The Numerical Discourses 7.61
Nodding Off
Thus have I heard—
at one time the Bhagavā was dwelling among the Bhaggas, at Suṁsumāragira, in Bhesakaḷā Grove, the deer park.
Now at that time venerable Mahāmoggallāna was sitting nodding off among the Magadhans, in Kallavāḷaputta village.
The Bhagavā saw with the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human, venerable Mahāmoggallāna sitting nodding off among the Magadhans, in Kallavāḷaputta village.
Having seen him—
just as a strong man might extend a bent arm or bend an extended arm; in just the same way—he disappeared from among the Bhaggas, at Suṁsumāragira, in Bhesakaḷā Grove, the deer park, and appeared among the Magadhans, in Kallavāḷaputta village, in front of venerable Mahāmoggallāna.
The Bhagavā sat down on the prepared seat.
Seated, the Bhagavā said this to venerable Mahāmoggallāna:
“Are you nodding off, Moggallāna? Are you nodding off, Moggallāna?”
“Yes, bhante.”
“Therefore, Moggallāna, while you are dwelling with whatever saññā that drowsiness descends upon you, do not attend to that saññā; do not cultivate that saññā much.
It is possible, Moggallāna, that while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness may be abandoned.
If, while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should think over and examine in your citta the dhamma as you have heard it and as you have learned it, and review it with your mind.
It is possible that while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness may be abandoned.
If, while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should recite in detail the dhamma as you have heard it and as you have learned it.
It is possible that while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness may be abandoned.
If, while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should pull both ear openings and rub your limbs with your hand.
It is possible that while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness may be abandoned.
If, while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, having risen from your seat and washed your eyes with water, you should look around in the directions and gaze up at the constellations and star-forms.
It is possible that while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness may be abandoned.
If, while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should attend to the saññā of light, and resolve upon the saññā of day—
as by day, so at night; as at night, so by day.
Thus, with a citta open and unobstructed, you should develop [bhāveyyāsi] a citta full of radiance.
It is possible that while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness may be abandoned.
If, while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, perceiving what is behind and in front, you should resolve upon walking meditation, with your indriyas turned inward and with your mind not turned outward.
It is possible that while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness may be abandoned.
If, while you dwell in this way, that drowsiness is not abandoned, then, Moggallāna, you should lie down in the lion’s posture on your right side, placing one foot over the other, with sati and clearly comprehending [sampajāno], having attended to the saññā of rising.
And when you wake, Moggallāna, you should get up quickly:
‘I will not dwell devoted to the sukha of lying down, the sukha of reclining, the sukha of drowsiness.’
That is how you should train, Moggallāna.
Therefore, Moggallāna, you should train thus:
‘I will not approach families with my nose held high.’
That is how you should train, Moggallāna.
If, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu approaches families with his nose held high, there are, Moggallāna, duties and tasks in families.
Because of these, people do not attend to the bhikkhu who has come, and there it occurs to the bhikkhu:
‘Who now has set people against me in this family? These people now seem disaffected toward me.’
Thus, from not receiving something, there is dejection; for one dejected, restlessness; for one restless, lack of restraint; for one unrestrained, the citta is far from samādhi.
Therefore, Moggallāna, you should train thus:
‘I will not speak contentious talk.’
That is how you should train, Moggallāna.
When there is contentious talk, Moggallāna, an abundance of talk is to be expected; when there is an abundance of talk, restlessness; for one restless, lack of restraint; for one unrestrained, the citta is far from samādhi.
I do not, Moggallāna, praise association with everyone.
Nor, Moggallāna, do I not praise association with everyone.
I do not praise, Moggallāna, association with householders and those gone forth.
But those lodgings that are quiet, still, with a lonely atmosphere, secluded from people, and suitable for retreat — I praise association with such lodgings.”
When this was said, venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this to the Bhagavā:
“In what way, bhante, is a bhikkhu, in brief, liberated through the destruction of taṇhā, one who has reached the ultimate conclusion, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate consummation, the best among devas and humans?”
“Here, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu has heard:
‘All dhammas are not fit for clinging.’
And when, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu has heard this:
‘All dhammas are not fit for clinging.’
He directly knows every dhamma; having directly known every dhamma, he fully understands every dhamma. Having fully understood every dhamma, whatever vedanā he feels — whether sukha, dukkha, or neither-dukkha-nor-sukha.
He dwells contemplating impermanence [aniccānupassī] in those vedanās, dwells contemplating fading of passion in them, dwells contemplating cessation in them, dwells contemplating relinquishment in them.
Dwelling contemplating impermanence [aniccānupassī] in those vedanās, dwelling contemplating fading of passion in them, dwelling contemplating cessation in them, dwelling contemplating relinquishment in them, he does not cling to anything in the world;
not clinging, he is not agitated; not agitated, he personally attains final nibbāna.
He understands: ‘Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.’
In this way, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu is, in brief, liberated through the destruction of taṇhā, one who has reached the ultimate conclusion, the ultimate security from bondage, the ultimate holy life, the ultimate consummation, the best among devas and humans.”
The eighth.