A Single Excellent Night - Bhaddekaratta Sutta
Posted by sky | Tags: Buddha, Buddhism, Personal, awareness, insight, not-self, peace, sutta, verses
This verse translation is from, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya, translated by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi
The Blessed One said this:
"Bhikkhus, I shall teach you the summary and exposition of 'One Who has had a single excellent night.' Listen and attend closely to what I shall say."
"Yes, venerable sir," the bhikkhus replied.
The Blessed One said this:
Let not a person revive the past
Or on the future build his hopes;
For the past has been left behind
And the future has not been reached.
Instead with insight let him see
Each presently arisen state;
Let him know that and be sure of it,
Invincibly, unshakeably.
Today the effort must be made;
Tomorrow Death may come, who knows?
No bargain with Mortality
Can keep him and his hordes away,
But one who dwells thus ardently,
Relentlessly, by day, by night —
It is he, the Peaceful Sage has said,
Who has had a single excellent night.
"And how, bhikkhus, is one invincible in regard to presently arisen states?"
Refering to venerable Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation: Bhaddekaratta Sutta: An Auspicious Day
And how is one not taken in with regard to present qualities? There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones who has seen the noble ones, is versed in the teachings of the noble ones, is well-trained in the teachings of the noble ones,
He/she does not see form as self, or self as possessing form, or form as in self, or self as in form.He/she does not see feeling as self, or self as possessing feeling, or feeling as in self, or self as in feeling.
He/she does not see perception as self, or self as possessing perception, or perception as in self, or self as in perception.
He/she does not see thought-fabrications as self, or self as possessing thought-fabrications, or thought-fabrications as in self, or self as in thought-fabrications.
He/she does not see consciousness as self, or self as possessing consciousness, or consciousness as in self, or self as in consciousness. This is called not being taken in with regard to present qualities.
In regard to the eye and forms that are presently arisen, one's consciousness is not bound up with desire and lust for that which is presently arisen. One does not delight in that, and thus one is invincible in regard to presently arisen states. (.. and similarly for rest of sixfold base, .. mind and mind-objects ..) (as explained by venerable Maha Kaccana in MN133 MahaKaccana Bhaddekaratta Sutta )
Right View - Sammaditthi Sutta Four noble truths, and dependent co-arising (dependent origination), and Noble Eightfold Path, Ignorance and taints (fermentation).
(Ignorance <=> taints)
-> Ignorance -> formations (bodily,verbal,mental) -> consciousness -> Name & form (Mentality & Materiality) -> Sixfold Base -> contact -> feeling -> craving -> clinging -> being -> birth -> aging & death
There are these four clingings:
- clinging to sensual pleasures, (sensuality clinging)
- clinging to views,
- clinging to rituals and observances, (precept & practice clinging) - purification by following certain rules
- clinging to a doctrine of self (identity view)
Feeling, perception, volition, contact and attention — these are called mentality (name)
There are three taints:
- the taint of sensual desire,
- the taint of being,
- the taint of ignorance
Related:
Bhaddeka,ratta Sutta - The Dharmafarers