Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
XI. Sambodhi Vagga
Sutta 102 [DTO 105-106]
Assāda Suttaṃ
Allure (1-2)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
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[1][pts] "Monks, I set out in search of the allure of the cosmos. Whatever allure there is in the cosmos, that I found. However far the allure of the cosmos extends, that I have seen well with discernment.
"I set out in search of the drawback of the cosmos. Whatever drawback there is in the cosmos, that I found. However far the drawback of the cosmos extends, that I have seen well with discernment.
"I set out in search of the escape from the cosmos. Whatever escape there is from the cosmos, that I found. However far the escape from the cosmos extends, that I have seen well with discernment.
"Now, as long as I did not have direct knowledge, as it has come to be, of the allure as the allure, of the drawback as the drawback, and of the escape as the escape with regard to the cosmos, I did not claim to have directly awakened to the unexcelled right self-awakening in this cosmos with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, in this generation with its contemplatives and brahmans, its royalty and common people. But when I did have direct knowledge (of these things) as they have come to be, then I did claim to have directly awakened to the unexcelled right self-awakening in this cosmos with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, in this generation with its contemplatives and brahmans, its royalty and common people.
"Knowledge and vision arose in me: 'Unprovoked is my release. This is the last birth. There is now no further-becoming.'"
§
[Note: The below is considered a separate sutta (#106) by Bhikkhu Thanissaro.]
"Monks, if there were not this allure to the cosmos, beings would not become impassioned with the cosmos. But because there is an allure to the cosmos, beings become impassioned with the cosmos.
"If there were not this drawback to the cosmos, beings would not become disenchanted with the cosmos. But because there is a drawback to the cosmos, beings become disenchanted with the cosmos.
"If there were not this escape from the cosmos, beings would not escape from the cosmos. But because there is an escape from the cosmos, beings escape from the cosmos.
"And, monks, as long as beings don’t know as it has come to be—with regard to the cosmos—the allure as the allure, the drawback as the drawback, and the escape as the escape, they have not escaped from this cosmos with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, this generation with its contemplatives and brahmans, its royalty and common people, nor do they dwell disjoined from it, released from it, with unrestricted awareness.
"But when beings know as it has come to be—with regard to the cosmos—the allure as the allure, the drawback as the drawback, and the escape as the escape, they have escaped from this cosmos with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, this generation with its contemplatives and brahmans, its royalty and common people, and they dwell disjoined from it, released from it, with unrestricted awareness."
