Re: Sutta on methods of sense restraint?
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 6:34 am
Buddha called Ven. Nanda the foremost in sense restraint:
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Here's the sutta about it:
9. Nandasutta- Venerable Nanda.
Bhikkhus, saying it rightly Nanda is a clansman. Saying it rightly he is powerful. Saying it rightly he is extremely pleasant. Saying it rightly he is extremely passionate. Bhikkhus, other than with protected mental faculties, knowing the right amount to eat, becoming wakeful, becoming aware and mindful, how could he have lived the holy life complete and pure. Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda protected his mental faculties. If Nanda wanted to look at the eastern direction, he would call to mind every thing before looking at the east, thinking May evil demeritorious things connected with coveting and displeasure not arise to me. He becomes aware in this manner.
If Nanda wanted to look at the western direction, ....re... northern direction, ...re... southern direction, ....re.. look up, ...re... look down, ....re.. the inter directions he would call to mind every thing before looking at the inter directions, thinking May evil demeritorious things connected with coveting and displeasure not arise to me. He becomes aware in this manner. Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda protected his mental faculties.
Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda knew the right amount to partake. He partook food carefully considering. `It is not for play, to look beautiful or to adorn the self. It's for the upkeep of the body without attachment to soups as a help to lead the holy life. Destroying the earlier feelings will not arouse new feelings so that there may be no faults for my pleasant abiding. Thus Nanda partook the right amount of food.
This is how Nanda was wakeful. Here, Nanda purified his mind from obstructing things during the day seated somewhere. Nanda purified his mind from obstructing things during the first watch of the night seated somewhere. During the middle watch of the night, turning to his right he takes the lion's posture keeping one foot over the other and mindful of the time of rising. Having got up in the last watch of the night he purifies the mind from obstructing things. Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda was wakeful.
Bhikkhus, this is Nanda's mindfull awareness. Here, bhikkhus, to Nanda, feelings, arise, persist and fade with his knowledge. Bhikkhus, to Nanda, perceptions, arise, persist and fade with his knowledge. Bhikkhus, to Nanda, thoughts, arise, persist and fade with his knowledge. This is Nanda's mindful awareness.
Bhikkhus, other than with protected mental faculties, knowing the right amount to eat, becoming wakeful, becoming aware and mindful, how could he have lived the holy life complete and pure.
http://www.awake.kiev.ua/dhamma/tipitak ... ggo-e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation:
This, monks, is how Nanda guards his sense doors. If Nanda has to look to the east, he does so only after having everything considered well in his mind: "While I am looking to the east, I will not let covetousness and grief, or other evil, unwholesome states, enter my mind." Thus he has clear comprehension.
If he has to look to the west, south or north, he does so omly after having considered everything well in his mind: "While I am looking to the west, south or north, I will not let covetousness and grief, or other evil, unwholesome states, enter my mind." Thus he has clear comprehension.
http://www.awake.kiev.ua/dhamma/tipitak ... ali-e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here's the sutta about it:
9. Nandasutta- Venerable Nanda.
Bhikkhus, saying it rightly Nanda is a clansman. Saying it rightly he is powerful. Saying it rightly he is extremely pleasant. Saying it rightly he is extremely passionate. Bhikkhus, other than with protected mental faculties, knowing the right amount to eat, becoming wakeful, becoming aware and mindful, how could he have lived the holy life complete and pure. Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda protected his mental faculties. If Nanda wanted to look at the eastern direction, he would call to mind every thing before looking at the east, thinking May evil demeritorious things connected with coveting and displeasure not arise to me. He becomes aware in this manner.
If Nanda wanted to look at the western direction, ....re... northern direction, ...re... southern direction, ....re.. look up, ...re... look down, ....re.. the inter directions he would call to mind every thing before looking at the inter directions, thinking May evil demeritorious things connected with coveting and displeasure not arise to me. He becomes aware in this manner. Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda protected his mental faculties.
Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda knew the right amount to partake. He partook food carefully considering. `It is not for play, to look beautiful or to adorn the self. It's for the upkeep of the body without attachment to soups as a help to lead the holy life. Destroying the earlier feelings will not arouse new feelings so that there may be no faults for my pleasant abiding. Thus Nanda partook the right amount of food.
This is how Nanda was wakeful. Here, Nanda purified his mind from obstructing things during the day seated somewhere. Nanda purified his mind from obstructing things during the first watch of the night seated somewhere. During the middle watch of the night, turning to his right he takes the lion's posture keeping one foot over the other and mindful of the time of rising. Having got up in the last watch of the night he purifies the mind from obstructing things. Bhikkhus, this is how Nanda was wakeful.
Bhikkhus, this is Nanda's mindfull awareness. Here, bhikkhus, to Nanda, feelings, arise, persist and fade with his knowledge. Bhikkhus, to Nanda, perceptions, arise, persist and fade with his knowledge. Bhikkhus, to Nanda, thoughts, arise, persist and fade with his knowledge. This is Nanda's mindful awareness.
Bhikkhus, other than with protected mental faculties, knowing the right amount to eat, becoming wakeful, becoming aware and mindful, how could he have lived the holy life complete and pure.
http://www.awake.kiev.ua/dhamma/tipitak ... ggo-e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation:
This, monks, is how Nanda guards his sense doors. If Nanda has to look to the east, he does so only after having everything considered well in his mind: "While I am looking to the east, I will not let covetousness and grief, or other evil, unwholesome states, enter my mind." Thus he has clear comprehension.
If he has to look to the west, south or north, he does so omly after having considered everything well in his mind: "While I am looking to the west, south or north, I will not let covetousness and grief, or other evil, unwholesome states, enter my mind." Thus he has clear comprehension.