SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 45 Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path – Maggasaṁyutta > SN 45.159 A Guest House

Linked Discourses 45.159 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.159

12. Hard Work – 12. Balakaraṇīyavagga

SN 45.159 A Guest House – Āgantukasutta

“Bhikkhū, suppose there was a guest house. Lodgers come from the east, west, north, and south. Aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, and workers all stay there.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, āgantukāgāraṁ. Tattha puratthimāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, pacchimāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, uttarāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, dakkhiṇāyapi disāya āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, khattiyāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, brāhmaṇāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, vessāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti, suddāpi āgantvā vāsaṁ kappenti;

In the same way, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path completely understands by direct knowledge the things that should be completely understood by direct knowledge.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā, te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti …pe…

They give up by direct knowledge the things that should be given up by direct knowledge. They realize by direct knowledge the things that should be realized by direct knowledge. They develop by direct knowledge the things that should be developed by direct knowledge.

ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā pajahati, ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti, ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti.

And what are the things that should be completely understood by direct knowledge?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā?

It should be said: the five grasping aggregates.

Pañcupādānakkhandhātissa vacanīyaṁ.

What five?

Katame pañca?

That is: form, feeling, perception, saṅkhāra, and consciousness.

Seyyathidaṁ—rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho.

These are the things that should be completely understood by direct knowledge.

Ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā.

And what are the things that should be given up by direct knowledge?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā?

Ignorance and craving for continued existence.

Avijjā ca bhavataṇhā ca—

These are the things that should be given up by direct knowledge.

ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā.

And what are the things that should be realized by direct knowledge?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā?

Knowledge and freedom.

Vijjā ca vimutti ca—

These are the things that should be realized by direct knowledge.

ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā.

And what are the things that should be developed by direct knowledge?

Katame ca, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā?

Serenity and discernment.

Samatho ca vipassanā ca—

These are the things that should be developed by direct knowledge.

ime, bhikkhave, dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā.

And how does a bhikkhu develop the noble eightfold path in this way?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto, ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti …pe… ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāveti?

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 …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …

That’s how a bhikkhu develops and cultivates the eightfold path in this way.”

evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto ye dhammā abhiññā pariññeyyā, te dhamme abhiññā parijānāti, ye dhammā abhiññā pahātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā pajahati, ye dhammā abhiññā sacchikātabbā, te dhamme abhiññā sacchikaroti, ye dhammā abhiññā bhāvetabbā, te dhamme abhiññā bhāvetī”ti.