Fuel · SN 12.11–12.20

SN 12.11 · Fuel

SN 12.11 · Āhārasutta

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. …

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme …

“Mendicants, these four fuels maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those about to be born. What four? Edible food, whether solid or subtle; contact is the second, mental intention the third, and consciousness the fourth. These are the four fuels that maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those about to be born.

“cattārome, bhikkhave, āhārā bhūtānaṁ vā sattānaṁ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṁ vā anuggahāya. Katame cattāro? Kabaḷīkāro āhāro oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, phasso dutiyo, manosañcetanā tatiyā, viññāṇaṁ catutthaṁ. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro āhārā bhūtānaṁ vā sattānaṁ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṁ vā anuggahāya.

What is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of these four fuels? Craving. And what is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of craving? Feeling. And what is the source of feeling? Contact. And what is the source of contact? The six sense fields. And what is the source of the six sense fields? Name and form. And what is the source of name and form? Consciousness. And what is the source of consciousness? Choices. And what is the source of choices? Ignorance.

Ime, bhikkhave, cattāro āhārā kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Ime cattāro āhārā taṇhānidānā taṇhāsamudayā taṇhājātikā taṇhāpabhavā. Taṇhā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Taṇhā vedanānidānā vedanāsamudayā vedanājātikā vedanāpabhavā. Vedanā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Vedanā phassanidānā phassasamudayā phassajātikā phassapabhavā. Phasso cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidāno kiṁsamudayo kiṁjātiko kiṁpabhavo? Phasso saḷāyatananidāno saḷāyatanasamudayo saḷāyatanajātiko saḷāyatanapabhavo. Saḷāyatanañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ? Saḷāyatanaṁ nāmarūpanidānaṁ nāmarūpasamudayaṁ nāmarūpajātikaṁ nāmarūpapabhavaṁ. Nāmarūpañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ? Nāmarūpaṁ viññāṇanidānaṁ viññāṇasamudayaṁ viññāṇajātikaṁ viññāṇapabhavaṁ. Viññāṇañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ? Viññāṇaṁ saṅkhāranidānaṁ saṅkhārasamudayaṁ saṅkhārajātikaṁ saṅkhārapabhavaṁ. Saṅkhārā cime, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā? Saṅkhārā avijjānidānā avijjāsamudayā avijjājātikā avijjāpabhavā.

And so, mendicants, ignorance is a requirement for choices.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

SN 12.12 · Phagguna of the Top-Knot

SN 12.12 · Moḷiyaphaggunasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Mendicants, these four fuels maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those about to be born. What four? Edible food, whether solid or subtle; contact is the second, mental intention the third, and consciousness the fourth. These are the four fuels that maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those that are about to be born.”

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, āhārā bhūtānaṁ vā sattānaṁ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṁ vā anuggahāya. Katame cattāro? Kabaḷīkāro āhāro oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, phasso dutiyo, manosañcetanā tatiyā, viññāṇaṁ catutthaṁ. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro āhārā bhūtānaṁ vā sattānaṁ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṁ vā anuggahāyā”ti.

When he said this, Venerable Phagguna of the Top-Knot said to the Buddha, “But sir, who consumes consciousness as fuel?”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā moḷiyaphagguno bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ko nu kho, bhante, viññāṇāhāraṁ āhāretī”ti?

“That’s not a cogent question,” said the Buddha.

“No kallo pañho”ti bhagavā avoca:

“I don’t speak of one who consumes. If I were to speak of one who consumes, then it would be cogent to ask who consumes. But I don’t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: ‘For what is consciousness the fuel?’ And a cogent answer to this would be: ‘Consciousness as fuel is a requirement for regeneration into a new state of existence in the future. When the being is present, there are the six sense fields. The six sense fields are requirements for contact.’”

“‘āhāretī’ti ahaṁ na vadāmi. ‘Āhāretī’ti cāhaṁ vadeyyaṁ, tatrassa kallo pañho: ‘ko nu kho, bhante, āhāretī’ti? Evañcāhaṁ na vadāmi. Evaṁ maṁ avadantaṁ yo evaṁ puccheyya: ‘kissa nu kho, bhante, viññāṇāhāro’ti, esa kallo pañho. Tatra kallaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ: ‘viññāṇāhāro āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbattiyā paccayo, tasmiṁ bhūte sati saḷāyatanaṁ, saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso’”ti.

“But sir, who contacts?”

“Ko nu kho, bhante, phusatī”ti?

“That’s not a cogent question,” said the Buddha.

“No kallo pañho”ti bhagavā avoca:

“I don’t speak of one who contacts. If I were to speak of one who contacts, then it would be cogent to ask who contacts. But I don’t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: ‘What is a requirement for contact?’ And a cogent answer to this would be: ‘The six sense fields are requirements for contact. Contact is a requirement for feeling.’”

