SN 22.73 · Gratification
SN 22.73 · Assādasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Mendicants, an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t truly understand the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. A learned noble disciple does truly understand the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.”
“Assutavā, bhikkhave, puthujjano rūpassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhārānaṁ … viññāṇassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Sutavā ca kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako rūpassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhārānaṁ … viññāṇassa assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānātī”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
SN 22.74 · Origin
SN 22.74 · Samudayasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Mendicants, an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t truly understand the origin, the disappearance, the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. A learned noble disciple does truly understand the origin, the disappearance, the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.”
“Assutavā, bhikkhave, puthujjano rūpassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhārānaṁ … viññāṇassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Sutavā ca kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako rūpassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhārānaṁ … viññāṇassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānātī”ti.
Dutiyaṁ.
SN 22.75 · Origin (2nd)
SN 22.75 · Dutiyasamudayasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Mendicants, a learned noble disciple truly understands the origin, the disappearance, the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.”
“Sutavā, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako rūpassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Vedanāya … saññāya … saṅkhārānaṁ … viññāṇassa samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānātī”ti.
Tatiyaṁ.
SN 22.76 · The Perfected Ones
SN 22.76 · Arahantasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Mendicants, form is impermanent. What’s impermanent is suffering. What’s suffering is not-self. And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
“Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā; yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
Consciousness is impermanent. What’s impermanent is suffering. What’s suffering is not-self. And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā; yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
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.
Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi … saññāyapi … saṅkhāresupi … viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.
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.’ As far as there are abodes of sentient beings, even up until the pinnacle of existence, the perfected ones are the foremost and the best.”
‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti. Yāvatā, bhikkhave, sattāvāsā, yāvatā bhavaggaṁ, ete aggā, ete seṭṭhā lokasmiṁ yadidaṁ arahanto”ti.
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
“Oh! How happy are the perfected ones!Craving is not found in them,the conceit ‘I am’ is cut off,and the net of delusion is shattered.
“Sukhino vata arahanto,taṇhā tesaṁ na vijjati;Asmimāno samucchinno,mohajālaṁ padālitaṁ.
They’ve attained imperturbability,their minds are unclouded,nothing in the world clings to them,manifesting divinity, undefiled.
Anejaṁ te anuppattā,cittaṁ tesaṁ anāvilaṁ;Loke anupalittā te,brahmabhūtā anāsavā.
Completely understanding the five aggregates,their domain is the seven good qualities.Those true persons are praiseworthy,the Buddha’s bosom sons.
Pañcakkhandhe pariññāya,satta saddhammagocarā;Pasaṁsiyā sappurisā,puttā buddhassa orasā.
Endowed with the seven gems,and trained in the three trainings,the great heroes live on,with fear and dread given up.
Sattaratanasampannā,Tīsu sikkhāsu sikkhitā;Anuvicaranti mahāvīrā,Pahīnabhayabheravā.
Endowed with ten factors,those giants are immersed in samādhi.They are the best in the world,craving is not found in them.
Dasahaṅgehi sampannā,mahānāgā samāhitā;Ete kho seṭṭhā lokasmiṁ,taṇhā tesaṁ na vijjati.
The adept’s knowledge has arisen:‘This bag of bones is my last.’They are independent of othersin the core of the spiritual path.
Asekhañāṇamuppannaṁ,antimoyaṁ samussayo;Yo sāro brahmacariyassa,tasmiṁ aparapaccayā.
They do not waver due to the discriminations,they’re freed from future lives.They’ve reached the level of the tamed,in the world, they’re the winners.
Vidhāsu na vikampanti,vippamuttā punabbhavā;Dantabhūmimanuppattā,te loke vijitāvino.
Above, below, all round,relishing is not found in them.They roar their lion’s roar:‘The awakened are supreme in the world!’”
Uddhaṁ tiriyaṁ apācīnaṁ,nandī tesaṁ na vijjati;Nadanti te sīhanādaṁ,buddhā loke anuttarā”ti.
Catutthaṁ.
SN 22.77 · The Perfected Ones (2nd)
SN 22.77 · Dutiyaarahantasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Mendicants, form is impermanent. What’s impermanent is suffering. What’s suffering is not-self. And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
“Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, aniccaṁ. Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhaṁ; yaṁ dukkhaṁ tadanattā; yadanattā taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti …pe… evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
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.
Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi … saññāyapi … saṅkhāresupi … viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.
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.’
‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.
As far as there are abodes of sentient beings, even up until the pinnacle of existence, the perfected ones are the foremost and the best.”
Yāvatā, bhikkhave, sattāvāsā, yāvatā bhavaggaṁ, ete aggā, ete seṭṭhā lokasmiṁ yadidaṁ arahanto”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.
SN 22.78 · The Lion
SN 22.78 · Sīhasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Mendicants, toward evening the lion, king of beasts, emerges from his den, yawns, surveys the four quarters, and roars his lion’s roar three times. Then he sets out on the hunt. And whatever animals hear the roar of the lion, king of beasts, are typically filled with fear, awe, and terror. They return to their lairs, be they in a hole, the water, or a wood; and the birds take to the air. Even the royal elephants, bound with strong harnesses in the villages, towns, and capital cities, break apart their bonds, and urinate and defecate in terror as they flee here and there. That’s how powerful is the lion, king of beasts, over animals, how illustrious and mighty.
“Sīho, bhikkhave, migarājā sāyanhasamayaṁ āsayā nikkhamati; āsayā nikkhamitvā vijambhati; vijambhitvā samantā catuddisā anuviloketi; samantā catuddisā anuviloketvā tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ nadati; tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ naditvā gocarāya pakkamati. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, tiracchānagatā pāṇā sīhassa migarañño nadato saddaṁ suṇanti; yebhuyyena bhayaṁ saṁvegaṁ santāsaṁ āpajjanti; bilaṁ bilāsayā pavisanti; dakaṁ dakāsayā pavisanti; vanaṁ vanāsayā pavisanti; ākāsaṁ pakkhino bhajanti. Yepi te, bhikkhave, rañño nāgā gāmanigamarājadhānīsu, daḷhehi varattehi baddhā, tepi tāni bandhanāni sañchinditvā sampadāletvā bhītā muttakarīsaṁ cajamānā, yena vā tena vā palāyanti. Evaṁ mahiddhiko kho, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā tiracchānagatānaṁ pāṇānaṁ, evaṁ mahesakkho, evaṁ mahānubhāvo.
In the same way, when a Realized One arises in the world—perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed—he teaches the Dhamma: ‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form. Such is feeling … Such is perception … Such are choices … Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.’
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yadā tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. So dhammaṁ deseti: ‘iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo; iti vedanā … iti saññā … iti saṅkhārā … iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti.
Now, there are gods who are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy, lasting long in their divine palaces. When they hear this teaching by the Realized One, they’re typically filled with fear, awe, and terror. ‘Oh no! It turns out we’re impermanent, though we thought we were permanent! It turns out we don’t last, though we thought we were everlasting! It turns out we’re transient, though we thought we were eternal! It turns out that we’re impermanent, not lasting, transient, and included within substantial reality.’ That’s how powerful is the Realized One in the world with its gods, how illustrious and mighty.”
Yepi te, bhikkhave, devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā uccesu vimānesu ciraṭṭhitikā tepi tathāgatassa dhammadesanaṁ sutvā yebhuyyena bhayaṁ saṁvegaṁ santāsaṁ āpajjanti: ‘aniccāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā niccamhāti amaññimha. Addhuvāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā dhuvamhāti amaññimha. Asassatāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā sassatamhāti amaññimha. Mayampi kira, bho, aniccā addhuvā asassatā sakkāyapariyāpannā’ti. Evaṁ mahiddhiko kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato sadevakassa lokassa, evaṁ mahesakkho, evaṁ mahānubhāvo”ti.
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… etadavoca satthā:
“The Buddha, the unrivaled Teacherin all the world with its gods,rolls forth the Wheel of Dhammafrom his own insight:
“Yadā buddho abhiññāya,dhammacakkaṁ pavattayi;Sadevakassa lokassa,satthā appaṭipuggalo.
substantial reality, its cessation,the origin of substantial reality,and the noble eightfold paththat leads to the stilling of suffering.
Sakkāyañca nirodhañca,sakkāyassa ca sambhavaṁ;Ariyañcaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.
