SN 22.97 A Fingernail – Nakhasikhāsutta

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SN 22.97 A Fingernail – Nakhasikhāsutta

Linked Discourses 22.97 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.97

10. Flowers – 10. Pupphavagga

SN 22.97 A Fingernail – Nakhasikhāsutta

 

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Seated to one side, that bhikkhu said to the Buddha:

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, is there any form at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever?

“atthi nu kho, bhante, kiñci rūpaṁ yaṁ rūpaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati?

Is there any feeling …

Atthi nu kho, bhante, kāci vedanā yā vedanā niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati?

perception …

Atthi nu kho, bhante, kāci saññā …pe…

saṅkhāra

keci saṅkhārā, ye saṅkhārā niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassanti?

consciousness at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever?”

Atthi nu kho, bhante, kiñci viññāṇaṁ, yaṁ viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassatī”ti?

Bhikkhu, there is no form at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.

“Natthi kho, bhikkhu, kiñci rūpaṁ, yaṁ rūpaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati.

There’s no feeling …

Natthi kho, bhikkhu, kāci vedanā …

perception …

kāci saññā …

saṅkhāra

keci saṅkhārā …pe…

consciousness at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.”

kiñci viññāṇaṁ, yaṁ viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassatī”ti.

Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt under his fingernail, addressed that bhikkhu:

Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsuṁ āropetvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

“There’s not even this much of any form that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.

“ettakampi kho, bhikkhu, rūpaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati.

If there were, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering would not be found.

Ettakañcepi, bhikkhu, rūpaṁ abhavissa niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, nayidaṁ brahmacariyavāso paññāyetha sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

But since there isn’t, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering is found.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhu, ettakampi rūpaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, tasmā brahmacariyavāso paññāyati sammā dukkhakkhayāya”.

There’s not even this much of any feeling …

Ettakāpi kho, bhikkhu, vedanā natthi niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati.

Ettakā cepi, bhikkhu, vedanā abhavissa niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā, na yidaṁ brahmacariyavāso paññāyetha sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhu, ettakāpi vedanā natthi niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā, tasmā brahmacariyavāso paññāyati sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

perception …

Ettakāpi kho, bhikkhu, saññā natthi …pe…

saṅkhāra

ettakāpi kho, bhikkhu, saṅkhārā natthi niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassanti.

Ettakā cepi, bhikkhu, saṅkhārā abhavissaṁsu niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā, na yidaṁ brahmacariyavāso paññāyetha sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhu, ettakāpi saṅkhārā natthi niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā, tasmā brahmacariyavāso paññāyati sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

consciousness that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.

Ettakampi kho, bhikkhu, viññāṇaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati.

If there were, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering would not be found.

Ettakampi kho, bhikkhu, viññāṇaṁ abhavissa niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, na yidaṁ brahmacariyavāso paññāyetha sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

But since there isn’t, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering is found.

Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhu, ettakampi viññāṇaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, tasmā brahmacariyavāso paññāyati sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

What do you think, bhikkhu?

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, bhikkhu,

Is form permanent or anicca?”

rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Anicca, sir.”

“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Is feeling …

“Vedanā …

perception …

saññā …

saṅkhāra

saṅkhārā …

consciousness permanent or anicca?”

viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

Anicca, sir.” …

“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“So you should truly see …

“tasmātiha …pe…

Seeing this …

evaṁ passaṁ …pe…

They understand: ‘… there is no return to any state of existence.’”

nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.