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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Linked Discourses

Vol 1:
Verses
SN1-11
Vol 2:
Causation
SN12-21
Vol 3:
Aggregates
SN22-34
Vol 4:
Sense Bases
SN35-44
Vol 5:
Great Book
SN45-56

12. Nidānasaṁyutta: On Causation

VI. Suffering — SN12.52: Grasping

1At Sāvatthī.

“There are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows. 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.

2Suppose a bonfire was burning with ten, twenty, thirty, or forty loads of wood. And from time to time someone would toss in dry grass, cow dung, or wood. Fueled and sustained by that, the bonfire would burn for a long time.

In the same way, there are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows. Craving is a condition for grasping. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.


3There are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your 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.

4Suppose a bonfire was burning with ten, twenty, thirty, or forty loads of wood. And no-one would toss in dry grass, cow dung, or wood from time to time. As the original fuel is used up and no more is added, the bonfire would be extinguished due to lack of fuel.

In the same way, there are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases. When craving ceases, grasping ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

1Sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati.

"Upādāniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu assādānupassino vihārato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ; upādānapaccayā bhavo; bhavapaccayā jāti; jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

2Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dasannaṁ vā kaṭṭhavāhānaṁ vīsāya vā kaṭṭhavāhānaṁ tiṁsāya vā kaṭṭhavāhānaṁ cattārīsāya vā kaṭṭhavāhānaṁ mahāaggikkhandho jaleyya. Tatra puriso kālena kālaṁ sukkhāni ceva tiṇāni pakkhipeyya, sukkhāni ca gomayāni pakkhipeyya, sukkhāni ca kaṭṭhāni pakkhipeyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, mahāaggikkhandho tadāhāro tadupādāno ciraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ jaleyya.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, upādāniyesu dhammesu assādānupassino vihārato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.


3Upādāniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu ādīnavānupassino vihārato taṇhā nirujjhati. Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho; upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho; bhavanirodhā jātinirodho; jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

4Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dasannaṁ vā kaṭṭhavāhānaṁ vīsāya vā tiṁsāya vā cattārīsāya vā kaṭṭhavāhānaṁ mahāaggikkhandho jaleyya; tatra puriso na kālena kālaṁ sukkhāni ceva tiṇāni pakkhipeyya, na sukkhāni ca gomayāni pakkhipeyya, na sukkhāni ca kaṭṭhāni pakkhipeyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, mahāaggikkhandho purimassa ca upādānassa pariyādānā aññassa ca anupahārā anāhāro nibbāyeyya.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, upādāniyesu dhammesu ādīnavānupassino vihārato taṇhā nirujjhati, taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī"ti.

Dutiyaṁ.