Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
36. Vedanā Saṃyutta
1. Sagāthā Vagga

Sutta 4

Pātāla Suttaṃ

The Bottomless Chasm

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons

 

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[1][pts][nypo][bodh] "Monks, when an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person makes the statement, 'There is a bottomless chasm in the ocean,' he is talking about something that doesn't exist, that can't be found.

The word 'bottomless chasm' is actually a designation for painful bodily feeling.

"When an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person is touched by a painful bodily feeling, he sorrows, grieves, and laments, beats his breast, becomes distraught.

This is called an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person who has not risen up out of the bottomless chasm, who has not gained a foothold.

"When a well-instructed disciple of the noble ones is touched by a painful bodily feeling, he does not sorrow, grieve, or lament, does not beat his breast or become distraught.

This is called a well-instructed disciple of the noble ones who has risen up out of the bottomless chasm, whose foothold is gained."

Whoever can't endure them
once they've arisen —
    painful bodily feelings
    that could kill living beings —
who trembles at their touch,
who cries and wails,
a weakling with no resiliance:
    He hasn't risen up
    out of the bottomless chasm
    or even gained
    a foothold.

Whoever endures them
once they've arisen —
    painful bodily feelings
    that could kill living beings —
who doesn't tremble at their touch:
    He's risen up
    out of the bottomless chasm,
    his foothold is gained.