“‘phusatī’ti ahaṁ na vadāmi. ‘Phusatī’ti cāhaṁ vadeyyaṁ, tatrassa kallo pañho: ‘ko nu kho, bhante, phusatī’ti? Evañcāhaṁ na vadāmi. Evaṁ maṁ avadantaṁ yo evaṁ puccheyya: ‘kiṁpaccayā nu kho, bhante, phasso’ti, esa kallo pañho. Tatra kallaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ: ‘saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso, phassapaccayā vedanā’”ti.

“But sir, who feels?”

“Ko nu kho, bhante, vedayatī”ti?

“That’s not a cogent question,” said the Buddha.

“No kallo pañho”ti bhagavā avoca:

“I don’t speak of one who feels. If I were to speak of one who feels, then it would be cogent to ask who feels. But I don’t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: ‘What is a requirement for feeling?’ And a cogent answer to this would be: ‘Contact is a requirement for feeling. Feeling is a requirement for craving.’”

“‘vedayatī’ti ahaṁ na vadāmi. ‘Vedayatī’ti cāhaṁ vadeyyaṁ, tatrassa kallo pañho: ‘ko nu kho, bhante, vedayatī’ti? Evañcāhaṁ na vadāmi. Evaṁ maṁ avadantaṁ yo evaṁ puccheyya: ‘kiṁpaccayā nu kho, bhante, vedanā’ti, esa kallo pañho. Tatra kallaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ: ‘phassapaccayā vedanā, vedanāpaccayā taṇhā’”ti.

“But sir, who craves?”

“Ko nu kho, bhante, tasatī”ti?

“That’s not a cogent question,” said the Buddha.

“No kallo pañho”ti bhagavā avoca:

“I don’t speak of one who craves. If I were to speak of one who craves, then it would be cogent to ask who craves. But I don’t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: ‘What is a requirement for craving?’ And a cogent answer to this would be: ‘Feeling is a requirement for craving. Craving is a requirement for grasping.’”

“‘tasatī’ti ahaṁ na vadāmi. ‘Tasatī’ti cāhaṁ vadeyyaṁ, tatrassa kallo pañho: ‘ko nu kho, bhante, tasatī’ti? Evañcāhaṁ na vadāmi. Evaṁ maṁ avadantaṁ yo evaṁ puccheyya: ‘kiṁpaccayā nu kho, bhante, taṇhā’ti, esa kallo pañho. Tatra kallaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ: ‘vedanāpaccayā taṇhā, taṇhāpaccayā upādānan’”ti.

“But sir, who grasps?”

“Ko nu kho, bhante, upādiyatī”ti?

“That’s not a cogent question,” said the Buddha.

“No kallo pañho”ti bhagavā avoca:

“I don’t speak of one who grasps. If I were to speak of one who grasps, then it would be cogent to ask who grasps. But I don’t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: ‘What is a requirement for grasping?’ And a cogent answer to this would be: ‘Craving is a requirement for grasping. Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.’ … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

“‘upādiyatī’ti ahaṁ na vadāmi. ‘Upādiyatī’ti cāhaṁ vadeyyaṁ, tatrassa kallo pañho: ‘ko nu kho, bhante, upādiyatī’ti? Evañcāhaṁ na vadāmi. Evaṁ maṁ avadantaṁ yo evaṁ puccheyya: ‘kiṁpaccayā nu kho, bhante, upādānan’ti, esa kallo pañho. Tatra kallaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ: ‘taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ; upādānapaccayā bhavo’ti …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

When the six fields of contact fade away and cease with no residue left behind, contact ceases. When contact ceases, feeling ceases. When feeling ceases, craving ceases. When craving ceases, grasping ceases. When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases. When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases. When rebirth ceases, old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress cease. That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

Channaṁ tveva, phagguna, phassāyatanānaṁ asesavirāganirodhā phassanirodho; phassanirodhā vedanānirodho; vedanānirodhā taṇhānirodho; taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho; upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho; bhavanirodhā jātinirodho; jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

SN 12.13 · Ascetics and Brahmins

SN 12.13 · Samaṇabrāhmaṇasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Mendicants, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t understand old age and death, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. They don’t understand rebirth … continued existence … grasping … craving … feeling … contact … the six sense fields … name and form … consciousness … They don’t understand choices, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. I don’t deem them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables don’t realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and don’t live having realized it with their own insight in this very life.

