The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha by Bodhi

Author:Bodhi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wisdom Publications

V. THE GREAT SACRIFICE

44 (1) Stations

“Bhikkhus, there are these seven stations for consciousness.1502 What seven?

(1) “There are, bhikkhus, beings that are different in body and different in perception, such as humans, some devas, and some in the lower world. This is the first station for consciousness.1503 [40]

(2) “There are beings that are different in body but identical in perception, such as the devas of Brahmā’s company that are reborn through the first [jhāna]. This is the second station for consciousness.1504

(3) “There are beings that are identical in body but different in perception, such as the devas of streaming radiance. This is the third station for consciousness.1505

(4) “There are beings that are identical in body and identical in perception, such as the devas of refulgent glory. This is the fourth station for consciousness.1506

(5) “There are beings that, with the complete surmounting of perceptions of forms, with the passing away of perceptions of sensory impingement, with non-attention to perceptions of diversity, [perceiving] ‘space is infinite,’ belong to the base of the infinity of space. This is the fifth station for consciousness.

(6) “There are beings that, by completely surmounting the base of the infinity of space, [perceiving] ‘consciousness is infinite,’ belong to the base of the infinity of consciousness. This is the sixth station for consciousness.

(7) “There are beings that, by completely surmounting the base of the infinity of consciousness, [perceiving] ‘there is nothing,’ belong to the base of nothingness. This is the seventh station for consciousness.

“These, bhikkhus, are the seven stations for consciousness.”1507

45 (2) Accessories

“There are, bhikkhus, these seven accessories of concentration. What seven? Right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, and right mindfulness. One-pointedness of mind equipped with these seven factors is called noble right concentration ‘with its supports’ and ‘with its accessories.’”1508 [41]

46 (3) Fires

“Bhikkhus, there are these seven fires. What seven? The fire of lust, the fire of hatred, the fire of delusion, the fire of those worthy of gifts, the householder’s fire, the fire of those worthy of offerings, the wood fire. These are the seven fires.”1509

47 (4) Sacrifice

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Now on that occasion the brahmin Uggatasarīra had made arrangements for a great sacrifice. Five hundred bulls had been led to the post1510 for the sacrifice. Five hundred bullocks … Five hundred heifers … Five hundred goats … Five hundred rams had been led to the post for the sacrifice.

Then the brahmin Uggatasarīra approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to the Blessed One:

“I have heard, Master Gotama, that the kindling of the sacrificial fire and the raising of the sacrificial post are of great fruit and benefit.”

“I too, brahmin, have heard this.”

A second time … A third time the brahmin Uggatasarīra said to the Blessed One: “I have heard, Master Gotama, that the kindling of the sacrificial fire and the raising of the sacrificial post are of great fruit and benefit.

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