---
title: "Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 11 of 35
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/11/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga, section 11. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/11/"
---

# Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

Dependent origination and the chain of causes, the elements, the endless round of rebirth, and the great disciples.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 11. The Great Chapter · SN 12.70

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/11/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/11/#p-N

[¶0] SN 12.70 · The Wanderer Susīma

> Pali: SN 12.70 · Susimaparibbājakasutta

[¶1] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

[¶2] Now at that time the Buddha was honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And he received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And the mendicant Saṅgha was also honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they received robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. But the wanderers who followed other religions were not honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they didn’t receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sakkato hoti garukato mānito pūjito apacito lābhī cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. Bhikkhusaṅghopi sakkato hoti garukato mānito pūjito apacito lābhī cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. Aññatitthiyā pana paribbājakā asakkatā honti agarukatā amānitā apūjitā anapacitā, na lābhino cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

[¶3] Now at that time the wanderer Susīma was residing at Rājagaha together with a large community of wanderers.

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena susimo paribbājako rājagahe paṭivasati mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ.

[¶4] Then his community said to Susīma, “Reverend Susīma, please lead the spiritual life with the ascetic Gotama. Memorize that teaching and have us recite it with you. When we’ve memorized it we’ll recite it to the laity. In this way we too will be honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And we’ll receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.”

> Pali: Atha kho susimassa paribbājakassa parisā susimaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavocuṁ: “ehi tvaṁ, āvuso susima, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ cara. Tvaṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā amhe vāceyyāsi. Taṁ mayaṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇitvā gihīnaṁ bhāsissāma. Evaṁ mayampi sakkatā bhavissāma garukatā mānitā pūjitā apacitā lābhino cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan”ti.

[¶5] “Yes, reverends,” replied Susīma to his own assembly. Then he went to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Ānanda, “Reverend Ānanda, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.”

> Pali: “Evamāvuso”ti kho susimo paribbājako sakāya parisāya paṭissuṇitvā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho susimo paribbājako āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca: “icchāmahaṁ, āvuso ānanda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun”ti.

[¶6] Then Ānanda took Susīma to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, this wanderer Susīma says that he wishes to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.”

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā ānando susimaṁ paribbājakaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ayaṁ, bhante, susimo paribbājako evamāha: ‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso ānanda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’”ti.

[¶7] “Well then, Ānanda, give Susīma the going forth.” And the wanderer Susīma received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.

> Pali: “Tenahānanda, susimaṁ pabbājethā”ti. Alattha kho susimo paribbājako bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ.

[¶8] Now at that time several mendicants had declared their enlightenment in the Buddha’s presence: “We understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

> Pali: Tena kho pana samayena sambahulehi bhikkhūhi bhagavato santike aññā byākatā hoti: “khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāmā”ti.

[¶9] Venerable Susīma heard about this. He went up to those mendicants, and exchanged greetings with them. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to those mendicants, “Is it really true that the venerables have declared enlightenment in the Buddha’s presence?”

> Pali: Assosi kho āyasmā susimo: “sambahulehi kira bhikkhūhi bhagavato santike aññā byākatā: ‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmā”ti. Atha kho āyasmā susimo yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā susimo te bhikkhū etadavoca: “saccaṁ kirāyasmantehi bhagavato santike aññā byākatā: ‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmā”ti?

[¶10] “Yes, reverend.”

> Pali: “Evamāvuso”ti.

[¶11] “But knowing and seeing thus, do you wield the many kinds of psychic power? That is, multiplying yourselves and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful. Do you control the body as far as the realm of divinity?”

> Pali: “Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhotha—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hotha, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hotha; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ, tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamānā gacchatha, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ karotha, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gacchatha, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamatha, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimasatha parimajjatha, yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattethā”ti?

[¶12] “No, reverend.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

[¶13] “Well, knowing and seeing thus do you, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far?”

> Pali: “Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇātha dibbe ca mānuse ca ye dūre santike cā”ti?

[¶14] “No, reverend.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

[¶15] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with your mind? Do you understand mind with greed as ‘mind with greed’, and mind without greed as ‘mind without greed’? Do you understand mind with hate as ‘mind with hate’, and mind without hate as ‘mind without hate’? Do you understand mind with delusion as ‘mind with delusion’, and mind without delusion as ‘mind without delusion’? Do you understand constricted mind as ‘constricted mind’, and scattered mind as ‘scattered mind’? Do you understand expansive mind as ‘expansive mind’, and unexpansive mind as ‘unexpansive mind’? Do you understand mind that is not supreme as ‘mind that is not supreme’, and mind that is supreme as ‘mind that is supreme’? Do you understand mind immersed in samādhi as ‘mind immersed in samādhi’, and mind not immersed in samādhi as ‘mind not immersed in samādhi’? Do you understand freed mind as ‘freed mind’, and unfreed mind as ‘unfreed mind’?”

