Pacalāyamānasutta

Thus have I heard: At one time, the Blessed One was staying among the Bhaggas in the deer park at Bhesakalā Grove in the Suṁsumāragira.

Now at that time, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was sitting nodding in the village of Kallavālaputta in the Magadha country.

The Blessed One, with his divine eye, purified and surpassing that of humans, saw the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna sitting nodding in the village of Kallavālaputta in the Magadha country.

Seeing this: just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm, in the same way, the Blessed One disappeared from the deer park at Bhesakalā Grove in the Suṁsumāragira and reappeared in front of the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna in the village of Kallavālaputta in the Magadha country.

The Blessed One sat down on the prepared seat.

Having sat down, the Blessed One said to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna:

Are you nodding, Moggallāna, are you nodding, Moggallāna?

Yes, venerable sir.

Therefore, Moggallāna, when you perceive that drowsiness is coming upon you, do not attend to that perception, do not pursue that perception.

There is a possibility, Moggallāna, that by doing so, that drowsiness will be abandoned.

If, while doing so, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then you should reflect on the Dhamma as you have heard and learned it, examine it with your mind, and review it with your thoughts.

There is a possibility that by doing so, that drowsiness will be abandoned.

If, while doing so, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then you should recite in detail the Dhamma as you have heard and learned it.

There is a possibility that by doing so, that drowsiness will be abandoned.

If, while doing so, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then you should pull both earlobes and rub your limbs with your hands.

There is a possibility that by doing so, that drowsiness will be abandoned.

If, while doing so, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then you should get up from your seat, wash your eyes with water, look around in all directions, and gaze at the stars and constellations.

There is a possibility that by doing so, that drowsiness will be abandoned.

If, while doing so, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then you should attend to the perception of light, determine the perception of day: as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

Thus, with an open and unobstructed mind, develop a mind that is luminous.

There is a possibility that by doing so, that drowsiness will be abandoned.

If, while doing so, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then you should practice walking back and forth, perceiving what is in front and behind, with your senses inwardly immersed and your mind not outwardly directed.

There is a possibility that by doing so, that drowsiness will be abandoned.

If, while doing so, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then you should lie down on your right side in the lions posture, with one foot overlapping the other, mindful and clearly aware, with the intention of rising.

Having awakened, you should quickly get up, thinking: I will not indulge in the comfort of lying down, reclining, or drowsiness.

Thus should you train yourself, Moggallāna.

Therefore, Moggallāna, you should train yourself thus: I will not approach families with an arrogant demeanor.

Thus should you train yourself, Moggallāna.

If, Moggallāna, a disciple approaches families with an arrogant demeanor, there are duties to be done in families.

When people do not pay attention to a disciple who has come, the disciple thinks: Who now has slighted me in this family? These people are now displeased with me.

Thus, he becomes dejected due to lack of gain, and being dejected, he becomes agitated; being agitated, he lacks restraint; lacking restraint, his mind is far from concentration.

Therefore, Moggallāna, you should train yourself thus: I will not engage in contentious talk.

Thus should you train yourself, Moggallāna.

When there is contentious talk, there is an abundance of talk; when there is an abundance of talk, there is agitation; being agitated, one lacks restraint; lacking restraint, the mind is far from concentration.

I do not praise all kinds of association, Moggallāna.

Nor do I condemn all kinds of association, Moggallāna.

I do not praise association with householders and renunciants.

But I do praise association with those secluded places that are quiet, with little noise, remote from human habitation, suitable for seclusion.

Thus should you train yourself, Moggallāna.

Having said this, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said to the Blessed One:

To what extent, venerable sir, is a disciple, in brief, freed through the destruction of craving, one who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate goal, the best among gods and humans?

Here, Moggallāna, a disciple has heard: All phenomena are not fit to be clung to.

Thus, Moggallāna, a disciple has heard: All phenomena are not fit to be clung to.

He directly knows all phenomena, having directly known all phenomena, he fully knows all phenomena.

Having fully known all phenomena, whatever feeling he feels, whether pleasant, painful, or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, he dwells contemplating impermanence in those feelings, he dwells contemplating dispassion, he dwells contemplating cessation, he dwells contemplating relinquishment.

Dwelling contemplating impermanence in those feelings, contemplating dispassion, contemplating cessation, contemplating relinquishment, he does not cling to anything in the world. Not clinging, he does not become agitated. Not being agitated, he personally attains Nibbāna.

He knows: Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being.

To this extent, Moggallāna, a disciple, in brief, is freed through the destruction of craving, one who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate goal, the best among gods and humans.