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MN 62PTS MN 1.4208 min read

The Longer Advice to Rāhula

Mahārāhulovādasutta

The Buddha tells Rāhula to meditate on not-self, which he immediately puts into practice. Seeing him, Venerable Sāriputta advises him to develop breath meditation, but the Buddha suggests a wide range of different practices first.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Majjhima Nikāya 62Middle Discourses 62

0.2MahārāhulovādasuttaThe Longer Advice to Rāhula

1.1PTS 1.421Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.11.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

2.1Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.2.2Āyasmāpi kho rāhulo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.And Venerable Rāhula also robed up and followed behind the Buddha.2

3.1Atha kho bhagavā apaloketvā āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ āmantesi:Then the Buddha looked back at Rāhula and said,3.2“yaṁ kiñci, rāhula, rūpaṁ—atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā—sabbaṁ rūpaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabban”ti.“Rāhula, you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’”

3.3“Rūpameva nu kho, bhagavā, rūpameva nu kho, sugatā”ti?“Only form, Blessed One? Only form, Holy One?”3

3.4“Rūpampi, rāhula, vedanāpi, rāhula, saññāpi, rāhula, saṅkhārāpi, rāhula, viññāṇampi, rāhulā”ti.“Form, Rāhula, as well as feeling and perception and choices and consciousness.”

4.1Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo “ko najja bhagavatā sammukhā ovādena ovadito gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisissatī”ti tato paṭinivattitvā aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.Then Rāhula thought, “Who would go to the village for alms today after being advised directly by the Buddha?” Turning back, he sat down cross-legged at the root of a certain tree, setting his body straight, and bringing mindfulness to the present.4

5.1Addasā kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.Venerable Sāriputta saw him sitting there,55.2Disvāna āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ āmantesi:and addressed him,5.3“ānāpānassatiṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.“Rāhula, develop mindfulness of breathing.5.4Ānāpānassati, rāhula, bhāvanā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti.When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.”

6.1PTS 1.422Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā rāhulo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then in the late afternoon, Rāhula came out of retreat, went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

7.1“kathaṁ bhāvitā nu kho, bhante, ānāpānassati, kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti?“Sir, how is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated to be very fruitful and beneficial?”6

8.1“Yaṁ kiñci, rāhula, ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ kakkhaḷaṁ kharigataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—“Rāhula, the interior earth element is anything internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated. This includes:78.2kesā lomā nakhā dantā taco maṁsaṁ nhāru aṭṭhi aṭṭhimiñjaṁ vakkaṁ hadayaṁ yakanaṁ kilomakaṁ pihakaṁ papphāsaṁ antaṁ antaguṇaṁ udariyaṁ karīsaṁ, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ kakkhaḷaṁ kharigataṁ upādinnaṁ—head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces; or anything else internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated.8.3ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu.This is called the interior earth element.8.4Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu yā ca bāhirā pathavīdhātu, pathavīdhāturevesā.The interior earth element and the exterior earth element are just the earth element.8.5Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’8.6Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā pathavīdhātuyā nibbindati, pathavīdhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the earth element, detaching the mind from the earth element.

9.1Katamā ca, rāhula, āpodhātu?And what is the water element?9.2Āpodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.The water element may be interior or exterior.9.3Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu?And what is the interior water element?9.4Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ āpo āpogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—Anything internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated. This includes:9.5pittaṁ semhaṁ pubbo lohitaṁ sedo medo assu vasā kheḷo siṅghāṇikā lasikā muttaṁ, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ āpo āpogataṁ upādinnaṁ—bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine; or anything else internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated.9.6ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu.This is called the interior water element.9.7Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā āpodhātu yā ca bāhirā āpodhātu āpodhāturevesā.The interior water element and the exterior water element are just the water element.9.8Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’9.9Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā āpodhātuyā nibbindati, āpodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the water element, detaching the mind from the water element.

