AN 11.13: Mahanama Sutta (six recollections)

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I'd just like to share this excellent sutta, based on the six recollections, which can be very beneficial to practice.

AN 11.13: Mahanama Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Have you used any of the recollections outlined here? Have they been beneficial?

Metta,
Retro.

[appicchato]

Have you used any of the recollections outlined here? Have they been beneficial?

I have. And yes, I believe so.

I haven't completely come to grips with #6 as yet because I'm still trying assimilate the idea of different beings, on different planes...all in good time, I guess...

[retrofuturist]

Greetings venerable,

Do you think it would be reasonable to summarise it as an "each fares according to their deeds" kind of sentiment?

Metta,
Retro.

[Cittasanto]

I have recollected the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, My own Qualities, but not that of Devas well at least not specifically, more of the BrahmaViharas as a recolection!

[appicchato]

Greetings venerable,

Do you think it would be reasonable to summarise it as an "each fares according to their deeds" kind of sentiment?

Metta,
Retro.

Hi Retro,

I would...the Buddha refers to the next life pretty factually here ('they re-arose'), and it dovetails with 'cause and effect' too...so it's a pretty good bet that this is the way it is...although I haven't confirmed this personally...yet...

Be well...

[Ben]

Hi Retro

From time to time I recollect the qualities of triple gem.
From experience it has had quite an effect on attitude and motivation.
Metta

Ben

[rowyourboat]

I suspect these recollections are most useful for stream entrants! There is no problems in others doing these, ofcourse. Mahanama was a stream entrant. Steam entrants will have unshakeble faith in the buddha, dhamma ,sangha and will know what each of those words describing the dhamma and sangha mean from their own experience. Their virtues will be strong so they will be able to recollect these effectively and gain happiness from them. THey also are said to have the five faculties- faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, insight, which is mentioned in this sutta. I believe these recollections are a way forward for lay stream entrant to progress further.

with metta

[Peter]

I have used recollection of the Buddha a number of times. I find it helps calm the mind.

I wonder the purpose of the recollection of devas... maybe it is to give assurance that even if arahant is not attained then rebirth in the upper realms is still a nice result of practice?

[Dhammanando]

I wonder the purpose of the recollection of devas... maybe it is to give assurance that even if arahant is not attained then rebirth in the upper realms is still a nice result of practice?

"At any time when a disciple of the noble ones is recollecting the conviction, virtue, learning, generosity, and discernment found both in himself and the devas, his mind is not overcome with passion, not overcome with aversion, not overcome with delusion. His mind heads straight, based on the [qualities of the] devas. And when the mind is headed straight, the disciple of the noble ones gains a sense of the goal, gains a sense of the Dhamma, gains joy connected with the Dhamma. In one who is joyful, rapture arises. In one who is rapturous, the body grows calm. One whose body is calmed experiences ease. In one at ease, the mind becomes concentrated.

"Mahanama, you should develop this recollection of the devas while you are walking, while you are standing, while you are sitting, while you are lying down, while you are busy at work, while you are resting in your home crowded with children."

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

[Peter]

It just doesn't (yet?) make sense to me.

"At any time when a disciple of the noble ones is recollecting the conviction, virtue, learning, generosity, and discernment found both in himself and the devas..."

From the previous two recollections we see that recalling one's own virtue and generosity leads to concentration. So why recollect the devas at all? There must be some value in comparing these qualities to devas'.

[Dhammanando]

Hi Peter,

From the previous two recollections we see that recalling one's own virtue and generosity leads to concentration. So why recollect the devas at all? There must be some value in comparing these qualities to devas'.

In the Visuddhimagga it seems the difference is that devotion to devatānussati causes the devas to love you.

"And when a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of devatās, he becomes dearly loved by devatās. He obtains even greater fullness of faith. He has much happiness and gladness. And if he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny."
(PoP VII 118)

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

[Prasadachitta]

Hi all,

Contemplations essentially the same as these often spontaneously occur to me. If I am well absorbed in mediation when this occurs I can be struck with very intense feelings of devotion for the Three Jewels. This Sutta actually seems to illustrate what feels like the very heart of my practice. I used to think that I was going to experience some kind of understanding which trumped all other understanding. Although I dont necessarily write off that possibility I have recently started leaning more to the idea that its less a matter of "AHAA!!" and more a matter of "SHRADDHAA!!".


Metta

Gabriel

[Individual]

Greetings,

I'd just like to share this excellent sutta, based on the six recollections, which can be very beneficial to practice.

