--- title: "Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga" author: "The Buddha" translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato" languages: [pi, en] shelf: "Pali Canon" section: 95 of 105 url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/95/ cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga, section 95. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/95/" --- # Linked Discourses V: The Great Book · Saṁyutta Nikāya · Mahāvagga *The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato* The path: the noble eightfold path, the factors of awakening, mindfulness meditation, breathing, and the first teaching, Turning the Wheel of Dhamma. > 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. ## 95. Immersion · SN 56.1–56.10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/95/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-samyutta-nikaya-5/95/#p-N [¶0] SN 56.1 · Immersion > Pali: SN 56.1 · Samādhisutta [¶1] At Sāvatthī. > Pali: Sāvatthinidānaṁ. [¶2] > Pali: …pe… [¶3] “Mendicants, develop immersion. A mendicant who has immersion truly understands. What do they truly understand? They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. Develop immersion. A mendicant who has immersion truly understands. > Pali: “Samādhiṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha. Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Kiñca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti? ‘Idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Samādhiṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha. Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. [¶4] That’s why you should practice meditation to understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶5] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ. [¶6] SN 56.2 · Retreat > Pali: SN 56.2 · Paṭisallānasutta [¶7] “Mendicants, meditate in retreat. A mendicant in retreat truly understands. What do they truly understand? They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. Meditate in retreat. A mendicant in retreat truly understands. > Pali: “Paṭisallāne, bhikkhave, yogamāpajjatha. Paṭisallīno, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Kiñca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti? ‘Idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Paṭisallāne, bhikkhave, yogamāpajjatha. Paṭisallīno, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. [¶8] That’s why you should practice meditation to understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶9] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ. [¶10] SN 56.3 · A Gentleman (1st) > Pali: SN 56.3 · Paṭhamakulaputtasutta [¶11] “Mendicants, whatever gentlemen—past, future, or present—rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness, all of them do so in order to truly comprehend the four noble truths. > Pali: “Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajiṁsu, sabbe te catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ yathābhūtaṁ abhisamayāya. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajissanti, sabbe te catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ yathābhūtaṁ abhisamayāya. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, sabbe te catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ yathābhūtaṁ abhisamayāya. [¶12] What four? The noble truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. Whatever gentlemen—past, future, or present—rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness, all of them do so in order to truly comprehend the four noble truths. > Pali: Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa dukkhasamudayassa ariyasaccassa dukkhanirodhassa ariyasaccassa dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajiṁsu …pe… pabbajissanti …pe… pabbajanti, sabbe te imesaṁyeva catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ yathābhūtaṁ abhisamayāya. [¶13] That’s why you should practice meditation to understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶14] > Pali: Tatiyaṁ. [¶15] SN 56.4 · A Gentleman (2nd) > Pali: SN 56.4 · Dutiyakulaputtasutta [¶16] “Mendicants, whatever gentlemen—past, future, or present—truly comprehend after rightly going forth from the lay life to homelessness, all of them truly comprehend the four noble truths. > Pali: “Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamessanti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamessanti. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti. [¶17] What four? The noble truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. … > Pali: Katamāni cattāri? Dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ …pe… abhisamessanti …pe… abhisamenti, sabbe te imāni cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti. [¶18] That’s why you should practice meditation …” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶19] > Pali: Catutthaṁ. [¶20] SN 56.5 · Ascetics and Brahmins (1st) > Pali: SN 56.5 · Paṭhamasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta [¶21] “Mendicants, whatever ascetics and brahmins truly awaken—in the past, future, or present—all of them truly awaken to the four noble truths. > Pali: “Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhiṁsu, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhiṁsu. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhissanti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhissanti. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhanti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhanti. [¶22] What four? The noble truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. … > Pali: Katamāni cattāri? Dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhiṁsu …pe… abhisambojjhissanti …pe… abhisambojjhanti, sabbe te imāni cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambojjhanti. [¶23] That’s why you should practice meditation …” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶24] > Pali: Pañcamaṁ. [¶25] SN 56.6 · Ascetics and Brahmins (2nd) > Pali: SN 56.6 · Dutiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta [¶26] “Mendicants, whatever ascetics and brahmins—past, future, or present—reveal that they are awakened, all of them reveal that they truly awakened to the four noble truths. > Pali: “Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsesuṁ, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsesuṁ. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsessanti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsessanti. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsenti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsenti. [¶27] What four? The noble truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. … > Pali: Katamāni cattāri? Dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsesuṁ …pe… pakāsessanti …pe… pakāsenti, sabbe te imāni cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisambuddhaṁ pakāsenti. [¶28] That’s why you should practice meditation …” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶29] > Pali: Chaṭṭhaṁ. [¶30] SN 56.7 · Thoughts > Pali: SN 56.7 · Vitakkasutta [¶31] “Mendicants, don’t think bad, unskillful thoughts, such as sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts. Why is that? Because those thoughts aren’t beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. They don’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. > Pali: “Mā, bhikkhave, pāpake akusale vitakke vitakkeyyātha, seyyathidaṁ— kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Nete, bhikkhave, vitakkā atthasaṁhitā nādibrahmacariyakā na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattanti. [¶32] When you think, you should think: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. Why is that? Because those thoughts are beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. They lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. > Pali: Vitakkentā ca kho tumhe, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti vitakkeyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti vitakkeyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti vitakkeyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti vitakkeyyātha. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ete, bhikkhave, vitakkā atthasaṁhitā ete ādibrahmacariyakā ete nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattanti. [¶33] That’s why you should practice meditation …” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶34] > Pali: Sattamaṁ. [¶35] SN 56.8 · Thought > Pali: SN 56.8 · Cintasutta [¶36] “Mendicants, don’t think up a bad, unskillful idea. For example: the cosmos is eternal, or not eternal, or finite, or infinite; the soul and the body are one and the same, or the soul is one thing, the body another; after death, a realized one still exists, or no longer exists, or both still exists and no longer exists, or neither still exists nor no longer exists. Why is that? Because those thoughts aren’t beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. They don’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. > Pali: “Mā, bhikkhave, pāpakaṁ akusalaṁ cittaṁ cinteyyātha: ‘sassato loko’ti vā ‘asassato loko’ti vā, ‘antavā loko’ti vā ‘anantavā loko’ti vā, ‘taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīran’ti vā ‘aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīran’ti vā, ‘hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’ti vā ‘na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’ti vā, ‘hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’ti vā, ‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’ti vā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Nesā, bhikkhave, cintā atthasaṁhitā nādibrahmacariyakā na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. [¶37] When you think something up, you should think: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. Why is that? Because those thoughts are beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. They lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. > Pali: Cintentā ca kho tumhe, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti cinteyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti cinteyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti cinteyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti cinteyyātha. Taṁ kissa hetu? Esā, bhikkhave, cintā atthasaṁhitā, esā ādibrahmacariyakā, esā nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. [¶38] That’s why you should practice meditation …” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶39] > Pali: Aṭṭhamaṁ. [¶40] SN 56.9 · Arguments > Pali: SN 56.9 · Viggāhikakathāsutta [¶41] “Mendicants, don’t get into arguments, such as: ‘You don’t understand this teaching and training. I understand this teaching and training. What, you understand this teaching and training? You’re practicing wrong. I’m practicing right. I stay on topic, you don’t. You said last what you should have said first. You said first what you should have said last. What you’ve thought so much about has been disproved. Your doctrine is refuted. Go on, save your doctrine! You’re trapped; get yourself out of this—if you can!’ Why is that? Because those discussions aren’t beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. They don’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. > Pali: “Mā, bhikkhave, viggāhikakathaṁ katheyyātha: ‘na tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāsi, ahaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānāmi. Kiṁ tvaṁ imaṁ dhammavinayaṁ ājānissasi. Micchāpaṭipanno tvamasi, ahamasmi sammāpaṭipanno. Sahitaṁ me, asahitaṁ te. Purevacanīyaṁ pacchā avaca, pacchāvacanīyaṁ pure avaca. Adhiciṇṇaṁ te viparāvattaṁ. Āropito te vādo, cara vādappamokkhāya. Niggahitosi, nibbeṭhehi vā sace pahosī’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Nesā, bhikkhave, kathā atthasaṁhitā nādibrahmacariyakā na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. [¶42] When you discuss, you should discuss: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. … > Pali: Kathentā ca kho tumhe, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti katheyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti katheyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti katheyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti katheyyātha …pe… [¶43] That’s why you should practice meditation …” > Pali: yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶44] > Pali: Navamaṁ. [¶45] SN 56.10 · Low Talk > Pali: SN 56.10 · Tiracchānakathāsutta [¶46] “Mendicants, don’t engage in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; talk at the street market and the place for water pots; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that place. Why is that? Because those discussions aren’t beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. They don’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. > Pali: “Mā, bhikkhave, anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ katheyyātha, seyyathidaṁ— rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ mahāmattakathaṁ senākathaṁ, bhayakathaṁ yuddhakathaṁ, annakathaṁ pānakathaṁ vatthakathaṁ sayanakathaṁ mālākathaṁ gandhakathaṁ, ñātikathaṁ yānakathaṁ gāmakathaṁ nigamakathaṁ nagarakathaṁ janapadakathaṁ itthikathaṁ sūrakathaṁ visikhākathaṁ kumbhaṭṭhānakathaṁ, pubbapetakathaṁ nānattakathaṁ, lokakkhāyikaṁ samuddakkhāyikaṁ itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Nesā, bhikkhave, kathā atthasaṁhitā nādibrahmacariyakā na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati. [¶47] When you discuss, you should discuss: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. … > Pali: Kathentā ca kho tumhe, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti katheyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti katheyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti katheyyātha, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti katheyyātha. Taṁ kissa hetu? Esā, bhikkhave, kathā atthasaṁhitā, esā ādibrahmacariyakā, esā nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati. [¶48] That’s why you should practice meditation …” > Pali: Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti. [¶49] > Pali: Dasamaṁ. [¶50] > Pali: Samādhivaggo paṭhamo. [¶51] > Pali: Tassuddānaṁ [¶52] > Pali: Samādhi paṭisallānā, kulaputtā apare duve; Samaṇabrāhmaṇā vitakkaṁ, cintā viggāhikā kathāti.