And then the long-lived gods,so beautiful and glorious,are afraid and full of terror,like the other beasts when they hear a lion.
Yepi dīghāyukā devā,vaṇṇavanto yasassino;Bhītā santāsamāpāduṁ,sīhassevitare migā.
‘We haven’t passed beyond substantial reality!It turns out we’re impermanent!’So they say when they hear the wordof the perfected one, free and unaffected.”
Avītivattā sakkāyaṁ,aniccā kira bho mayaṁ;Sutvā arahato vākyaṁ,vippamuttassa tādino”ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
SN 22.79 · Bitable
SN 22.79 · Khajjanīyasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
“Mendicants, whatever ascetics and brahmins recollect many kinds of past lives, all recollect the five grasping aggregates, or one of them. What five? ‘I had such form in the past.’ Recollecting thus, it’s only form that they recollect. ‘I had such feeling … perception … choices … consciousness in the past.’ Recollecting thus, it’s only consciousness that they recollect.
“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussaramānā anussaranti sabbete pañcupādānakkhandhe anussaranti etesaṁ vā aññataraṁ. Katame pañca? ‘Evaṁrūpo ahosiṁ atītamaddhānan’ti— iti vā hi, bhikkhave, anussaramāno rūpaṁyeva anussarati. ‘Evaṁvedano ahosiṁ atītamaddhānan’ti— iti vā hi, bhikkhave, anussaramāno vedanaṁyeva anussarati. ‘Evaṁsañño ahosiṁ atītamaddhānan’ti … ‘evaṁsaṅkhāro ahosiṁ atītamaddhānan’ti … ‘evaṁviññāṇo ahosiṁ atītamaddhānan’ti— iti vā hi, bhikkhave, anussaramāno viññāṇameva anussarati.
And why do you call it form? It’s deformed; that’s why it’s called ‘form’. Deformed by what? Deformed by cold, heat, hunger, and thirst, and deformed by the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles. It’s deformed; that’s why it’s called ‘form’.
Kiñca, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ vadetha? Ruppatīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘rūpan’ti vuccati. Kena ruppati? Sītenapi ruppati, uṇhenapi ruppati, jighacchāyapi ruppati, pipāsāyapi ruppati, ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassenapi ruppati. Ruppatīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘rūpan’ti vuccati.
And why do you call it feeling? It feels; that’s why it’s called ‘feeling’. And what does it feel? It feels pleasure, pain, and neutral. It feels; that’s why it’s called ‘feeling’.
Kiñca, bhikkhave, vedanaṁ vadetha? Vedayatīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘vedanā’ti vuccati. Kiñca vedayati? Sukhampi vedayati, dukkhampi vedayati, adukkhamasukhampi vedayati. Vedayatīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘vedanā’ti vuccati.
And why do you call it perception? It perceives; that’s why it’s called ‘perception’. And what does it perceive? It perceives blue, yellow, red, and white. It perceives; that’s why it’s called ‘perception’.
Kiñca, bhikkhave, saññaṁ vadetha? Sañjānātīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘saññā’ti vuccati. Kiñca sañjānāti? Nīlampi sañjānāti, pītakampi sañjānāti, lohitakampi sañjānāti, odātampi sañjānāti. Sañjānātīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘saññā’ti vuccati.
And why do you call them choices? Choices produce conditioned phenomena; that’s why they’re called ‘choices’. And what are the conditioned phenomena that they produce? Form is a conditioned phenomenon; choices are what make it into form. Feeling is a conditioned phenomenon; choices are what make it into feeling. Perception is a conditioned phenomenon; choices are what make it into perception. Choices are conditioned phenomena; choices are what make them into choices. Consciousness is a conditioned phenomenon; choices are what make it into consciousness. Choices produce conditioned phenomena; that’s why they’re called ‘choices’.
Kiñca, bhikkhave, saṅkhāre vadetha? Saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharontīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘saṅkhārā’ti vuccati. Kiñca saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharonti? Rūpaṁ rūpattāya saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharonti, vedanaṁ vedanattāya saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharonti, saññaṁ saññattāya saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharonti, saṅkhāre saṅkhārattāya saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharonti, viññāṇaṁ viññāṇattāya saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharonti. Saṅkhatamabhisaṅkharontīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘saṅkhārā’ti vuccati.
