SN 35.117 The Kinds of Sensual Stimulation – Kāmaguṇasutta

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SN 35.117 The Kinds of Sensual Stimulation – Kāmaguṇasutta

Linked Discourses 35.117 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.117

12. The World and the Kinds of Sensual Stimulation – 12. Lokakāmaguṇavagga

SN 35.117 The Kinds of Sensual Stimulation – Kāmaguṇasutta

 

Bhikkhū, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I thought:

“Pubbeva me, bhikkhave, sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi:

‘My mind might often stray towards the five kinds of sensual stimulation that I formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished—or to those in the present, or in the future a little.’

‘yeme pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra me cittaṁ bahulaṁ gacchamānaṁ gaccheyya paccuppannesu vā appaṁ vā anāgatesu’.

Then it occurred to me:

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:

‘In my own way I should practice diligence, mindfulness, and protecting the mind regarding the five kinds of sensual stimulation that I formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished.’

‘yeme pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra me attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo’.

So, bhikkhū, your minds might also often stray towards the five kinds of sensual stimulation that you formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished—or to those in the present, or in the future a little.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, tumhākampi ye te pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra vo cittaṁ bahulaṁ gacchamānaṁ gaccheyya paccuppannesu vā appaṁ vā anāgatesu.

So in your own way you should practice diligence, mindfulness, and protecting the mind regarding the five kinds of sensual stimulation that you formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, tumhākampi ye te pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra vo attarūpehi appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo.

So you should understand that dimension where the eye ceases and perception of sights fades away.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

You should understand that dimension where the ear … nose … tongue … body …

yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

mind ceases and perception of thoughts fades away.”

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe”ti.

When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Idaṁ vatvā bhagavā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

Soon after the Buddha left, those bhikkhū considered,

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:

“The Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. …

“idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.

Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha?”

Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?

Then those bhikkhū thought,

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi:

“This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.

“ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.

He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha.

Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.

Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”

Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā”ti.

Then those bhikkhū went to Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said,

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Idaṁ kho no, āvuso ānanda, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.

Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:

‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

“tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe”ti.

Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?

Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ etadahosi:

‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.

Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.

Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti.

“May Venerable Ānanda please explain this.”

Vibhajatāyasmā ānando”ti.

“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. …”

“Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa …pe…

“Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”

vibhajatāyasmā ānando agaruṁ karitvā”ti.

“Then listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Tenahāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” they replied.

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paccassosuṁ.

Ānanda said this:

Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:

“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:

“Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘So you should understand that dimension where the eye ceases and perception of sights fades away. You should understand that dimension where the ear … nose … tongue … body …

‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

mind ceases and perception of thoughts fades away.’

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.

And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary.

Imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

The Buddha was referring to the cessation of the six sense fields when he said:

Saḷāyatananirodhaṁ no etaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:

‘So you should understand that dimension where the eye ceases and perception of sights fades away. You should understand that dimension where the ear … nose … tongue … body …

‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe, yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

mind ceases and perception of thoughts fades away.’

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.

The Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.

And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary.

Imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.

If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this.

Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe āyasmanto bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamatha;

upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ puccheyyātha.

You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” replied those bhikkhū. Then they rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti, tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:

‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:

“tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…

yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe”ti.

Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?

Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi:

‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.

Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.

Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti.

Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamimha; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipucchimha.

Then they said, “And Ānanda explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”

Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā ānandena imehi ākārehi, imehi padehi, imehi byañjanehi attho vibhatto”ti.

Bhikkhū, Ānanda is astute, he has great wisdom.

“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, ānando; mahāpañño, bhikkhave, ānando.

If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Ānanda.

Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi taṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ ānandena byākataṁ.

That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”

Eso cevetassa attho. Evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.