SN 35-44 The Group of Connected Discourses Beginning With the Six Sense Fields – Saḷāyatanavaggasaṁyutta > SN 35 Connected Discourses on the Six Sense Fields – Saḷāyatanasaṁyutta > SN 35.146 The Cessation of Action

Linked Discourses 35.146 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.146

15. The Old and the New – 15. Navapurāṇavagga

SN 35.146 The Cessation of Action – Kammanirodhasutta

“Bhikkhū, I will teach you old action, new action, the cessation of action, and the practice that leads to the cessation of action.

“Navapurāṇāni, bhikkhave, kammāni desessāmi kammanirodhaṁ kammanirodhagāminiñca paṭipadaṁ.

Listen and pay close attention, I will speak. …

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmīti.

And what is old action?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ?

The eye is old action. It should be seen as produced by saṅkhāra and intentions, as something to be felt.

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ vedaniyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ …pe…

The ear … nose … tongue … body …

jivhā purāṇakammā abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā vedaniyā daṭṭhabbā …pe…

mind is old action. It should be seen as produced by saṅkhāra and intentions, as something to be felt.

mano purāṇakammo abhisaṅkhato abhisañcetayito vedaniyo daṭṭhabbo.

This is called old action.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ.

And what is new action?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ?

The deeds you currently perform by way of body, speech, and mind.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, etarahi kammaṁ karoti kāyena vācāya manasā,

This is called new action.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ.

And what is the cessation of action?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodho?

When you experience freedom due to the cessation of deeds by body, speech, and mind.

Yo kho, bhikkhave, kāyakammavacīkammamanokammassa nirodhā vimuttiṁ phusati,

This is called the cessation of action.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodho.

And what’s the practice that leads to the cessation of action?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā?

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—

right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi.

sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi—

This is called the practice that leads to the cessation of action.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

So, bhikkhū, I’ve taught you old action, new action, the cessation of action, and the practice that leads to the cessation of action.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ mayā purāṇakammaṁ, desitaṁ navakammaṁ, desito kammanirodho, desitā kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

Out of compassion, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā.

Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, bhikkhū! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”

Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchāvippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.