SN 45.154 A Spike – Sūkasutta

<< Click to Display Table of Contents >>

Navigation:  SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 45 Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path – Maggasaṁyutta >

SN 45.154 A Spike – Sūkasutta

Linked Discourses 45.154 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.154

12. Hard Work – 12. Balakaraṇīyavagga

SN 45.154 A Spike – Sūkasutta

 

Bhikkhū, suppose a spike of rice or barley was pointing the right way. If you trod on it with hand or foot, it may well break the skin and produce blood.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sālisūkaṁ vā yavasūkaṁ vā sammāpaṇihitaṁ hatthena vā pādena vā akkantaṁ hatthaṁ vā pādaṁ vā bhindissati lohitaṁ vā uppādessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because the spike is pointing the right way.

Sammāpaṇihitattā, bhikkhave, sūkassa.

In the same way, a bhikkhu whose view and development of the path is pointing the right way may well break ignorance, produce knowledge, and realize extinguishment.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammāpaṇihitāya diṭṭhiyā sammāpaṇihitāya maggabhāvanāya avijjaṁ bhindissati, vijjaṁ uppādessati, nibbānaṁ sacchikarissatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because their view is pointing the right way.

Sammāpaṇihitattā, bhikkhave, diṭṭhiyā.

And how does a bhikkhu whose view and development of the path is pointing the right way break ignorance, give rise to knowledge, and realize extinguishment?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammāpaṇihitāya diṭṭhiyā sammāpaṇihitāya maggabhāvanāya avijjaṁ bhindati, vijjaṁ uppādeti, nibbānaṁ sacchikaroti?

It’s when a bhikkhu develops right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …

That’s how a bhikkhu whose view and development of the path is pointing the right way breaks ignorance, gives rise to knowledge, and realizes extinguishment.”

evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammāpaṇihitāya diṭṭhiyā sammāpaṇihitāya maggabhāvanāya avijjaṁ bhindati, vijjaṁ uppādeti, nibbānaṁ sacchikarotī”ti.