Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was living in Savatthi, in Migara Mother's Palace, in the Eastern Park together with many very great elder male disciples: Ven. Sariputta, Maha Moggallana, Maha Kassapa, Maha Kaccayana, Maha Kotthita, Maha Kappina, Maha Cunda, Anuruddha, Revata, and Ananda.
These elders were teaching and instructing the new monastics who were thereby reaching successively higher levels of discernment and distinction in meditation. Some elders were teaching and instructing ten monks, some 20, some 30, some 40. The new monks, being taught and instructed by the elder monks, were progressing well.
Now on that occasion -- the lunar observance (uposattha) day of the 15th, the full-moon night of the Pavarana ceremony -- the Buddha was seated in the open air surrounded by the community. The Buddha, surveying this silent congregation of the monastic community, addressed them:
Anapanasati Sutta. Majjhima Nikaya 118 Full text & explanation here: I will remain here in Savatthi [for another month] through the White Waterlily month, the fourth month of the rains retreat."
The monastics in the countryside heard, "The Blessed One, they say, will remain in Savatthi through the fourth month of the rains." So they left for Savatthi to see the Buddha. Then the elders taught and instructed the new monks even more intensely. Some elders were teaching and instructing ten, 20, 30...40.
The new monks, being taught and instructed by the elders, were thereby reaching successively higher levels of discernment and distinction in meditation. "Monks, this assembly is free of idle chit chat, devoid of idle talk, and is established like pure heartwood. Such is this [noble, attained] community, such is this assembly.
"This sort of assembly is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect. An incomparable field of merit for the world, such is this community of monks, such is this assembly. This sort of assembly is one, which when a small gift is given, becomes great, and a great gift given becomes greater. Such is this community, such is this assembly.
"This sort of assembly is rare to see in the world. Such is this community, such is this assembly -- the sort of assembly that would be worth traveling leagues for, taking along provisions, in order to see.
"In this community there are those who are arhats, whose defilements (fetters) are ended, who have reached fulfillment, completed the task, laid down the burden, attained the final goal, laid to waste the fetter of becoming, and who are released through wisdom. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who, with the uprooting of the five lower fetters, are due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to reach final liberation [nirvana], destined never again to return from that world [to this one]. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who, with the uprooting of [the first] three fetters and with the weakening of lust, aversion, and delusion, are once-returners. On returning only once more to this world, they will make a final end of suffering. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who, with the uprooting of [the first] three fetters, are stream-enterers, steadfast, never again destined for states of woe [any rebirth below the human plane of existence] but destined for enlightenment [within seven rebirths]. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who remain devoted to the development of [the Thirty-Seven Requisites of Enlightenment, namely]
"In this community there are those who remain devoted to mindfulness of in-and-out breathing.
"Mindfulness of in-and-out breathing, when developed and pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit. Mindfulness of in-and-out breathing, when developed and pursued, brings the Four Foundations of Mindfulness to their culmination.
The Four Foundations of Reference, when developed and pursued, bring the Seven Factors of Enlightenment to their culmination. The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, when developed and pursued, bring about knowing and seeing and therefore release to their culmination. More
Now on that occasion -- the lunar observance (uposattha) day of the 15th, the full-moon night of the Pavarana ceremony -- the Buddha was seated in the open air surrounded by the community. The Buddha, surveying this silent congregation of the monastic community, addressed them:
"Monastics, I am content at heart with this progress. Monastics, I am content at heart with this development. Strive on even more persistently [balancing effort and calm] to attain what has not yet been attained, to achieve what has not yet been achieved, to realize what has not yet been realized. I will stay...
Anapanasati Sutta. Majjhima Nikaya 118 Full text & explanation here: I will remain here in Savatthi [for another month] through the White Waterlily month, the fourth month of the rains retreat."
The monastics in the countryside heard, "The Blessed One, they say, will remain in Savatthi through the fourth month of the rains." So they left for Savatthi to see the Buddha. Then the elders taught and instructed the new monks even more intensely. Some elders were teaching and instructing ten, 20, 30...40.
The new monks, being taught and instructed by the elders, were thereby reaching successively higher levels of discernment and distinction in meditation. "Monks, this assembly is free of idle chit chat, devoid of idle talk, and is established like pure heartwood. Such is this [noble, attained] community, such is this assembly.
"This sort of assembly is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect. An incomparable field of merit for the world, such is this community of monks, such is this assembly. This sort of assembly is one, which when a small gift is given, becomes great, and a great gift given becomes greater. Such is this community, such is this assembly.
"This sort of assembly is rare to see in the world. Such is this community, such is this assembly -- the sort of assembly that would be worth traveling leagues for, taking along provisions, in order to see.
"In this community there are those who are arhats, whose defilements (fetters) are ended, who have reached fulfillment, completed the task, laid down the burden, attained the final goal, laid to waste the fetter of becoming, and who are released through wisdom. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who, with the uprooting of the five lower fetters, are due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to reach final liberation [nirvana], destined never again to return from that world [to this one]. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who, with the uprooting of [the first] three fetters and with the weakening of lust, aversion, and delusion, are once-returners. On returning only once more to this world, they will make a final end of suffering. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who, with the uprooting of [the first] three fetters, are stream-enterers, steadfast, never again destined for states of woe [any rebirth below the human plane of existence] but destined for enlightenment [within seven rebirths]. Such are those in this community.
"In this community there are those who remain devoted to the development of [the Thirty-Seven Requisites of Enlightenment, namely]
- the Four Foundations of Mindfulness...
- the Four Right Efforts...
- the Four Bases of Power...
- the Five Spiritual Faculties...
- the Five Powers...
- the Seven Factors for Enlightenment...
- the Noble Eightfold Path
"In this community there are those who remain devoted to mindfulness of in-and-out breathing.
"Mindfulness of in-and-out breathing, when developed and pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit. Mindfulness of in-and-out breathing, when developed and pursued, brings the Four Foundations of Mindfulness to their culmination.
The Four Foundations of Reference, when developed and pursued, bring the Seven Factors of Enlightenment to their culmination. The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, when developed and pursued, bring about knowing and seeing and therefore release to their culmination. More