> Pali: “Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānātha— sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ sarāgaṁ cittanti pajānātha; vītarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ vītarāgaṁ cittanti pajānātha; sadosaṁ vā cittaṁ sadosaṁ cittanti pajānātha; vītadosaṁ vā cittaṁ vītadosaṁ cittanti pajānātha; samohaṁ vā cittaṁ samohaṁ cittanti pajānātha; vītamohaṁ vā cittaṁ vītamohaṁ cittanti pajānātha; saṅkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ saṅkhittaṁ cittanti pajānātha; vikkhittaṁ vā cittaṁ vikkhittaṁ cittanti pajānātha; mahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ mahaggataṁ cittanti pajānātha; amahaggataṁ vā cittaṁ amahaggataṁ cittanti pajānātha; sauttaraṁ vā cittaṁ sauttaraṁ cittanti pajānātha; anuttaraṁ vā cittaṁ anuttaraṁ cittanti pajānātha; samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ samāhitaṁ cittanti pajānātha; asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ asamāhitaṁ cittanti pajānātha; vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ cittanti pajānātha; avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ avimuttaṁ cittanti pajānāthā”ti?

[¶16] “No, reverend.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

[¶17] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you recollect many kinds of past lives? That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding? Do you remember: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ Do you recollect your many kinds of past lives, with features and details?”

> Pali: “Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussaratha, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattārīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi, anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhapaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhapaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarathā”ti?

[¶18] “No, reverend.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

[¶19] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place—and understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds? ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, do you see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. And do you understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds?”

> Pali: “Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passatha cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānātha: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā, ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā; ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā, ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti, iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passatha cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāthā”ti?

[¶20] “No, reverend.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

[¶21] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you have direct meditative experience of the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form?”

> Pali: “Api pana tumhe āyasmanto evaṁ jānantā evaṁ passantā ye te santā vimokkhā atikkamma rūpe āruppā, te kāyena phusitvā viharathā”ti?

[¶22] “No, reverend.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, āvuso”.

[¶23] “Well now, venerables, how could there be such a declaration when these things are not attained?”

> Pali: “Ettha dāni āyasmanto idañca veyyākaraṇaṁ imesañca dhammānaṁ asamāpatti; idaṁ no, āvuso, kathan”ti?

[¶24] “Reverend Susīma, we are freed by wisdom.”

> Pali: “Paññāvimuttā kho mayaṁ, āvuso susimā”ti.

[¶25] “I don’t understand the detailed meaning of what you have said in brief. Please teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.”

> Pali: “Na khvāhaṁ imassa āyasmantānaṁ saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Sādhu me āyasmanto tathā bhāsantu yathāhaṁ imassa āyasmantānaṁ saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājāneyyan”ti.

[¶26] “Reverend Susīma, whether you understand or not, we are freed by wisdom.”

> Pali: “Ājāneyyāsi vā tvaṁ, āvuso susima, na vā tvaṁ ājāneyyāsi atha kho paññāvimuttā mayan”ti.

[¶27] Then Susīma went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all he had discussed with those mendicants.

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā susimo uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā susimo yāvatako tehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ ahosi kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.

[¶28] “Susīma, first comes knowledge of the stability of natural principles. Afterwards there is knowledge of extinguishment.”

> Pali: “Pubbe kho, susima, dhammaṭṭhitiñāṇaṁ, pacchā nibbāne ñāṇan”ti.

[¶29] “Sir, I don’t understand the detailed meaning of what you have said in brief. Please teach me this matter so I can understand the detailed meaning.”

> Pali: “Na khvāhaṁ, bhante, imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā tathā bhāsatu yathāhaṁ imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājāneyyan”ti.

[¶30] “Susīma, whether you understand or not, first comes knowledge of the stability of natural principles. Afterwards there is knowledge of extinguishment.

> Pali: “Ājāneyyāsi vā tvaṁ, susima, na vā tvaṁ ājāneyyāsi, atha kho dhammaṭṭhitiñāṇaṁ pubbe, pacchā nibbāne ñāṇaṁ.

[¶31] What do you think, Susīma? Is form permanent or impermanent?”

> Pali: Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, susima, rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

[¶32] “Impermanent, sir.”

> Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

[¶33] “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

[¶34] “Suffering, sir.”

> Pali: “Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

[¶35] “But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

[¶36] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶37] “Is feeling permanent or impermanent?”

> Pali: “Vedanā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?

[¶38] “Impermanent, sir.”

> Pali: “Aniccā, bhante”.

[¶39] “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

[¶40] “Suffering, sir.”

