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Samyutta Nikaya

# SN 52.8 alaḷāgāra Sutta (The Frankincense-tree Hut) SN 52.8

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## Text

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    SN 52.8
    Saṁyutta Nikāya
    Mahāvagga Saṁyutta (On the Great Section)

    Anuruddha Saṁyutta
    Connected Discourses on Anuruddha

    Rahogata Vagga
    The Section on Seclusion

    Salaḷāgāra Sutta
    “The Frankincense-tree Hut”

    Translated by Bhikkhu Candana
    Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2023

    At one time the Venerable Anuruddha was staying in the vicinity of Sāvatthī, living at the
    frankincense-tree hut. It was during that time when the Venerable Anuruddha addressed the
    Bhikkhus and said:

    “Friends, imagine how even though the River Ganges meanders, slants, and makes its way
    towards the east, a large crowd of determined people would gather with their shovels and
    buckets, declaring:

    ‘We have decided to make this River Ganges meander, slant, and make its way towards the west,
    instead!’

    “Now, what do you think, friends? Would they have a chance at succeeding in their attempt?”
    “No, friend. And why do we say this? It is because the River Ganges river meanders, slants, and
    makes its way towards the east. It would be difficult, if not impossible for them to make it
    change course and start meandering, slanting, and make its way towards the west, instead.
    Because, that large crowd will certainly get exhausted and frustrated, and soon give up in their
    futile efforts.”
    “In just the same manner, friends, when a Bhikkhu dedicatedly cultivates and developes the Four
    Establishments of Mindfulness meditation, and with strong earnestness, even if rulers, their kings
    and ministers, friends or associates, relatives or family members were to offer him wealth, while
    trying to persuade him, by saying:
    ‘Please, sir, why let these ocher robes frustrate or stymie you? Why keep shaving your head and
    carrying an alms bowl around to get your food? Come now, return to what the bald-headed ones

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    call the ‘lower lifestyle,’ and freely enjoy wealth and pleasures, while also making merits at the
    same time!’
    “Now, friends, it would simply be impossible for a Bhikkhu who is dedicatedly cultivating and
    developing the Four Establishments of Mindfulness meditation, and with strong earnestness, to
    give up the training and return to the lower lifestyle of a householder.
    “And why do I say this?
    “It is because for a long time that Bhikkhu’s heart has enjoyed meandering, slanting, and making
    its way towards seclusion. Therefore, it is simply impossible for such a Bhikkhu to return back to
    the lower lifestyle of a householder.
    “And how, friends, does a Bhikkhu dedicatedly cultivate and develop the Four Establishments of
    Mindfulness meditation, and with strong earnestness?
    1. “Friends, he meditates while observing whatever experiences that arise or take place
    internally, within the body; he meditates while observing the disappearance of whatever
    experiences that were taking place internally, within the body; he meditates while observing both
    the appearance and disappearance of whatever experiences that occur internally, within the body.
    In this manner, he continues meditating while mindfully observing and staying with the body
    with keen interest and careful attention, without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the
    experience, nor desiring to change or fight the truth of whatever is taking place.
    “Further, he meditates while observing whatever experiences that arise or take place externally,
    on the body; he meditates while observing the disappearance of whatever experiences that were
    taking place externally, on the body; he meditates while observing both the appearance and
    disappearance of whatever experiences that occur externally, on the body. In this manner, he
    continues meditating while mindfully observing and staying with the body with keen interest and
    careful attention, without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to
    change or fight the truth of whatever is taking place.
    “Further, he meditates while observing whatever experiences that arise or take place both,
    internally within and externally, on the body; he meditates while observing the disappearance of
    whatever experiences that were taking place both, internally within and externally, on the body;
    he meditates while observing both the appearance and disappearance of whatever experiences
    that occur both, internally within and externally, on the body. In this manner, he continues
    meditating while mindfully observing and staying with the body with keen interest and careful
    attention, without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change
    or fight the truth of whatever is taking place.
    2. “Similarly, friends, the Bhikkhu meditates while observing whatever feelings that arise or take
    place internally, within; he meditates while observing the disappearance of whatever experiences
    that were taking place internally, within; he meditates while observing both the appearance and
    disappearance of whatever experiences that occur internally, within. In this manner, he continues
    meditating while mindfully observing feelings with keen interest and careful attention, without
    having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change or fight the truth
    of whatever is taking place.

