Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

154 Vimuttimaggahe is not miserly, thinks of others, becomes dear to others, does not fear inothers' company, has much joy, acquires the compassionate mind, fares welland approaches the ambrosial."What is the procedure?": The new yogin goes to a place of solitudeand keeps his mind undisturbed. With undisturbed mind he practises recollectionof liberality thus: "Through abandoning things I have benefittedothers; therefrom I have gained much merit. The vulgar, by reason of thedirt of covetousness, are drawn to things. I live with mind non-covetingand not unclean. Always I give and enjoy giving to others. Always I giveand distribute". 1That yogin in these ways practises the recollection of liberality. Throughthe recollection of liberality his mind is endowed with confidence. Because ofthis recollection and confidence, his mind is always undisturbed. Withundisturbed mind he destroys the hindrances, arouses the meditation (jhana)factors and attains to access-concentration. The rest is as was fully taughtabove.The recollection of liberality lias ended.THE RECOLLECTION OF DEITIESQ. What is the recollection of deities? What is the practising of it?What are its salient characteristic, function and near cause? What is theprocedure? . ......A. Considering the benefit of birth in a heaven, one recollects one's ownmerits. This recollectedness is recollection and right recollectedness. Thisis called recollection of deities. The undisturbed dwelling of the mind inthis recollection is the practising of it. Awareness of one's own merits andthe merits of the deities is its salient characteristic. To admire merit is itsfunction. Confidence in the fruit of merit is its near cause.A man who practises the recollection of deities gains eight benefits: heincreases five qualities, namely, confidence, virtue, learning, liberality andwisdom; he can gain that which heavenly beings desire and to which theyare devoted; he is happy in the anticipation of the reward of merit; he honourshis body; he is reverenced by heavenly beings. Through this, he is able topractise virtue and recollection of liberality also. He fares well and approachesthe ambrosial."What is the procedure?": The new yogin goes to a place of solitude andkeeps his mind undisturbed. With undisturbed mind he practises the recollectionof deities thinking thus: "There are the Four Regents. There are the deities1. A. Ill, 287; Puna ca param Mahdndma ariyasdvako attano cdgarh anussarati 'Idbhd vatame suladdham vata me, yo 1 ham maccheramalapariyutthitdya pajdya vigatamalamaccherenacetasd agdram ajjhdvasdmi muttacdgo payatapdni vossaggarato ydcayogo ddnasamvibhdgaratd'ti.