25(5)Recollection
"Bhikkhus,there are these six subjects of recollection.
Mp glosses anussatitthanani with anussatikaranani, "causes of recollection," on which Mp-t says: "The recollections are them selves 'causes of recollection' in that they function as the cause . (hetubhdvato) for the welfare and happiness pertaining to this present life and the future life."What six?
(1)"Here,bhikkhus,a noble disciple recollects the Tathagata
thus:
'The Blessed One is an arahant,perfectly enlightened,
accomplished in true knowledge and conduct,fortunate,
knower of the world,unsurpassed trainer of persons to be
tamed,teacher of devas and humans,the Enlightened One,the
Blessed One.'
When a noble disciple recollects the Tathāgata,
on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust,hatred,or
delusion;on that occasion his mind is simply straight.
on that occasion his mind is simply straight.He has
departed from greed,freed himself from it,emerged from it.
'Greed,'bhikkhus,is a designation for the five objects of sensual
pleasure.
Having made this a basis,
Idampi kho bhikkhave arammanam karitva. In the Nikayas the word arammana does not yet mean "object of consciousness" in the general sense, as it does in the Abhidhamma and commentaries. Occasionally in the Nikayas arammana may signify an object of meditation, but this role is usually taken by nimitta, which does not necessarily mean the "counterpart sign" as it does in the commentaries. I do not interpret the present text to be saying that one takes the recollection of the Buddha as an object, but that one makes it a basis, or starting point, for departing from greed. For this, I draw support from Is Mp-t, which glosses arammanam karitva thus: "Having made it a condition, having made it a foun dation" (paccayam karitva pddakamkatvd). Mp-t takes "this" (idam) in the lemma above to be the access Concentration (upacarajjhdna) obtained by recollection of the Buddha. Mp explains "are puri fied" (visujjhanti) to mean "they attain final nibbana, the supreme purity."some beings here are
purified in such a way.(2)"Again,a noble disciple recollects the Dhamma thus:
'The
Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One,directly visible,immediate,inviting one to come and see,applicable,to be
personally experienced by the wise.'
When a noble disciple recollects the Dhamma,on that occasion his mind is not obsessed
by lust,hatred,or delusion;
on that occasion his mind is simply
straight.He has departed from greed...
……
……some beings here are
purified in such a way.
(3)"Again,a noble disciple recollects the Sangha thus:
"The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing the good way,practicing the straight way,practicing the true way,practicing the proper way;that is,the four pairs of persons,theeight types of individuals—this Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts,worthy of hospitality,worthy of offerings,worthy of reverential salutation,the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.'
When [313]a noble disciple recollects the Sangha,on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust,hatred,or delusion;
on that occasion his mind is simply straight.He has departed from greed...
……
……some beings here are purified in such a way.
(4)"Again,a noble disciple recollects his own virtuous behavior as unbroken,flawless,unblemished,unblotched,freeing,praised by the wise,ungrasped,leading to concentration.
When a noble disciple recollects his virtuous behavior,on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust,hatred,or delusion;
on that occasion his mind is simply straight.He has departed from greed...
……
……some beings here are purified in such a way.
(5)"Again,a noble disciple recollects his own generosity thus:
'It is truly my good fortune
and gain that in a population obsessed by the stain of miserliness,I dwell with a mind devoid of the stain of miserliness,freely generous,open handed,delighting in relinquishment,devoted to charity,delighting in giving and sharing.'
When a noble disciple recollectshis generosity,on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust,hatred,or delusion;on that occasion his mind is simply straight.He has departed from greed...some beings here are purified in such a way.
(6)"Again,a noble disciple recollects the deities thus:
'There are devas [ruled by]the four great kings,Tavatimsa devas,Yāma devas,Tusita devas,devas who delight in creation,devas who control what is created by others;devas [314]of Brahmā's company,and devas still higher than these.
I too have such faith as those deities possessed,because of which,when they passed away here,they were reborn there;
……
I too have such virtuous behavior...such learning...such generosity...such wisdomas those deities possessed,because of which,when they passed away here,they were reborn there.'
……
When a noble disciple recollects the faith,virtuous behavior,learning,generosity,and wisdom in himself and in those deities,on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by lust,hatred,or delusion;
on that occasion his mind is simply straight.He has departed from greed,freed himself from it,emerged from it.
'Greed,'bhikkhus,isa designation for the five objects of sensual pleasure.
Having made this a basis,too,some beings here are purified in such
a way.
"These,bhikkhus,are the six subjects of recollection."