Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saɱyutta
5. Papāta Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
5. The Precipice
Sutta 46
Andhakāra Suttaɱ
Gross Darkness
Translated by F. L. Woodward
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[1][bodh][than] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, there is a darkness of interstellar space,[1]
impenetrable gloom,
such a murk of darkness as cannot enjoy
the splendour of this moon and sun,
though they be of such mighty magic power and majesty."
At these words
a certain monk said to the Exalted One:
"Lord, that must be a mighty darkness,
a mighty darkness indeed!
Pray, lord, is there any other darkness
greater and more fearsome than that?"
"There is indeed, monk,
another darkness,
greater and more fearsome."
"Pray, lord, what is that other darkness
greater and more fearsome than that?"[ed1]
"Whatsoever recluses or brahmins
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is Ill;'
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the arising of Ill;'
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the ceasing of Ill;'
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill;'
such delight in activities
delight in activities that lead to rebirth,[2]
delight in activities that lead to old age,
delight in activities that lead to death,
delight in activities that lead to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Thus taking delight in activities
delight in activities that lead to rebirth,
delight in activities that lead to old age,
delight in activities that lead to death,
delight in activities that lead to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair,
they compose a compound of activities that conduce to rebirth,
they compose a compound of activities that conduce to old age,
they compose a compound of activities that conduce to death,
they compose a compound of activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Thus composing a compound of activities
that conduce to rebirth,
composing a compound of activities that lead to old age,
composing a compound of activities that lead to death,
composing a compound of activities that lead to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair,
they fall down into the darkness of rebirth,
they fall down into the darkness of old age,
they fall down into the darkness of death,
they fall down into the darkness of sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Such are not released from rebirth,
old age,
death,
sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
They are not released from Ill,
I declare.
§
[383] But, monks, those recluses or brahmins who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is Ill;'
who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the arising of Ill;'
who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the ceasing of Ill;'
who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill;'
such take not delight in activities that conduce to rebirth,
take not delight in activities that conduce to old age,
take not delight in activities that conduce to death,
take not delight in activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Not taking delight in activities that conduce to rebirth,
not taking delight in activities that conduce to old age,
not taking delight in activities that conduce to death,
not taking delight in activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to rebirth
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to old age,
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to death,
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Not composing a compound of activities that conduce to rebirth,
not composing a compound of activities that conduce to old age,
not composing a compound of activities that conduce to death,
not composing a compound of activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair,
they fall not down into the darkness of rebirth,
they fall not down into the darkness of old age,
they fall not down into the darkness of death,
they fall not down into the darkness of sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
They are utterly released from rebirth,
old age,
death,
sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
They are released from Ill,
I declare.
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] Lokantarikā aghā.
[2] Text, 449.
[ed1] Woodward omits and puts the question into the mouth of the Buddha.