And why do you call it consciousness? It cognizes; that’s why it’s called ‘consciousness’. And what does it cognize? It cognizes sour, bitter, pungent, sweet, hot, mild, salty, and bland. It cognizes; that’s why it’s called ‘consciousness’.
Kiñca, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ vadetha? Vijānātīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘viññāṇan’ti vuccati. Kiñca vijānāti? Ambilampi vijānāti, tittakampi vijānāti, kaṭukampi vijānāti, madhurampi vijānāti, khārikampi vijānāti, akhārikampi vijānāti, loṇikampi vijānāti, aloṇikampi vijānāti. Vijānātīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘viññāṇan’ti vuccati.
A learned noble disciple reflects on this: ‘Currently I’m bitten by form. In the past I was also bitten by form just like now. If I were to look forward to enjoying form in the future, I’d be bitten by form in the future just as I am today.’ Reflecting like this they are not concerned with past form, they don’t look forward to enjoying future form, and they practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding present form.
Tatra, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘ahaṁ kho etarahi rūpena khajjāmi. Atītampāhaṁ addhānaṁ evameva rūpena khajjiṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannena rūpena khajjāmi. Ahañceva kho pana anāgataṁ rūpaṁ abhinandeyyaṁ, anāgatampāhaṁ addhānaṁ evameva rūpena khajjeyyaṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannena rūpena khajjāmī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya atītasmiṁ rūpasmiṁ anapekkho hoti; anāgataṁ rūpaṁ nābhinandati; paccuppannassa rūpassa nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.
‘Currently I’m bitten by feeling …
‘Ahaṁ kho etarahi vedanāya khajjāmi. Atītampāhaṁ addhānaṁ evameva vedanāya khajjiṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannāya vedanāya khajjāmi. Ahañceva kho pana anāgataṁ vedanaṁ abhinandeyyaṁ; anāgatampāhaṁ addhānaṁ evameva vedanāya khajjeyyaṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannāya vedanāya khajjāmī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya atītāya vedanāya anapekkho hoti; anāgataṁ vedanaṁ nābhinandati; paccuppannāya vedanāya nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.
perception …
‘Ahaṁ kho etarahi saññāya khajjāmi …pe…
choices …
ahaṁ kho etarahi saṅkhārehi khajjāmi. Atītampāhaṁ addhānaṁ evameva saṅkhārehi khajjiṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannehi saṅkhārehi khajjāmīti. Ahañceva kho pana anāgate saṅkhāre abhinandeyyaṁ; anāgatampāhaṁ addhānaṁ evameva saṅkhārehi khajjeyyaṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannehi saṅkhārehi khajjāmī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya atītesu saṅkhāresu anapekkho hoti; anāgate saṅkhāre nābhinandati; paccuppannānaṁ saṅkhārānaṁ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.
consciousness. In the past I was also bitten by consciousness just like now. If I were to look forward to enjoying consciousness in the future, I’d be bitten by consciousness in the future just as I am today.’ Reflecting like this they are not concerned with past consciousness, they don’t look forward to enjoying future consciousness, and they practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding present consciousness.
‘Ahaṁ kho etarahi viññāṇena khajjāmi. Atītampi addhānaṁ evameva viññāṇena khajjiṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannena viññāṇena khajjāmi. Ahañceva kho pana anāgataṁ viññāṇaṁ abhinandeyyaṁ; anāgatampāhaṁ addhānaṁ evameva viññāṇena khajjeyyaṁ, seyyathāpi etarahi paccuppannena viññāṇena khajjāmī’ti. So iti paṭisaṅkhāya atītasmiṁ viññāṇasmiṁ anapekkho hoti; anāgataṁ viññāṇaṁ nābhinandati; paccuppannassa viññāṇassa nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.
What do you think, mendicants? Is form permanent or impermanent?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Impermanent, sir.”
“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“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’?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Is feeling … perception … choices … consciousness permanent or impermanent?”
“Vedanā … saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Impermanent, sir.”
“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“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’?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“So 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 … perception … choices … 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.’
“Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, 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 attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yā kāci vedanā … yā kāci saññā … ye keci saṅkhārā … yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ …pe… yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.
