Majjhima Nikaya - Indriya-bhavana Sutta

MN 152
Indriya-bhavana Sutta
The Development of the Faculties
Translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro BhikkhuPTS: M iii 298



Source: Transcribed from a file provided by the translator.



Copyright © 1998 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Access to Insight edition © 1998
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I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying among the
Kajjangalas in the Bamboo Grove. Then the young brahman Uttara, a student of
Parasiri1 went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged friendly greetings
& courtesies. After this exchange of courteous greetings he sat to one side.
As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him: "Uttara, does the brahman
Parasiri teach his followers the development of the faculties?"
"Yes, master Gotama, he does."
"And how does he teach his followers the development of the faculties?"
"There is the case where one does not see forms with the eye, or hear sounds
with the ear [in a trance of non-perception]. That's how the brahman Parasiri
teaches his followers the development of the faculties."
"That being the case, Uttara, then a blind person will have developed faculties,
and a deaf person will have developed faculties, according to the words of the
brahman Parasiri. For a blind person does not see forms with the eye, and a deaf
person does not hear sounds with the ear."
When this was said, the young brahman Uttara sat silent & abashed, his shoulders
slumped, his head down, brooding, at a loss for words. The Blessed One —
noticing that Uttara was sitting silent & abashed, his shoulders slumped, his
head down, brooding, at a loss for words — said to Ven. Ananda, "Ananda, the
development of the faculties that the brahman Parasiri teaches his followers is
one thing, but the unexcelled development of the faculties in the discipline of
a noble one is something else entirely."
"Now is the time, O Blessed One. Now is the time, O One Well-Gone, for the
Blessed One to teach the unexcelled development of the faculties in the
discipline of the noble one. Having heard the Blessed One, the monks will
remember it."
"In that case, Ananda, listen & pay close attention. I will speak."
"As you say, lord," Ven. Ananda responded to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said: "Now how, Ananda, in the discipline of a noble one is
there the unexcelled development of the faculties? There is the case where, when
seeing a form with the eye, there arises in a monk what is agreeable, what is
disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. He discerns that 'This agreeable
thing has arisen in me, this disagreeable thing... this agreeable & disagreeable
thing has arisen in me. And that is compounded, gross, dependently co-arisen.
But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, i.e., equanimity.' With that, the
arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable thing
ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. Just as a man with good eyes, having
closed them, might open them; or having opened them, might close them, that is
how quickly, how rapidly, how easily, no matter what it refers to, the arisen
agreeable thing... disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases,
and equanimity takes its stance. In the discipline of a noble one, this is
called the unexcelled development of the faculties with regard to forms
cognizable by the eye.
"Furthermore, when hearing a sound with the ear, there arises in a monk what is
agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. He discerns
that 'This agreeable thing has arisen in me, this disagreeable thing... this
agreeable & disagreeable thing has arisen in me. And that is compounded, gross,
dependently co-arisen. But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, i.e.,
equanimity.' With that, the arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing...
agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. Just as
a strong man might easily snap his fingers, that is how quickly, how rapidly,
how easily, no matter what it refers to, the arisen agreeable thing...
disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity
takes its stance. In the discipline of a noble one, this is called the
unexcelled development of the faculties with regard to sounds cognizable by the
ear.
"Furthermore, when smelling an aroma with the nose, there arises in a monk what
is agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. He
discerns that 'This agreeable thing has arisen in me, this disagreeable thing...
this agreeable & disagreeable thing has arisen in me. And that is compounded,
gross, dependently co-arisen. But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, i.e.,
equanimity.' With that, the arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing...
agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. Just as
drops of water roll off a gently sloping lotus leaf & do not remain there, that
is how quickly, how rapidly, how easily, no matter what it refers to, the arisen
agreeable thing... disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases,
and equanimity takes its stance. In the discipline of a noble one, this is
called the unexcelled development of the faculties with regard to aromas
cognizable by the nose.
"Furthermore, when tasting a flavor with the tongue, there arises in a monk what
is agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. He
discerns that 'This agreeable thing has arisen in me, this disagreeable thing...
this agreeable & disagreeable thing has arisen in me. And that is compounded,
gross, dependently co-arisen. But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, i.e.,
