The 8
Great Thoughts of a Good Man:
The
Buddha
once explained
to Ven.
Anuruddha:
What are the 8 thoughts of a great
man?
1: This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who wants much.
2; This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent.
3: This Dhamma is for one who is reclusive, not for the socializing
parrot.
4: This Dhamma is for one who is enthusiastic, not for one who is lazy.
5: This Dhamma is for one who is aware, not for one who is distracted.
6: This Dhamma is for one who is focused, not for one who is scattered.
7: This Dhamma is for one who understands, not for one who is confused.
8: This Dhamma is for one who enjoys unity, not for one who seeks
diversity.
When you think these
8 thoughts of a great man, then you can easily attain the four
jhānas,
that provides a pleasant dwelling right here, and
right now in this very life..
Secondly, your rag-robe and simple alms-food, your dwelling at the
tree-root, your bed on a
spread of grass, and your smelly urine-herb-medicine will seem to
you as the best of the best.
Therefore you will live contented, in sweet
delight, satisfied, dwelling in cool calm comfort,
not agitated at all, and thus gradually approach
release.
Anguttara Nikāya
IV 227 (edited excerpt)
Full text here:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.030.than.html
Comments:
Later during
this Rains Retreat in the Eastern
Bamboo Park, Ven.
Anuruddha
dwelling alone, secluded, alert, ardent, and resolute, in no long time
reached
and remained in that supreme goal of the holy life for which clansmen
rightly go
forth into homelessness, and directly experiencing it himself he
understood:
"Rebirth is ended, this Noble life is completed, what should be done is
done..
There is no further state beyond this in this world..." And thus Ven.
Anuruddha
became
another one of the awakened Arahants.
More on Ven.
Anuruddha
Buddha's cousin and one of his most eminent
disciples.
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/ay/anuruddha.htm
Anuruddha:
Master of the Divine Eye by Hellmuth Hecker:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Wheels/wh362.pdf
