3: The Book of the Threes
VII. The Great Chapter — AN 3.61: Sectarian Tenets
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1“Mendicants, these three sectarian tenets — as pursued, pressed, and grilled by the astute — when taken to their conclusion, end with inaction. What three?
There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘Everything this individual experiences — pleasurable, painful, or neutral — is because of past deeds.’
There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘Everything this individual experiences — pleasurable, painful, or neutral — is because of the Lord God’s creation.’
There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘Everything this individual experiences — pleasurable, painful, or neutral — has no cause or reason.’
2Regarding this, I went up to the ascetics and brahmins whose view is that everything that is experienced is because of past deeds, and I said to them: ‘Is it really true that this is the venerables’ view?’ And they answered, ‘Yes’. I said to them: ‘In that case, you might kill living creatures, steal, be unchaste; use speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical; be covetous, malicious, or have wrong view, all because of past deeds.’
3Those who believe that past deeds are the most important thing have no enthusiasm or effort, no idea that there are things that should and should not be done. Since they don’t acknowledge as a genuine fact that there are things that should and should not be done, they’re unmindful and careless, and can’t rightly be called ascetics. This is my first legitimate refutation of the ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view.
4Regarding this, I went up to the ascetics and brahmins whose view is that everything that is experienced is because of the Lord God’s creation, and I said to them: ‘Is it really true that this is the venerables’ view?’ And they answered, ‘Yes’. I said to them: ‘In that case, you might kill living creatures, steal, be unchaste; use speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical; be covetous, malicious, or have wrong view, all because of the Lord God’s creation.’
5Those who believe that the Lord God’s creative power is the most important thing have no enthusiasm, no effort, no idea that there are things that should and should not be done. Since they don’t acknowledge as a genuine fact that there are things that should and should not be done, they’re unmindful and careless, and can’t rightly be called ascetics. This is my second legitimate refutation of the ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view.
6Regarding this, I went up to the ascetics and brahmins whose view is that everything that is experienced has no cause or reason, and I said to them: ‘Is it really true that this is the venerables’ view?’ And they answered, ‘Yes’. I said to them: ‘In that case, you might kill living creatures, steal, be unchaste; use speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical; be covetous, malicious, or have wrong view, all without cause or reason.’
7Those who believe that the absence of cause or reason is the most important thing have no enthusiasm, no effort, no idea that there are things that should and should not be done. Since they don’t acknowledge as a genuine fact that there are things that should and should not be done, they’re unmindful and careless, and can’t rightly be called ascetics. This is my third legitimate refutation of the ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view.
8These are the three sectarian tenets — as pursued, pressed, and grilled by the astute — which, when taken to their conclusion, end with inaction.
9But the Dhamma that I’ve taught is irrefutable, uncorrupted, beyond reproach, and not scorned by sensible ascetics and brahmins. What is the Dhamma that I’ve taught?
‘These are the six elements’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …
‘These are the six fields of contact’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …
‘These are the eighteen mental preoccupations’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …
‘These are the four noble truths’: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught that is irrefutable, uncorrupted, beyond reproach, and is not scorned by sensible ascetics and brahmins.
10‘“These are the six elements”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
There are these six elements: the elements of earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness.
‘“These are the six elements”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
11‘“These are the six fields of contact”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
There are these six fields of contact: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind contact.
‘“These are the six fields of contact”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
12‘“These are the eighteen mental preoccupations”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ This is what I said, but why did I say it?
Seeing a sight with the eye, one is preoccupied with a sight that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.
Hearing a sound with the ear …
Smelling an odor with the nose …
Tasting a flavor with the tongue …
Feeling a touch with the body …
Becoming conscious of a thought with the mind, one is preoccupied with a thought that’s a basis for happiness or sadness or equanimity.
‘“These are the eighteen mental preoccupations”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.
13‘“These are the four noble truths”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught …’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?
Supported by the six elements, an embryo is conceived. When it is conceived, there are name and form. Name and form are conditions for the six sense fields. The six sense fields are conditions for contact. Contact is a condition for feeling. It’s for one who feels that I declare: ‘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’.
14And what is the noble truth of suffering? Rebirth is suffering; old age is suffering; death is suffering; sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are suffering; association with the disliked is suffering; separation from the liked is suffering; not getting what you wish for is suffering. In brief, the five grasping aggregates are suffering. This is called the noble truth of suffering.