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā jarāmaraṇaṁ nappajānanti, jarāmaraṇasamudayaṁ nappajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhaṁ nappajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti; jātiṁ …pe… bhavaṁ … upādānaṁ … taṇhaṁ … vedanaṁ … phassaṁ … saḷāyatanaṁ … nāmarūpaṁ … viññāṇaṁ … saṅkhāre nappajānanti, saṅkhārasamudayaṁ nappajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhaṁ nappajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti, na me te, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu vā samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu vā brāhmaṇasammatā; na ca pana te āyasmanto sāmaññatthaṁ vā brahmaññatthaṁ vā diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti.

There are ascetics and brahmins who do understand old age and death, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. They understand rebirth … continued existence … grasping … craving … feeling … contact … the six sense fields … name and form … consciousness … They understand choices, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. I deem them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and live having realized it with their own insight.”

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā jarāmaraṇaṁ pajānanti, jarāmaraṇasamudayaṁ pajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhaṁ pajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti; jātiṁ …pe… bhavaṁ … upādānaṁ … taṇhaṁ … vedanaṁ … phassaṁ … saḷāyatanaṁ … nāmarūpaṁ … viññāṇaṁ … saṅkhāre pajānanti, saṅkhārasamudayaṁ pajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhaṁ pajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti, te kho me, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu ceva samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu ca brāhmaṇasammatā; te ca panāyasmanto sāmaññatthañca brahmaññatthañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

SN 12.14 · Ascetics and Brahmins (2nd)

SN 12.14 · Dutiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Mendicants, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t understand these things, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. What things don’t they understand?

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ime dhamme nappajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ samudayaṁ nappajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhaṁ nappajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti, katame dhamme nappajānanti, katamesaṁ dhammānaṁ samudayaṁ nappajānanti, katamesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhaṁ nappajānanti, katamesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti?

They don’t understand old age and death, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. They don’t understand rebirth … continued existence … grasping … craving … feeling … contact … the six sense fields … name and form … consciousness … They don’t understand choices, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. They don’t understand these things, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. I don’t deem them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables don’t realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and don’t live having realized it with their own insight in this very life.

Jarāmaraṇaṁ nappajānanti, jarāmaraṇasamudayaṁ nappajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhaṁ nappajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti; jātiṁ …pe… bhavaṁ … upādānaṁ … taṇhaṁ … vedanaṁ … phassaṁ … saḷāyatanaṁ … nāmarūpaṁ … viññāṇaṁ … saṅkhāre nappajānanti, saṅkhārasamudayaṁ nappajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhaṁ nappajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti. Ime dhamme nappajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ samudayaṁ nappajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhaṁ nappajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti. Na me te, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu vā samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu vā brāhmaṇasammatā, na ca pana te āyasmanto sāmaññatthaṁ vā brahmaññatthaṁ vā diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti.

There are ascetics and brahmins who do understand these things, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. What things do they understand?

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ime dhamme pajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ samudayaṁ pajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhaṁ pajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti, katame dhamme pajānanti, katamesaṁ dhammānaṁ samudayaṁ pajānanti, katamesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhaṁ pajānanti, katamesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti?

They understand old age and death, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. They understand rebirth … continued existence … grasping … craving … feeling … contact … the six sense fields … name and form … consciousness … They understand choices, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. They understand these things, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. I deem them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and live having realized it with their own insight.”

Jarāmaraṇaṁ pajānanti, jarāmaraṇasamudayaṁ pajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhaṁ pajānanti, jarāmaraṇanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti; jātiṁ …pe… bhavaṁ … upādānaṁ … taṇhaṁ … vedanaṁ … phassaṁ … saḷāyatanaṁ … nāmarūpaṁ … viññāṇaṁ … saṅkhāre pajānanti, saṅkhārasamudayaṁ pajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhaṁ pajānanti, saṅkhāranirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti. Ime dhamme pajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ samudayaṁ pajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhaṁ pajānanti, imesaṁ dhammānaṁ nirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti. Te kho me, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu ceva samaṇasammatā, brāhmaṇesu ca brāhmaṇasammatā. Te ca panāyasmanto sāmaññatthañca brahmaññatthañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

SN 12.15 · Kaccānagotta

SN 12.15 · Kaccānagottasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

Then Venerable Kaccānagotta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho āyasmā kaccānagotto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā kaccānagotto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, they speak of this thing called ‘right view’. How is right view defined?”

“‘sammādiṭṭhi sammādiṭṭhī’ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, sammādiṭṭhi hotī”ti?

“Kaccāna, this world mostly relies on the duality of existence and non-existence.

“Dvayanissito khvāyaṁ, kaccāna, loko yebhuyyena—atthitañceva natthitañca.

But for one who truly sees the origin of the world with right understanding, the concept of non-existence regarding the world does not occur. And for one who truly sees the cessation of the world with right understanding, the concept of existence regarding the world does not occur.

