Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
12. Nidāna Saṃyutta
2. Āhāra Vagga
Sutta 19
Bāla-Paṇḍita Suttaṃ
The Fool and the Wise Person
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[19.1][pts][olds][bodh] Staying near Sāvatthī ...
"When a fool is obstructed by ignorance and conjoined with craving, this body thus results.
Now there is both this body and external name-and-form.
Here, in dependence on this duality, there is contact at the six senses.
Touched by these, or one or another of them, the fool is sensitive to pleasure and pain.
"When a wise person is obstructed by ignorance and conjoined with craving, this body thus results.
Now there is both this body and external name-and-form.
Here, in dependence on this duality, there is contact at the six senses.
Touched by these, or one or another of them, the wise person is sensitive to pleasure and pain.
"So what difference, what distinction, what distinguishing factor is there between the wise person and the fool?"
"For us, lord, the teachings have the Blessed One as their root, their guide, and their arbitrator.
It would be good if the Blessed One himself would explicate the meaning of this statement.
Having heard it from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it."
"In that case, monks, listen and pay close attention. I will speak."
"As you say, lord," the monks responded.
The Blessed One said, "The ignorance with which the fool is obstructed, the craving with which he is conjoined, through which this body results: That ignorance has not been abandoned by the fool; that craving has not been destroyed.
Why is that?
The fool has not practiced the holy life for the right ending of stress.
Therefore, at the break-up of the body, he is headed for a (new) body.
Headed for a body, he is not entirely freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair.
I tell you, he is not entirely freed from stress and suffering.
"The ignorance with which the wise person is obstructed, the craving with which he is conjoined, through which this body results: That ignorance has been abandoned by the wise person; that craving has been destroyed.
Why is that?
The wise person has practiced the holy life for the right ending of stress.
Therefore, at the break-up of the body, he is not headed for a (new) body.
Not headed for a body, he is entirely freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair.
He is, I tell you, entirely freed from stress and suffering."
Of Related Interest:
