Nalanda Vagga

Satipathana Samyutta Mahavagga Samyutta,
Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

5. Bahiya Sutta
Discourse Concerning the Venerable Bahiya

      321. The Bhagava was staying at Savatthi. At that time the Venerable Bahiya approached the Bhagava and having paid homage to the Bhagava sat in a suitable place. After being thus seated, the Venerable Bahiya addressed the Bhagava thus: "Venerable Sir, may it please the Bhagava to teach the dhamma in a brief manner so that. having heard the dhamma, I can repair alone in a quiet place of solitude and abide (practising meditation) with mindfulness and diligence, with the mind bent on Nibbana."

      In that case, Bahiya, you should ensure purity in the first stage of meritorious practices. And what is the first stage of the meritorious practices? It is the practice of very pure morality and the holding of upright view (i.e., belief in reaping the fruits of one's own actions). When. Bahiya, your morality becomes very pure and your view becomes upright, then, based on morality and well-established in morality, you should cultivate the Four Methods of Stead fast Mindfulness.

      What are the Four (Satipatthanas)? Bahiya, in this Teaching you should abide keeping your mind steadfastly on the body (kaya) with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas ...p... on Sensation ... p... on Mind ...p... keep your mind steadfastly on Mind-Objects, with diligence, comprehension and mindfulness, thus keeping away covetousness and distress in the five khandhas. Bahiya, when based on morality and well established in morality, you develop the Four Methods of Steadfast Mindfulness, only progress in Meritorious factors is to be expected in days and nights to come not their decline.

      Then the Venerable Bahiya, gladdened at heart and rejoicing at the words of the Bhagava. paid respectful homage to the Bhagava, rose from his seat and left, keeping the Bhagava on his right. Then the Venerable Bahiya went to a quiet place of solitude and abided (practising meditation) with mindfulness and diligence, with the mind bent on Nibbana. He soon attained by himself, in this very life, by virtue of Magga Insight, the fruits of the noblest and the most supreme Arahatship, the ultimate goal for the sake of which men of good family leave the household life to lead the homeless life. He knew Rebirth is no more; the Noble Practice Purity has been accomplished; what is to be done (for Magga Insight) has been done; there is nothing more to do (to attain Magga Insight). Venerable Bahiya became one among the Arahats.

End of the Bahiya Sutta,

the fifth in this Vagga.