Lokasamudayaṁ kho, kaccāna, yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato yā loke natthitā sā na hoti. Lokanirodhaṁ kho, kaccāna, yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passato yā loke atthitā sā na hoti.

This world is for the most part shackled by getting involved, grasping, and insisting.

Upayupādānābhinivesavinibandho khvāyaṁ, kaccāna, loko yebhuyyena.

But if, when it comes to this getting involved & grasping, mental fixation, and insistence & underlying tendency, they are not attracted, do not grasp, and do not fixate on the thought, “my self”, they’ll have no doubt or uncertainty that what arises is just suffering arising, and what ceases is just suffering ceasing. Their knowledge of this is independent of others.

Tañcāyaṁ upayupādānaṁ cetaso adhiṭṭhānaṁ abhinivesānusayaṁ na upeti na upādiyati nādhiṭṭhāti: ‘attā me’ti. ‘Dukkhameva uppajjamānaṁ uppajjati, dukkhaṁ nirujjhamānaṁ nirujjhatī’ti na kaṅkhati na vicikicchati aparapaccayā ñāṇamevassa ettha hoti.

This is how right view is defined.

Ettāvatā kho, kaccāna, sammādiṭṭhi hoti.

‘All exists’: this is one extreme.

‘Sabbamatthī’ti kho, kaccāna, ayameko anto.

‘All does not exist’: this is the second extreme.

‘Sabbaṁ natthī’ti ayaṁ dutiyo anto.

Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way:

Ete te, kaccāna, ubho ante anupagamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti:

‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices. Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā; saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’”

Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

SN 12.16 · A Dhamma Speaker

SN 12.16 · Dhammakathikasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ …

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, they speak of a ‘Dhamma speaker’. How is a Dhamma speaker defined?”

“‘dhammakathiko dhammakathiko’ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, dhammakathiko hotī”ti?

“If a mendicant teaches Dhamma for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding old age and death, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who speaks on Dhamma’. If they practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding old age and death, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who practices in line with the teaching’. If they’re freed by not grasping, by disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding old age and death, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who has attained extinguishment in this very life’.

“Jarāmaraṇassa ce bhikkhu nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya dhammaṁ deseti, ‘dhammakathiko bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya. Jarāmaraṇassa ce bhikkhu nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti, ‘dhammānudhammappaṭipanno bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya. Jarāmaraṇassa ce bhikkhu nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādāvimutto hoti, ‘diṭṭhadhammanibbānappatto bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya.

If a mendicant teaches Dhamma for disillusionment regarding rebirth … continued existence … grasping … craving … feeling … contact … the six sense fields … name and form … consciousness … choices … If a mendicant teaches Dhamma for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding ignorance, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who speaks on Dhamma’. If they practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding ignorance, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who practices in line with the teaching’. If they’re freed by not grasping, by disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding ignorance, they’re qualified to be called ‘a mendicant who has attained extinguishment in this very life’.”

Jātiyā ce bhikkhu …pe… bhavassa ce bhikkhu … upādānassa ce bhikkhu … taṇhāya ce bhikkhu … vedanāya ce bhikkhu … phassassa ce bhikkhu … saḷāyatanassa ce bhikkhu … nāmarūpassa ce bhikkhu … viññāṇassa ce bhikkhu … saṅkhārānañce bhikkhu … avijjāya ce bhikkhu nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya dhammaṁ deseti, ‘dhammakathiko bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya. Avijjāya ce bhikkhu nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti, ‘dhammānudhammappaṭipanno bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāya. Avijjāya ce bhikkhu nibbidā virāgā nirodhā anupādāvimutto hoti, ‘diṭṭhadhammanibbānappatto bhikkhū’ti alaṁvacanāyā”ti.

SN 12.17 · With Kassapa, the Naked Ascetic

SN 12.17 · Acelakassapasutta

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

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

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. The naked ascetic Kassapa saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. He went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side and said to the Buddha,

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“I’d like to ask the worthy Gotama about a certain point, if you’d take the time to answer.”

“puccheyyāma mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ kañcideva desaṁ, sace no bhavaṁ gotamo okāsaṁ karoti pañhassa veyyākaraṇāyā”ti.

“Kassapa, it’s the wrong time for questions. We’ve entered an inhabited area.”

“Akālo kho tāva, kassapa, pañhassa; antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhamhā”ti.

A second time, and a third time, Kassapa spoke to the Buddha and the Buddha replied. When this was said, Kassapa said to the Buddha,

Dutiyampi kho acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “puccheyyāma mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ kañcideva desaṁ, sace no bhavaṁ gotamo okāsaṁ karoti pañhassa veyyākaraṇāyā”ti. “Akālo kho tāva, kassapa, pañhassa; antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhamhā”ti. Tatiyampi kho acelo kassapo …pe… antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhamhāti. Evaṁ vutte, acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“I don’t want to ask much.”

