Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
38. Jambukhādaka Saṃyutta
Roseapple-Eater's Questions
Sutta 5
Assāsa Suttaṃ
Exhalation or Breathing Easy
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time, Old Man Sāriputta,
was living amungst the Magadhese,
in Nālagā town.
There then Roseapple-Eater, the wanderer,
went to where Old Man Sāriputta was located,
where he drew near and
having drawn near Old Man Sāriputta,
having given salutation,
took a seat to one side.
Having taken a seat to one side then,
Roseapple-Eater, the wanderer, said this
to Old Man Sāriputta:
"'Able to breath easy, able to breath easy,'
they say, friend Sāriputta.
What then, friend,
is this ability to breath easy?"
"To the extent one has
the ability to breath easy,
friend, it is the result of
a correct understanding of
the origin of, and
the good of, and
the wretchedness of, and
the putting down of
the six spheres of sense experience
as they really are."
"Is there, friend, a Way,
is there a path
to personally experience
this breathing easy?"
"There is, friend, a Way,
there is a path
to personally experience
this breathing easy.'
"What, friend, is that Way,
what is that path
to personally experience
this breathing easy?"
"This, friend:
The Aristocratic Multi-dimensional Way,[1]
that is:
Consummate view,
consummate principles,
consummate talk,
consummate works,
consummate lifestyle,
consummate self-control,
consummate mind,
consummate serenity.
"This is, friend, that Way,
that path
to personally experience
this breathing easy.'
"A lucky Way, friend,
a lucky path,
to personally experience,
this breathing easy and
moreover, friend Sāriputta,
there is enough there
to bring about non-carelessness."
[1] For details, see Footnote 1 of SN 4.38.01.
