SN47.3 — The Disciple

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At one time the Tathāgata was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Then a disciple approached the Tathāgata, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Sir, it would be good if the Tathāgata would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that, having heard the Tathāgata’s Dhamma, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.

This is exactly how some foolish men ask me for things, but when the Dhamma has been spoken, they think only of following me around.

Sir, may the Tathāgata teach me the Dhamma in brief! May the Fortunate One teach me the Dhamma in brief! Perhaps I can know the meaning of the Tathāgata’s words; perhaps I can be an heir to the Tathāgata’s words.

Therefore you should first purify the starting point of skillful qualities.

And what is the starting point of skillful qualities?

Well-purified ethical conduct and straight view.

When your ethical conduct is well purified and your view is straight, then relying on ethical conduct and established in ethical conduct, you should develop the four establishings of mindfulness in three ways.

What four?

Here you should dwell attending the body in the body internally:keen, fully aware, and mindful, having removed craving and aversion regarding the world;

or dwell attending the body in the body externally:keen, fully aware, and mindful, having removed craving and aversion regarding the world;

or dwell attending the body in the body internally and externally:keen, fully aware, and mindful, having removed craving and aversion regarding the world.

Or internally in feelings …

or externally in feelings …

or internally and externally in feelings, you should dwell attending feelings:keen, fully aware, and mindful, having removed craving and aversion regarding the world.

Or internally in the mind …

or externally in the mind …

or internally and externally in the mind, you should dwell attending the mind:keen, fully aware, and mindful, having removed craving and aversion regarding the world.

Or internally in phenomena …

or externally in phenomena …

or internally and externally in phenomena, you should dwell attending phenomena:keen, fully aware, and mindful, having removed craving and aversion regarding the world.

When relying on ethical conduct and established in ethical conduct, you develop these four establishings of mindfulness in these three ways, then whether night or day comes, you can expect only growth in skillful qualities, not decline.

Then that disciple, having delighted and rejoiced in the Tathāgata’s words, rose from his seat, bowed down to the Tathāgata, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and departed.

Then that disciple, dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized for himself with direct knowing, in this very life, that unsurpassed culmination of the spiritual life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and entering into it, he dwelt in it.

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

And that disciple became one of the arahants.

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