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Mara will not find an opportunity, Mara will not find a foothold. The Bhikkhuni-Observatory Sutta Question – Therein, friends, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Bhikkhuni-Observatory Sutta, the tenth recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Savatthi, Venerable sir, it was spoken concerning the Venerable Elder Ananda. Venerable Ananda, Venerable sir, reported to the Blessed One all the conversations he had with the bhikkhunis. In that context, Venerable sir, the Blessed One spoke thus: "So it is, Ananda, so it is, Ananda. Whoever, Ananda, a bhikkhu or a bhikkhuni, dwells with a mind well-established in the four foundations of mindfulness, for them it is to be expected that they will realize a sublime distinction, one after another." The Cunda Sutta Question – Therein, friends, in the second Nalanda chapter, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Cunda Sutta, the third recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Savatthi, Venerable sir, it was spoken concerning the Venerable Elder Ananda himself. Venerable Elder Ananda, Venerable sir, together with the novice Cunda, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, bowed to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Venerable Ananda, Venerable sir, said to the Blessed One: "This novice Cunda, Venerable sir, says: 'The Venerable Sariputta has attained final Nibbana, and this is his bowl and robe.'" "Moreover, Venerable sir, my body feels as if it has been drugged, the directions are not clear to me, and the teachings do not occur to me, having heard that 'the Venerable Sariputta has attained final Nibbana.'" In that, Venerable sir, concerning the matter, "Indeed, Ananda, did Sāriputta attain final Nibbāna by taking up the aggregate of virtue, or the aggregate of concentration, or the aggregate of wisdom, or the aggregate of liberation, or the aggregate of knowledge and vision of liberation?" Thus, and so on, was spoken by the Blessed One. This, venerable sir, the novice Cunda spoke thus. Therefore, Ananda, dwell with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as a refuge, with no other refuge. With the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge. The Bāhiya Sutta Question: Therein, friends, by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, the fifth recited Bāhiya Sutta, by the Blessed One, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how was it spoken? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning the Venerable Bāhiya. The Venerable Bāhiya, venerable sir, said this to the Blessed One: "It would be good for me, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, with a resolute mind." On that occasion, venerable sir, "Therefore, Bāhiya, purify the very beginning in wholesome states. And what is the beginning of wholesome states? It is well-purified virtue and straightened view." Thus, and so on, was spoken by the Blessed One. The Chapter on the Stability of Virtue The Ciraṭṭhiti Sutta Question: Therein, friends, in the third chapter on the stability of virtue, by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, the second recited Ciraṭṭhiti Sutta, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, by whom, and how was it spoken? Answer: In Pāṭaliputta, venerable sir, concerning the Venerable Bhadda, by the Venerable Elder Ānanda, the treasurer of the Dhamma, it was spoken. The Venerable Bhadda, venerable sir, having risen from seclusion in the evening, approached the Venerable Ānanda. Having approached, he said this to the Venerable Ānanda: "Indeed, friend Ānanda, what is the reason, what is the cause, why, after the Tathāgata's final Nibbāna, the True Dhamma does not last long? And what, friend Ānanda, is the reason, what is the cause, why, after the Tathāgata's final Nibbāna, the True Dhamma lasts the Dhamma endures for a long time." In that matter, venerable sir, "Excellent, excellent, friend Bhadda, indeed, friend Bhadda, your insight is good," and so on, was spoken by the Venerable Ānanda Thera, the Treasurer of the Dhamma. Good is your insight, friend Bhadda. "Because the four foundations of mindfulness, friend, have not been developed, have not been cultivated, when the Tathāgata has attained final Nibbāna, the true Dhamma does not endure for a long time." The Sirivaḍḍha Sutta Question – Friend, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, by whom, and how was the ninth Sirivaḍḍha Sutta, in the Sīlaṭṭhiti Vagga of the Satipaṭṭhāna Saṃyutta, which is part of the Mahāvagga Pāḷi, the collection of the teaching of the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, spoken? Answer – In Rājagaha, venerable sir, concerning the householder Sirivaḍḍha, it was spoken by the Venerable Ānanda Thera, the