MN 62 Longer Advice to Rāhula

HeartDhamma

MN 62 Longer Advice to Rāhula

Mahārāhulovāda Sutta

Thus I have heard,

Once, the Awakened One was staying in Sāvatthi

at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery in Jeta’s grove.

Then, in the morning, he dressed up,

took his bowl and robe and entered Sāvatthi for alms

and the venerable Rāhula did the same,

following on the Awakened one closely.

[After reading the mind of his son, Rāhula],

The Awakened one looked back and said:

“Rāhula, whatever physical shapes exist

Whether past, present or future,

For oneself or for others,

Gross or fine,

Coarse or sublime,

Far or near,

All physical shapes should be seen, as they actually are, with wise discernment :

“This is not mine,

‘I’ am not this,

this is not my self. ‘ [i]

[Rāhula]

“Only physical shapes master?

Only physical shapes Blessed one?”

[Buddha]

“Physical shapes, Rāhula,

as well as felt experiences,

perceptions,

mental activities,

and consciousness.“

Then, the venerable Rāhula thought:

“Who could ever go for alms on a day like this,

after being so advised by the teacher?”

And he went to the foot of a tree, sat down cross-legged,

With his body erect and settled into presence of mind. [ii]

Then, the venerable Sāriputta saw the venerable Rāhula sitting there as such.

The venerable Sāriputta then said to him:

“Cultivate meditation using the breath as a reminder, Rāhula. When it is trained in and cultivated, it is highly fruitful and greatly beneficial.”

Then, when the evening came around, the venerable Rāhula came out of seclusion, went to the awakened one,

paid loving respects, sat down beside him and asked:

“Bhante, how is awareness cultivated, using the breath as a reminder?

How does one train in it so it may be highly fruitful and greatly beneficial?”

1. Wise Understanding

A. The Elements are Impersonal

Earth Element

“Rāhula, whatever one considers as hard or solid, within oneself, as being a part of oneself, like: [iii]

the hair on their head, the hair on their body,

nails, teeth, skin, muscles,

tendons, bones, bone marrow, kidneys,

the heart, the liver, the pleura, the spleen, the lungs,

the intestines, the colon, the matter in the bowels, and feces,

And any other things one considers hard or solid, within oneself, as being a part of oneself;

That is called the earth element inside oneself.

So whether it is the earth element inside

or the earth element outside,

both are nothing but the earth element. [iv]

[And one should think of it in this way:]

This is not me,

there is no ‘I’ in this,

this is not my self;

This is how it is to be seen, with proper discernment.

Seeing in this manner, with proper discernment

one lets go of the earth element,

one’s mind does not cling to the earth element. [v]

Water Element

What is the water element?

There is the water element inside

and the water element outside. [vi]

What is the water element inside?

Whatever one considers fluid or watery within oneself, as being a part of oneself, like:

Bile, phlegm, pus, blood

sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva,

mucus, synovial fluid, urine;

And any other things one considers fluid or watery within oneself, as being a part of oneself;

That is called the water element inside oneself..

So whether it is the water element within

or the water element outside,

both are nothing but the water element.

[And one should think of it in this way:]

This is not me,

there is no ‘I’ in this,

this is not my self;

This is how it is to be seen, with proper discernment.

Seeing in this manner, with wise discernment

one lets go of the water element,

one’s mind does not cling to the water element.

Fire Element

What is the fire element?

There is the fire element inside

And the fire element outside.

What is the fire element?

Whatever one considers burning or fiery within oneself, as being a part of oneself, like: [vii]

That which creates heat,

that which is broken down,

that which is consumed,

that which is eaten and ingested

and then properly digested [viii]

And any other things one considers burning or fiery, within oneself, as being a part of oneself;

This is called the fire element inside oneself.

So whether it is the fire element within

or the fire element outside,

both are nothing but the fire element.

[And one should think of it in this way:]

This is not me,

there is no ‘I’ in this,

this is not my self;

This is how it is to be seen, with proper discernment.

Seeing in this manner, with wise discernment,

one lets go of the fire element,

one’s mind does not hold on to the fire element.

Air Element

What is the air element?

There is the air element inside

And the air element outside.

What is the air element inside?

Whatever one considers airy or windy within oneself, as being a part of oneself, like:

upward going winds,

downward going winds

wind in the belly,

wind in the intestine,

wind that flows throughout the body

Breathing in and breathing out; [ix]

And any other things one considers airy or windy, within oneself, as being a part of oneself;

That is called the wind element inside oneself.

