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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 — SN12.57: A Sapling

1At Sāvatthī.

“There are things that are prone to being fettered. 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.

2Suppose there was a sapling. And from time to time someone would clear around the roots, supply soil, and water it. Fueled and sustained in this way the sapling would grow, increase, and mature.

In the same way, there are things that are prone to being fettered. 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 fettered. 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.

4Suppose there was a sapling. Then a person comes along with a spade and basket. … They’d cut the sapling apart, cut up the parts, and chop it into little bits. They’d dry the bits in the wind and sun, burn them with fire, and reduce them to ashes. Then they’d winnow the ashes in a strong wind, or float them away down a swift stream. In this way the sapling is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

In the same way, there are things that are prone to being fettered. 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.

"Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu assādānupassino vihārato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

2Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho. Tassa puriso kālena kālaṁ mūlāni palimajjeyya kālena kālaṁ paṁsuṁ dadeyya, kālena kālaṁ udakaṁ dadeyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho tadāhāro tadupādāno vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyya.

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


3Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu ādīnavānupassino vihārato taṇhā nirujjhati. Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

4Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho. Atha puriso āgaccheyya kuddālapiṭakaṁ ādāya … pe … nadiyā vā sīghasotāya pavāheyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho ucchinnamūlo assa tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anup pāda dhammo.

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

Sattamaṁ.