“na kho pana mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ bahudeva pucchitukāmā”ti.

“Ask what you wish, Kassapa.”

“Puccha, kassapa, yadākaṅkhasī”ti.

“Well, worthy Gotama, is suffering made by oneself?”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, ‘sayaṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti?

“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha.

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca.

“Then is suffering made by another?”

‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, paraṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti?

“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha.

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca.

“Well, is suffering made by both oneself and another?”

‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkatañca paraṅkatañca dukkhan’ti?

“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha.

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca.

“Then does suffering arise anomalously, not made by oneself or another?”

‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ dukkhan’ti?

“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha.

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca.

“Well, is there no such thing as suffering?”

‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, natthi dukkhan’ti?

“It’s not that there’s no such thing as suffering. Suffering is real.”

‘Na kho, kassapa, natthi dukkhaṁ. Atthi kho, kassapa, dukkhan’ti.

“Then does the worthy Gotama not know or see suffering?”

‘Tena hi bhavaṁ gotamo dukkhaṁ na jānāti, na passatī’ti.

“It’s not that I don’t know or see suffering. I do know suffering, I do see suffering.”

‘Na khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ na jānāmi, na passāmi. Jānāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ; passāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhan’”ti.

“Worthy Gotama, when asked these questions, you say ‘not so’. Yet you say that there is such a thing as suffering. And you say that you do know suffering, and you do see suffering. Sir, let the Blessed One explain suffering to me! Let the Blessed One teach me about suffering!”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, ‘sayaṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, paraṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkatañca paraṅkatañca dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, natthi dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘na kho, kassapa, natthi dukkhaṁ, atthi kho, kassapa, dukkhan’ti vadesi. ‘Tena hi bhavaṁ gotamo dukkhaṁ na jānāti na passatī’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘na khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ na jānāmi na passāmi. Jānāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ; passāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhan’ti vadesi. Ācikkhatu ca me, bhante, bhagavā dukkhaṁ. Desetu ca me, bhante, bhagavā dukkhan”ti.

“Suppose that he who does the deed and he who experiences the result are one and the same. Then for one who has existed since the beginning, suffering is made by oneself. In speaking like this, one implies this is eternal. Suppose that he who does the deed is one, and he who experiences the result is another. Then for one stricken by feeling, suffering is made by another. In speaking like this, one implies this is annihilated. Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way: ‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices.

“‘So karoti so paṭisaṁvedayatī’ti kho, kassapa, ādito sato ‘sayaṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti vadaṁ sassataṁ etaṁ pareti. ‘Añño karoti añño paṭisaṁvedayatī’ti kho, kassapa, vedanābhitunnassa sato ‘paraṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti vadaṁ ucchedaṁ etaṁ pareti. Ete te, kassapa, ubho ante anupagamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti: ‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’”

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

When this was said, Kassapa said to the Buddha, “Excellent, sir! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, the Buddha has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. Sir, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence?”

Evaṁ vutte, acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante. Seyyathāpi, bhante, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya …pe… ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhagavatā anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Labheyyāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, labheyyaṁ upasampadan”ti.

“Kassapa, if someone formerly ordained in another sect wishes to take the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training, they must spend four months on probation. When four months have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, they’ll give the going forth, the ordination into monkhood. However, I have recognized individual differences.”

“Yo kho, kassapa, aññatitthiyapubbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ākaṅkhati pabbajjaṁ, ākaṅkhati upasampadaṁ, so cattāro māse parivasati. Catunnaṁ māsānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājenti upasampādenti bhikkhubhāvāya. Api ca mayā puggalavemattatā viditā”ti.

“Sir, if four months probation are required in such a case, I’ll spend four years on probation. When four years have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, let them give me the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.”

“Sace, bhante, aññatitthiyapubbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ākaṅkhati pabbajjaṁ, ākaṅkhati upasampadaṁ, cattāro māse parivasati. Catunnaṁ māsānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājenti upasampādenti bhikkhubhāvāya. Ahaṁ cattāri vassāni parivasissāmi, catunnaṁ vassānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājentu upasampādentu bhikkhubhāvāyā”ti.

And the naked ascetic Kassapa received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence. Not long after his ordination, Venerable Kassapa, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Alattha kho acelo kassapo bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ. Acirūpasampanno ca panāyasmā kassapo eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.

He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.” And Venerable Kassapa became one of the perfected.

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi. Aññataro ca panāyasmā kassapo arahataṁ ahosīti.

