The Chapter on Mindfulness

AN 8.81 Mindfulness and Situational Awareness Satisampajaññasutta

"Mendicants, when there is no mindfulness and situational awareness, one who lacks mindfulness and situational awareness has destroyed a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is no conscience and prudence, one who lacks conscience and prudence has destroyed a vital condition for sense restraint. When there is no sense restraint, one who lacks sense restraint has destroyed a vital condition for ethical conduct. When there is no ethical conduct, one who lacks ethics has destroyed a vital condition for right immersion. When there is no right immersion, one who lacks right immersion has destroyed a vital condition for true knowledge and vision. When there is no true knowledge and vision, one who lacks true knowledge and vision has destroyed a vital condition for disillusionment and dispassion. When there is no disillusionment and dispassion, one who lacks disillusionment and dispassion has destroyed a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.

Suppose there was a tree that lacked branches and foliage. Its shoots, bark, softwood, and heartwood would not grow to fullness.

In the same way, when there is no mindfulness and situational awareness, one who lacks mindfulness and situational awareness has destroyed a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is no conscience and prudence ... One who lacks disillusionment and dispassion has destroyed a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.

When there is mindfulness and situational awareness, one who has fulfilled mindfulness and situational awareness has fulfilled a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is conscience and prudence, one who has fulfilled conscience and prudence has fulfilled a vital condition for sense restraint. When there is sense restraint, one who has fulfilled sense restraint has fulfilled a vital condition for ethical conduct. When there is ethical conduct, one who has fulfilled ethical conduct has fulfilled a vital condition for right immersion. When there is right immersion, one who has fulfilled right immersion has fulfilled a vital condition for true knowledge and vision. When there is true knowledge and vision, one who has fulfilled true knowledge and vision has fulfilled a vital condition for disillusionment and dispassion. When there is disillusionment and dispassion, one who has fulfilled disillusionment and dispassion has fulfilled a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom.

Suppose there was a tree that was complete with branches and foliage. Its shoots, bark, softwood, and heartwood would grow to fullness.

In the same way, when there is mindfulness and situational awareness, one who has fulfilled mindfulness and situational awareness has fulfilled a vital condition for conscience and prudence. When there is conscience and prudence ... One who has fulfilled disillusionment and dispassion has fulfilled a vital condition for knowledge and vision of freedom."

AN 8.82 With Puṇṇiya Puṇṇiyasutta

Then Venerable Puṇṇiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

"Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes the Realized One feels inspired to teach, and other times not?"

"Puṇṇiya, when a mendicant has faith but doesn't approach, the Realized One doesn't feel inspired to teach. But when a mendicant has faith and approaches, the Realized One feels inspired to teach. When a mendicant has faith and approaches, but doesn't pay homage ... they pay homage, but don't ask questions ... they ask questions, but don't actively listen to the teaching ... they actively listen to the teaching, but don't remember the teaching they've heard ... they remember the teaching they've heard, but don't reflect on the meaning of the teachings they've remembered ... they reflect on the meaning of the teachings they've remembered, but, not having understood the meaning and the teaching, they don't practice accordingly. The Realized One doesn't feel inspired to teach.

But when a mendicant has faith, approaches, pays homage, asks questions, actively listen to the teachings, remembers the teachings, reflects on the meaning, and practices accordingly, the Realized One feels inspired to teach. When someone has these eight qualities, the Realized One feels totally inspired to teach."

AN 8.83 Rooted Mūlakasutta

"Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: 'Reverends, all things have what as their root? What produces them? What is their origin? What is their meeting place? What is their chief? What is their ruler? What is their overseer? What is their core?' How would you answer them?"

"Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it."

"Well then, mendicants, I will teach it. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak."

"Yes, sir," they replied. The Buddha said this:

"Mendicants, if wanderers of other religions were to ask: 'Reverends, all things have what as their root? What produces them? What is their origin? What is their meeting place? What is their chief? What is their ruler? What is their overseer? What is their core?' You should answer them: 'Reverends, all things are rooted in desire. They are produced by application of mind. Contact is their origin. Feeling is their meeting place. Immersion is their chief. Mindfulness is their ruler. Wisdom is their overseer. Freedom is their core.' When questioned by wanderers of other religions, that's how you should answer them."

