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The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[The Third Chapter for Recitation]

[26: The Thirty-Seven Things on the Side of Awakening] ⁰¹

Come ânanda let us approach the Gabled House Hall in Great Wood.û ⁰²

ßVery well, reverend Sir,û venerable ânanda replied to the Gracious One. Then the Gracious One with venerable ânanda approached the Gabled House Hall in Great Wood, and after approaching he addressed venerable ânanda, (saying):

ßGo, ânanda, and whatever monks are living in dependance on Vesàlã assemble them in the Attendance Hall.û

ßVery well, reverend Sir,û said venerable ânanda, and after replying to the Gracious One and assembling whatever monks were living in dependance on Vesàlã in the Attendance Hall, he approached the Gracious One, and after approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he stood at one side. While standing on one side, venerable ânanda said this to the Gracious One: ßThe Community of monks has assembled, reverend Sir, now is the time, Gracious One, for whatever you are thinking.û

Then the Gracious One approached the Attendance Hall, and after approaching he sat down on the prepared seat. While sitting the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):

ßTherefore, ⁰³ monks, whatever Teachings have, with deep knowledge, been taught by me, after grasping them well, you should practise, develop, and make a lot of them, so that the Spiritual Life may last long, and may endure for a long time, and that will be for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.

And what are those Teachings that have, with deep knowledge, been taught by me, which after grasping them well, you should practise, develop, and make a lot of them, so that the Spiritual Life may last long, and may endure for a long time, that will be for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men?

They are as follows: ⁰⁴

The Four Ways of Attending to Mindfulness, ⁰⁵
the Four Right Strivings, ⁰⁶
the Four Paths to Power, ⁰⁷
the Five Faculties, ⁰⁸
the Five Strengths, ⁰⁹
the Seven Factors of Awakening, ¹⁰
the Noble Eight-Fold Path. ¹¹

These, monks, are those Teachings that have, with deep knowledge, been taught by me, after grasping them well, you should practise, develop, and make a lot of them, so that the Spiritual Life may last long, and may endure for a long time, and that will be for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.û

Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):

ßCome now, monks, for I tell you (all) conditioned things are subject to decay, strive on with heedfulness! Not long now there will be the Realised One's Final Emancipation, after the passing of three months the Realised One will attain Final Emancipation.û

The Gracious One said this, and after saying this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, said something more: ¹²

[ßYouths and also the old, fools and also the wise,
Rich and also the poor - all end in death.
Like an earthen vessel made by a potter
Small and great, that which is baked and unbaked,
All end in breakage, just so life (ends) in death.û

Then the Teacher, said something more:]

ßWell-matured, decayed, with little of my life remaining,
Having abandoned (rebirth) I will go, having made myself a refuge.
Be heedful, mindful, and virtuous, monks,
With well-reasoned thoughts, protect your minds.
Whoever in this Teaching and Discipline will live heedful, ¹³
Having given up the round of rebirths, he will put an end to suffering.û

The Third Chapter for Recital (is Finished).