15And what is the noble truth of the origin of suffering? Ignorance is a condition for choices. Choices are a condition for consciousness. Consciousness is a condition for name and form. Name and form are conditions for the six sense fields. The six sense fields are conditions for contact. Contact is a condition for feeling. Feeling is a condition for craving. Craving is a condition for grasping. Grasping is a condition for continued existence. Continued existence is a condition for rebirth. Rebirth is a condition for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be. That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. This is called the noble truth of the origin of suffering.
16And what is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering? When ignorance fades away and ceases with nothing left over, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. When consciousness ceases, name and form cease. When name and form cease, the six sense fields cease. When the six sense fields cease, contact ceases. When contact ceases, feeling ceases. When feeling ceases, craving ceases. When craving ceases, grasping ceases. When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases. When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases. When rebirth ceases, old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress cease. That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases. This is called the noble truth of the cessation of suffering.
17And what is the noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is called the noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.
‘“These are the four noble truths”: this is the Dhamma I’ve taught that is irrefutable, uncorrupted, beyond reproach, and is not scorned by sensible ascetics and brahmins.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.”
1"Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, titthāyatanāni yāni paṇḍitehi samanuyuñjiyamānāni samanugāhiyamānāni samanubhāsiyamānāni parampi gantvā akiriyāya saṇṭhahanti. Katamāni tīṇi?
Santi, bhikkhave, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘Yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ pubbekatahetū’ti.
Santi, bhikkhave, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘Yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ issaranimmānahetū’ti.
Santi, bhikkhave, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘Yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ ahetuappaccayā’ti.
2Tatra, bhikkhave, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘Yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ pubbekatahetū’ti, tyāhaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadāmi: ‘saccaṁ kira tumhe āyasmanto evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ pubbekatahetū"’ti? Te ca me evaṁ puṭṭhā ‘āmā’ti paṭijānanti. Tyāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tenahāyasmanto pāṇātipātino bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, adinnādāyino bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, abrahmacārino bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, musāvādino bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, pisuṇavācā bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, pharusavācā bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, samphappalāpino bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, abhijjhāluno bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, byāpannacittā bhavissanti pubbekatahetu, micchādiṭṭhikā bhavissanti pubbekatahetu’.
3Pubbekataṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, sārato paccāgacchataṁ na hoti chando vā vāyāmo vā idaṁ vā karaṇīyaṁ idaṁ vā akaraṇīyanti. Iti karaṇīyākaraṇīye kho pana saccato thetato anupalabbhiyamāne muṭṭhassatīnaṁ anārakkhānaṁ viharataṁ na hoti paccattaṁ sahadhammiko samaṇavādo. Ayaṁ kho me, bhikkhave, tesu samaṇabrāhmaṇesu evaṁvādīsu evaṁdiṭṭhīsu paṭhamo sahadhammiko niggaho hoti. (1)
4Tatra, bhikkhave, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘Yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ issaranimmānahetū’ti, tyāhaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadāmi: ‘saccaṁ kira tumhe āyasmanto evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino – yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ issaranimmānahetū’ti? Te ca me evaṁ puṭṭhā ‘āmā’ti paṭijānanti. Tyāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tenahāyasmanto pāṇātipātino bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, adinnādāyino bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, abrahmacārino bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, musāvādino bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, pisuṇavācā bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, pharusavācā bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, samphappalāpino bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, abhijjhāluno bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, byāpannacittā bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu, micchādiṭṭhikā bhavissanti issaranimmānahetu’.
5Issaranimmānaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, sārato paccāgacchataṁ na hoti chando vā vāyāmo vā idaṁ vā karaṇīyaṁ idaṁ vā akaraṇīyanti. Iti karaṇīyākaraṇīye kho pana saccato thetato anupalabbhiyamāne muṭṭhassatīnaṁ anārakkhānaṁ viharataṁ na hoti paccattaṁ sahadhammiko samaṇavādo. Ayaṁ kho me, bhikkhave, tesu samaṇabrāhmaṇesu evaṁvādīsu evaṁdiṭṭhīsu dutiyo sahadhammiko niggaho hoti. (2)
6Tatra, bhikkhave, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘Yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ ahetuappaccayā’ti, tyāhaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadāmi: ‘saccaṁ kira tumhe āyasmanto evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino – yaṁ kiñcāyaṁ purisapuggalo paṭisaṁvedeti sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā sabbaṁ taṁ ahetuappaccayā’ti? Te ca me evaṁ puṭṭhā ‘āmā’ti paṭijānanti. Tyāhaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘tenahāyasmanto pāṇātipātino bhavissanti ahetuappaccayā … pe … micchādiṭṭhikā bhavissanti ahetuappaccayā’".
7Ahetuappaccayaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, sārato paccāgacchataṁ na hoti chando vā vāyāmo vā idaṁ vā karaṇīyaṁ idaṁ vā akaraṇīyanti. Iti karaṇīyākaraṇīye kho pana saccato thetato anupalabbhiyamāne muṭṭhassatīnaṁ anārakkhānaṁ viharataṁ na hoti paccattaṁ sahadhammiko samaṇavādo. Ayaṁ kho me, bhikkhave, tesu samaṇabrāhmaṇesu evaṁvādīsu evaṁdiṭṭhīsu tatiyo sahadhammiko niggaho hoti. (3)
8Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi titthāyatanāni yāni paṇḍitehi samanuyuñjiyamānāni samanugāhiyamānāni samanubhāsiyamānāni parampi gantvā akiriyāya saṇṭhahanti.
9Ayaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi?
Imā cha dhātuyoti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
Imāni cha phassāyatanānīti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
Ime aṭṭhārasa manopavicārāti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
Imāni cattāri ariyasaccānīti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
10Imā cha dhātuyoti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?
Chayimā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo – pathavīdhātu, āpodhātu, tejodhātu, vāyodhātu, ākāsadhātu, viññāṇadhātu.
Imā cha dhātuyoti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
11Imāni cha phassāyatanānīti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?
Chayimāni, bhikkhave, phassāyatanāni – cakkhu phassāyatanaṁ, sotaṁ phassāyatanaṁ, ghānaṁ phassāyatanaṁ, jivhā phassāyatanaṁ, kāyo phassāyatanaṁ, mano phassāyatanaṁ.
Imāni cha phassāyatanānīti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
12Ime aṭṭhārasa manopavicārāti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?
Cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā somanassaṭṭhāniyaṁ rūpaṁ upavicarati domanassaṭṭhāniyaṁ rūpaṁ upavicarati upekkhāṭṭhāniyaṁ rūpaṁ upavicarati, sotena saddaṁ sutvā … ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā … jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā … kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā … manasā dhammaṁ viññāya somanassaṭṭhāniyaṁ dhammaṁ upavicarati domanassaṭṭhāniyaṁ dhammaṁ upavicarati upekkhāṭṭhāniyaṁ dhammaṁ upavicarati.
Ime aṭṭhārasa manopavicārāti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ, idametaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ.
13Imāni cattāri ariyasaccānīti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. Kiñcetaṁ paṭicca vuttaṁ?
Channaṁ, bhikkhave, dhātūnaṁ upādāya gabbhassāvakkanti hoti; okkantiyā sati nāmarūpaṁ, nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanaṁ, saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso, phassapaccayā vedanā. Vediyamānassa kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, idaṁ dukkhanti paññapemi, ayaṁ dukkhasamudayoti paññapemi, ayaṁ dukkhanirodhoti paññapemi, ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadāti paññapemi.
14Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Jātipi dukkhā, jarāpi dukkhā, () maraṇampi dukkhaṁ, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsāpi dukkhā, appiyehi sampayogo dukkho, piyehi vippayogo dukkho, yampicchaṁ na labhati tampi dukkhaṁ. Saṅkhittena pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.
15Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā, saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ, viññāṇapaccayā nāmarūpaṁ, nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanaṁ, saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso, phassapaccayā vedanā, vedanāpaccayā taṇhā, taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ, upādānapaccayā bhavo, bhavapaccayā jāti, jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.
16Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho, saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho, viññāṇanirodhā nāmarūpanirodho, nāmarūpanirodhā saḷāyatananirodho, saḷāyatananirodhā phassanirodho, phassanirodhā vedanānirodho, vedanānirodhā taṇhānirodho, taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho, upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho, bhavanirodhā jātinirodho, jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.
17Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ? Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ – sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ.
‘Imāni cattāri ariyasaccānī’ti, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo desito aniggahito asaṅkiliṭṭho anupavajjo appaṭikuṭṭho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhīti. Iti yaṁ taṁ vuttaṁ idametaṁ paṭicca vuttan"ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.