1. Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living
at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’ Sanctuary. Then,
when it was evening, the venerable Sāriputta rose from meditation
and went to the Blessed One. After paying homage to him, he sat
down at one side. The Blessed One then said to him:
2. “Sāriputta, your faculties are clear. The color of your skin
is pure and bright. What abiding do you often abide in now,
Sāriputta?”
“Now, venerable sir, I often abide in voidness.”
“Good, good, Sāriputta! Now, indeed, you often abide in the
abiding of a great man. For this is the abiding of a great man,
namely, voidness.
3. “So, Sāriputta, if a bhikkhu would wish: ‘May I now often
abide in voidness,’ he should consider thus: ‘On the path by which
I went to the village for alms, or in the place where I wandered
for alms, or on the path by which I returned from the almsround,
was there any desire, lust, hate, delusion, or aversion in my mind
regarding forms cognizable by the eye?’ If, by so reviewing, he
knows thus: ‘On the path by which I went to the village for alms,
or in the place where I wandered for alms, or on the path by which
I returned from the almsround, there was desire, lust, hate,
delusion, or aversion in my mind regarding forms cognizable by the
eye,’ then he should make an effort to abandon those evil
unwholesome states. But if, by reviewing, he knows thus: ‘On the
path by which I went to the village for alms, and in the place
where I wandered for alms, and on the path by which I returned from
the almsround, there was no desire, lust, hate, delusion, or
aversion in my mind regarding forms cognizable by the eye,’ then he
can abide happy and glad, training day and night in wholesome
states.
4-8. “Again, Sāriputta, a bhikkhus should consider thus: ‘On the
path by which I went to the village for alms, or in the place where
I wandered for alms, or on the path by which I returned from the
almsround, was there any desire, lust, hate, delusion, or aversion
in my mind regarding sounds cognizable by the ear?...regarding
odors cognizable by the nose?...regarding flavors cognizable by the
tongue?...regarding tangibles cognizable by the body?...regarding
mind-objects cognizable by the mind?’ If, by reviewing, he knows
thus: ‘On the path by which I went to the village for alms…there
was desire, lust, hate, delusion, or aversion in my mind regarding
mind-objects cognizable by the mind,’ then he should make an effort
to abandon those evil unwholesome states. But if, by reviewing, he
knows thus: ‘On the path by which I went to the village for
alms…there was no desire, lust, hate, delusion, or aversion in my
mind regarding mind-objects cognizable by the mind,’ then he can
abide happy and glad, training day and night in wholesome
states.
9. “Again, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu should consider thus: ‘Are the
five cords of sensual pleasure abandoned in me?’ If, by reviewing,
he knows thus: ‘The five cords of sensual pleasure are not
abandoned in me,’ then he should make an effort to abandon those
five cords of sensual pleasure. But if, by reviewing, he knows
thus: ‘The five cords of sensual pleasure are abandoned in me,’
then he can abide happy and glad, training day and night in
wholesome states.
10. “Again, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu should consider thus: ‘Are the
five hindrances abandoned in me?’ If, by reviewing, he knows thus:
‘The five hindrances are not abandoned in me,’ then he should make
an effort to abandon those five hindrances. But if, by reviewing,
he knows thus: ‘The five hindrances are abandoned in me,’ then he
can abide happy and glad, training day and night in wholesome
states.
11. “Again, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu should consider thus: ‘Are the
five aggregates affected by clinging fully understood by me?’ If,
by reviewing, he knows thus: ‘The five aggregates affected by
clinging are not fully understood by me,’ then he should make an
effort to fully understand those five aggregates affected by
clinging. But if, by reviewing, he knows thus: ‘The five aggregates
affected by clinging are fully understood by me,’ then he can abide
happy and glad, training day and night in wholesome states.
12. “Again, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu should consider thus: ‘Are the
four foundations of mindfulness developed in me?’ If, by reviewing,
he knows thus: ‘The four foundations of mindfulness are not
developed in me,’ then he should make an effort to develop those
four foundations of mindfulness. But if, by reviewing, he knows
thus: ‘The four foundations of mindfulness are developed in me,’
then he can abide happy and glad, training day and night in
wholesome states.
13-19. “Again, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu should consider thus: ‘Are
the four right kinds of striving developed in me?...Are the four
bases for spiritual power developed in me?...Are the five faculties
developed in me?...Are the five powers developed in me?...Are the
seven enlightenment factors developed in me?...Is the Noble
Eightfold Path developed in me?...Are serenity and insight
developed in me?’ If, by reviewing, he knows thus: ‘Serenity and
insight are developed in me,’ then he can abide happy and glad,
training day and night in wholesome states.
20. “Again, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu should consider thus: ‘Are true
knowledge and deliverance realized by me?’ If, by reviewing, he
knows thus: ‘True knowledge and deliverance are not realized by
me,’ then he should make an effort to realize true knowledge and
deliverance. But if, by reviewing, he knows thus: ‘True knowledge
and deliverance are realized by me,’ then he can abide happy and
glad, training day and night in wholesome states.
21. “Sāriputta, whatever recluses and brahmins in the past have
purified their almsfood have all done so by repeatedly reviewing
thus. Whatever recluses and brahmins in the future will purify
their almsfood will all do so by repeatedly reviewing thus.
Whatever recluses and brahmins in the present are purifying their
almsfood are all doing so by repeatedly reviewing thus. Therefore,
Sāriputta, you should train thus: ‘We will purify our almsfood by
repeatedly reviewing thus.’”
That is what the Blessed One said. The venerable Sāriputta was
satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One’s words.