2.59. Memory and Mindfulness (T1670B2.59)

The king again asked Nāgasena, “Why does one recollect what is past and done long ago?”

Nāgasena replied, “When a man is sorrowful, he recollects the things that took place in the distant past.”

“How does he recollect it, by the mind or by the memory?”

“Do you recollect business that you have done in the past?”

“Yes, I have learned something, but later I forgot it.”

“At that time, great king, were you without a mind and thus have forgotten?”

“At that time, I was without mindfulness.”

“So then, great king, you have mindfulness.” said Nāgasena.

The king again asked Nāgasena, “Is there mindfulness when a man does something, be it in the past or present? Are all things known by mindfulness?”

“The past things are remembered by memory, and the present things are also remembered by memory.”

“Thus people only remember past things, but can’t they remember new things?”

“If things newly done cannot be remembered, then there is no mindfulness.”

“Do people who newly learn books and crafts remember?”

“People who newly learn books and arts have memory. So the disciples who have learned would know. Therefore there is memory.”

“Excellent, Nāgasena.”

Nāgasena Bhikṣu Sūtra, translated by Venerable Guang Xing. Buddha’s Light Edition English Sutra Translation Series, 2008. This publication is part of translation program of the Woodenfish Project.

The full text, with detailed notes, textual and historical discussion, and comparison between Pali and Chinese texts, is available for download in two separate files, Translation and Notes.

The following copyright notice is contained in the original text: © 2008 Buddha’s Light Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Used with kind permission of Buddha’s Light Publishing.

This SuttaCentral edition was prepared by Bhikkhu Sujato.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.