SA 810（八一〇） 金刚

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Saralī Forest by the banks of the Vajra River.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda was alone in a quiet place, contemplating in meditation, and had this thought: "Is there one Dharma that, when cultivated and practiced much, leads to the fulfillment of four dharmas; when the four dharmas are fulfilled, the seven dharmas are fulfilled; when the seven dharmas are fulfilled, the two dharmas are fulfilled?"

Then Venerable Ānanda, having awakened from meditation, went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! I was alone in a quiet place, contemplating in meditation, and had this thought: 'Is there one Dharma that, when cultivated and practiced much, leads to the fulfillment of four dharmas, and so on, up to the fulfillment of two dharmas? I now ask the World-Honored One, is there one Dharma that, when cultivated and practiced much, can lead to the fulfillment of four dharmas, and so on, up to the fulfillment of two dharmas?'"

The Buddha told Ānanda: "There is one Dharma that, when cultivated and practiced much, can lead to the fulfillment of two dharmas. What is the one Dharma? It is mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation. When cultivated and practiced much, it can lead to the fulfillment of the four foundations of mindfulness; when the four foundations of mindfulness are fulfilled, the seven factors of awakening are fulfilled; when the seven factors of awakening are fulfilled, clear comprehension and liberation are fulfilled. How does cultivating mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation lead to the fulfillment of the four foundations of mindfulness? This bhikṣu relies on a village, and so on, and practices mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation as if exhaling. Ānanda! In this way, the noble disciple, when practicing mindfulness of inhalation, practices mindfulness of inhalation; when practicing mindfulness of exhalation, practices mindfulness of exhalation; whether long or short, he is aware of all bodily activities, and when practicing mindfulness of inhalation, practices mindfulness of inhalation; when practicing mindfulness of exhalation, practices mindfulness of exhalation; when the bodily activities cease and he practices mindfulness of inhalation, he practices mindfulness of inhalation with the cessation of bodily activities; when the bodily activities cease and he practices mindfulness of exhalation, he practices mindfulness of exhalation with the cessation of bodily activities. At that time, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness of the body observing the body, and for those who are different from the body, he also contemplates the body in the same way.

If at some time the noble disciple is aware of joy, pleasure, mental activity, and the cessation of mental activity, when practicing mindfulness of inhalation, he practices mindfulness of inhalation with the cessation of mental activity; when practicing mindfulness of exhalation, he practices mindfulness of exhalation with the cessation of mental activity. At that time, the noble disciple abides in mindfulness of feelings observing feelings, and for those who have different feelings, he also contemplates feelings in the same way.

"If at some time the noble disciple contemplates impermanence, cessation, dispassion, and cessation, practicing mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation as if contemplating impermanence, cessation, dispassion, and cessation, at that time the noble disciple abides in mindfulness of the Dharma observing the Dharma, and for those who are different from the Dharma, he also contemplates the Dharma in the same way. This is called cultivating mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation, fulfilling the four foundations of mindfulness."

Ānanda addressed the Buddha, saying: "Thus cultivating mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation fulfills the four foundations of mindfulness. How does cultivating the four foundations of mindfulness fulfill the seven factors of awakening?"

The Buddha told Ānanda: "If a bhikṣu abides in mindfulness of the body observing the body, having abided in mindfulness, he abides in mindfulness without forgetting. At that time, he cultivates the factor of awakening of mindfulness by skillful means. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of mindfulness, the factor of awakening of mindfulness is fulfilled. Having fulfilled the factor of awakening of mindfulness, he selects and contemplates the Dharma. At that time, he cultivates the factor of awakening of discrimination of phenomena by skillful means. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of discrimination of phenomena, the factor of awakening of discrimination of phenomena is fulfilled. Having selected, distinguished, and contemplated the Dharma, he attains the skillful means of diligence. At that time, he cultivates the factor of awakening of diligence by skillful means. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of diligence, the factor of awakening of diligence is fulfilled. Having skillfully exerted diligence, his mind is joyful. At that time, he cultivates the factor of awakening of joy by skillful means. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of joy, the factor of awakening of joy is fulfilled. Having been joyful, his body and mind are tranquil. At that time, he cultivates the factor of awakening of tranquility by skillful means. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of tranquility, the factor of awakening of tranquility is fulfilled. Having been tranquil, his body and mind are blissful. He attains samādhi. At that time, he cultivates the factor of awakening of concentration. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of concentration, the factor of awakening of concentration is fulfilled. Having fulfilled the factor of awakening of concentration, greed and sorrow are extinguished, and he attains equanimity. At that time, he cultivates the factor of awakening of equanimity by skillful means. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of equanimity, the factor of awakening of equanimity is fulfilled. The same is said for the foundations of mindfulness of feeling, mind, and phenomena. This is called cultivating the four foundations of mindfulness, fulfilling the seven factors of awakening."

Ānanda addressed the Buddha, saying: "This is called cultivating the four foundations of mindfulness, fulfilling the seven factors of awakening. How does cultivating the seven factors of awakening fulfill clear comprehension and liberation?"

The Buddha told Ānanda: "If a bhikṣu cultivates the factor of awakening of mindfulness, he relies on seclusion, relies on non-attachment, relies on cessation, and inclines towards letting go. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of mindfulness, he fulfills clear comprehension and liberation. Up to cultivating the factor of awakening of equanimity, he relies on seclusion, relies on non-attachment, relies on cessation, and inclines towards letting go. Having cultivated the factor of awakening of equanimity in this way, clear comprehension and liberation are fulfilled. Ānanda! This is called the mutual similarity and mutual nourishment of dharmas. In this way, these thirteen dharmas are one dharma as the dominant condition, one dharma as the gateway, gradually increasing and progressing, and being cultivated to fulfillment."

Having spoken this sūtra, the World-Honored One, the Venerable Ānanda, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.