Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
38. Jambukhādaka Saṃyutta
Roseapple-Eater's Questions
Sutta 12
Upādāna Suttaṃ
Bindups
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:
"'Bindups, bindups,'
they say, friend Sāriputta.
What then, friend,
are the bindups?"
"There are these four bindups:
getting bound up in sense-pleasures,
getting bound up in opinions,
getting bound up in ethics and ritual,[1]
getting bound up in argument concerning self.
These, friend,
are what is called bindups."
"Is there, friend, a Way,
is there a path
to thoroughly let go of
these bindups?"
"There is, friend, a Way,
there is a path
to thoroughly let go of
these bindups.'
"What, friend, is that Way,
what is that path
to thoroughly let go of
these bindups?"
"This, friend:
The Aristocratic Multi-dimensional Way,[2]
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 thoroughly let go of
these bindups.'
"A lucky Way, friend,
a lucky path,
to thoroughly let go of
these bindups and
moreover, friend Sāriputta,
there is enough there
to bring about non-carelessness."
[1] This is not a refutation of ethics, it is the getting bound up in thoughts, talk, and behavior relating to ethics that is the bindup. The problem is reliance on the belief that ethics alone can solve the problem of pain and problems relating to kamma and rebirth.
[2] For details, see Footnote 1 of SN 4.38.01.
