Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
21. Bhikkhu Saṃyutta

The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
Part II.
The Book of Causation Nidāna-Vagga
21. Connected Discourses with Bhikkhus

Sutta 1

Kolita [Moggallāna] Suttaṃ

Kolita

Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
This selection from The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya by Bhikkhu Bodhi is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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[273] [713]

[1][pts][than][olds] Thus have I heard.

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There the Venerable Mahā Moggallāna addressed the bhikkhus thus:

"Friends, bhikkhus."

"Friend." those bhikkhus replied.

The Venerable Mahā Moggallāna said this:

"Here, friends, while I was alone in seclusion, a reflection arose in my mind thus:

'It is said, "noble silence, noble silence."

What now is noble silence?'

"Then, friends, it occurred to me:

'Here, with the subsiding of thought and examination, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which has internal confidence and unification of mind, is without thought and examination, and has rapture and happiness born of concentration.

This is called noble silence.'

"Then, friends, with the subsiding of thought and examination, I entered and dwelt in the second jhāna, which ... has rapture and happiness born of concentration.

While I dwelt therein, perception and attention accompanied by thought assailed me.

"Then, friends, the Blessed One came to me by means of spiritual power and said this:

'Moggallāna, Moggallāna, do not be negligent regarding noble silence, brahmin.

Steady your mind in noble silence, unify your mind in noble silence, concentrate your mind on noble silence.'

Then, friends, on a later occasion, with the subsiding of thought and examination, I entered and dwelt in the second jhāna, which has internal confidence and unification of mind, is without thought and examination, and has rapture and happiness born of concentration.

"If, [274] friends, one speaking rightly could say of anyone:

'He is a disciple who attained to greatness of direct knowledge with the assistance of the Teacher,'

it is of me that one could rightly say this."