This is called a noble disciple who gets rid of and doesn’t accumulate; who gives up and doesn’t grasp; who unmeshes and doesn’t enmesh; who dissipates and doesn’t get clouded.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako apacināti, no ācināti; pajahati, na upādiyati; visineti, na ussineti; vidhūpeti, na sandhūpeti.
And what things do they get rid of and not accumulate? They get rid of form and don’t accumulate it. They get rid of feeling … perception … choices … consciousness and don’t accumulate it.
Kiñca apacināti, no ācināti? Rūpaṁ apacināti, no ācināti; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ apacināti, no ācināti.
And what things do they give up and not grasp? They give up form and don’t grasp it. They give up feeling … perception … choices … consciousness and don’t grasp it.
Kiñca pajahati, na upādiyati? Rūpaṁ pajahati, na upādiyati; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ pajahati, na upādiyati.
And what things do they unmesh and not enmesh? They unmesh form and don’t enmesh it. They unmesh feeling … perception … choices … consciousness and don’t enmesh it.
Kiñca visineti, na ussineti? Rūpaṁ visineti, na ussineti; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ visineti, na ussineti.
And what things do they dissipate and not get clouded by? They dissipate form and don’t get clouded by it. They dissipate feeling … perception … choices … consciousness and don’t get clouded by it.
Kiñca vidhūpeti, na sandhūpeti? Rūpaṁ vidhūpeti, na sandhūpeti; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ vidhūpeti, na sandhūpeti.
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.
Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi … saññāyapi … saṅkhāresupi … viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati. Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.
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.’
‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.
This is called a mendicant who neither gets rid of nor accumulates, but remains after getting rid. They neither give up nor grasp, but remain after giving up. They neither unmesh nor enmesh, but remain after unmeshing. They neither dissipate nor get clouded, but remain after dissipating.
Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nevācināti na apacināti, apacinitvā ṭhito; neva pajahati na upādiyati, pajahitvā ṭhito; neva visineti na ussineti, visinetvā ṭhito; neva vidhūpeti na sandhūpeti vidhūpetvā ṭhito
And what things do they neither get rid of nor accumulate, but remain after getting rid of them? They neither get rid of nor accumulate form, but remain after getting rid of it. They neither get rid of nor accumulate feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, but remain after getting rid of it.
Kiñca nevācināti na apacināti, apacinitvā ṭhito? Rūpaṁ nevācināti na apacināti, apacinitvā ṭhito; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ nevācināti na apacināti, apacinitvā ṭhito.
And what things do they neither give up nor grasp, but remain after giving them up? They neither give up nor grasp form, but remain after giving it up. They neither give up nor grasp feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, but remain after giving it up.
Kiñca neva pajahati na upādiyati, pajahitvā ṭhito? Rūpaṁ neva pajahati na upādiyati, pajahitvā ṭhito; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ neva pajahati na upādiyati, pajahitvā ṭhito.
And what things do they neither discard nor amass, but remain after discarding them? They neither unmesh nor enmesh form, but remain after unmeshing it. They neither unmesh nor enmesh feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, but remain after unmeshing it.
Kiñca neva visineti na ussineti, visinetvā ṭhito? Rūpaṁ neva visineti na ussineti, visinetvā ṭhito; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ neva visineti na ussineti, visinetvā ṭhito.
And what things do they neither dissipate nor get clouded by, but remain after dissipating them? They neither dissipate nor get clouded by form, but remain after dissipating it. They neither dissipate nor get clouded by feeling … perception … choices … consciousness, but remain after dissipating it.
Kiñca neva vidhūpeti na sandhūpeti, vidhūpetvā ṭhito? Rūpaṁ neva vidhūpeti na sandhūpeti, vidhūpetvā ṭhito; vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre … viññāṇaṁ neva vidhūpeti na sandhūpeti, vidhūpetvā ṭhito.
When a mendicant’s mind is freed like this, the gods together with Indra, the Divinity, and the Progenitor worship them from afar:
Evaṁvimuttacittaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ saindā devā sabrahmakā sapajāpatikā ārakāva namassanti:
‘Homage to you, O thoroughbred!Homage to you, supreme among men!We don’t understandthe basis of your absorption.’”
