SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 56 Linked Discourses on the Truths – Saccasaṁyutta > SN 56.31 In a Rosewood Forest

Linked Discourses 56.31 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.31

4. In a Rosewood Forest – 4. Sīsapāvanavagga

SN 56.31 In a Rosewood Forest – Sīsapāvanasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī in a rosewood forest.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati sīsapāvane.

Then the Buddha picked up a few rosewood leaves in his hand and addressed the bhikkhū:

Atha kho bhagavā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahetvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“What do you think, bhikkhū?

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

Which is more:

katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—

the few leaves in my hand, or those in the forest above me?”

yāni vā mayā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni yadidaṁ upari sīsapāvane”ti?

“Sir, the few leaves in your hand are a tiny amount.

“Appamattakāni, bhante, bhagavatā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni;

There are far more leaves in the forest above.”

atha kho etāneva bahutarāni yadidaṁ upari sīsapāvane”ti.

“In the same way, there is much more that I have directly known but have not explained to you. What I have explained is a tiny amount.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, etadeva bahutaraṁ yaṁ vo mayā abhiññāya anakkhātaṁ.

And why haven’t I explained it?

Kasmā cetaṁ, bhikkhave, mayā anakkhātaṁ?

Because it’s not beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

Na hetaṁ, bhikkhave, atthasaṁhitaṁ nādibrahmacariyakaṁ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati;

That’s why I haven’t explained it.

tasmā taṁ mayā anakkhātaṁ.

And what have I explained?

Kiñca, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṁ?

I have explained: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

‘Idaṁ dukkhan’ti, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti mayā akkhātaṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti mayā akkhātaṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti mayā akkhātaṁ.

And why have I explained this?

Kasmā cetaṁ, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṁ?

Because it’s beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It leads to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

Etañhi, bhikkhave, atthasaṁhitaṁ etaṁ ādibrahmacariyakaṁ etaṁ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati;

That’s why I’ve explained it.

tasmā taṁ mayā akkhātaṁ.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.