SN 12.18 · With Timbaruka

SN 12.18 · Timbarukasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

Then the wanderer Timbaruka went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

Atha kho timbaruko paribbājako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho timbaruko paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Well, worthy Gotama, are pleasure and pain made by oneself?”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhanti?

“Not so, Timbaruka,” said the Buddha.

Mā hevaṁ, timbarukāti bhagavā avoca.

“Then are pleasure and pain made by another?”

Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, paraṅkataṁ sukhadukkhanti?

“Not so, Timbaruka,” said the Buddha.

Mā hevaṁ, timbarukāti bhagavā avoca.

“Well, are pleasure and pain made by both oneself and another?”

Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkatañca paraṅkatañca sukhadukkhanti?

“Not so, Timbaruka,” said the Buddha.

Mā hevaṁ, timbarukāti bhagavā avoca.

“Then do pleasure and pain arise anomalously, not made by oneself or another?”

Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ sukhadukkhanti?

“Not so, Timbaruka,” said the Buddha.

Mā hevaṁ, timbarukāti bhagavā avoca.

“Well, is there no such thing as pleasure and pain?”

Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, natthi sukhadukkhanti?

“It’s not that there’s no such thing as pleasure and pain. Pleasure and pain are real.”

Na kho, timbaruka, natthi sukhadukkhaṁ; atthi kho, timbaruka, sukhadukkhanti.

“Then does the worthy Gotama not know or see suffering?”

Tena hi bhavaṁ gotamo sukhadukkhaṁ na jānāti, na passatīti?

“It’s not that I don’t know or see pleasure and pain. I do know pleasure and pain, I do see pleasure and pain.”

Na khvāhaṁ, timbaruka, sukhadukkhaṁ na jānāmi, na passāmi. Jānāmi khvāhaṁ, timbaruka, sukhadukkhaṁ; passāmi khvāhaṁ, timbaruka, sukhadukkhan”ti.

“Worthy Gotama, when asked these questions, you say ‘not so’. Yet you say that there is such a thing as pleasure and pain. And you say that you do know pleasure and pain, and you do see pleasure and pain. Sir, explain pleasure and pain to me! Teach me about pleasure and pain!”

“‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, timbarukā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, paraṅkataṁ sukhadukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, timbarukā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkatañca paraṅkatañca sukhadukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, timbarukā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ sukhadukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, timbarukā’ti vadesi. ‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, natthi sukhadukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘na kho, timbaruka, natthi sukhadukkhaṁ; atthi kho, timbaruka, sukhadukkhan’ti vadesi. ‘Tena hi bhavaṁ gotamo sukhadukkhaṁ na jānāti, na passatī’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘na khvāhaṁ, timbaruka, sukhadukkhaṁ na jānāmi, na passāmi. Jānāmi khvāhaṁ, timbaruka, sukhadukkhaṁ; passāmi khvāhaṁ, timbaruka, sukhadukkhan’ti vadesi. Ācikkhatu ca me bhavaṁ gotamo sukhadukkhaṁ. Desetu ca me bhavaṁ gotamo sukhadukkhan”ti.

“Suppose that the feeling and the one who feels it are one and the same. Then for one who has existed since the beginning, pleasure and pain is made by oneself. I don’t say this. Suppose that the feeling is one thing and the one who feels it is another. Then for one stricken by feeling, pleasure and pain is made by another. I don’t say this. Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way: ‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices.

“‘Sā vedanā, so vedayatī’ti kho, timbaruka, ādito sato ‘sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhan’ti evampāhaṁ na vadāmi. ‘Aññā vedanā, añño vedayatī’ti kho, timbaruka, vedanābhitunnassa sato ‘paraṅkataṁ sukhadukkhan’ti evampāhaṁ na vadāmi. Ete te, timbaruka, ubho ante anupagamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti: ‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’”

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

When he said this, the wanderer Timbaruka said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Evaṁ vutte, timbaruko paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

SN 12.19 · The Astute and the Foolish

SN 12.19 · Bālapaṇḍitasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Mendicants, for a fool shrouded by ignorance and coupled to craving, this body has been produced. So there is this duality: this body and external name and form. Contact depends on this duality. When contacted through one or other of the six sense fields, the fool experiences pleasure and pain.

“Avijjānīvaraṇassa, bhikkhave, bālassa taṇhāya sampayuttassa evamayaṁ kāyo samudāgato. Iti ayañceva kāyo bahiddhā ca nāmarūpaṁ, itthetaṁ dvayaṁ, dvayaṁ paṭicca phasso saḷevāyatanāni, yehi phuṭṭho bālo sukhadukkhaṁ paṭisaṁvedayati etesaṁ vā aññatarena.

For an astute person shrouded by ignorance and coupled to craving, this body has been produced. So there is this duality: this body and external name and form. Contact depends on this duality. When contacted through one or other of the six sense fields, the astute person experiences pleasure and pain.

