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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] I have omitted sections 24-25 believing them to be later additions to the text.01
Come ânanda let us approach the Gabled House Hall in Great Wood.û This is still in the vicinity of Vesàlã.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, This is a funny way to begin a Teaching, it looks like it has been extracted from a longer section somewhere, where Therefore... might be more in place.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: These are collectively known as the 37 Things on the Side of Awakening (Bodhipakkhiyadhammà). They are mentioned in many places, e.g. Sampasàdanãyasuttaü (DN 28); Kintisuttaü (MN 103); Pahàràdasuttaü (AN 8:19), etc. etc.04
The Four Ways of Attending to Mindfulness, Contemplation of the body (kàyànupassanà), contemplation of feelings (vedanànupassanà), contemplation of the mind (cittànupassanà), and contemplation of (the nature of) things (dhammànupassanà). See the text and translation of the Mahàsatipaññhànasuttaü elsewhere on this website.05
the Four Right Strivings, These are the same as the Right Endeavours (Sammàvàyàma, part of the Eightfold Noble Path). The striving 1. not to take up bad and unwholesome things that have not yet arisen, 2. to give up bad and unwholesome things that have already arisen, 3. to take up wholesome things that have not yet arisen, 4. for the endurance of wholesome things that have arisen.06
the Four Paths to Power, These were explained above Chapter 17. They are concentration of desire accompanied by the process of striving (chandasamàdhipadhànasaïkhàrasamannàgata); concentration of energy accompanied by the process of striving (viriya-); concentration of mind accompanied by the process of striving (citta-), and concentration of investigation accompanied by the process of striving (vimaüsa-).07
the Five Faculties, Faith (saddhà), energy (viriya), mindfulness (sati), concentration (samàdhi), and wisdom (paÿÿà).08
the Five Strengths, The same as the above brought to fulfilment. Faith finds fulfilment in the 4 factors of the Stream-Enterer (Sotàpannaïgàni), energy in the four Right Endeavours (Sammàvàyàma), mindfulness in the four ways of attending to mindfulness (satipaññhàna), concentration in the four absorptions (jhàna), and wisdom in understanding the Four Noble Truths (Ariyasacca).09
the Seven Factors of Awakening, Mindfulness (satisambojjhaïga), investigation of the (nature of) things (dhammavicaya-), energy (viriya-), joyful-interest (pãti-), tranquillity (passaddhi-), concentration (samàdhi-), and equanimity (upekkhà-).10
the Noble Eight-Fold Path. Right View (Sammàdiññhi), Right Thought (Sammàsaïkappa), Right Speech (Sammàvàcà), Right Action (Sammàkammanta), Right Livelihood (Sammà-àjãva), Right Endeavour (Sammàvàyàma), Right Mindfulness (Sammàsati), Right Concentration (Sammàsamàdhi).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: The lines within square brackets only appear in the Thai edition. These lines look like variations of the verses now found in the Sallasuttaü of the Suttanipàta (Sn. 3.8 v. 5 & 4).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, Dhammavinaya is the original name for theory and practice taught by the Buddha.13
Having given up the round of rebirths, he will put an end to suffering.û
The Third Chapter for Recital (is Finished).