externals.'
He understands:
'Not hung-up on "before" and/or "after",
without intent,
freedom is attained.'
He understands:
'Living in body overseeing body,
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
I am happy.'
■
A beggar's heart not being intent on externals, Ānanda,
he understands:
'My heart is not intent on externals.'
He understands:
'Not hung-up on "before" and/or "after",
without intent,
freedom is attained.'
He understands:
'Living in sense experience overseeing sense experience,
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
I am happy.
■
A beggar's heart not being intent on externals, Ānanda,
he understands:
'My heart is not intent on externals.'
He understands:
'Not hung-up on "before" and/or "after",
without intent,
freedom is attained.'
He understands:
'Living in the heart overseeing the heart,
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
I am happy.'
■
A beggar's heart not being intent on externals, Ānanda,
he understands:
'My heart is not intent on externals.'
He understands:
'Not hung-up on "before" and/or "after",
without intent,
freedom is attained.'
He understands:
'Living in the Dhamma overseeing things,
ardent,
self-aware,
recollected,
I am happy.
This, Ānanda, is having developed no intent.
§
This then, Ānanda is my dissertation on developing intent
and on developing no intent.
That, Ānanda, which the master should do for his students,
that which is useful,
out of kindness,
fueled by kindness —
that have I done for you.
Here, Ānanda, are the roots of trees,
here are empty places
set up knowledge Ānanda,
be not careless,
be not remorseful hereafter.
This is our instruction to you."
This is what the Lucky Man said.
Inspired, the elder Ānanda delighted in the words of the Lucky Man.
[1] Paññatte āsane. A seat prepared ahead appointed for a visiting teacher that was found wherever the bhikkhus or bhikkhunis gathered. Usually: 'the appointed seat'.
[2] Pubbenāparaṃ. Pubbe = 'pro' + āpara = beyond-ing.
[3] Pariḷāha. Passions. But not to be mistaken for passionate thoughts. Sensations that are the result in this first case of bodily indulgences: over-eating, insufficient food, poor posture, lack of or too much exercise, etc.
[4] Paṇidhāya bhāvanā hoti. > cittaṃ paṇidahitabbaṃ having set one's heart on one has developed intent; having intended in heart one has developed intent.