equanimity.' With that, the arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing...
agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. Just as
a strong man might easily spit out a ball of saliva gathered on the tip of his
tongue, that is how quickly, how rapidly, how easily, no matter what it refers
to, the arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable
thing ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. In the discipline of a noble one,
this is called the unexcelled development of the faculties with regard to
flavors cognizable by the tongue.
"Furthermore, when touching a tactile sensation with the body, there arises in a
monk what is agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable.
He discerns that 'This agreeable thing has arisen in me, this disagreeable
thing... this agreeable & disagreeable thing has arisen in me. And that is
compounded, gross, dependently co-arisen. But this is peaceful, this is
exquisite, i.e., equanimity.' With that, the arisen agreeable thing...
disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity
takes its stance. Just as a strong man might easily extend his flexed arm or
flex his extended arm, that is how quickly, how rapidly, how easily, no matter
what it refers to, the arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing... agreeable
& disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. In the discipline
of a noble one, this is called the unexcelled development of the faculties with
regard to tactile sensations cognizable by the body.
"Furthermore, when cognizing an idea with the intellect, there arises in a monk
what is agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. He
discerns that 'This agreeable thing has arisen in me, this disagreeable thing...
this agreeable & disagreeable thing has arisen in me. And that is compounded,
gross, dependently co-arisen. But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, i.e.,
equanimity. With that, the arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing...
agreeable & disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. Just as
a strong man might let two or three drops of water fall onto an iron pan heated
all day: Slow would be the falling of the drops of water, but they quickly would
vanish & disappear. That is how quickly, how rapidly, how easily, no matter what
it refers to, the arisen agreeable thing... disagreeable thing... agreeable &
disagreeable thing ceases, and equanimity takes its stance. In the discipline of
a noble one, this is called the unexcelled development of the faculties with
regard to ideas cognizable by the intellect.
"And how is one a person in training, someone following the way? There is the
case where, when seeing a form with the eye, there arises in a monk what is
agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. He feels
horrified, humiliated, & disgusted with the arisen agreeable thing...
disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable thing.
"When hearing a sound with the ear... When smelling an aroma with the nose...
When tasting a flavor with the tongue... When touching a tactile sensation with
the body... When cognizing an idea with the intellect, there arises in him what
is agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. He feels
horrified, humiliated, & disgusted with the arisen agreeable thing...
disagreeable thing... agreeable & disagreeable thing.
"This is how one is a person in training, someone following the way.
"And how is one a noble one with developed faculties? There is the case where,
when seeing a form with the eye, there arises in a monk what is agreeable, what
is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. If he wants, he remains
percipient of loathsomeness in the presence of what is not loathsome. If he
wants, he remains percipient of unloathsomeness in the presence of what is
loathsome. If he wants, he remains percipient of loathsomeness in the presence
of what is not loathsome & what is. If he wants, he remains percipient of
unloathsomeness in the presence of what is loathsome & what is not. If he wants
— in the presence of what is loathsome & what is not — cutting himself off from
both, he remains equanimous, alert, & mindful.
"When hearing a sound with the ear... When smelling an aroma with the nose...
When tasting a flavor with the tongue... When touching a tactile sensation with
the body... When cognizing an idea with the intellect, there arises in him what
is agreeable, what is disagreeable, what is agreeable & disagreeable. If he
wants, he remains percipient of loathsomeness in the presence of what is not
loathsome. If he wants, he remains percipient of unloathsomeness in the presence
of what is loathsome. If he wants, he remains percipient of loathsomeness in the
presence of what is not loathsome & what is. If he wants, he remains percipient
of unloathsomeness in the presence of what is loathsome & what is not. If he
wants — in the presence of what is loathsome & what is not — cutting himself off
from both, he remains equanimous, alert, & mindful.
"This is how one is a noble one with developed faculties.
"So, Ananda, I have taught you the unexcelled development of the faculties in
the discipline of a noble one; I have taught you how one is a person in
training, someone following the way; I have taught you how one is a noble one
with developed faculties. Whatever a teacher should do — seeking the welfare of
his disciples, out of sympathy for them — that have I done for you. Over there
are the roots of trees; over there, empty dwellings. Practice jhana, Ananda.
Don't be heedless. Don't later fall into regret. This is our message to you
all."
That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Ven. Ananda delighted in the
Blessed One's words.
Notes
1. Or: Parasivi.