> Pali: “Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

[¶41] “But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

[¶42] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶43] “Is perception permanent or impermanent?”

> Pali: “Saññā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?

[¶44] “Impermanent, sir.” …

> Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” …pe…

[¶45] “Are choices permanent or impermanent?”

> Pali: “saṅkhārā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?

[¶46] “Impermanent, sir.”

> Pali: “Aniccā, bhante”.

[¶47] “But if they’re impermanent, are they suffering or happiness?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

[¶48] “Suffering, sir.”

> Pali: “Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

[¶49] “But if they’re impermanent, suffering, and perishable, are they fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

[¶50] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶51] “Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

> Pali: “Viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

[¶52] “Impermanent, sir.”

> Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

[¶53] “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?

[¶54] “Suffering, sir.”

> Pali: “Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.

[¶55] “But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

> Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?

[¶56] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶57] “So, Susīma, you should truly see any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ You should truly see any kind of feeling at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> feeling—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ You should truly see any kind of perception at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> perception—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ You should truly see any kind of choices at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> choices—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ You should truly see any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

> Pali: “Tasmātiha, susima, yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ rūpaṁ netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yā kāci vedanā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā hīnā vā paṇītā vā yā dūre santike vā, sabbā vedanā netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yā kāci saññā …pe… ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā hīnā vā paṇītā vā ye dūre santike vā, sabbe saṅkhārā netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ netaṁ mama nesohamasmi na meso attāti; evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

[¶58] Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

> Pali: Evaṁ passaṁ, susima, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi nibbindati, saññāyapi nibbindati, saṅkhāresupi nibbindati, viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati, virāgā vimuccati, vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

[¶59] They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’

> Pali: ‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.

[¶60] Susīma, do you see that rebirth is a requirement for old age and death?”

> Pali: ‘Jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti, susima, passasī”ti?

[¶61] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶62] “Do you see that continued existence is a requirement for rebirth?”

> Pali: “‘Bhavapaccayā jātī’ti, susima, passasī”ti?

[¶63] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶64] “Do you see that grasping is a requirement for continued existence?”

> Pali: “‘Upādānapaccayā bhavo’ti, susima, passasī”ti?

[¶65] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶66] “Do you see that craving is a requirement for grasping?”

> Pali: “‘Taṇhāpaccayā upādānan’ti, susima, passasī”ti?

[¶67] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶68] “Do you see that feeling is a requirement for craving … contact is a requirement for feeling … the six sense fields are requirements for contact … name and form are requirements for the six sense fields … consciousness is a requirement for name and form … choices are a requirement for consciousness … ignorance is a requirement for choices?”

> Pali: “Vedanāpaccayā taṇhāti … phassapaccayā vedanāti … saḷāyatanapaccayā phassoti … nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatananti … viññāṇapaccayā nāmarūpanti … saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇanti … avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārāti, susima, passasī”ti?

[¶69] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶70] “Do you see that when rebirth ceases old age and death cease?”

> Pali: “‘Jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti, susima, passasī”ti?

[¶71] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶72] “Do you see that when continued existence ceases rebirth ceases?”

> Pali: “‘Bhavanirodhā jātinirodho’ti susima, passasī”ti?

[¶73] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶74] “Do you see that when grasping ceases continued existence ceases … when craving ceases, grasping ceases … when feeling ceases, craving ceases … when contact ceases, feeling ceases … when the six sense fields cease, contact ceases … when name and form cease, the six sense fields cease … when consciousness ceases name and form cease … when choices cease consciousness ceases … when ignorance ceases choices cease?”

> Pali: “Upādānanirodhā bhavanirodhoti … taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodhoti … vedanānirodhā taṇhānirodhoti … phassanirodhā vedanānirodhoti … saḷāyatananirodhā phassanirodhoti … nāmarūpanirodhā saḷāyatananirodhoti … viññāṇanirodhā nāmarūpanirodhoti … saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodhoti … avijjānirodhā saṅkhāranirodhoti, susima, passasī”ti?

[¶75] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶76] “But knowing and seeing thus, do you wield the many kinds of psychic power? …”

> Pali: “Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto anekavihitaṁ iddhividhaṁ paccanubhosi—ekopi hutvā bahudhā hosi, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hosi; āvibhāvaṁ, tirobhāvaṁ, tirokuṭṭaṁ tiropākāraṁ tiropabbataṁ asajjamāno gacchasi, seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṁ karosi, seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāno gacchasi, seyyathāpi pathaviyaṁ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamasi, seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṁmahiddhike evaṁmahānubhāve pāṇinā parimasasi parimajjasi, yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṁ vattesī”ti?

[¶77] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶78] “Well, knowing and seeing thus do you, with clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far?”

> Pali: “Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya ubho sadde suṇasi dibbe ca mānuse ca ye dūre santike cā”ti?

