The Masses

Bhikkhus, these four persons are evident in the world. Which four?

The not yet bloomed recluse, the bloomed recluse, the bloomed recluse with a thousand petals and the most soft and graceful recluse.

Bhikkhus, who is the not yet bloomed recluse?

Here, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu abides with a desire to attain the noble end from unpleasantness not yet attained

Bhikkhus, this is the not yet bloomed recluse.

Bhikkhus, who is the bloomed recluse?

Here bhikkhus, the bhikkhu abides examining the arising and fading of the five holding masses: This is matter, this its arising, this its cessation. These are feelings, this its arising, this its cessation. These are perceptions, this their arising, this their cessation. These are determinations, this their arising, this their cessation. This is consciousness, this its arising and this its cessation. He abides not experiencing the eight releases with the body.

Bhikkhus, this person is a bloomed recluse.

Bhikkhus, who is the bloomed recluse with a thousand petals?

Here bhikkhus, the bhikkhu abides examining the arising and fading of the five holding masses: This is matter, this its arising, this its cessation. These are feelings, this its arising, this its cessation. These are perceptions, this their arising, this their cessation. These are determinations, this their arising, this their cessation. This is consciousness, this its arising and this its cessation. He abides experiencing the eight releases with the body.

Bhikkhus, this person is a bloomed recluse with a thousand petals.

Bhikkhus, who is the most soft and graceful recluse?

Here, bhikkhus, if the bhikkhu asked for many robes, he should partake them, if he did not ask, a few could be partaken. If the bhikkhu asked for, much morsel food, he should partake them, if he did not ask, a little could be partaken. If the bhikkhu asked for many dwellings, they should be partaken, if he did not ask a few could be partaken. If the bhikkhu asked for, many requisites when ill they should be partaken, if he did not ask, a few could be partaken. When living with other co-associates in the holy life, many of his bodily actions he did pleasantly, a few unpleasantly. Many of his verbal actions he did pleasantly a few unpleasantly. Many of his mental actions he did pleasantly, a few unpleasantly. Whatever presentations done he did them pleasantly, and seldom unpleasantly.

The many feelings arising on account of bile or phlegm or wind or all three together or the change of seasons or unusual activity, or sudden accidents, or born on accout of results of actions, are not to him. He suffers few ailments. Of the four higher states of the mind, the pleasant abidings here and now, he is a gainer for nothing, a quick gainer without difficulty. Destroying desires, releasing the mind and released through wisdom, he here and now realizing, abides

Bhikkhus, this is the most soft and graceful recluse

Bhikkhus, saying it correctly, I am that most soft and graceful recluse.

Bhikkhus, if I asked for, many robes I should partake them, if I did not ask, a few could be partaken. If I asked for, much morsel food, it should be partaken, if I did not ask, a little could be partaken. If I asked for, many dwellings they should be partaken, if I did not ask, a few could be partaken. If I asked for, many requisites when ill, they should be partaken, if I did not ask, a little could be partaken. When living with other co-associates in the holy life, many of my bodily actions I did pleasantly, a few unpleasantly. Many of my verbal actions I did pleasantly a few unpleasantly. Many of my mental actions I did pleasantly a few unpleasantly. Whatever presentations done by me, I did them pleasantly, and seldom unpleasantly.

The many feelings arising on account of bile or phlegm or wind or all three together or the change of seasons or unusual activity, or sudden accidents, or born on accout of results of actions, are not to me, I suffer few ailments. Of the four higher states of the mind, the pleasant abidings here and now, I am a gainer for nothing, a quick gainer without difficulty. Destroying desires, releasing the mind and released through wisdom, here and now realizing, I abide

Bhikkhus, I am that most soft and graceful recluse

Bhikkhus, these four persons are evident in the world.