Winning the Highest by Awareness! Once when the Venerable
Anuruddha was dwelling at
Savatthi
in Jeta's Grove,
in
Anāthapindika's Park, a number of Bhikkhus went
to
the Venerable
Anuruddha & exchanged polite
greetings with him.
Then they sat down and asked the Ven.
Anuruddha: Venerable
Sir:
What has the Venerable Anuruddha developed & cultivated so
that
he has attained to his famous greatness of direct knowledge?
He answered:
It is, friends, because I have developed and cultivated these four
Foundations of Awareness, that I have won great direct knowledge!
What four? Here, friends, I dwell constantly contemplating upon:
1:
The
Body only as a formed group, neither as me, lasting, nor pleasure!
2:
The
Feelings
only as passing sensations, neither as mine, nor pleasure!
3:
The
Mind
only as temporary mentalities, neither as I, nor any self!
4:
All
Phenomena
only as mental states, neither as substance, nor real!
while eager,
clearly comprehending,
& fully
aware, thereby removing
any desire & frustration rooted in this world! It is, friends, because
I have developed & cultivated these
Four
Foundations of Awareness,
that I have become empowered with the suprahuman forces: I see &
understand as it really is, any present defilement, the obstruction of,
the cleaning of, and the emergence from all the subtle
jhāna states,
all the deliverances, all concentrations, & all higher mental attainments.
It is, because I have developed and
fully refined these
indeed supreme Four
Foundations of Awareness, that I by the full elimination of the
mental fermentations, in this very life enter & dwell in the stainless
release of mind,
&
release by understanding, realizing it myself with
direct knowledge, gained through direct experience...
Foundation of Awareness = 4 Great Frames
of Reference!
=