So whether it is the wind element within

or the wind element outside,

both are nothing but the wind element.

[And one should think of it in this way:]

‘This is not me,

there is no ‘I’ in this,

this is not my self;’

This is how it is to be seen, with proper discernment.

Seeing in this manner, with wise discernment

one lets go of the fire element,

one’s mind does not hold on to the fire element.

Space Element

What is the space element?

There is the space element inside

and the space element outside.

What is the space element outside?

Whatever one considers as space or spatial within oneself, as being a part of oneself, like:

The cavity of the ears,

the cavity of the nose,

the aperture of the mouth,

where what is drunk, chewed, eaten and tasted

gets swallowed,

where it remains,

where it is excreted from the lower end; [x]

And any other things one considers as space or spatial, within oneself, as being a part of oneself;

like air,

that which is airy,

an opening,

or anything pertaining to an open cleft,

a cut, from which flesh and blood are seen; [xi]

This is called the space element inside oneself.

So whether it is the space element within

or the space element outside,

both are nothing but the space element.

[And one should think of it in this way:]

‘This is not me,

there is no ‘I’ in this,

this is not my self;’

This is how it is to be seen, with proper discernment.

Seeing in this manner, with wise discernment

one lets go of the space element,

one’s mind does not hold on to the space element.

2. Meditation Instructions

Meditation Like the Earth

Rāhula, cultivate meditation like the earth.

Cultivating meditation like the earth,

desirable and undesirable sensory contacts that arise

will not overrun your mind and persist. [xii]

Just as people throw desirable things

and undesirable things upon the earth, like:

excrements, urine,

spit, pus, and blood;

Earth is not disgusted

vexed, or repulsed. [xiii]

[…] [1]

Meditation Like Water

Rāhula, cultivate meditation like water.

Cultivating meditation like water,

desirable and undesirable sensory contacts that arise

will not overrun your mind and persist.

Just as people throw desirable things

and undesirable things in water, like:

excrements, urine,

spit, pus, and blood;

Water is not disgusted

vexed, or repulsed.

[…]

Meditation Like Fire

Rāhula, cultivate meditation like fire.

Cultivating meditation like fire,

desirable and undesirable sensory contacts that arise

will not overrun your mind and persist.

Just as people throw desirable things

and undesirable things in fire, like:

excrements, urine,

spit, pus, and blood;

Fire is not disgusted,

vexed, or repulsed.

[…]

Meditation Like Air

Rāhula, cultivate meditation like air.

Cultivating meditation like air,

desirable and undesirable sensory contacts that arise

will not overrun your mind and persist.

Just as people throw desirable things

and undesirable things in the air, like:

excrements, urine,

spit, pus, and blood;

Air is not disgusted

nor vexed, nor does it hate.

[…]

Meditation Like Space

Rāhula, cultivate meditation like space.

Cultivating meditation like space,

desirable and undesirable sensory contacts that arise

will not overrun your mind and persist.

Just as space is not supported

and is not resting anywhere upon anything,

cultivate meditation like space.

[…]

Boundless Love

Then, Rāhula, cultivate meditation on boundless love.

Cultivating boundless love,

aversion will wear away. [xiv]

Boundless Compassion

Then, Rāhula, cultivate meditation on boundless compassion.

Cultivating boundless compassion,

retaliation will wear away. [xv]

Boundless Joy

Then, Rāhula, cultivate meditation on boundless joy.

Cultivating boundless joy,

discontent will wear away. [xvi]

Boundless Calm

Then, Rāhula, cultivate meditation on boundless calm.

Cultivating boundless calm,

agitation will wear away. [xvii]

Meditation on Disadvantages

Then, Rāhula, cultivate meditation on disadvantages.

Cultivating meditation on disadvantages,

longing will wear away. [xviii]

Meditation on Transience

Then, Rāhula, cultivate meditation on the transitory [nature of all experience.]

Cultivating meditation on the transitory [nature of all experience],

the conceit I-am will fall off. [xix]

The Breath as a Reminder

Then, Rāhula, cultivate meditation following the breath as a reminder.

When it is well trained and cultivated,

Meditation using the breath as a reminder

is highly fruitful and greatly beneficial.”

How?

Here, Rāhula, someone goes

to the forest,

at the root of a tree,

in an empty cabin,

sitting down with legs folded and body upright

and settles into presence of mind.

One breathes in with presence of mind,

One breathes out with presence of mind.

[First Stage]

(1) One is aware of a long breath as a long breath.