SN 46.14: Gilana Sutta — Ill

[Hanzze]

I thought a little about this... actually I wouldn't regard the frame of Bojjhanga as useful if the eightfold path wasn't established once before. It might be not staisfactory in regard of your question, but could be a general alternative. But that is just a thought.

[dhammapal]

"The Buddha, who is very ill, asks Ven. Maha Cunda to recite for him..." -> is such a expression: "O Cunda, let the factors of enlightenment occur to your mind.", often used as asking to recite?

Probably a mistake.

Bhikkhu Bodhi has: "Recite the factors of enlightenment, Cunda."


Mike

The Buddha and the arahants (the Consummate Ones) can concentrate on the paritta suttas without the aid of another. However, when they are ill, it is easier for them to listen to what others recite, and thus focus their minds on the dhamma that the suttas contain, rather than think of the dhamma by themselves. There are occasions, as in the case of illness, which weaken the mind (in the case of worldlings), when hetero-suggestion has been found to be more effective than autosuggestion.
From: The Value of Paritta by Piyadassi Thera

With metta / dhammapal.

[mikenz66]

This is what the Blessed One said. Elated, the Venerable Mahākassapa delighted in the Blessed One’s statement. And the Venerable Mahākassapa recovered from that illness. In such a way the Venerable Mahākassapa was cured of his illness.

Spk: As the elder listened closely to this teaching on the development of the enlightenment factors, it is said, the thought occurred to him: “When I penetrated the truths on the seventh day of my going forth, these enlightenment factors became manifest” (see SN 16:11). Thinking, “The Master’s teaching is indeed emancipating!” his blood became clear, his bodily humours were purified, and the disease departed from his body like a drop of water fallen on a lotus leaf.

SN 16.11 is not on-line in full at Access to Insight, but much of the story is here:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... 5.html#ch4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Mike