English
rightly fully enlightened by the Tathāgata. Seven qualities 357. Seven qualities are very helpful... seven qualities are to be realized. (A) Which seven qualities are very helpful? The seven noble treasures: the treasure of faith, the treasure of morality, the treasure of moral shame, the treasure of fear of wrongdoing, the treasure of learning, the treasure of generosity, the treasure of wisdom. These seven qualities are very helpful. (B) Which seven qualities are to be developed? The seven factors of enlightenment: the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, the enlightenment factor of energy, the enlightenment factor of rapture, the enlightenment factor of tranquility, the enlightenment factor of concentration, the enlightenment factor of equanimity. These seven qualities are to be developed. (C) Which seven qualities are to be fully understood? The seven stations of consciousness: There are, friends, beings with diverse bodies and diverse perceptions, such as humans, some devas, and some in the lower realms. This is the first station of consciousness. There are, friends, beings with diverse bodies and unified perceptions, such as the devas of Brahmā's retinue who are reborn in the first (jhana). This is the second station of consciousness. There are, friends, beings with unified bodies and diverse perceptions, such as the Abhassara devas. This is the third station of consciousness. There are, friends, beings with unified bodies and unified perceptions, such as the Subhakinha devas. This is the fourth station of consciousness. There are, friends, beings who, by completely transcending perceptions of form... ...having entered the dimension of infinite space, thinking 'space is infinite'. This is the fifth station of consciousness. There are, friends, beings who, by completely transcending the dimension of infinite space, having entered the dimension of infinite consciousness, thinking 'consciousness is infinite'. This is the sixth station of consciousness. There are, friends, beings who, by completely transcending the dimension of infinite consciousness, having entered the dimension of nothingness, thinking 'there is nothing'. This is the seventh station of consciousness. These seven qualities are to be fully understood. (D) What are the seven things to be abandoned? The seven latent tendencies – the latent tendency of sensual desire, the latent tendency of aversion, the latent tendency of views, the latent tendency of doubt, the latent tendency of conceit, the latent tendency of desire for existence, the latent tendency of ignorance. These seven things are to be abandoned. What are the seven things conducive to decline? The seven unwholesome qualities – Here, friend, a monk is faithless, shameless, reckless, of little learning, lazy, of muddled mindfulness, and unwise. These seven things are conducive to decline. What are the seven things conducive to distinction? The seven wholesome qualities – Here, friend, a monk is faithful, conscientious, fearful of wrongdoing, of much learning, energetic, of established mindfulness, and wise. These seven things are conducive to distinction. What are the seven things difficult to penetrate? The seven qualities of a good person – Here, friend, a monk is a knower of Dhamma, a knower of meaning, a knower of self, a knower of measure, a knower of time, a knower of assembly, and a knower of persons. These seven things are difficult to penetrate. What are the seven things to be developed? The seven perceptions – the perception of impermanence, the perception of non-self, the perception of unattractiveness, the perception of danger, the perception of abandoning, the perception of dispassion, the perception of cessation. These seven things are to be developed. What are the seven things to be fully understood? The seven bases for instruction – Here, friend, a monk has keen desire for undertaking the training, and unflagging affection for undertaking the training in the future. He has keen desire for understanding the Dhamma, and unflagging affection for understanding the Dhamma in the future. He has keen desire for the removal of desires, and unflagging affection for the removal of desires in the future. He has keen desire for seclusion, and unflagging affection for seclusion in the future. He has keen desire for the arousal of energy, and unflagging affection for the arousal of energy in the future. He has keen desire for mindfulness and clear comprehension, and unflagging affection for mindfulness and clear comprehension in the future. He has keen desire for the penetration of views, and unflagging affection for the penetration of views in the future. These seven things... Indeed, to be fully known. Which are the seven things to be realized? The seven powers of one whose taints are destroyed – Here, friend, for a monk whose taints are destroyed, all formations are well seen as impermanent, as they really are, with right wisdom. And friend, that for a monk whose taints are destroyed, all formations are well seen as impermanent, as they really are, with right wisdom— this too is a power of that monk whose taints are destroyed, relying on which power, the monk whose taints are destroyed declares the destruction of the taints: ‘My taints are destroyed.’ Furthermore, friend, for a monk whose taints are destroyed, sensual pleasures, like a pit of glowing coals, are well seen as they really are, with right wisdom. And friend, that... ...‘My taints are destroyed.’ Furthermore, friend, for a monk whose taints are destroyed, the mind is inclined to seclusion, tending to seclusion, leaning towards seclusion, established in seclusion, delighting in renunciation, completely free from all things that are grounds for taints. And friend, that... ...‘My taints are destroyed.’ Furthermore, friend, for a monk whose taints are destroyed, the four establishments of mindfulness are developed, well-developed. And friend, that... ...‘My taints are destroyed.’ Furthermore, friend, for a monk whose taints are destroyed, the five faculties are developed, well-developed. And friend, that... ...‘My taints are destroyed.’ Furthermore, friend, for a monk whose taints are destroyed, the seven factors of awakening are developed, well-developed. And friend, that... ...‘My taints are destroyed.’ Furthermore, friend, for a monk whose taints are destroyed, the Noble Eightfold Path is developed, well-developed. And friend, that for a monk whose taints are destroyed, the Noble Eightfold Path is developed, well-developed— this too is a power of that monk whose taints are destroyed, relying on which power, the monk whose taints are destroyed declares the destruction of the taints: ‘My taints are destroyed.’ These are the seven things to be realized. Thus, these seven things are real, true, actual, not otherwise, not different, rightly fully awakened to by the Tathāgata. The First Recitation Section is finished. Eight Qualities 358. "Eight qualities are very helpful… Eight qualities are to be realized. (Ka) "Which are the eight very helpful qualities? Eight reasons, eight conditions lead to the acquisition of initial holy life wisdom not yet acquired, to its increase, its growth, its development, its fulfillment when acquired. Which eight? Here, friend, a monk dwells relying on the Teacher, or on some revered fellow practitioner, in whom he has intense shame and dread, and love and respect. This is the first reason, the first condition for the acquisition of initial holy life wisdom not yet acquired, for its increase, its growth, its development, its fulfillment when acquired. "He dwells relying on that Teacher, or on some revered fellow practitioner, in whom he has intense shame and dread, and love and respect. From time to time he approaches them and questions and inquires: 'Venerable sir, how is this? What is the meaning of this?' Those venerable ones uncover what is uncovered, make clear what is unclear, and dispel his doubts about various doubtful points in the teachings. This is the second reason, the second condition for the acquisition of initial holy life wisdom not yet acquired, for its increase, its growth, its development, its fulfillment when acquired. "Having heard that teaching, he achieves it through two kinds of seclusion: seclusion of body and seclusion of mind. This is the third reason, the third condition for the acquisition of initial holy life wisdom not yet acquired, for its increase, its growth, its development, its fulfillment when acquired. "Furthermore, friend, a monk is virtuous, he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, undertaking the training rules, he trains himself. he trains in the training rules. This is the fourth reason, the fourth condition for the wisdom of the holy life, not yet attained, for its attainment, and once attained, for its increase, growth, development, and completion. Furthermore, friends, a monk is learned, a preserver of what he has heard, a collector of what he has heard. Those teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with letter, proclaiming the entirely complete and purified holy life— such teachings are much heard by him, held, familiarized by speech, contemplated by mind, and well penetrated by view. This is the fifth reason, the fifth condition for the wisdom of the holy life, not yet attained, for its attainment, and once attained, for its increase, growth, development, and completion. Furthermore, friends, a monk dwells with aroused energy for the abandoning of unwholesome states, for the acquiring of wholesome states, steadfast, firm in effort, not laying down the burden in wholesome states. This is the sixth reason, the sixth condition for the wisdom of the holy life, not yet attained, for its attainment,