SN 56.46 Darkness – Andhakārasutta

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SN 56.46 Darkness – Andhakārasutta

Linked Discourses 56.46 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.46

5. A Cliff – 5. Papātavagga

SN 56.46 Darkness – Andhakārasutta

 

Bhikkhū, the boundless desolation of interstellar space is so utterly dark that even the light of the moon and the sun, so mighty and powerful, makes no impression.”

“Atthi, bhikkhave, lokantarikā aghā asaṁvutā andhakārā andhakāratimisā, yatthamimesaṁ candimasūriyānaṁ evaṁmahiddhikānaṁ evaṁ mahānubhāvānaṁ ābhāya nānubhontī”ti.

When he said this, one of the bhikkhū asked the Buddha,

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, that darkness really is mighty, so very mighty.

“mahā vata so, bhante, andhakāro, sumahā vata so, bhante, andhakāro.

Is there any other darkness more mighty and terrifying than this one?”

Atthi nu kho, bhante, etamhā andhakārā añño andhakāro mahantataro ca bhayānakataro cā”ti?

“There is, bhikkhu.”

“Atthi kho, bhikkhu, etamhā andhakārā añño andhakāro mahantataro ca bhayānakataro cā”ti.

“But sir, what is it?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, etamhā andhakārā añño andhakāro mahantataro ca bhayānakataro cā”ti?

“There are ascetics and brahmins who don’t truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhu, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti,

They take pleasure in saṅkhāra that lead to rebirth …

te jātisaṁvattanikesu saṅkhāresu abhiramanti …pe…

They continue to make such saṅkhāra

abhiratā …pe… abhisaṅkharonti …pe…

Having made such saṅkhāra, they fall into the darkness of rebirth, old age, and death, of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

abhisaṅkharitvā jātandhakārampi papatanti, jarandhakārampi papatanti, maraṇandhakārampi papatanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsandhakārampi papatanti.

They’re not freed from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Te na parimuccanti jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi.

They’re not freed from suffering, I say.

‘Na parimuccanti dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

There are ascetics and brahmins who truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhu, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti,

They don’t take pleasure in saṅkhāra that lead to rebirth …

te jātisaṁvattanikesu saṅkhāresu nābhiramanti …pe…

They stop making such saṅkhāra

anabhiratā …pe… nābhisaṅkharonti …pe…

Having stopped making such saṅkhāra, they don’t fall into the darkness of rebirth, old age, and death, of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

anabhisaṅkharitvā jātandhakārampi nappapatanti, jarandhakārampi nappapatanti, maraṇandhakārampi nappapatanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsandhakārampi nappapatanti.

They’re freed from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.

Te parimuccanti jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi.

They’re freed from suffering, I say.

‘Parimuccanti dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

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