Kappasahassasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 52.11

Linked Discourses 52.11

2. Dutiyavagga

2. A Thousand

Kappasahassasutta

A Thousand Eons

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā anuruddho sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time Venerable Anuruddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yenāyasmā anuruddho tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā anuruddhena saddhiṁ …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then several mendicants went up to Venerable Anuruddha, exchanged greetings with him … and said:

“Katamesaṁ āyasmā anuruddho dhammānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā mahābhiññataṁ patto”ti?

“What things has Venerable Anuruddha developed and cultivated to attain great direct knowledge?”

“Catunnaṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā mahābhiññataṁ patto.

“Reverends, I attained great direct knowledge by developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?

What four?

Idhāhaṁ, āvuso, kāye kāyānupassī viharāmi …pe…

I meditate observing an aspect of the body …

vedanāsu …pe…

feelings …

citte …pe…

mind …

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharāmi ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ—

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.

imesaṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā mahābhiññataṁ patto.

I attained great direct knowledge by developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā kappasahassaṁ anussarāmī”ti.

And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I recollect a thousand eons.”

Paṭhamaṁ.