AN 11.13: Mahanama Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Have you used any of the recollections outlined here? Have they been beneficial?

Metta,
Retro.

I light a candle and incense for the Buddha every morning, and pray every night, in order to recollect on the Triple-Gem. My virtues (or lack thereof) is something that's pretty much nagging me almost every waking hour. Much of the time, I tune it out.

Hi Peter,

From the previous two recollections we see that recalling one's own virtue and generosity leads to concentration. So why recollect the devas at all? There must be some value in comparing these qualities to devas'.

In the Visuddhimagga it seems the difference is that devotion to devatānussati causes the devas to love you.

"And when a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of devatās, he becomes dearly loved by devatās. He obtains even greater fullness of faith. He has much happiness and gladness. And if he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny."
(PoP VII 118)

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

And who wouldn't want to be loved by the devas?!?

With metta ,
Individual

[rowyourboat]

'discernment found both in himself and the devas'

even more interesting: now assuming this was said to a stream entrant this would make sense. The path to becoming a deva is the development of saddha, sila, suta, caga, panna (faith, virtue, knowledge, generosity and insight). These are abundant in a stream entrant. Also if a stream entrant is born in the deva world he will go on to become enlightened in that life. So for a lay person who hasnt renounced this is a perfect path.

[Rui Sousa]

I find these recollections very beneficial.

Recollecting the qualities of the Devas, and the actions that led to their birth on that plane of existence, gives me great confidence on the triple gem.

It also gives me a different perspective of what is experienced.

[cooran]

Hello all,

There was a side discussion at a Retreat I attended late last year with Patrick Kearney. It concerned cetana (intention) and kusala and akusala cittas and vipaka. I asked a question citing my automatic monthly donations to a number of charitable foundations and dhamma centres. I was consciously aware on first implementing the donations and instructing the Bank to make them monthly - but aside from that, have not really thought of them since, except when getting the occasional email about activities the donations support.

It was suggested that I use the Recollections daily - even have a bank statement handy, so I was consciously aware of the dana I was performing. I understand the accumulations of wholesome and unwholesome cittas .... but, I have to say when I do it, it feels a little unusual .... having been brought up in a Society where you donate anonymously and don't 'brag'.

metta
Chris

[Peter]

I have to say when I do it, it feels a little unusual .... having been brought up in a Society where you donate anonymously and don't 'brag'.

So do it anonymously and don't brag. Neither of these actions is the same as recalling one's own deed in one's own mind.

[mikenz66]

It was suggested that I use the Recollections daily - even have a bank statement handy, so I was consciously aware of the dana I was performing. I understand the accumulations of wholesome and unwholesome cittas .... but, I have to say when I do it, it feels a little unusual .... having been brought up in a Society where you donate anonymously and don't 'brag'.
Chris

Yes, I think Patrick talks about this sort of thing on one of the talks on his website: http://dharmasalon.net/
About how dana is a public, not private action.

It used to seem odd to me to see my name, and how much I donated that month, on the noticeboard at the local Wat amongst the other names (mostly in Thai), but I think Patrick is right that some of us do a disservice to ourselves by being embarrassed about dana.

Metta
Mike

[Dhammanando]

Hi Mike,

It used to seem odd to me to see my name, and how much I donated that month, on the noticeboard at the local Wat amongst the other names (mostly in Thai), but I think Patrick is right that some of us do a disservice to ourselves by being embarrassed about dana.

And to others too, for the whole idea of the noticeboard in the wat (and in Thailand the irritating bloke with the microphone yelling out the names of all the donors) is to give people the opportunity to rejoice in the merit made by others, which itself is deemed a meritorious act.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

[Cittasanto]

Hi Mike,

It used to seem odd to me to see my name, and how much I donated that month, on the noticeboard at the local Wat amongst the other names (mostly in Thai), but I think Patrick is right that some of us do a disservice to ourselves by being embarrassed about dana.

And to others too, for the whole idea of the noticeboard in the wat (and in Thailand the irritating bloke with the microphone yelling out the names of all the donors) is to give people the opportunity to rejoice in the merit made by others, which itself is deemed a meritorious act.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

Hi All
Personally it doesn't bother me if my name is published or not for giving Dana, as I see that as a sort of thank-you which is not needed but nice to get!
the only time it has bothered me was when it was more of a congrats for the work you've done, aren't you special type of thing, it was more like an award ceremony than a communal thanks.