SN 49.35–44 · Ten Discourses on Searches, Etc.
SN 49.35–44 · Esanādisuttadasaka
“Mendicants, there are these three searches. What three? The search for sensual pleasures, the search for continued existence, and the search for a spiritual path. These are the three searches.
“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā— imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā.
The four right efforts should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these three searches. What four? It’s when a mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. … so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed.
Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya cattāro sammappadhānā bhāvetabbā. Katame cattāro? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ …pe… uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.
These four right efforts should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these three searches.”
Imāsaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tissannaṁ esanānaṁ abhiññāya pariññāya parikkhayāya pahānāya ime cattāro sammappadhānā bhāvetabbā”ti.
(Tell in full as in SN 45.161–170.)
(Vitthāretabbaṁ.)
Dasamaṁ.
Esanāvaggo catuttho.
Tassuddānaṁ
Searches, discriminations, defilements,states of existence, three kinds of suffering,barrenness, stains, and troubles,feelings, craving, and thirst.
Esanā vidhā āsavo,Bhavo ca dukkhatā tisso;Khilaṁ malañca nīgho ca,Vedanā taṇhā tasinā cāti.