[¶79] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶80] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with your mind? …”

> Pali: “Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto parasattānaṁ parapuggalānaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāsi— sarāgaṁ vā cittaṁ sarāgaṁ cittanti pajānāsi …pe… vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ cittanti pajānāsī”ti?

[¶81] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶82] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you recollect many kinds of past lives, with features and details?”

> Pali: “Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarasi, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarasī”ti?

[¶83] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶84] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, see sentient beings passing away and being reborn … according to their deeds?”

> Pali: “Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passasi cavamāne …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāsī”ti?

[¶85] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶86] “Well, knowing and seeing thus, do you have direct meditative experience of the peaceful liberations that are formless, transcending form?”

> Pali: “Api pana tvaṁ, susima, evaṁ jānanto evaṁ passanto ye te santā vimokkhā atikkamma rūpe āruppā, te kāyena phusitvā viharasī”ti?

[¶87] “No, sir.”

> Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”.

[¶88] “Well now, Susīma, how could there be such a declaration when these things are not attained?”

> Pali: “Ettha dāni, susima, idañca veyyākaraṇaṁ imesañca dhammānaṁ asamāpatti, idaṁ no, susima, kathan”ti?

[¶89] Then Venerable Susīma bowed with his head to the Buddha’s feet and said, “I made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to go forth as a thief in such a well-explained teaching and training. Please, sir, accept my mistake for what it is, so I will restrain myself in future.”

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā susimo bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yvāhaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenako pabbajito. Tassa me, bhante, bhagavā accayaṁ accayato paṭiggaṇhātu āyatiṁ saṁvarāyā”ti.

[¶90] “Indeed, Susīma, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to go forth as a thief of the teachings in such a well-explained teaching and training. Suppose they were to arrest a bandit, a criminal and present him to the king, saying: ‘Your Majesty, this is a bandit, a criminal. Punish him as you will.’ The king would say: ‘Go, my men, and tie this man’s arms tightly behind his back with a strong rope. Shave his head and march him from street to street and from square to square to the beating of a harsh drum. Then take him out the south gate and there, to the south of the city, chop off his head.’ The king’s men would do as they were told. What do you think, Susīma? Wouldn’t that man experience pain and distress because of that?”

> Pali: “Taggha tvaṁ, susima, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo tvaṁ evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenako pabbajito. Seyyathāpi, susima, coraṁ āgucāriṁ gahetvā rañño dasseyyuṁ: ‘ayaṁ te, deva, coro āgucārī, imassa yaṁ icchasi taṁ daṇḍaṁ paṇehī’ti. Tamenaṁ rājā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘gacchatha, bho, imaṁ purisaṁ daḷhāya rajjuyā pacchābāhaṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ bandhitvā khuramuṇḍaṁ karitvā kharassarena paṇavena rathiyāya rathiyaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ parinetvā dakkhiṇena dvārena nikkhāmetvā dakkhiṇato nagarassa sīsaṁ chindathā’ti. Tamenaṁ rañño purisā daḷhāya rajjuyā pacchābāhaṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ bandhitvā khuramuṇḍaṁ karitvā kharassarena paṇavena rathiyāya rathiyaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ parinetvā dakkhiṇena dvārena nikkhāmetvā dakkhiṇato nagarassa sīsaṁ chindeyyuṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, susima, api nu so puriso tatonidānaṁ dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvediyethā”ti?

[¶91] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”.

[¶92] “Although that man would experience pain and distress because of that, going forth as a thief of the teachings in such a well-explained teaching and training has a more painful and bitter result. And it even leads to the underworld. But since you have recognized your mistake for what it is, and have dealt with it properly, I accept it. For it is growth in the training of the Noble One to recognize a mistake for what it is, deal with it properly, and commit to restraint in the future.”

> Pali: “Yaṁ kho so, susima, puriso tatonidānaṁ dukkhaṁ domanassaṁ paṭisaṁvediyetha. Yā evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye dhammatthenakassa pabbajjā, ayaṁ tato dukkhavipākatarā ca kaṭukavipākatarā ca, api ca vinipātāya saṁvattati. Yato ca kho tvaṁ, susima, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikarosi taṁ te mayaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma. Vuddhi hesā, susima, ariyassa vinaye yo accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikaroti, āyatiñca saṁvaraṁ āpajjatī”ti.

[¶93] > Pali: Dasamaṁ.

[¶94] > Pali: Mahāvaggo sattamo.

[¶95] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ

[¶96] > Pali: Dve assutavatā vuttā,
puttamaṁsena cāparaṁ;
Atthirāgo ca nagaraṁ,
sammasaṁ naḷakalāpiyaṁ;
Kosambī upayanti ca,
dasamo susimena cāti.
