Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
35. Saḷāyatana Saṃyutta
§ II: Paññāsaka Dutiya
3. Gilāna Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
35. Kindred Sayings the Sixfold Sphere of Sense
§ II: The 'Second Fifty' Suttas
3. The Chapter on the Sick Man

Sutta 81

Sambahula-Bhikkhu Suttaṃ

A Brother^[1]

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved

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[50] [27]

[1][bodh] At Sāvatthī was the occasion (for this discourse)

Then a number of brethren came to see the Exalted One,
and on coming to him
saluted him
and sat down at one side.

As they sat at one side those brethren said to the Exalted One: -

"Now here, lord, the wandering sectarians thus question us:

'What is the object, friend,
for which the holy life is lived
under the rule of Gotama the recluse?'

Thus questioned, lord,
we thus make answer to those wandering sectarians:

'It is for the full knowledge of ill
that the holy life is lived
under the rule of the Exalted One.'

Pray, lord, when, thus questioned,^[2]
we so make answer,
do we state the views of the Exalted One,
without misrepresenting the Exalted One
by stating an untruth?

Do we answer in accordance with his teaching,
so that no one who agrees with his teaching
and follows his views
could incur reproach?"

"Truly, Brethren, when thus questioned
you thus make answer,
ye do state my views
without misrepresenting me
by stating an untruth.

You do answer in accordance with my teaching,
so that no one who agrees with my teaching
and follows my views
could incur reproach
in stating that it is for the full knowledge of ill
that the holy life is lived under my rule.

But if, Brethren, the wandering sectarians should thus question you:

'But what, friend, is that ill,
for the full knowledge of which
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse?' -

thus questioned ye should answer thus:

'The eye, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Objects, friend, are ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Eye-consciousness, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Eye-contact, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

"That weal or woe or neutral state that arises through eye-contact,
that also, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

■

The ear, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Sounds, friend, are ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Ear-consciousness, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Ear-contact, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

"That weal or woe or neutral state that arises through ear-contact,
that also, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

■

The nose, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Scents, friend, are ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Nose-consciousness, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Nose-contact, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

"That weal or woe or neutral state that arises through nose-contact,
that also, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

■

The tongue, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Savours, friend, are ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Tongue-consciousness, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Tongue-contact, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

"That weal or woe or neutral state that arises through tongue-contact,
that also, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

■

The body, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Tangibles, friend, are ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Body-consciousness, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Body-contact, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

"That weal or woe or neutral state that arises through body-contact,
that also, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

■

The mind, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Mind-states, friend, are ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Mind-consciousness, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

Mind-contact, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.

"That weal or woe or neutral state that arises through mind-contact,
that also, friend, is ill.

For full knowledge of that
the holy life is lived under the rule of Gotama the recluse.'

■

Thus questioned, Brethren, by those wandering sectarians,
thus should ye make answer."

 

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^[1] Cf. § 151.

^[2] Cf. K.S. ii, 28; iii, 100.