10.1Katamā ca, rāhula, tejodhātu?And what is the fire element?10.2Tejodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.The fire element may be interior or exterior.10.3Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu?And what is the interior fire element?10.4Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ tejo tejogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—Anything internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated. This includes:10.5yena ca santappati yena ca jīrīyati yena ca pariḍayhati yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ sammā pariṇāmaṁ gacchati, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ tejo tejogataṁ upādinnaṁ—that which warms, that which ages, that which heats you up when feverish, that which properly digests food and drink; or anything else internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated.10.6ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu.This is called the interior fire element.10.7Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā tejodhātu yā ca bāhirā tejodhātu tejodhāturevesā.The interior fire element and the exterior fire element are just the fire element.10.8Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’10.9Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā tejodhātuyā nibbindati, tejodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the fire element, detaching the mind from the fire element.

11.1PTS 1.423Katamā ca, rāhula, vāyodhātu?And what is the air element?11.2Vāyodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.The air element may be interior or exterior.11.3Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu?And what is the interior air element?11.4Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ vāyo vāyogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—Anything internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated. This includes:11.5uddhaṅgamā vātā, adhogamā vātā, kucchisayā vātā, koṭṭhāsayā vātā, aṅgamaṅgānusārino vātā, assāso passāso iti, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ vāyo vāyogataṁ upādinnaṁ—winds that go up or down, winds in the belly or the bowels, winds that flow through the limbs, in-breaths and out-breaths; or anything else internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated.11.6ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu.This is called the interior air element.11.7Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā vāyodhātu yā ca bāhirā vāyodhātu vāyodhāturevesā.The interior air element and the exterior air element are just the air element.11.8Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’11.9Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā vāyodhātuyā nibbindati, vāyodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the air element, detaching the mind from the air element.

12.1Katamā ca, rāhula, ākāsadhātu?And what is the space element?12.2Ākāsadhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā.The space element may be interior or exterior.12.3Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu?And what is the interior space element?12.4Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ ākāsaṁ ākāsagataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—Anything internal, personal, that’s space, spacious, and appropriated. This includes:12.5kaṇṇacchiddaṁ nāsacchiddaṁ mukhadvāraṁ, yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ ajjhoharati, yattha ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ santiṭṭhati, yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ adhobhāgaṁ nikkhamati, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ ākāsaṁ ākāsagataṁ, aghaṁ aghagataṁ, vivaraṁ vivaragataṁ, asamphuṭṭhaṁ, maṁsalohitehi upādinnaṁ—the ear canals, nostrils, and mouth; and the space for swallowing what is eaten and drunk, the space where it stays, and the space for excreting it from the nether regions; or anything else internal, personal, that’s space, spacious, and appropriated.812.6ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu.This is called the interior space element.12.7Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu yā ca bāhirā ākāsadhātu ākāsadhāturevesā.The interior space element and the exterior space element are just the space element.12.8Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’12.9Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā ākāsadhātuyā cittaṁ nibbindati, ākāsadhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the space element, detaching the mind from the space element.

13.1Pathavīsamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Rāhula, meditate like the earth.13.2Pathavīsamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like the earth, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.13.3Seyyathāpi, rāhula, pathaviyā sucimpi nikkhipanti, asucimpi nikkhipanti, gūthagatampi nikkhipanti, muttagatampi nikkhipanti, kheḷagatampi nikkhipanti, pubbagatampi nikkhipanti, lohitagatampi nikkhipanti, na ca tena pathavī aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;Suppose they were to toss both clean and unclean things on the earth, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The earth isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.913.4evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, pathavīsamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.In the same way, meditate like the earth.13.5Pathavīsamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like the earth, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

14.1PTS 1.424Āposamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate like water.14.2Āposamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like water, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.14.3Seyyathāpi, rāhula, āpasmiṁ sucimpi dhovanti, asucimpi dhovanti, gūthagatampi dhovanti, muttagatampi dhovanti, kheḷagatampi dhovanti, pubbagatampi dhovanti, lohitagatampi dhovanti, na ca tena āpo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;Suppose they were to wash both clean and unclean things in the water, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The water isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.14.4evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, āposamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.In the same way, meditate like water.14.5Āposamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like water, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

15.1Tejosamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate like fire.15.2Tejosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like fire, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.15.3Seyyathāpi, rāhula, tejo sucimpi dahati, asucimpi dahati, gūthagatampi dahati, muttagatampi dahati, kheḷagatampi dahati, pubbagatampi dahati, lohitagatampi dahati, na ca tena tejo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;Suppose a fire were to burn both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The fire isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.15.4evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, tejosamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.In the same way, meditate like fire.15.5Tejosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like fire, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