‘Namo te purisājañña,namo te purisuttama;Yassa te nābhijānāma,yampi nissāya jhāyasī’”ti.
Sattamaṁ.
SN 22.80 · Beggars
SN 22.80 · Piṇḍolyasutta
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.
Then the Buddha, having dismissed the mendicant Saṅgha for some reason, robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Kapilavatthu for alms. He wandered for alms in Kapilavatthu. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Great Wood for the day’s meditation, plunged deep into it, and sat at the root of a young wood-apple tree to meditate.
Atha kho bhagavā kismiñcideva pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇāmetvā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kapilavatthuṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Kapilavatthusmiṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena mahāvanaṁ tenupasaṅkami divāvihārāya. Mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā beluvalaṭṭhikāya mūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi.
Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I have purged the mendicant Saṅgha. But there are mendicants here who are junior, recently gone forth, newly come to this teaching and training. Not seeing me they may change and fall apart. If a young calf doesn’t see its mother it may change and fall apart. … Or if young seedlings don’t get water they may change and fall apart. In the same way, there are mendicants here who are junior, recently gone forth, newly come to this teaching and training. Not seeing me they may change and fall apart. Why don’t I support the mendicant Saṅgha now as I did in the past?”
Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “mayā kho bhikkhusaṅgho pabāḷho. Santettha bhikkhū navā acirapabbajitā adhunāgatā imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ. Tesaṁ mamaṁ apassantānaṁ siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo. Seyyathāpi nāma vacchassa taruṇassa mātaraṁ apassantassa siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo; evameva santettha bhikkhū navā acirapabbajitā adhunāgatā imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ tesaṁ mamaṁ apassantānaṁ siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo. Seyyathāpi nāma bījānaṁ taruṇānaṁ udakaṁ alabhantānaṁ siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo; evameva santettha …pe… tesaṁ mamaṁ alabhantānaṁ dassanāya siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo. Yannūnāhaṁ yatheva mayā pubbe bhikkhusaṅgho anuggahito, evameva etarahi anuggaṇheyyaṁ bhikkhusaṅghan”ti.
Then the divinity Sahampati knew the Buddha’s train of thought. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of the Buddha. He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said: “That’s so true, Blessed One! That’s so true, Holy One! The Buddha has purged the mendicant Saṅgha. But there are mendicants who are junior, recently gone forth, newly come to this teaching and training. … May the Buddha be happy with the mendicant Saṅgha! May the Buddha welcome the mendicant Saṅgha! May the Buddha support the mendicant Saṅgha now as he did in the past!”
Atha kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito bhagavato purato pāturahosi. Atha kho brahmā sahampati ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “evametaṁ, bhagavā, evametaṁ, sugata. Bhagavatā, bhante, bhikkhusaṅgho pabāḷho. Santettha bhikkhū navā acirapabbajitā adhunāgatā imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ. Tesaṁ bhagavantaṁ apassantānaṁ siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo. Seyyathāpi nāma vacchassa taruṇassa mātaraṁ apassantassa siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo; evameva santettha bhikkhū navā acirapabbajitā adhunāgatā imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ tesaṁ bhagavantaṁ apassantānaṁ siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo. Seyyathāpi nāma bījānaṁ taruṇānaṁ udakaṁ alabhantānaṁ siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo; evameva santettha bhikkhū navā acirapabbajitā adhunāgatā imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ, tesaṁ bhagavantaṁ alabhantānaṁ dassanāya siyā aññathattaṁ siyā vipariṇāmo. Abhinandatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ; abhivadatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ. Yatheva bhagavatā pubbe bhikkhusaṅgho anuggahito, evameva etarahi anuggaṇhātu bhikkhusaṅghan”ti.
The Buddha consented with silence. Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing that the Buddha had consented, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.
Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena. Atha kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.
Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the Banyan Tree Monastery, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then he used his psychic power to will that the mendicants would come to him timidly, alone or in pairs. Those mendicants approached the Buddha timidly, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to them:
Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena nigrodhārāmo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhāsi yathā te bhikkhū ekadvīhikāya sārajjamānarūpā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkameyyuṁ. Tepi bhikkhū ekadvīhikāya sārajjamānarūpā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū bhagavā etadavoca:
“This is the last of lifestyles, mendicants, namely relying on alms. The world curses you: ‘You beggar, walking bowl in hand!’ Yet earnest gentlemen take it up for a good reason. Not to escape a summons by a king or a summons for a bandit, or because you were in debt or in fear, or in order to make a living. But because they’re swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re swamped by suffering, mired in suffering. And they think, ‘Hopefully I can make an end to this entire mass of suffering.’
“Antamidaṁ, bhikkhave, jīvikānaṁ yadidaṁ piṇḍolyaṁ. Abhisāpoyaṁ, bhikkhave, lokasmiṁ piṇḍolo vicarasi pattapāṇīti. Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputtā upenti atthavasikā, atthavasaṁ paṭicca; neva rājābhinītā, na corābhinītā, na iṇaṭṭā, na bhayaṭṭā, na ājīvikāpakatā; api ca kho otiṇṇāmha jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi dukkhotiṇṇā dukkhaparetā appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethāti.
That’s how this gentleman has gone forth. Yet they covet sensual pleasures; they’re infatuated, full of ill will and malicious intent. They are unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying mind and undisciplined faculties. Suppose there was a firebrand for lighting a funeral pyre, burning at both ends, and smeared with dung in the middle. It couldn’t be used as timber either in the village or the wilderness. I say that individual is just like this. They’ve missed out on the pleasures of the lay life, and haven’t fulfilled the goal of the ascetic life.
Evaṁ pabbajito cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputto. So ca hoti abhijjhālu kāmesu tibbasārāgo byāpannacitto paduṭṭhamanasaṅkappo muṭṭhassati asampajāno asamāhito vibbhantacitto pākatindriyo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, chavālātaṁ ubhatopadittaṁ majjhe gūthagataṁ, neva gāme kaṭṭhatthaṁ pharati, nāraññe kaṭṭhatthaṁ pharati. Tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi gihibhogā ca parihīno, sāmaññatthañca na paripūreti.
There are these three unskillful thoughts. Sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts. And where do these three unskillful thoughts cease without remainder? In those who meditate with their mind firmly established in the four kinds of mindfulness meditation; or who develop signless immersion. This is quite enough motivation to develop signless immersion. When signless immersion is developed and cultivated it is very fruitful and beneficial.
Tayome, bhikkhave, akusalavitakkā— kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko. Ime ca bhikkhave, tayo akusalavitakkā kva aparisesā nirujjhanti? Catūsu vā satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacittassa viharato animittaṁ vā samādhiṁ bhāvayato. Yāvañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, alameva animitto samādhi bhāvetuṁ. Animitto, bhikkhave, samādhi bhāvito bahulīkato mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso.
There are these two views. Views favoring existence and views favoring nonexistence. A learned noble disciple reflects on this: ‘Is there anything in the world that I could grasp without fault?’ They understand: ‘There’s nothing in the world that I could grasp without fault. For in grasping I would grasp only at form, feeling, perception, choices, or consciousness. That grasping of mine would be a condition for continued existence. Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth. Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be. That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.’
Dvemā, bhikkhave, diṭṭhiyo— bhavadiṭṭhi ca vibhavadiṭṭhi ca. Tatra kho, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘atthi nu kho taṁ kiñci lokasmiṁ yamahaṁ upādiyamāno na vajjavā assan’ti? So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘natthi nu kho taṁ kiñci lokasmiṁ yamahaṁ upādiyamāno na vajjavā assaṁ. Ahañhi rūpaññeva upādiyamāno upādiyeyyaṁ vedanaññeva … saññaññeva … saṅkhāreyeva viññāṇaññeva upādiyamāno upādiyeyyaṁ. Tassa me assa upādānapaccayā bhavo; bhavapaccayā jāti; jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhaveyyuṁ. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo assā’ti.
What do you think, mendicants? Is form permanent or impermanent?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?
“Impermanent, sir.”
“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.
“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?
“Suffering, sir.”
“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.
“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’?”
“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ: ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?
“No, sir.”
“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“Is feeling … perception … choices … consciousness permanent or impermanent?” …
“Vedanā … saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ …pe…
“So you should truly see …
tasmātiha, bhikkhave,
Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”
evaṁ passaṁ … nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.