AN 11.13: Mahanama Sutta (six recollections)

[rowyourboat]

there is a sutta which talks of building parks and ponds which seem to generate merit for long periods. I always thought my monthly direct debit as something like that! it doesnt matter eventually- the whole point of dana for me atleast is to give rise to wholesome states of mind.

[bodom]

there is a sutta which talks of building parks and ponds which seem to generate merit for long periods. I always thought my monthly direct debit as something like that! it doesnt matter eventually- the whole point of dana for me atleast is to give rise to wholesome states of mind.

Cariyapitaka Atthakatha, translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi

The perfection of giving is to be practiced by benefiting beings in many ways — by relinquishing one's happiness, belongings, body and life to others, by dispelling their fear, and by instructing them in the Dhamma.

Herein, giving is threefold by way of the object to be given: the giving of material things (amisadana), the giving of fearlessness (abhayadana), and the giving of the Dhamma (dhammadana). Among these, the object to be given can be twofold: internal and external. The external gift is tenfold: food, drink, garments, vehicles, garlands, scents, unguents, bedding, dwellings, and lamps. These gifts, again, become manifold by analyzing each into its constituents, e.g., food into hard food, soft food, etc. The external gift can also become sixfold when analyzed by way of sense objects: visible forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and non-sensory objects. The sense objects, such as visible forms, become manifold when analyzed into blue, etc. So too, the external gift is manifold by way of the divers valuables and belongings, such as gems, gold, silver, pearls, coral, etc.; fields, land, parks, etc.; slaves, cows, buffaloes, etc.

[Dhammanando]

Hi RYB,

there is a sutta which talks of building parks and ponds which seem to generate merit for long periods.

Even better than that...

• "Here, if a certain person, while giving a gift, or undertaking the precepts, or observing the uposatha, or setting out drinks and refreshments for the use of passing travellers, or beautifying the area around his home, or worshipping a cetiya, or adorning a cetiya with perfumes and garlands, or circumambulating a cetiya, or engaging in any wholesome kamma belonging to the three planes, does not do so for the sake of a fortunate destiny, or birth, or relinking, or becoming, or wandering in saṃsāra, or continuing in the cycle, then all of these actions tend to the sundering of bonds, and are inclining, tending and sloping towards Nibbāna."
  (Nidd.ii.424)

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

[Cittasanto]

Hi Dhammanando

Hi RYB,

there is a sutta which talks of building parks and ponds which seem to generate merit for long periods.

Even better than that...

• "Here, if a certain person, while giving a gift, or undertaking the precepts, or observing the uposatha, or setting out drinks and refreshments for the use of passing travellers, or beautifying the area around his home, or worshipping a cetiya, or adorning a cetiya with perfumes and garlands, or circumambulating a cetiya, or engaging in any wholesome kamma belonging to the three planes, does not do so for the sake of a fortunate destiny, or birth, or relinking, or becoming, or wandering in saṃsāra, or continuing in the cycle, then all of these actions tend to the sundering of bonds, and are inclining, tending and sloping towards Nibbāna."
  (Nidd.ii.424)

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

what is a Cetiya?
and what does relinking mean?

Just wondering not come across those words/ideas before

[Dhammanando]

Hi Manapa,

Hi Dhammanandowhat is a Cetiya?
and what does relinking mean?

A cetiya (Sanskrit caitya) is about the same as a stupa.

Relinking (paṭisandhi) is the abhidhammic term for the moment of rebirth.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

[Cittasanto]

Hi Bhante,

Hi Manapa,

Hi Dhammanandowhat is a Cetiya?
and what does relinking mean?

A cetiya (Sanskrit caitya) is about the same as a stupa.

Relinking (paṭisandhi) is the abhidhammic term for the moment of rebirth.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

Thanks

[mettafuture]

I tend to reflect on one of the first 6 recollections daily. Today I contemplated the Devas by reading verses from the Devatāsaṃyutta and Devaputtasaṃyutta of the Saṃyutta Nikāya. I'm surprised The Recollections aren't talked about more considering they the original "meditation objects" prescribed to lay followers.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Thank you for bumping this topic and allowing me to recollect the recollections!



Metta,
Retro.

[mettafuture]

Greetings,

Thank you for bumping this topic and allowing me to recollect the recollections!



Metta,
Retro.

No problem.



I was going to make a thread about the recollections, but I figured it might be best to just bump an existing one.

[Richard]

I also make use of the Recollections, especially the first. And I am glad when anyone brings them up, because they are roundly ignored by today's meditation industry. The sutta makes it clear that they are serious and useful subjects for meditation, and AN I.30 (or 1.296) says they can lead to enlightenment. There are probably not many who reflect on the devas, and I'm not sure how to go about that myself. But please keep exploring and share your experiences whenver you like.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

There are probably not many who reflect on the devas, and I'm not sure how to go about that myself.

I'm not sure whether you do or not, but I think that if you didn't believe in devas to start with, or had doubts about their existence, it would be disingenuous and counter-productive to try that one. The recollections that resonate will most likely produce the results highlighted in the sutta.

Metta,
Retro.

[rohana]

I used to do Buddhānussaṭi a while back. I basically skimmed through the Viṣhuddimagga instructions, which go into descriptions of nine qualities of the Buddha, and picked out "Arahatō" meaning "awakened, having destroyed all defilements". Buddhānussaṭi produces a wonderful sense of ṣaddhā and gladness. If it is not one's main practice, I believe traditionally it is recommended when one is feeling uninspired to practice. (Viṣhuddimagga mentions some more benefits, among which a sense of fearlessness was something I also found to be true.) In fact, assuming one is a Buddhist, I wonder if it makes a better entry point to meditation, rather than, say Ānāpānasaṭi - which I think is not the easiest to develop (at least in my experience).