Avijjānīvaraṇassa, bhikkhave, paṇḍitassa taṇhāya sampayuttassa evamayaṁ kāyo samudāgato. Iti ayañceva kāyo bahiddhā ca nāmarūpaṁ, itthetaṁ dvayaṁ, dvayaṁ paṭicca phasso saḷevāyatanāni, yehi phuṭṭho paṇḍito sukhadukkhaṁ paṭisaṁvedayati etesaṁ vā aññatarena.

What, then, is the difference between the foolish and the astute?”

Tatra, bhikkhave, ko viseso ko adhippayāso kiṁ nānākaraṇaṁ paṇḍitassa bālenā”ti?

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.”

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā, bhagavaṁnettikā, bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

“Well then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“For a fool shrouded by ignorance and coupled to craving, this body has been produced. But the fool has not given up that ignorance or finished that craving. Why is that? The fool has not completed the spiritual journey for the complete ending of suffering. Therefore, when their body breaks up, the fool passes on to another body. When they have passed on to another body, they’re not freed from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re not freed from suffering, I say.

“Yāya ca, bhikkhave, avijjāya nivutassa bālassa yāya ca taṇhāya sampayuttassa ayaṁ kāyo samudāgato, sā ceva avijjā bālassa appahīnā sā ca taṇhā aparikkhīṇā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, bālo acari brahmacariyaṁ sammā dukkhakkhayāya. Tasmā bālo kāyassa bhedā kāyūpago hoti, so kāyūpago samāno na parimuccati jātiyā jarāmaraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi. ‘Na parimuccati dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

For an astute person shrouded by ignorance and coupled to craving, this body has been produced. But the astute person has given up that ignorance and finished that craving. Why is that? The astute person has completed the spiritual journey for the complete ending of suffering. Therefore, when their body breaks up, the astute person does not pass on to another body. Not passing on to another body, they’re freed from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re freed from suffering, I say. This is the difference here between the foolish and the astute, that is, leading the spiritual life.”

Yāya ca, bhikkhave, avijjāya nivutassa paṇḍitassa yāya ca taṇhāya sampayuttassa ayaṁ kāyo samudāgato, sā ceva avijjā paṇḍitassa pahīnā, sā ca taṇhā parikkhīṇā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Acari, bhikkhave, paṇḍito brahmacariyaṁ sammā dukkhakkhayāya. Tasmā paṇḍito kāyassa bhedā na kāyūpago hoti. So akāyūpago samāno parimuccati jātiyā jarāmaraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi. ‘Parimuccati dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, viseso, ayaṁ adhippayāso, idaṁ nānākaraṇaṁ paṇḍitassa bālena yadidaṁ brahmacariyavāso”ti.

SN 12.20 · Conditions

SN 12.20 · Paccayasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Mendicants, I will teach you dependent origination and dependently originated phenomena. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Paṭiccasamuppādañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi paṭiccasamuppanne ca dhamme. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“And what is dependent origination? Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death. Whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this regularity of natural principles, this surety of natural principles, specific conditionality. A Realized One awakens to this and comprehends it, then he explains, teaches, asserts, establishes, clarifies, analyzes, and discloses it. ‘Look,’ he says, ‘Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death.’

“Katamo ca, bhikkhave, paṭiccasamuppādo? Jātipaccayā, bhikkhave, jarāmaraṇaṁ. Uppādā vā tathāgatānaṁ anuppādā vā tathāgatānaṁ, ṭhitāva sā dhātu dhammaṭṭhitatā dhammaniyāmatā idappaccayatā. Taṁ tathāgato abhisambujjhati abhisameti. Abhisambujjhitvā abhisametvā ācikkhati deseti paññāpeti paṭṭhapeti vivarati vibhajati uttānīkaroti. ‘Passathā’ti cāha: ‘jātipaccayā, bhikkhave, jarāmaraṇaṁ’.

Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth … Grasping is a requirement for continued existence … Craving is a requirement for grasping …

Bhavapaccayā, bhikkhave, jāti …pe… upādānapaccayā, bhikkhave, bhavo … taṇhāpaccayā, bhikkhave, upādānaṁ …

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 …

vedanāpaccayā, bhikkhave, taṇhā … phassapaccayā, bhikkhave, vedanā … saḷāyatanapaccayā, bhikkhave, phasso … nāmarūpapaccayā, bhikkhave, saḷāyatanaṁ …

Consciousness is a requirement for name and form …

viññāṇapaccayā, bhikkhave, nāmarūpaṁ …

Choices are a requirement for consciousness … Ignorance is a requirement for choices. Whether Realized Ones arise or not, this law of nature persists, this regularity of natural principles, this surety of natural principles, specific conditionality. A Realized One awakens to this and comprehends it, then he explains, teaches, asserts, establishes, clarifies, analyzes, and discloses it. ‘Look,’ he says, ‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices.’ So the fact that this is real, not unreal, not otherwise; the specific conditionality of it: this is called dependent origination.

