Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

p. 249

excellent,' ' This is of mixed dark and bright quality.' For him thus knowing, thus seeing, ignorance is put away, wisdom has arisen. From this extinction of ignorance, from the arising of wisdom, a sense of ease arises and, then more than ease, happiness. Just as a feeling of complacency may develop into gladness, so does for him, under these circumstances, first ease arise, and then more than ease, happiness. This, Sirs, is now the Third Avenue for arriving at Bliss manifested by the Exalted One who knows, who sees, Arahant, Buddha Supreme.

These, Sirs, are [216] the Three Avenues for arriving at Bliss manifested by the Exalted One, who knows and sees, the Arahant, Buddha Supreme."

26. On this matter, lord, did Brahma Sana^kumara speak. And having so spoken he addressed the Thirty-Three Gods : —

"Now what think ye, my lord gods Thirty-and- Three, of the completeness wherewith the Exalted One, who knows, who sees, the Arahant, Buddha Supreme, hath revealed the Four Inceptions of Mindfulness 1 for attaining" to the Good. And which are the Four ? Take, Sirs, a brother who abides subjectively watchful over the body, ardent self-possessed mindful, that he may discern the unhappiness arising from coveting the things of the world. So, subjectively watchful, he attains to right concentration and right calm. He, having right concentration and right calm in his physical being, evokes knowledge of and insight into all other physical forms external to himself. So, again, he abides subjectively watchful over his feelings . . . over his heart, . . . over his ideas, ardent self-possessed mindful, that he may discern the unhappiness arising from coveting the things of the world. So, subjectively watchful, he attains to right concentration and right calm. He, having right concentration and right calm in his feelings ... his heart ... his ideas,

1 The four Satipa//Mnas.

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evokes knowledge of and insight into the ideas of others external to himself.

These, Sirs, are the Four Inceptions of Deliberation
for attaining to the Good completely revealed by the
Exalted One, who knows, who sees, the Arahant,
Buddha Supreme."

27. On this matter did Brahma Sana7«kumara speak. And having spoken he addressed the Thirty- Three Gods : —

" Now what think ye, my lord gods Thirty-and Three, of the completeness wherewith the Exalted One, who knows, who sees, the Arahant, Buddha Supreme, hath revealed the Seven Requisites of Intellectual Concentration \ for practice of right Rapture, for the perfecting of Rapture ? Which are the Seven ? Right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, [217] right effort, right mindfulness. That concentration of thought, Sirs, which is prepared by these seven factors, is called the Noble Right Rapture together with its bases, together with its requisites. Right intention suffices to maintain right views, right speech suffices to maintain right intention, right action suffices to maintain right speech, right livelihood suffices to maintain right action, right effort suffices to maintain right livelihood, right mindfulness suffices to maintain right effort, right rapture suffices to maintain right mindfulness, right knowledge suffices to maintain right rapture, right freedom suffices to maintain right knowledge.

If any one uttering right speech, Sirs, were to say : — 'Well hath the Exalted One proclaimed the Truth, — the Norm that in this life beareth fruit, that avails not for a time only -, that welcometh every one, that leadeth away and onward, that each one who hath intelligence may of and by himself understand ! ' Then in saying :

" Wide opened are the portals to Nirvana ! ,;

1 Samadhi-parikkhara.

2 akalika. The opposite tavakalika occurs above, p. 195.

I), ii. 218. JANA-VASABHA S STORY. 25 I