AN 8.84 A Master Thief Corasutta

"Mendicants, a master thief with eight factors is soon executed, and doesn't have long to live. What eight? He attacks unprovoked. He steals everything without exception. He kills a woman. He rapes a girl. He robs a monk. He robs the royal treasury. He works close to home. He's not skilled at hiding his booty. A master thief with these eight factors is soon executed, and doesn't have long to live.

A master thief with eight factors is not soon executed, and lives long. What eight? He doesn't attack unprovoked. He doesn't steal everything without exception. He doesn't kill a woman. He doesn't rape a girl. He doesn't rob a monk. He doesn't rob the royal treasury. He doesn't work close to home. He's skilled at hiding his booty. A master thief with these eight factors is not soon executed, and lives long."

AN 8.85 Terms for the Realized One Samaṇasutta

"'Ascetic' is a term for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. 'Brahmin', 'Knowledge Master', 'Healer', 'Unstained', 'Immaculate', 'Knower', and 'Freed' are terms for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

The supreme should be attained by an ascetic,
a brahmin who has lived the life;
it should be attained by a knowledge master,
a healer.

The supreme should be attained by the unstained,
stainless and pure;
it should be attained by a knower,
who is free.

I am victorious in battle!
Released, I release others from their chains.
I am a dragon completely tamed,
an adept, I am quenched."

AN 8.86 With Nāgita Yasasutta

At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Icchānaṅgala. He stayed in a forest near Icchānaṅgala. The brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala heard:

"It seems the ascetic Gotama---a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family---has arrived at Icchānaṅgala. He is staying in a forest near Icchānaṅgala. He has this good reputation: 'That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.' ... It's good to see such perfected ones."

Then, when the night had passed, they took abundant fresh and cooked foods and went to the forest near Icchānaṅgala, where they stood outside the gates making a dreadful racket.

Now, at that time Venerable Nāgita was the Buddha's attendant. Then the Buddha said to Nāgita, "Nāgita, who's making that dreadful racket? You'd think it was fishermen hauling in a catch!"

"Sir, it's these brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala. They've brought abundant fresh and cooked foods, and they're standing outside the gates wanting to offer it specially to the Buddha and the mendicant Saṅgha."

"Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me. There are those who can't get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity."

"Sir, may the Blessed One please relent now! May the Holy One relent! Now is the time for the Buddha to relent. Wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country will incline the same way. It's like when the heavens rain heavily and the water flows downhill. In the same way, wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders, and people of town and country will incline the same way. Why is that? Because of the Buddha's ethics and wisdom."

"Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me. There are those who can't get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity.

Even some of the deities can't get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. When you all come together to enjoy each other's company, I think: 'These venerables mustn't get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they come together to enjoy each other's company.'

Take mendicants I see poking each other with their fingers, giggling and playing together. I think to myself: 'These venerables mustn't get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they're poking each other with their fingers, giggling and playing together.'

Take mendicants I see eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing. I think to myself: 'These venerables mustn't get the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of seclusion, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can. That must be because they eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, lying down, and drowsing.'

Take a mendicant living within a village who I see sitting immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: 'Now a monastery worker, a novice, or a fellow practitioner will make this venerable fall from immersion.' So I'm not pleased that that mendicant is living within a village.

Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting nodding in meditation. I think to myself: 'Now this venerable, having dispelled that sleepiness and weariness, will focus just on the unified perception of wilderness.' So I'm pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting without being immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: 'Now if this venerable's mind is not immersed in samādhi they will immerse it; or if it is immersed in samādhi, they will preserve it.' So I'm pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Take a mendicant in the wilderness who I see sitting immersed in samādhi. I think to myself: 'Now this venerable will free the unfreed mind or preserve the freed mind.' So I'm pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Take a mendicant who I see living within a village receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Enjoying possessions, honor, and popularity they neglect retreat, and they neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. They come down to villages, towns and capital cities and make their homes there. So I'm not pleased that that mendicant is living within a village.

