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Majjhima Nikaaya I.
2. 10. Vitakkasanthaanasutta.m-
(20) The Discursively Thinking Mind.
I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anaathapinddika in
Jetas grove in Saavatthi. The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus from
there."Bhikkhus, by the bhikkhu developing the mind five things should be attended to
from time to time. What five:The bhikkhu attending to a certain sign if evil demeritorious
thoughts arise conductive to interest, anger and delusion, he should change that sign and
attend to some other sign conductive to merit, then those signs conductive to interest,
anger and delusion fade, and the mind settles and comes to a single point. Like a clever
carpenter or his apprentice would get rid of a coarse peg with the help of a fine peg. In
the same manner the bhikkhu attending to a certain sign, if evil demeritorious thoughts
arise conductive to interest, anger and delusion, he should change that sign and attend to
some other sign conductive to merit, then those signs conductive to interest, anger and
delusion fade, the mind settles and comes to a single point.
Even when the bhikkhu has changed the sign and attended some other sign, if evil
demeritorious thoughts arise conductive to interest, anger and delusion, the bhikkhu
should examine the dangers of those thoughts.These thoughts of mine are evil, faulty and
bring unpleasant results. When the dangers of those thoughts are examined those evil
demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion fade. With their fading
the mind settles and comes to a sigle point. Like a woman, a man, a child or youth fond of
adornment would loathe and would be disgusted when the carcase of a snake, dog or a human
corpse was wrapped round the neck. In the same manner when the bhikkhu has changed the
sign and attended some other sign, if evil demeritorious thoughts arise conductive to
interest, anger and delusion, the bhikkhu should examine the dangers of those thoughts.
These thoughts of mine are evil, loathesome, faulty and bring unpleasant results. When the
dangers of those thoughts are examined, those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to
interest, anger and delusion fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to a
single point.
Even when the bhikkhu has examined the dangers of those evil demeritorious thoughts
conductive to interest, anger and delusion, if those evil demeritorious thoughts conducive
to interest, anger and delusion arise, he should not attend to them. When those evil
demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion are not attended, they
fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to a single point. Like a man who would
not like to see forms, that come to the purview would either close his eyes or look away.
In the same manner when the bhikkhu has examined the dangers of those evil demeritorious
thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion, if evil demeritorious thoughts
conductive to interest, anger and delusion arise, he should not attend to them. When those
evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion are not attended,
they fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to a single point.
Even when the bhikkhu did not attend to those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to
interest, anger and delusion, if these evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest,
anger and delusion arise, he should attend to appeasing the whole intentional thought
process. When attending to appeassing the whole intentional thought process, those evil
demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion fade. With their fading
the mind settles and comes to a single point. Like it would occur to a man walking fast:
why should I walk fast, what if I stand. Then he would stand. Standing it would occur to
him: Why should I stand, what if I sit. Then he would sit. Sitting it would occur to him:
Why should I sit, what if I lie.Thus abandoning the more coarse posture, would maintain
the finer posture. In the same manner when attending to appeasing the whole intentional
thought process, those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and
delusion fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to a single point. .
Even when attending to appeasing the whole intentional thought process, those evil
demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion arise, the bhikkhu
should press the upper jaw on the lower jaw and pushing the tongue on the palate should
subdue and burn out those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and
delusion. Then those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and
delusion fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to a single point. Like a
strong man taking a weaker one by the head or body would press him and trouble him. In the
same manner the bhikkhu should press the upper jaw on the lower jaw and pushing the tongue
on the palate should subdue and burn out those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to
interest, anger and delusion. Then those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to
interest, anger and delusion fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to one
point.
Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu attending to a certain sign, if evil demeritorious thoughts
conductive to interest, anger and delusion arise, he attends to another sign conductive to
merit, those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion fade.
With their fading the mind settles and comes to one point .
When attending to the danger of those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to
interest, anger and delusion, those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest,
anger and delusion fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to one point.:When
not attending to those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and
delusion, those evil demeritorious thoughts conductive to interest, anger and delusion
fade. With their fading the mind settles and comes to one point: When attending to
appeasing the whole intentional thought process, these evil demeritorious thoughts
conductive to interest, anger and delusion fade. With their fading the mind settles and
comes to one point, The bhikkhu pressing the lower jaw with the upper jaw and pushing the
tongue on the palate would subdue and burn out those evil demeritorious thoughts
conductive to interest, anger and delusion. Then those evil demeritorious thoughts
conductive to interest, anger and delusion fade. With their fading the mind settles and
comes to one point. Bhikkhus, this is called the bhikkhu is master over thought
processes..Whatever thought he wants to think, that he thinks, whatever thought he does
not want to think, that he does not think He puts an end to craving , dispels the bonds
and rightfully overcoming measuring makes an end of unpleasantness. .
The Blessed One said thus, and those bhikkhus delighted in the words of the Blessed
One.
[ End of the Siihanaadavagga]
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