AN 10.27 The Great Questions (1st) – Paṭhamamahāpañhāsutta

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AN 10.27 The Great Questions (1st) – Paṭhamamahāpañhāsutta

Numbered Discourses 10.27 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.27

3. The Great Chapter – 3. Mahāvagga

AN 10.27 The Great Questions (1st) – Paṭhamamahāpañhāsutta

 

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

Then several bhikkhū robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu.

1.3

Then it occurred to him,

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi:

1.4

“It’s too early to wander for alms in Sāvatthī.

“atippago kho tāva sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya carituṁ;

1.5

Why don’t we go to the monastery of the wanderers who follow other paths?”

yannūna mayaṁ yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkameyyāmā”ti.

2.1

Then they went to the monastery of the wanderers who follow other paths, and exchanged greetings with the wanderers there.

Atha kho te bhikkhū yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.

2.2

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. The wanderers said to them:

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū te aññatitthiyā paribbājakā etadavocuṁ:

3.1

“Reverends, the ascetic Gotama teaches his disciples like this:

“Samaṇo, āvuso, gotamo sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:

3.2

‘Please, bhikkhū, directly know all things. Meditate having directly known all things.’

‘etha tumhe, bhikkhave, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhijānātha, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhiññāya viharathā’ti;

3.3

We too teach our disciples:

mayampi kho, āvuso, sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desema:

3.4

‘Please, reverends, directly know all things. Live having directly known all things.’

‘etha tumhe, āvuso, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhijānātha, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhiññāya viharathā’ti.

3.5

What, then, is the difference between the ascetic Gotama’s teaching and instruction and ours?”

Idha no, āvuso, ko viseso ko adhippayāso kiṁ nānākaraṇaṁ samaṇassa vā gotamassa amhākaṁ vā, yadidaṁ dhammadesanāya vā dhammadesanaṁ anusāsaniyā vā anusāsanin”ti?

4.1

Those bhikkhū neither approved nor dismissed that statement of the wanderers who follow other paths.

Atha kho te bhikkhū tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ bhāsitaṁ neva abhinandiṁsu nappaṭikkosiṁsu.

4.2

They got up from their seat, thinking,

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu:

4.3

“We will learn the meaning of this statement from the Buddha himself.”

“bhagavato santike etassa bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānissāmā”ti.

5.1

Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

Atha kho te bhikkhū sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

6.1

“Idha mayaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisimhā.

6.2

Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi:

6.3

‘atippago kho tāva sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya carituṁ;

6.4

yannūna mayaṁ yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkameyyāmā’ti.

6.5

Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkamimhā; upasaṅkamitvā tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ sammodimhā.

6.6

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdimhā. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho, bhante, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā amhe etadavocuṁ:

7.1

‘Samaṇo, āvuso, gotamo sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ deseti—

7.2

etha tumhe, bhikkhave, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhijānātha, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhiññāya viharathāti;

7.3

mayampi kho, āvuso, sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desema—

7.4

etha tumhe, āvuso, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhijānātha, sabbaṁ dhammaṁ abhiññāya viharathāti.

7.5

Idha no, āvuso, ko viseso ko adhippayāso kiṁ nānākaraṇaṁ samaṇassa vā gotamassa amhākaṁ vā, yadidaṁ dhammadesanāya vā dhammadesanaṁ anusāsaniyā vā anusāsanin’ti?

8.1

Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ bhāsitaṁ neva abhinandimhā nappaṭikkosimhā.

8.2

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamimhā:

8.3

‘bhagavato santike etassa bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānissāmā’”ti.

9.1

Bhikkhū, when wanderers who follow other paths say this, you should say to them:

“Evaṁvādino, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā:

9.2

‘One thing: question, passage for recitation, and answer. Two … three … four … five … six … seven … eight … nine … ten things: question, passage for recitation, and answer.’

‘eko, āvuso, pañho eko uddeso ekaṁ veyyākaraṇaṁ, dve pañhā dve uddesā dve veyyākaraṇāni, tayo pañhā tayo uddesā tīṇi veyyākaraṇāni, cattāro pañhā cattāro uddesā cattāri veyyākaraṇāni, pañca pañhā pañcuddesā pañca veyyākaraṇāni, cha pañhā cha uddesā cha veyyākaraṇāni, satta pañhā sattuddesā satta veyyākaraṇāni, aṭṭha pañhā aṭṭhuddesā aṭṭha veyyākaraṇāni, nava pañhā navuddesā nava veyyākaraṇāni, dasa pañhā dasuddesā dasa veyyākaraṇānī’ti.

9.3

Questioned like this, the wanderers who follow other paths would be stumped, and, in addition, would get frustrated.

Evaṁ puṭṭhā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā na ceva sampāyissanti, uttari ca vighātaṁ āpajjissanti.

9.4

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

9.5

Because they’re out of their element.

Yathā taṁ, bhikkhave, avisayasmiṁ.

9.6

I don’t see anyone in this world—with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—who could provide a satisfying answer to these questions except for the Realized One or his disciple or someone who has heard it from them.

