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Eleven Things for Direct Knowledge of Lust: Absorptions, Divine Abidings and the Close of the Aṅguttara
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Eleven Things for Direct Knowledge of Lust: Absorptions, Divine Abidings and the Close of the Aṅguttara

Rāgassa bhikkhave abhiññāya ekādasa dhammā bhāvetabbā

The last section of the Aṅguttara Nikāya gives eleven things for understanding lust: the four absorptions, the heart's release through love, compassion, rejoicing and equanimity, and three formless attainments. It follows the simile of the cowherd who sees impermanence in the senses, and ends with the number of suttas in the whole collection.

7 points

In the section not included in the fifties at the end of the Book of Elevens of the Aṅguttara Nikāya, the Buddha begins with the simile of a cowherd with eleven factors, who is unable or able to make his herd thrive. In the same way, a monk with eleven qualities is unable or able to contemplate impermanence, suffering, not-self, ending, vanishing, fading, cessation and relinquishment in the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind and all related to them.

He then says eleven things should be developed for direct knowledge of lust: the first, second, third and fourth absorptions; the heart's release through love, compassion, rejoicing and equanimity; and the dimensions of infinite space, infinite consciousness and nothingness. They should also be developed to abandon many other defilements.

The section closes by stating that the Aṅguttara Nikāya contains 9,557 suttas. Compared with the matching section at the end of the Book of Tens, which relies mainly on perceptions and the ten kinds of rightness, this one relies mainly on calm and expansive states of mind.

  1. 1

    The cowherd and seeing impermanence Ekādasahi bhikkhave aṅgehi samannāgato gopālako

    A cowherd who doesn't know the form of his cattle, doesn't dress wounds, doesn't know the watering place, milks them dry and so on, eleven factors in all, cannot make his herd thrive. A monk lacking eleven qualities cannot contemplate impermanence and the rest in the sense bases, consciousness, contact, feeling, perception, intention, craving, thought and examination.

    Applying it in daily life

    Watching the mind is like tending animals: know it, and dress small wounds before they spread, such as noticing irritation early instead of waiting until it explodes.

  2. 2

    The four absorptions Paṭhamajjhānaṃ dutiyajjhānaṃ

    The first four of the eleven are the first, second, third and fourth absorptions. This section only names them and does not describe their factors. This point is for overall understanding.

    Applying it in daily life

    Start with what you can do, such as sitting quietly following the breath for a few minutes a day. A little calm shows that happiness doesn't have to come from things we buy.

  3. 3

    Love and compassion Mettācetovimutti karuṇācetovimutti

    The fifth and sixth are the heart's release through love and the heart's release through compassion.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you want something you don't need, turn your mind to someone who is struggling and help them a little. A mind turned towards others is often lighter of its own craving.

  4. 4

    Rejoicing and equanimity Muditācetovimutti upekkhācetovimutti

    The seventh and eighth are the heart's release through rejoicing and the heart's release through equanimity.

    Applying it in daily life

    When a friend gets something good or succeeds, practise being truly glad for them instead of wanting it too. For what you can't control, practise equanimity.

  5. 5

    Three formless attainments Ākāsānañcāyatanaṃ viññāṇañcāyatanaṃ ākiñcaññāyatanaṃ

    The last three are the dimension of infinite space, the dimension of infinite consciousness and the dimension of nothingness. The list has three formless levels and does not include the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This point is for overall understanding.

    Applying it in daily life

    If you haven't trained in deep concentration, simply understand that the mind can become much subtler and wider, and coarse craving grows lighter as it does.

  6. 6

    Abandoning other defilements with the same set Mānassa madassa pamādassa

    These eleven should be developed for the direct knowledge, full understanding, abandoning and relinquishing of lust, and of hatred, delusion, anger, hostility, contempt, rivalry, envy, stinginess, deceit, boastfulness, obstinacy, aggression, conceit, vanity and heedlessness. This list in the Book of Elevens lacks arrogance (atimāna), differing slightly from the one at the end of the Book of Tens.

    Applying it in daily life

    If anger or envy is your main problem, love and rejoicing in this set are the most direct tools. Practise first with the person who irritates you least.

  7. 7

    The close of the Aṅguttara Nikāya Navasuttasahassāni bhiyyo pañcasatāni ca

    After this teaching the monks rejoiced in the Buddha's words, and a closing note says the Aṅguttara Nikāya contains 9,557 suttas; in Pali it is a verse counting nine thousand suttas, five hundred more, and fifty-seven. This point is for overall understanding.

    Applying it in daily life

    The numbered teachings in the Aṅguttara are many. You don't need to know them all; choose a few that fit your life now and actually practise them.

Try it in daily life

The absorptions and formless attainments belong to deep concentration practice, which takes time and a skilled teacher. Most people need not aim for that level yet, but the main principle applies: a mind that is calm and content from within hungers less for things outside.

The four divine abidings can be used right away. Love, compassion, rejoicing in others' happiness and balanced equanimity widen the heart, leaving less room for narrow craving.

This section also serves the overall picture: the whole Aṅguttara Nikāya ends with understanding and abandoning defilements, not with gaining something more.

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