2.1.5

Lesson 2.1.5 Sevitabbasuttaṃ – What One Should Associate With

This short Sevitabbasuttasutta points to ten ‘wrong and right states’ that a person should be engaged in (puggalo sevitabbo) or associate with or strongly avoid. Based on the Vinayapiṭake and the Mahāvaṃsapāḷi the Introduction to 2.1.5 refers to the historical accounts of the first Council of Dhamma (Paṭhamadhammasaṅgīti) which was inaugurated by the Venerable Mahā Kassapa who was determined to assure that the purity of the Dhamma and the discipline was maintained. Among the five-hundred fully enlightened Arahants who participated was to be the Venerable Ānanda who was praised for his competence and ability to repeat all the discourses of the Buddha from memory. As he had not yet reached the necessary state of an Arahant, Venerable Ānanda was requested to stir up all efforts meditating. Then at the last possible moment after much arduous effort but no results, intending to take rest, he finally reached the state of liberation! Thus the Paṭhamadhammasaṅgīti could begin on the second day of the second month of the rainy season after the Buddha’s final Parinibbāna.