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    “Further, he meditates while observing whatever feelings that arise or take place due to external
    causes; he meditates while observing the disappearance of whatever experiences that were taking
    place due to external causes; he meditates while observing both the appearance and
    disappearance of whatever experiences that occur due to external causes. In this manner, he
    continues meditating while mindfully observing feelings with keen interest, careful attention,
    without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change or fight
    the truth of whatever is taking place.
    “Further, he meditates while observing whatever experiences that arise or take place both
    internally, within and due to external causes; he meditates while observing the disappearance of
    whatever experiences that were taking place both internally, within and due to external causes;
    he meditates while observing both the appearance and disappearance of whatever experiences
    that occur both internally, within and due to external causes. In this manner, he continues
    meditating while mindfully observing feelings with keen interest, careful attention, without
    having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change or fight the truth
    of whatever is taking place.
    3. “Similarly friends, the Bhikkhu meditates while observing whatever mental states that arise or
    take place internally, within; he meditates while observing the disappearance of whatever mental
    states that were taking place internally, within; he meditates while observing both the appearance
    and disappearance of whatever mental states that occur internally, within. In this manner, he
    continues meditating while mindfully observing mental states with keen interest, careful
    attention, without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change
    or fight the truth of whatever is taking place.
    “Further, he meditates while observing whatever mental states arising due to outside causes; he
    meditates while observing the disappearance of whatever mental states arising due to outside
    causes; he meditates while observing both the appearance and disappearance of whatever mental
    states arising due to outside causes. In this manner, he continues meditating while mindfully
    observing mental states with keen interest, careful attention, without having any desire to avoid
    nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change or fight the truth of whatever is taking place.
    “Further, he meditates while observing the mental states that arises or take place both internally,
    within and those arising due to outside causes; he meditates while observing the disappearance
    of whatever mental states that were taking place both internally, within and those arising due to
    outside causes; he meditates while observing both the appearance and disappearance of whatever
    mental states that occur both internally, within and those arising due to outside causes. In this
    manner, he continues meditating while mindfully observing mental states with keen interest,
    careful attention, without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to
    change or fight the truth of whatever is taking place.
    4. “Similarly friends, the Bhikkhu meditates while observing the relationships of whatever
    phenomena that arise or take place internally within; he meditates while observing the
    disappearance of relationships of whatever phenomena that were taking place internally within;
    he meditates while observing both the appearance and disappearance of the relationships of
    whatever phenomena that occur internally within. In this manner, he continues meditating while
    observing the relationships of phenomena with keen interest, careful attention, without having

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    any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change or fight the truth of
    whatever is taking place.
    “Further, he meditates while observing the relationships of whatever phenomena arising due to
    outside causes; he meditates while observing the disappearance of the relationships of whatever
    phenomena arising due to outside causes; he meditates while observing both the appearance and
    disappearance of the relationships of whatever phenomena arising due to outside causes. In this
    manner, he continues meditating while observing the relationships of phenomena with keen
    interest, careful attention, without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor
    desiring to change or fight the truth of whatever is taking place.
    “Also, he meditates while observing the relationships of whatever phenomena that arise or take
    place both internally within and those arising due to outside causes; he meditates while
    observing the disappearance of the relationships of whatever phenomena that were taking place
    both internally within and those arising due to outside causes; he meditates while observing both
    the appearance and disappearance of the relationships of whatever phenomena that occur both
    internally, within, and those arising due to outside causes. In this manner, he continues
    meditating while observing the relationships of phenomena with keen interest, careful attention,
    without having any desire to avoid nor lean into the experience, nor desiring to change or fight
    the truth of whatever is taking place.
    “Therefore, friends, it is in this manner that a Bhikkhu dedicatedly cultivates and develops the
    Four Establishments of Mindfulness meditation, with strong earnestness.”

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

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