Treasurer of the Dhamma. The householder Sirivaḍḍha, venerable sir, was afflicted, suffering, gravely ill. Then, venerable sir, the Venerable Ānanda approached the dwelling of the householder Sirivaḍḍha, and having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Having sat down, the Venerable Ānanda said to the householder Sirivaḍḍha, "I hope, householder, you are bearable, I hope you are manageable, I hope your painful feelings are receding, not advancing, I hope their receding is evident, not their advancing?" "No, venerable sir, I am not bearable, not manageable, my painful feelings are advancing, not receding, their advancing is evident, not their receding." In that matter, venerable sir, "Therefore, householder, you should train yourself thus: 'I will dwell contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure concerning the world. In feelings. In mind. I will dwell contemplating mental qualities in mental qualities, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure concerning the world.' Thus, householder, you should train yourself." Thus was it spoken by the Venerable Ānanda Thera, the Treasurer of the Dhamma. Connected Discourses on the Bases of Power The Moggallāna Sutta Question: Friend, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the fourth Moggallāna Sutta in the Iddhipāda Saṃyutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: It was spoken, venerable sir, at Sāvatthī, concerning many bhikkhus. Many bhikkhus, venerable sir, were dwelling in the lower Migāramātupāsāda, being arrogant, conceited, fickle, talkative, scattered in speech, unmindful, not fully aware, unconcentrated, with wandering minds, with uncontrolled faculties. In that context, venerable sir, the Blessed One, having stirred those bhikkhus, spoke thus: "Why, bhikkhus, are you agitated, with hair standing on end, standing to one side?" and so on. Wonderful, indeed, sirs, amazing, indeed, sirs. And it was calm. And this Migāramātupāsāda has a deep foundation. It was Moggallāna the bhikkhu, bhikkhus, wishing to stir you, who made the Migāramātupāsāda tremble, shake, and shatter with his big toe. What do you think, bhikkhus? By the cultivation and frequent practice of which qualities is Moggallāna the bhikkhu so greatly powerful, so greatly glorious? The Anuruddha Saṃyutta The Severely Ill Sutta Question: Friend, where, concerning whom, in what context, and by whom and how was the tenth Sutta, the Severely Ill Sutta, recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, spoken in the Anuruddha Saṃyutta? Answer: It was spoken, venerable sir, at Sāvatthī, concerning many bhikkhus, by the venerable Elder Anuruddha. Many bhikkhus, venerable sir, said to the venerable Anuruddha, who was sick, suffering, severely ill: "By dwelling in what dwelling, venerable Anuruddha, do the arisen bodily painful feelings not overwhelm the mind?" In that context, venerable sir, the venerable Anuruddha spoke thus: "By dwelling, friends, with my mind well-established in the four foundations of mindfulness, the arisen bodily painful feelings do not overwhelm the mind," and so on. Spoken by the Elder. Connected Discourses on Mindfulness of Breathing The Discourse on Mahākappina Question: Friend, in the Connected Discourses on Mindfulness of Breathing, the Mahākappina Sutta, the seventh recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, where, concerning whom, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, concerning many monks, beginning with "Do you see, monks, any movement or tremor of this monk's body?", it was spoken by the Blessed One. The Discourse on Icchānaṅgala Question: Right there, friend, the Icchānaṅgala Sutta, the first in the second chapter, where, concerning whom, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: In Icchānaṅgala, venerable sir, concerning many monks, beginning with: "If, monks, wanderers of other sects should ask you thus: 'By what abiding, friend, did the ascetic Gotama mostly dwell during the rainy season?' Being asked thus, monks, you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus: 'By the concentration of mindfulness of breathing, friend, the Blessed One mostly dwelt during the rainy season.'" it was spoken by the Blessed One. Connected Discourses on Stream-Entry The Discourse on the Wheel-Turning Monarch Question: Friend, in the Connected Discourses on Stream-Entry, the Cakkavatti-rāja Sutta, the first recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, where, concerning whom, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, concerning many monks, beginning with: "Even if, monks, a wheel-turning monarch, having ruled over the sovereignty and dominion of the four continents, after the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world, in the companionship of the Tāvatiṃsa devas,