--- title: "Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga" author: "The Buddha" translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato" languages: [pi, en] shelf: "Pali Canon" section: 30 of 35 url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/30/ cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses II: Causation · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Nidānavagga, section 30. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/30/" --- # 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. ## 30. Chapter One · SN 18.1–18.10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/30/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-2/30/#p-N [¶0] SN 18.1 · The Eye, Etc. > Pali: SN 18.1 · Cakkhusutta [¶1] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. > Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. [¶2] Then Venerable Rāhula went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.” > Pali: Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā rāhulo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti. [¶3] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is the eye permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, cakkhuṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? [¶4] “Impermanent, sir.” > Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante”. [¶5] “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” > Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti? [¶6] “Suffering, sir.” > Pali: “Dukkhaṁ, bhante”. [¶7] “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? [¶8] “No, sir.” > Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”. [¶9] “Is the ear permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Sotaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? [¶10] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…. [¶11] “Is the nose permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Ghānaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? [¶12] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante” … [¶13] “Is the tongue permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Jivhā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶14] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶15] “Is the body permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Kāyo nicco vā anicco vā”ti? [¶16] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Anicco, bhante” … [¶17] “Is the mind permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Mano nicco vā anicco vā”ti? [¶18] “Impermanent, sir.” > Pali: “Anicco, bhante”. [¶19] “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” > Pali: “Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti? [¶20] “Suffering, sir.” > Pali: “Dukkhaṁ, bhante”. [¶21] “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? [¶22] “No, sir.” > Pali: “No hetaṁ, bhante”. [¶23] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the eye, the ear, the nose, the tongue, the body, and the mind. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed. > Pali: “Evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusmimpi nibbindati …pe… sotasmimpi nibbindati … ghānasmimpi nibbindati … jivhāyapi nibbindati … kāyasmimpi nibbindati … manasmimpi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti. [¶24] 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 pajānātī”ti. [¶25] (The ten discourses of this series should be told in full the same way.) > Pali: (Etena peyyālena dasa suttantā kātabbā.) [¶26] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ. [¶27] SN 18.2 · Sights, Etc. > Pali: SN 18.2 · Rūpasutta [¶28] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶29] “What do you think, Rāhula? Are sights permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶30] “Impermanent, sir.” … “… sounds … smells … tastes … touches … Are ideas permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” …pe… saddā … gandhā … rasā … phoṭṭhabbā … dhammā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶31] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶32] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpesupi nibbindati … saddesupi nibbindati … gandhesupi nibbindati … rasesupi nibbindati … phoṭṭhabbesupi nibbindati … dhammesupi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶33] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ. [¶34] SN 18.3 · Consciousness > Pali: SN 18.3 · Viññāṇasutta [¶35] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶36] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is eye consciousness permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, cakkhuviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? [¶37] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante” … [¶38] “… ear consciousness … nose consciousness … tongue consciousness … body consciousness … Is mind consciousness permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe… ghānaviññāṇaṁ … jivhāviññāṇaṁ … kāyaviññāṇaṁ … manoviññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? [¶39] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante” … [¶40] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with eye consciousness, ear consciousness, nose consciousness, tongue consciousness, body consciousness, and mind consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhuviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati …pe… sotaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati … ghānaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati … jivhāviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati … kāyaviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati … manoviññāṇasmimpi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶41] > Pali: Tatiyaṁ. [¶42] SN 18.4 · Contact > Pali: SN 18.4 · Samphassasutta [¶43] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶44] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is eye contact permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, cakkhusamphasso nicco vā anicco vā”ti? [¶45] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Anicco, bhante” … [¶46] “… ear contact … nose contact … tongue contact … body contact … Is mind contact permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “sotasamphasso …pe… ghānasamphasso … jivhāsamphasso … kāyasamphasso … manosamphasso nicco vā anicco vā”ti? [¶47] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Anicco, bhante” … [¶48] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with eye contact, ear contact, nose contact, tongue contact, body contact, and mind contact. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusamphassasmimpi nibbindati …pe… sotasamphassasmimpi nibbindati … ghānasamphassasmimpi nibbindati … jivhāsamphassasmimpi nibbindati … kāyasamphassasmimpi nibbindati … manosamphassasmimpi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶49] > Pali: Catutthaṁ. [¶50] SN 18.5 · Feeling > Pali: SN 18.5 · Vedanāsutta [¶51] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶52] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is feeling born of eye contact permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, cakkhusamphassajā vedanā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶53] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶54] “… feeling born of ear contact … feeling born of nose contact … feeling born of tongue contact … feeling born of body contact … Is feeling born of mind contact permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “sotasamphassajā vedanā …pe… ghānasamphassajā vedanā … jivhāsamphassajā vedanā … kāyasamphassajā vedanā … manosamphassajā vedanā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶55] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶56] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with feeling born of eye contact, ear contact, nose contact, tongue contact, body contact, and mind contact. …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusamphassajāya vedanāyapi nibbindati …pe… sota … ghāna … jivhā … kāya … manosamphassajāya vedanāyapi nibbindati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶57] > Pali: Pañcamaṁ. [¶58] SN 18.6 · Perceptions > Pali: SN 18.6 · Saññāsutta [¶59] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶60] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is perception of sights permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpasaññā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶61] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶62] “… perception of sounds … perception of smells … perception of tastes … perception of touches … Is perception of ideas permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “saddasaññā …pe… gandhasaññā … rasasaññā … phoṭṭhabbasaññā … dhammasaññā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶63] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶64] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the perception of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasaññāyapi nibbindati …pe… saddasaññāyapi nibbindati … gandhasaññāyapi nibbindati … rasasaññāyapi nibbindati … phoṭṭhabbasaññāyapi nibbindati … dhammasaññāyapi nibbindati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶65] > Pali: Chaṭṭhaṁ. [¶66] SN 18.7 · Intention > Pali: SN 18.7 · Sañcetanāsutta [¶67] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶68] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is intention regarding sights permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpasañcetanā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶69] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶70] “… intention regarding sounds … intention regarding smells … intention regarding tastes … intention regarding touches … Is intention regarding ideas permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “saddasañcetanā …pe… gandhasañcetanā … rasasañcetanā … phoṭṭhabbasañcetanā … dhammasañcetanā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶71] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶72] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with intention regarding sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasañcetanāyapi nibbindati …pe… saddasañcetanāyapi nibbindati … gandhasañcetanāyapi nibbindati … rasasañcetanāyapi nibbindati … phoṭṭhabbasañcetanāyapi nibbindati … dhammasañcetanāyapi nibbindati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶73] > Pali: Sattamaṁ. [¶74] SN 18.8 · Craving > Pali: SN 18.8 · Taṇhāsutta [¶75] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶76] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is craving for sights permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpataṇhā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶77] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶78] “… craving for sounds … craving for smells … craving for tastes … craving for touches … Is craving for ideas permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “saddataṇhā …pe… gandhataṇhā … rasataṇhā … phoṭṭhabbataṇhā … dhammataṇhā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶79] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶80] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with craving for sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and ideas. …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpataṇhāyapi nibbindati …pe… saddataṇhāyapi nibbindati … gandhataṇhāyapi nibbindati … rasataṇhāyapi nibbindati … phoṭṭhabbataṇhāyapi nibbindati … dhammataṇhāyapi nibbindati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶81] > Pali: Aṭṭhamaṁ. [¶82] SN 18.9 · Elements > Pali: SN 18.9 · Dhātusutta [¶83] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶84] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is the earth element permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, pathavīdhātu niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶85] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶86] “… the water element … the fire element … the air element … the space element … Is the consciousness element permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “āpodhātu …pe… tejodhātu … vāyodhātu … ākāsadhātu … viññāṇadhātu niccā vā aniccā vā”ti? [¶87] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccā, bhante” … [¶88] “Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the earth element, water element, fire element, air element, space element, and consciousness element …” > Pali: “evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako pathavīdhātuyāpi nibbindati …pe… āpodhātuyāpi nibbindati … tejodhātuyāpi nibbindati … vāyodhātuyāpi nibbindati … ākāsadhātuyāpi nibbindati … viññāṇadhātuyāpi nibbindati …pe… pajānātī”ti. [¶89] > Pali: Navamaṁ. [¶90] SN 18.10 · The Aggregates > Pali: SN 18.10 · Khandhasutta [¶91] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. [¶92] “What do you think, Rāhula? Is form permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? [¶93] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante” … [¶94] “… feeling … perception … choices … Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?” > Pali: “vedanā …pe… saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? [¶95] “Impermanent, sir.” … > Pali: “Aniccaṁ, bhante” … [¶96] “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, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati …pe… vedanāyapi nibbindati … saññāyapi nibbindati … saṅkhāresupi nibbindati … viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati; vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti. [¶97] 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 pajānātī”ti. [¶98] > Pali: Dasamaṁ. [¶99] > Pali: Paṭhamo vaggo. [¶100] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ [¶101] > Pali: Cakkhu rūpañca viññāṇaṁ, samphasso vedanāya ca; Saññā sañcetanā taṇhā, dhātu khandhena te dasāti.