Saṃyutta Nikāya
Nidāna Vagga
12. Nidāna Saṃyutta

Sutta 67

Nala-Kalapiyaṃ Suttaṃ

Sheaves of Reeds

Adapted from
Mrs. C.A.F. Rhys Davdis translation
by
Michael M. Olds

 

---

 

[1][pts][than][bodh] I Hear Tell:

Old Man Sāriputta and Old Man Mahā-Koṭṭhita were once revisiting Benares,
in Isipatana,
in Antelope Wood.

Now Old Man Mahā-Koṭṭhita
rising from his solitary abiding towards evening
approached Old Man Sāriputta.

Exchanging friendly greetings with him
and the compliments of courtesy,
he sat down at one side.

So seated
he said to Old Man Sāriputta: -

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is aging and death one's own,^[1]
is aging and death another's,^[2]
is aging and death one's own and another's,^[3]
is aging and death not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"^[4]

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that aging and death is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that aging and death is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that aging and death is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that aging and death is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
aging and death depends on birth."^[5]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is birth one's own,
is birth another's,
is birth one's own and another's,
is birth not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that birth is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that birth is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that birth is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that birth is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
birth depends on existing."^[6].

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is existing one's own,
is existing another's,
is existing one's own and another's,
is existing not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that existing is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that existing is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that existing is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that existing is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
existing depends on getting bound up."^[7]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is getting bound up one's own,
is getting bound up another's,
is getting bound up one's own and another's,
is getting bound up not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that getting bound up is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that getting bound up is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that getting bound up is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that getting bound up is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
getting bound up depends on thirst."^[8]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is thirst one's own,
is thirst another's,
is thirst one's own and another's,
is thirst not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that thirst is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that thirst is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that thirst is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that thirst is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
thirst depends on sense-experience."^[9]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is sense-experience one's own,
is sense-experience another's,
is sense-experience one's own and another's,
is sense-experience not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-experience is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-experience is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-experience is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-experience is not one's own and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
sense-experience depends on contact."^[10]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is contact one's own,
is contact another's,
is contact one's own and another's,
is contact not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that contact is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that contact is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that contact is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that contact is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
contact depends on the realm of the senses."^[11]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is the realm of the senses one's own,
is the realm of the senses another's,
is the realm of the senses one's own and another's,
is the realm of the senses not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that the realm of the senses is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that the realm of the senses is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that the realm of the senses is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that the realm of the senses is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
the realm of the senses depends on named-forms."^[12]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
are named-forms one's own,
are named-forms another's,
are named-forms one's own and another's,
is the realm of the senses not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
named-forms depend on sense-consciousness."^[13]

■

"How now, friend Sāriputta,
is sense-consciousness one's own,
is sense-consciousness another's,
is sense-consciousness one's own and another's,
is sense-consciousness not one's own,
not another's,
but arises on its own?"

"It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is one's own.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is one's own and another's.

It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is not one's own and not another's,
but arises on its own.

But it is just that
sense-consciousness depends on named-forms."

■

"But then we have understood friend Sāriputta to have spoken thus:

'It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are one's own;
it is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are another's;
it is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are one's own and another's;
it is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that named-forms are not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own;
but it is just that
named-forms depend on sense-consciousness.'

And we have understood friend Sāriputta to have further spoken thus:

'It is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is one's own;
it is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is another's;
it is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is one's own and another's,
it is not, friend Koṭṭhita,
that sense-consciousness is not one's own
and not another's,
but arises on its own;
but it is just that sense-consciousness depends on named-forms.'

How then are we to construct this
so as to see the meaning
of what friend Sāriputta has said?"

"In this case, friend,
I will give you a simile.

It is upon comprehending a simile
that some persons grasp the meaning of what is said.

Imagine, friend, two sheaves of reeds
the one leaning against the other.^[14]

In the same way, friend,
sense-consciousness depends on named-forms,
named-forms depend on sense-consciousness,
the realm of the senses depends on named-forms,
contact depends on the realm of the senses,
sense-experience depends on contact,
thirst depends on sense-experience,
yielding depends on thirst,
existing depends on yielding,
birth depends on existing,
aging and death depend on birth —
and that is the coming into existence of
grief and lamentation,
pain and misery,
and despair.

Thus is it that this entire heap of pain arises.

If, however, friend, I were to remove
one of those sheaves of reeds
one would fall down
if I were to remove the other
the other would fall down.

In the same way, friend,
ending named-forms ends sense-consciousness,
ending sense-consciousness ends named-forms,
ending named-forms ends the realm of the senses,
ending the realm of the senses ends contact,
ending contact ends sense-experience,
ending sense-experience ends thirst,
ending thirst ends yielding,
ending yielding ends existing,
ending existing ends birth —
ending birth is the ceasing of
aging and death
grief and lamentation,
pain and misery,
and despair."

