Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saɱyutta
4. Siɱsapā Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
4. Siɱsapā Grove
Sutta 40
Vādina Suttaɱ
Dogmatists
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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Once the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, whatsoever monk understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is ill;'
understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of ill;'
understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ceasing of ill;'
understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill;'
suppose from the east
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:[1]
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver;
suppose from the west
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver;
suppose from the north
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver;
suppose from the south
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver.
Suppose, monks, a stone column
sixteen cubits long,
and eight cubits of it
are sunk in the ground
below the pedestal,
while eight cubits
are above the pedestal.
Then from the east
there comes a blast of wind and rain, -
it could not shake it,
could not make it quake or waver;
or from the west
there comes a blast of wind and rain, -
it could not shake it,
could not make it quake or waver;
or from the north
there comes a blast of wind and rain, -
it could not shake it,
could not make it quake or waver;
or from the south
there comes a blast of wind and rain, -
it could not shake it,
could not make it quake or waver.
What is the cause of that?
Because monks, the pedestal is deep set,
the stone column,
is deep dug.
Just in the same way, monks,
whatsoever monk understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is ill;'
understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of ill;'
understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ceasing of ill;'
understands,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill;'
suppose from the east
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver;
suppose from the west
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver;
suppose from the north
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver;
suppose from the south
there comes a recluse or brahmin
looking for dogma,
searching for dogma,
in hopes of refuting such dogma,
it would be impossible for such recluse or brahmin
to shake that monk in his belief,
standing as he does on truth:
it would be impossible to make him quake or waver.
Why so?
It is because he clearly sees four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill.
The Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill.
The Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill.
The Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
[1] Saha-dhammena = dhammmena. It might mean 'by fair means.'