Nāhaṁ taṁ, bhikkhave, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya yo imesaṁ pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyya, aññatra tathāgatena vā tathāgatasāvakena vā ito vā pana sutvā.

10.1

‘One thing: question, passage for recitation, and answer.’

‘Eko pañho eko uddeso ekaṁ veyyākaraṇan’ti,

10.2

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

10.3

Becoming completely disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding one thing, seeing its limits and fully comprehending its meaning, a bhikkhu makes an end of suffering in this very life.

Ekadhamme, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

10.4

What one thing?

Katamasmiṁ ekadhamme?

10.5

‘All sentient beings are sustained by food.’

‘Sabbe sattā āhāraṭṭhitikā’—

10.6

Becoming completely disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding this one thing, seeing its limits and fully comprehending its meaning, a bhikkhu makes an end of suffering in this very life.

imasmiṁ kho, bhikkhave, ekadhamme bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

10.7

‘One thing: question, passage for recitation, and answer.’

‘Eko pañho eko uddeso ekaṁ veyyākaraṇan’ti,

10.8

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

11.1

‘Dve pañhā dve uddesā dve veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

11.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

11.3

Dvīsu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

11.4

What two?

Katamesu dvīsu?

11.5

Name and form. …

Nāme ca rūpe ca—

11.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, dvīsu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

11.7

‘Dve pañhā dve uddesā dve veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

12.1

‘Tayo pañhā tayo uddesā tīṇi veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

12.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

12.3

Tīsu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

12.4

What three?

Katamesu tīsu?

12.5

Three feelings. …

Tīsu vedanāsu—

12.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, tīsu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

12.7

‘Tayo pañhā tayo uddesā tīṇi veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

13.1

‘Cattāro pañhā cattāro uddesā cattāri veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

13.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

13.3

Catūsu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

13.4

What four?

Katamesu catūsu?

13.5

The four foods. …

Catūsu āhāresu—

13.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, catūsu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

13.7

‘Cattāro pañhā cattāro uddesā cattāri veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

14.1

‘Pañca pañhā pañcuddesā pañca veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

14.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

14.3

Pañcasu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

14.4

What five?

Katamesu pañcasu?

14.5

The five grasping aggregates. …

Pañcasu upādānakkhandhesu—

14.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, pañcasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

14.7

‘Pañca pañhā pañcuddesā pañca veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

15.1

‘Cha pañhā cha uddesā cha veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

15.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

15.3

Chasu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

15.4

What six?

Katamesu chasu?

15.5

The six interior sense fields. …

Chasu ajjhattikesu āyatanesu—

15.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, chasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

15.7

‘Cha pañhā cha uddesā cha veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

16.1

‘Satta pañhā sattuddesā satta veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

16.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

16.3

Sattasu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

16.4

What seven?

Katamesu sattasu?

16.5

The seven planes of consciousness. …

Sattasu viññāṇaṭṭhitīsu—

16.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, sattasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

16.7

‘Satta pañhā sattuddesā satta veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

17.1

‘Aṭṭha pañhā aṭṭhuddesā aṭṭha veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

17.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

17.3

Aṭṭhasu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

17.4

What eight?

Katamesu aṭṭhasu?

17.5

The eight worldly conditions. …

Aṭṭhasu lokadhammesu—

17.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno …pe… dukkhassantakaro hoti.

17.7

‘Aṭṭha pañhā aṭṭhuddesā aṭṭha veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

18.1

‘Nava pañhā navuddesā nava veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ.

18.2

Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

18.3

Navasu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

18.4

What nine?

Katamesu navasu?

18.5

The nine abodes of sentient beings. …

Navasu sattāvāsesu—

18.6

imesu kho, bhikkhave, navasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

18.7

‘Nava pañhā navuddesā nava veyyākaraṇānī’ti, iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.

19.1

‘Ten things: question, passage for recitation, and answer.’

‘Dasa pañhā dasuddesā dasa veyyākaraṇānī’ti,

19.2

That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?

19.3

Becoming completely disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding ten things, seeing their limits and fully comprehending their meaning, a bhikkhu makes an end of suffering in this very life.

Dasasu, bhikkhave, dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

19.4

What ten?

Katamesu dasasu?

19.5

The ten ways of performing unskillful deeds.

Dasasu akusalesu kammapathesu—

19.6

Becoming completely disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding these ten things, seeing their limits and fully comprehending their meaning, a bhikkhu makes an end of suffering in this very life.

imesu kho, bhikkhave, dasasu dhammesu bhikkhu sammā nibbindamāno sammā virajjamāno sammā vimuccamāno sammā pariyantadassāvī sammadatthaṁ abhisamecca diṭṭheva dhamme dukkhassantakaro hoti.

19.7

‘Ten things: question, passage for recitation, and answer.’

‘Dasa pañhā dasuddesā dasa veyyākaraṇānī’ti,

19.8

That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.”

iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttan”ti.

19.9

Sattamaṁ.