16.1Vāyosamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate like wind.16.2Vāyosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like wind, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.16.3Seyyathāpi, rāhula, vāyo sucimpi upavāyati, asucimpi upavāyati, gūthagatampi upavāyati, muttagatampi upavāyati, kheḷagatampi upavāyati, pubbagatampi upavāyati, lohitagatampi upavāyati, na ca tena vāyo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;Suppose the wind were to blow on both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The wind isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.16.4evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, vāyosamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.In the same way, meditate like the wind.16.5Vāyosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like wind, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

17.1Ākāsasamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate like space.17.2Ākāsasamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like space, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.17.3Seyyathāpi, rāhula, ākāso na katthaci patiṭṭhito;Just as space is not established anywhere,1017.4evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, ākāsasamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.in the same way, meditate like space.17.5Ākāsasamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.For when you meditate like space, pleasant and unpleasant contacts will not occupy your mind.

18.1PTS 1.425Mettaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate on love.18.2Mettañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo byāpādo so pahīyissati.For when you meditate on love any ill will will be given up.

19.1Karuṇaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate on compassion.19.2Karuṇañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yā vihesā sā pahīyissati.For when you meditate on compassion any cruelty will be given up.

20.1Muditaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate on rejoicing.20.2Muditañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yā arati sā pahīyissati.For when you meditate on rejoicing any discontent will be given up.

21.1Upekkhaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate on equanimity.21.2Upekkhañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo paṭigho so pahīyissati.For when you meditate on equanimity any aversion will be given up.

22.1Asubhaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate on ugliness.22.2Asubhañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo rāgo so pahīyissati.For when you meditate on ugliness any lust will be given up.

23.1Aniccasaññaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Meditate on impermanence.23.2Aniccasaññañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo asmimāno so pahīyissati.For when you meditate on impermanence any conceit ‘I am’ will be given up.

24.1Ānāpānassatiṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi.Develop mindfulness of breathing.24.2Ānāpānassati hi te, rāhula, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā.When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial.24.3Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, rāhula, ānāpānassati, kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā?And how is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated to be very fruitful and beneficial?

25.1Idha, rāhula, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.It’s when a mendicant—gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut—sits down cross-legged, sets their body straight, and brings mindfulness to the present.25.2So satova assasati satova passasati.Just mindful, they breathe in. Mindful, they breathe out.11

26.1Dīghaṁ vā assasanto ‘dīghaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, dīghaṁ vā passasanto ‘dīghaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti;Breathing in heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing in heavily.’ Breathing out heavily they know: ‘I’m breathing out heavily.’26.2rassaṁ vā assasanto ‘rassaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, rassaṁ vā passasanto ‘rassaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti.Breathing in lightly they know: ‘I’m breathing in lightly.’ Breathing out lightly they know: ‘I’m breathing out lightly.’26.3‘Sabbakāyappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘sabbakāyappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing the whole body.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing the whole body.’26.4‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in stilling the physical process.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out stilling the physical process.’

27.1‘Pītippaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘pītippaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing rapture.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing rapture.’27.2‘sukhappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘sukhappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing bliss.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing bliss.’27.3‘cittasaṅkhārappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘cittasaṅkhārappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing the mental process.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing the mental process.’27.4‘passambhayaṁ cittasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘passambhayaṁ cittasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in stilling the mental process.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out stilling the mental process.’

28.1‘Cittappaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘cittappaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in experiencing the mind.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out experiencing the mind.’28.2‘abhippamodayaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘abhippamodayaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in gladdening the mind.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out gladdening the mind.’28.3‘samādahaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘samādahaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in immersing the mind in samādhi.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out immersing the mind in samādhi.’28.4‘vimocayaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘vimocayaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in freeing the mind.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out freeing the mind.’

29.1‘Aniccānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘aniccānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing impermanence.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing impermanence.’29.2‘virāgānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘virāgānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing fading away.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing fading away.’29.3‘nirodhānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘nirodhānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing cessation.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing cessation.’29.4‘paṭinissaggānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati; ‘paṭinissaggānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing letting go.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing letting go.’