saṅkhārapaccayā, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ … avijjāpaccayā, bhikkhave, saṅkhārā uppādā vā tathāgatānaṁ anuppādā vā tathāgatānaṁ, ṭhitāva sā dhātu dhammaṭṭhitatā dhammaniyāmatā idappaccayatā. Taṁ tathāgato abhisambujjhati abhisameti. Abhisambujjhitvā abhisametvā ācikkhati deseti paññāpeti paṭṭhapeti vivarati vibhajati uttānīkaroti. ‘Passathā’ti cāha: ‘avijjāpaccayā, bhikkhave, saṅkhārā’. Iti kho, bhikkhave, yā tatra tathatā avitathatā anaññathatā idappaccayatā— ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paṭiccasamuppādo.

And what are the dependently originated phenomena? Old age and death are impermanent, conditioned, dependently originated, liable to end, vanish, fade away, and cease. Rebirth … Continued existence … Grasping … Craving …

Katame ca, bhikkhave, paṭiccasamuppannā dhammā? Jarāmaraṇaṁ, bhikkhave, aniccaṁ saṅkhataṁ paṭiccasamuppannaṁ khayadhammaṁ vayadhammaṁ virāgadhammaṁ nirodhadhammaṁ. Jāti, bhikkhave, aniccā saṅkhatā paṭiccasamuppannā khayadhammā vayadhammā virāgadhammā nirodhadhammā. Bhavo, bhikkhave, anicco saṅkhato paṭiccasamuppanno khayadhammo vayadhammo virāgadhammo nirodhadhammo. Upādānaṁ bhikkhave …pe… taṇhā, bhikkhave …

Feeling … Contact … The six sense fields … Name and form …

vedanā, bhikkhave … phasso, bhikkhave … saḷāyatanaṁ, bhikkhave … nāmarūpaṁ, bhikkhave …

Consciousness …

viññāṇaṁ, bhikkhave …

Choices … Ignorance is impermanent, conditioned, dependently originated, liable to end, vanish, fade away, and cease. These are called the dependently originated phenomena.

saṅkhārā, bhikkhave … avijjā, bhikkhave, aniccā saṅkhatā paṭiccasamuppannā khayadhammā vayadhammā virāgadhammā nirodhadhammā. Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, paṭiccasamuppannā dhammā.

When a noble disciple has clearly seen with right wisdom this dependent origination and these dependently originated phenomena as they are, it will be quite impossible for them to turn back to the first beginning, thinking: ‘Did I exist in the past? Did I not exist in the past? What was I in the past? How was I in the past? After being what, what did I become in the past?’ Or to turn forward to the final end, thinking: ‘Will I exist in the future? Will I not exist in the future? What will I be in the future? How will I be in the future? After being what, what will I become in the future?’ Or to be undecided about the present, thinking: ‘Am I? Am I not? What am I? How am I? This sentient being—where did it come from? And where will it go?’ Why is that? Because that noble disciple has clearly seen with right wisdom this dependent origination and these dependently originated phenomena as they are.”

Yato kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa ‘ayañca paṭiccasamuppādo, ime ca paṭiccasamuppannā dhammā’ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā honti, so vata pubbantaṁ vā paṭidhāvissati: ‘ahosiṁ nu kho ahaṁ atītamaddhānaṁ, nanu kho ahosiṁ atītamaddhānaṁ, kiṁ nu kho ahosiṁ atītamaddhānaṁ, kathaṁ nu kho ahosiṁ atītamaddhānaṁ, kiṁ hutvā kiṁ ahosiṁ nu kho ahaṁ atītamaddhānan’ti; aparantaṁ vā upadhāvissati: ‘bhavissāmi nu kho ahaṁ anāgatamaddhānaṁ, nanu kho bhavissāmi anāgatamaddhānaṁ, kiṁ nu kho bhavissāmi anāgatamaddhānaṁ, kathaṁ nu kho bhavissāmi anāgatamaddhānaṁ, kiṁ hutvā kiṁ bhavissāmi nu kho ahaṁ anāgatamaddhānan’ti; etarahi vā paccuppannaṁ addhānaṁ ajjhattaṁ kathaṅkathī bhavissati: ‘ahaṁ nu khosmi, no nu khosmi, kiṁ nu khosmi, kathaṁ nu khosmi, ayaṁ nu kho satto kuto āgato, so kuhiṁ gamissatī’ti— netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathā hi, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa ayañca paṭiccasamuppādo ime ca paṭiccasamuppannā dhammā yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhā”ti.