Chapter 43
At the time, while the Venerable Anuruddha was struggling with the seven thoughts of a
great man (
mahÈpurÊsa-vitakka
), the Buddha was still sojourning in a forest sanctuary,
Bhesakala by name, near SusumÈragira town in the Bhagga country. The forest was to the
west of the bamboo grove where Venerable Anuruddha was. Therefore, this place was
known as the eastern bamboo grove.
After working out with the seven thoughts, Anuruddha was too tired to take a further step
to think about the eighth one. It was true that the disciples, who had thought of the previous
seven, such as few wants, easy contentment, calm, energy, mindfulness, mental
concentration, and wisdom, were reluctant to go higher and ponder still another Dhamma.
For them, it is a rule that they should end up with wisdom. That was why the Venerable
Anuruddha, having reflected on the seventh item of wisdom which is a
mahÈpurisa-vitakka
,
was too tired to go on reflecting on the eighth
vitakka
.
Then the Buddha, while remaining in the Bhesakala forest, knew that ‚Anuruddha is
weary of reflecting on the eighth
vitakka‛
and thought: ‚I shall cause Anuruddha's wish to
be satisfied.‛ Accordingly, He instantly appeared in the Venerable’s presence and sat down
on the seat that had been already prepared. Then the Buddha presented the missing eighth
vitakka
, saying:
‚Anuruddha, well done!, well done! (1) The nine supramundane
dhammas
can be
fulfilled only in him who has few wants, but not in him who has many... ... (7) The
nine supra-mundane Dhammas can be fulfilled in him who is wise, but not in him
who is foolish. Anuruddha! Your reflections belong to the Noble Ones.
‚Anuruddha, as it is the case with you, proceed to the eighth reflection. Which is
‘the nine supra-mundane Dhammas’ can be fulfilled in him who takes delight in
NibbÈna that is free from the
saÑsÈra ——
expanding (
papaÒca
) factors, [namely,
craving (
taÓhÈ
), conceit (
mÈna)
and wrong view (
diÔÔhi)
] but not in him who takes
delight only in the
papaÒca
factors.‛
Thus, did the Buddha provide the missing eighth
mahÈpurisa
thought. The Buddha then
continued to preach elaborately to Venerable Anuruddha that, while engaging in these eight
reflections, he could easily be absorbed in the first, second, third and fourth mundane
jhÈnas
, and that while being absorbed in the four mundane
jhÈnas
, he could easily have the
fourfold
ariyavaÑsa-patipadÈ
(Course of practice belonging to the lineage of the Noble
Ones), namely, (1) contentment in robes (
cÊvara-santosa
), (2) contentment in food
(
piÓÉapÈta-santosa
), including that in medicine, (3) contentment in dwelling and (4) delight
in meditation (
bhÈvanÈ
-
rÈmata
) (The elaborate preaching of the same may be read in the
translation of the A~guttara NikÈya, Vol. III)
After preaching thus, the Buddha thought about the right dwelling for Venerable
Anuruddha that would suit his meditation and came to know that the bamboo grove would
be the right place. Accordingly he advised the Venerable, saying:
‚Anuruddha, (as the bamboo grove is suitable for your dwelling) observe the
vassa
later on in this bamboo grove in the country of Ceti.‛
Having advised thus, the Buddha disappeared and reappeared at Bhesakala forest where
He expounded the eight MahÈpurisa Thoughts in detail to the monks there.
After the Buddha's departure, the Venerable Anuruddha put great efforts in his ascetic
practices and soon (during the next
vassa
) attained arahatship, the exhaustion of
Èsavas
, the
state endowed with the threefold knowledge of
pubbenivÈsa-ÒÈÓa, dibbacakkhu-ÒÈÓa
and
savakkhaya
-
ÒÈÓa
. He then became elated and thought: ‚Oh, seeing my mental conditions,
the Exalted Buddha came and provided me with the eighth
mahÈpurisa-vitakka
. My heart's
desire also has now been fulfilled to the highest degree indeed!‛ Paying attention to the
Buddha’s sermon and the supra-mundane dhamma, the Venerable uttered a solemn
utterance as follows:
(a) Mama sa~kappam aÒÒÈya,
Sattha loke anuttaro.