30.1PTS 1.426Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, rāhula, ānāpānassati, evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā.Mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated in this way, is very fruitful and beneficial.30.2Evaṁ bhāvitāya, rāhula, ānāpānassatiyā, evaṁ bahulīkatāya yepi te carimakā assāsā tepi viditāva nirujjhanti no aviditā”ti.When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated in this way, even as the final breaths cease they are known, not unknown.”

30.3Idamavoca bhagavā.That is what the Buddha said.30.4Attamano āyasmā rāhulo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.Satisfied, Venerable Rāhula approved what the Buddha said.12

30.5Mahārāhulovādasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dutiyaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. Compared to MN 61, now the Buddha is assigning advanced practices to Rāhula, recommending a diverse range of different meditations.

    The unusual structure raises questions as to its historicity, which I will discuss in my final note, having noted relevant details along the way.

    ↩ mn62:1.1
  2. According to the commentary, Rāhula was now eighteen years old, situating this sutta several years after MN 61.

    ↩ mn62:2.2
  3. The commentary says that the Buddha admonished him because he was admiring his father’s beauty, thinking that he looked similar. See MN 61:8.2, which similarly implies that vanity was a weakness of Rāhula.

    ↩ mn62:3.3
  4. He decides to meditate rather than eat for that day.

    ↩ mn62:4.1
  5. Rāhula would have still been a novice (sāmaṇera) as he was not yet twenty. It was Sāriputta who ordained him (Kd 1:54.2.7).

    ↩ mn62:5.1
  6. The Pali text has a striking narrative form. The Buddha encourages Rāhula to contemplate form; then Sāriputta urges him in breath meditation; but when Rāhula asks the Buddha about that, the Buddha ignores him (until much later in the sutta) and instead expands on his instructions on form. The Chinese parallel (EA 17.1 at T ii 581c–582c) paints quite a different picture. Sāriputta does not appear at all, and it is the Buddha who instructs Rāhula when he is meditating, teaching him not just mindfulness of breathing but also the meditations on the ugliness of the body and the divine abidings. Then, when Rāhula approaches him later to ask further about mindfulness of breathing, the Buddha teaches him this right away, omitting entirely the long section on the elements. Both suttas agree on teaching Rāhula a range of meditations, but the Pali implies that he needed to mature his mind with a range of other meditations before attempting mindfulness of breathing, a situation of which Sāriputta was not aware.

    ↩ mn62:7.1
  7. This largely follows MN 140:14.4 and MN 28:4.1, the latter of which was taught by Sāriputta. There the expanded teaching is clearly situated within the contemplation of form, whereas here it is somewhat abrupt.

    ↩ mn62:8.1
  8. The MS edition has an extended passage here that appears to be imported from the Abhidhamma (eg, Vb 3:10.5). It would translate as: “space, spacious, void, voidness, opening, openness, untouched, and appropriated by flesh and blood.”

    ↩ mn62:12.5
  9. This simile and those that follow on water, fire, and wind are found at AN 9.11:4.1, where they are also spoken by Sāriputta.

    ↩ mn62:13.3
  10. This phrase is unique in the early texts. It is quoted by name in Mil 7.4.6:5.4.

    ↩ mn62:17.3
  11. For notes on this practice, see MN 118:17.2.

    ↩ mn62:25.2
  12. The Chinese parallel presents a fuller picture of Rāhula’s progress at this point, saying he went away, developed jhānas, and became an arahant, before returning to announce this to the Buddha, who praised him as the foremost of those desiring training. In the Pali, Rāhula’s awakening occurs differently in MN 147, while he is praised for desiring training at AN 1.209:1.1.

    It is not easy to assess the historical authenticity of this sutta. The Chinese version presents a more coherent narrative that may indicate less corruption. Yet it expands the ending, making the sutta a comprehensive account of Rāhula’s progress. The collection from which it stems, the Ekottarikāgama, is the latest and least orthodox of extant Āgama collections, and it could be that it has streamlined a knotty narrative. The Pali, with its abrupt narrative transition and its implication that Sāriputta got his meditation instructions wrong, has more of the randomness of natural dialogue. Yet the fact that the portions extra to the Chinese include not only the person of Sāriputta, but also teachings associated with Sāriputta, is hard to explain as a loss of text. Perhaps both texts have been expanded from a simpler original where the Buddha teaches meditation to his son.

    ↩ mn62:30.4