SN 52.11 · A Thousand Eons
SN 52.11 · Kappasahassasutta
At one time Venerable Anuruddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then several mendicants went up to Venerable Anuruddha, exchanged greetings with him … and said:
Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā anuruddho sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yenāyasmā anuruddho tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā anuruddhena saddhiṁ …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ etadavocuṁ:
“What things has Venerable Anuruddha developed and cultivated to attain great direct knowledge?”
“Katamesaṁ āyasmā anuruddho dhammānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā mahābhiññataṁ patto”ti?
“Reverends, I attained great direct knowledge by developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. What four? I meditate observing an aspect of the body … feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. I attained great direct knowledge by developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation.
“Catunnaṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā mahābhiññataṁ patto. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Idhāhaṁ, āvuso, kāye kāyānupassī viharāmi …pe… vedanāsu …pe… citte …pe… dhammesu dhammānupassī viharāmi ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ— imesaṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā mahābhiññataṁ patto.
And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I recollect a thousand eons.”
Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā kappasahassaṁ anussarāmī”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
SN 52.12 · Psychic Powers
SN 52.12 · Iddhividhasutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I wield the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying myself and becoming one again … controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhomi—ekopi hutvā bahudhā homi …pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattemī”ti.
Dutiyaṁ.
SN 52.13 · Clairaudience
SN 52.13 · Dibbasotasutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, I hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇāmi dibbe ca mānuse ca ye dūre santike cā”ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
SN 52.14 · Encompassing the Mind
SN 52.14 · Cetopariyasutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with my mind. I understand mind with greed as ‘mind with greed’ … I understand unfreed mind as ‘unfreed mind’.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi— sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘sarāgaṁ cittan’ti pajānāmi …pe… avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ ‘avimuttaṁ cittan’ti pajānāmī”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
SN 52.15 · Possible
SN 52.15 · Ṭhānasutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand the possible as possible and the impossible as impossible.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā ṭhānañca ṭhānato aṭṭhānañca aṭṭhānato yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmī”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
SN 52.16 · The Results of Deeds Undertaken
SN 52.16 · Kammasamādānasutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand the result of deeds undertaken in the past, future, and present in terms of grounds and causes.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā atītānāgatapaccuppannānaṁ kammasamādānānaṁ ṭhānaso hetuso vipākaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmī”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
SN 52.17 · Where All Paths of Practice Lead
SN 52.17 · Sabbatthagāminisutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand where all paths of practice lead.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā sabbatthagāminippaṭipadaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmī”ti.
Sattamaṁ.
SN 52.18 · Diverse Elements
SN 52.18 · Nānādhātusutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand the world with its many and diverse elements.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā anekadhātunānādhātulokaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmī”ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.
SN 52.19 · Diverse Beliefs
SN 52.19 · Nānādhimuttisutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand the diverse convictions of sentient beings.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā sattānaṁ nānādhimuttikataṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmī”ti.
Navamaṁ.
SN 52.20 · Comprehending the Faculties of Others
SN 52.20 · Indriyaparopariyattasutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand the faculties of other sentient beings and other individuals after encompassing them with my mind.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ indriyaparopariyattaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmī”ti.
Dasamaṁ.
SN 52.21 · Absorptions, Etc.
SN 52.21 · Jhānādisutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I truly understand corruption, cleansing, and emergence regarding the absorptions, liberations, immersions, and attainments.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā jhānavimokkhasamādhisamāpattīnaṁ saṅkilesaṁ vodānaṁ vuṭṭhānaṁ yathābhūtaṁ pajānāmī”ti.
Ekādasamaṁ.
SN 52.22 · Past Lives
SN 52.22 · Pubbenivāsasutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that I recollect my many kinds of past lives, with features and details.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmī”ti.
Dvādasamaṁ.
SN 52.23 · Clairvoyance
SN 52.23 · Dibbacakkhusutta
“… And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.”
“Imesañca panāhaṁ, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne …pe… iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena yathākammūpage satte pajānāmī”ti.
Terasamaṁ.