"How snappy, friend Sāriputta!

How colossal, friend Sāriputta!

How well-said is this that was said by Old Man Sāriputta.

And I further rejoice
in how well-said by Old Man Sāriputta,
are these thirty-six proclamations:

If, friend, a beggar, teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
aging and death,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
birth,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
existence,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
yielding,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
thirst,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
sense-experience,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
contact,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
the realm of the senses,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
named-forms,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
sense-consciousness,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
own-making,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

If a brother teaches a Dhamma
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
blindness,
he is fit to be called
'Dhamma-teaching Bhikkhu'.

■

If, friend, a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
aging and death,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
birth,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
existence,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
yielding,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
thirst,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
sense-experience,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
contact,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
the realm of the senses,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
named-forms,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
sense-consciousness,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
own-making,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

If a beggar has walked the path
of disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
blindness,
he is fit to be called
'a bhikkhu that lives the Dhamma in the Dhamma.'

■

If, friend, a beggar through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
aging and death,
sets on foot freedom
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
birth,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
existence,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
yielding,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
thirst,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
sense-experience,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
contact,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
the realm of the senses,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
named-forms,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
sense-consciousness,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
own-making,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'

If a brother through disgust with,
dispassion for,
the ending of
blindness,
he is fit to be called
'an in this-seen-thing-Nibbāna-holder.'"

 

---

^[1] Sayaṃkataṃ. Of one's own making. The question implies the idea of a continuing self by pointing to the consequences of a deed done at one point in Time being experienced at another point in Time.

^[2] Parakataṃ. Beyond-making. Done by one, experienced by another. The question implies the idea that there their arises and falls at each successive moment a self. This is the perception in back of the idea that there is no self, or annihiliationism.

^[3] The idea that the self both is and is not.

^[4] The idea that the self neither is nor is not and that sense-experience occurs without dependence on the actions of an individual.

^[5] Paccayā. Results in, depends on. See n. 14 below. Previous translations have been: repercusses (mine), results in (mine), conditions, causes. From paṭi+i, 're-,' 'reflect,' 'return,' to bounce off of; PED "resting on, falling back on, foundation; cause, motive etc. The PED 'cause' no doubt arising as self-defining loop from Rhys Davids translations.

^[6] Bhava. In this position in the paṭicca samuppāda, bhava is the possibility of being a living being in some world of living beings. See DN 15. where the following is linked to other translations and the Pāḷi:
"If, Ānanda, there were no existence at all of any sort, by any being of any sort, whatever, however; that is: sensate existence, existence in forms, existence without form — with the non-existence of all existence, with the eradication of existence, could there then be any discerning of birth?" 'Becoming' in this position is misleading in that it does not underscore the idea that what Gotama is talking about is the whole idea of existence, not just existence in existence.

^[7] Upādāna. Up-given/bound. Fuel, Support, involvement, being given-over-to, commitment, attachment, yielding to. It is the point just before taking action when the will to resist has been overcome. Yielding is slightly better than the more literal 'being bound-up' here in that it carries better the idea that one is going with or allowing one's self to be carried on by the thirst.

^[8] Taṇhā. Hunger and thirst.

^[9] Vedanā. Experience. The sensation experienced through the realm of the senses of pleasure or the sensation experienced through the realm of the senses of pain or experience that is not unpleasant, but not pleasant. In the case of the first case it is blindness to the fact that pleasant sensation experienced through the realm of the senses is only temporary and results in pain when it comes to an end that results in yielding to the temptation to exist. In the case of painful sensation experienced through the realm of the senses it is blindness to the fact that pain too is temporary and that to struggle to escape pain through further existence is not the way to bring pain to an end. In the case of the third case it is blindness to the fact that experience that is not unpleasant and not pleasant is the experience associated with Nibbāna and is freedom from the realm of the senses-experiences.

^[10] Phassa. Touch, contact.

^[11] Saḷāyatana. Six Realms. The realms of the realm of the senses. The eye and sights; the ear and sounds; the nose and scents; the tongue and tastes; the body and touches; the mind and things, phenomena, Dhammas.

^[12] Nāma-rūpa. Named-forms.

^[13] Viññāṇa. Consciousness. Re-knowing-knowing-knowledge. Awareness of being conscious.

^[14] It is important to understand that this is not a simile about the coming into existence of the sheaves of reeds. In the simile the sheaves of reeds already exist. The simile is about the ability of the two sheaves of reeds to stand upright (to exist for an individual) only insofar as they are supported by one another. We are here given insight into the meaning of the term 'paccaya', that is, that it means to lean on, support, or to be depended on. (Also, Bhk. Thanissaro's 'requisite condition') Here: 'supported by birth is aging and death' or 'depending on birth is aging and death'. This pretty much fundamentally changes all previous translations of the paṭicca samuppāda that ... support the idea of creation or cause.