SN18:6 Perception
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1… "What do you think, Rahula, is perception of forms permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?"
"Suffering, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?"
"No, venerable sir."
"Is perception of sounds permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?"
"Suffering, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?"
"No, venerable sir."
"Is perception of odours permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?"
"Suffering, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?"
"No, venerable sir."
"Is perception of tastes permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?"
"Suffering, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?"
"No, venerable sir."
"Is perception of tactile objects permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?"
"Suffering, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?"
"No, venerable sir."
"Is perception of mental phenomena permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?"
"Suffering, venerable sir."
"Is what is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, this I am, this is my self’?"
"No, venerable sir."
"Seeing thus, Rahula, the instructed noble disciple experiences revulsion towards perception of forms, revulsion towards perception of sounds, revulsion towards perception of odours, revulsion towards perception of tastes, revulsion towards perception of tactile objects, revulsion towards perception of mental phenomena.
Experiencing revulsion, he becomes dispassionate. Through dispassion his mind is liberated.[n.338] Spk explains the three "grips" (gāha) of "mine, I, and my self" exactly as in n. 155. It takes dispassion (virāga) to denote the four paths, liberation (vimutti) the four fruits. Spk does not comment on nibbindati, "experiences revulsion," but the commentaries consistently identify the corresponding noun nibbidā with strong insight knowledge. See above n. 69 When it is liberated there comes the knowledge: ‘It's liberated.’
He understands: ‘Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.’"
1Sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati. "Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, rūpasaññā niccā vā aniccā vā"ti? "Aniccā, bhante" …
"saddasaññā … pe …
gandhasaññā …
rasasaññā …
phoṭṭhabbasaññā …
dhammasaññā niccā vā aniccā vā"ti? "Aniccā, bhante" …
"evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasaññāyapi nibbindati … pe … saddasaññāyapi nibbindati … gandhasaññāyapi nibbindati … rasasaññāyapi nibbindati … phoṭṭhabbasaññāyapi nibbindati … dhammasaññāyapi nibbindati
… pe …
pajānātī"ti.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.
