SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 47 Linked Discourses on Mindfulness Meditation – Satipaṭṭhānasaṁyutta > SN 47.8 Cooks

Linked Discourses 47.8 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 47.8

1. In Ambapālī’s Wood – 1. Ambapālivagga

SN 47.8 Cooks – Sūdasutta

“Bhikkhū, suppose a foolish, incompetent, unskillful cook was to serve a ruler or their minister with an excessive variety of curries:

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, bālo abyatto akusalo sūdo rājānaṁ vā rājamahāmattaṁ vā nānaccayehi sūpehi paccupaṭṭhito assa—

superbly sour, bitter, pungent, and sweet; hot and mild, and salty and bland.

ambilaggehipi, tittakaggehipi, kaṭukaggehipi, madhuraggehipi, khārikehipi, akhārikehipi, loṇikehipi, aloṇikehipi.

But that cook didn’t take their master’s hint:

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, bālo abyatto akusalo sūdo sakassa bhattu nimittaṁ na uggaṇhāti:

‘Today my master preferred this sauce, or he reached for it, or he took a lot of it, or he praised it.

‘idaṁ vā me ajja bhattu sūpeyyaṁ ruccati, imassa vā abhiharati, imassa vā bahuṁ gaṇhāti, imassa vā vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati.

Today my master preferred the sour or bitter or pungent or sweet or hot or mild or salty sauce. Or he preferred the bland sauce, or he reached for the bland one, or he took a lot of it, or he praised it.’

Ambilaggaṁ vā me ajja bhattu sūpeyyaṁ ruccati, ambilaggassa vā abhiharati, ambilaggassa vā bahuṁ gaṇhāti, ambilaggassa vā vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati. Tittakaggaṁ vā me ajja … kaṭukaggaṁ vā me ajja … madhuraggaṁ vā me ajja … khārikaṁ vā me ajja … akhārikaṁ vā me ajja … loṇikaṁ vā me ajja … aloṇikaṁ vā me ajja bhattu sūpeyyaṁ ruccati, aloṇikassa vā abhiharati, aloṇikassa vā bahuṁ gaṇhāti, aloṇikassa vā vaṇṇaṁ bhāsatī’ti.

That foolish, incompetent, unskillful cook doesn’t get presented with clothes, wages, or bonuses.

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, bālo abyatto akusalo sūdo na ceva lābhī hoti acchādanassa, na lābhī vetanassa, na lābhī abhihārānaṁ.

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because they don’t take their master’s hint.

Tathā hi so, bhikkhave, bālo abyatto akusalo sūdo sakassa bhattu nimittaṁ na uggaṇhāti.

In the same way, a foolish, incompetent, unskillful bhikkhu meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco bālo abyatto akusalo bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

As they meditate observing an aspect of the body, their mind doesn’t enter samādhi, and their corruptions aren’t given up.

Tassa kāye kāyānupassino viharato cittaṁ na samādhiyati, upakkilesā na pahīyanti.

But they don’t take the hint.

So taṁ nimittaṁ na uggaṇhāti.

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

Vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati …pe…

mind …

citte cittānupassī viharati …pe…

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

As they meditate observing an aspect of principles, the mind doesn’t enter samādhi, and the corruptions aren’t given up.

Tassa dhammesu dhammānupassino viharato cittaṁ na samādhiyati, upakkilesā na pahīyanti.

But they don’t take the hint.

So taṁ nimittaṁ na uggaṇhāti.

That foolish, incompetent, unskillful bhikkhu doesn’t get blissful meditations in this very life, nor do they get mindfulness and situational awareness.

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, bālo abyatto akusalo bhikkhu na ceva lābhī hoti diṭṭheva dhamme sukhavihārānaṁ, na lābhī satisampajaññassa.

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because they don’t take their mind’s hint.

Tathā hi so, bhikkhave, bālo abyatto akusalo bhikkhu sakassa cittassa nimittaṁ na uggaṇhāti.

Suppose an astute, competent, skillful cook was to serve a ruler or their minister with an excessive variety of curries:

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto kusalo sūdo rājānaṁ vā rājamahāmattaṁ vā nānaccayehi sūpehi paccupaṭṭhito assa—

superbly sour, bitter, pungent, and sweet; hot and mild, and salty and bland.

ambilaggehipi, tittakaggehipi, kaṭukaggehipi, madhuraggehipi, khārikehipi, akhārikehipi, loṇikehipi, aloṇikehipi.

And that cook took their master’s hint:

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto kusalo sūdo sakassa bhattu nimittaṁ uggaṇhāti:

‘Today my master preferred this sauce, or he reached for it, or he took a lot of it, or he praised it.

‘idaṁ vā me ajja bhattu sūpeyyaṁ ruccati, imassa vā abhiharati, imassa vā bahuṁ gaṇhāti, imassa vā vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati.

That astute, competent, skillful cook gets presented with clothes, wages, and bonuses.

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto kusalo sūdo lābhī ceva hoti acchādanassa, lābhī vetanassa, lābhī abhihārānaṁ.

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because they take their master’s hint.

Tathā hi so, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto kusalo sūdo sakassa bhattu nimittaṁ uggaṇhāti.

In the same way, an astute, competent, skillful bhikkhu meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco paṇḍito byatto kusalo bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

As they meditate observing an aspect of the body, their mind enters samādhi, and their corruptions are given up.

Tassa kāye kāyānupassino viharato cittaṁ samādhiyati, upakkilesā pahīyanti.

They take the hint.

So taṁ nimittaṁ uggaṇhāti.

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

Vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati …pe…

mind …

citte cittānupassī viharati …pe…

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.

As they meditate observing an aspect of principles, their mind enters samādhi, and their corruptions are given up.

Tassa dhammesu dhammānupassino viharato cittaṁ samādhiyati, upakkilesā pahīyanti.

They take the hint.

So taṁ nimittaṁ uggaṇhāti.

That astute, competent, skillful bhikkhu gets blissful meditations in this very life, and they get mindfulness and situational awareness.

Sa kho so, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto kusalo bhikkhu lābhī ceva hoti diṭṭheva dhamme sukhavihārānaṁ, lābhī hoti satisampajaññassa.

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Because they take their mind’s hint.”

Tathā hi so, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto kusalo bhikkhu sakassa cittassa nimittaṁ uggaṇhātī”ti.