Take a mendicant who I see in the wilderness receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Fending off possessions, honor, and popularity they don't neglect retreat, and they don't neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. So I'm pleased that that mendicant is living in the wilderness.

Nāgita, when I'm walking along a road and I don't see anyone ahead or behind I feel relaxed, even if I need to urinate or defecate."

AN 8.87 Turning the Bowl Upside Down Pattanikujjanasutta

"Mendicants, the Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upside down for a lay follower on eight grounds. What eight? They try to prevent the mendicants from getting material things. They try to harm mendicants. They try to drive mendicants from a monastery. They insult and abuse mendicants. They divide mendicants against each other. They criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upside down for a lay follower on these eight grounds.

The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upright for a lay follower on eight grounds. What eight? They don't try to prevent the mendicants from getting material things. They don't try to harm mendicants. They don't try to drive mendicants from a monastery. They don't insult and abuse mendicants. They don't divide mendicants against each other. They don't criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, turn the bowl upright for a lay follower on these eight grounds."

AN 8.88 A Proclamation of No Confidence Appasādapavedanīyasutta

"Mendicants, the lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of no confidence in a mendicant who has eight qualities. What eight? They try to prevent the lay people from getting material things. They try to harm lay people. They insult and abuse lay people. They divide lay people against each other. They criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They're seen at an inappropriate place for collecting alms. The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of no confidence in a mendicant who has these eight qualities.

The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of confidence in a mendicant who has eight qualities. What eight? They don't try to prevent the lay people from getting material things. They don't try to harm lay people. They don't insult and abuse lay people. They don't divide lay people against each other. They don't criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They're not seen at an inappropriate place for collecting alms. The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of confidence in a mendicant who has these eight qualities."

AN 8.89 Reconciliation Paṭisāraṇīyasutta

"Mendicants, the Saṅgha may, if it wishes, perform an act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation. What eight? They try to prevent the lay people from getting material things. They try to harm lay people. They insult and abuse lay people. They divide lay people against each other. They criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They don't keep a legitimate promise made to a lay person. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, perform an act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation.

The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, revoke the act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation. What eight? They don't try to prevent the lay people from getting material things. They don't try to harm lay people. They don't insult and abuse lay people. They don't divide lay people against each other. They don't criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They keep a legitimate promise made to a lay person. The Saṅgha may, if it wishes, revoke the act requiring that a mendicant who has eight qualities should pursue reconciliation."

AN 8.90 Proper Behavior in a Case of Aggravated Misconduct Sammāvattanasutta

"Mendicants, a mendicant who has been convicted of aggravated misconduct must behave themselves properly in eight respects. They must not perform an ordination, give dependence, or be attended by a novice. They must not consent to being appointed as adviser for nuns, and if they are appointed they should not give such advice. They must not consent to any Saṅgha appointment. They must not be put in a position of seniority. They must not resolve others from any offense similar to that which they have transgressed. A mendicant who has been convicted of aggravated misconduct must behave themselves properly in these eight respects."

The Chapter on Similarity

AN 8.91--117 Untitled Discourses With Various Laywomen on the Sabbath Sāmaññavagga

And then the lay woman Bojjhā ... Sirīmā ... Padumā ... Sutanā ... Manujā ... Uttarā ... Muttā ... Khemā ... Somā ... Rucī ... Cundī ... Bimbī ... Sumanā ... Mallikā ... Tissā ... Tissamātā ... Soṇā ... Soṇā's mother ... Kāṇā ... Kāṇamātā ... Uttarā Nanda's mother ... Visākhā Migāra's mother ... the lay woman Khujjuttarā ... the lay woman Sāmāvatī ... Suppavāsā the Koliyan ... the lay woman Suppiyā ... the housewife Nakula's mother ...