Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandhā Vagga
23. Rādha Saṃyuttaṃ
1. Māra Vagga
Suttas Linked to Rādha
1. Māra
Suttas 1-46
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Sutta 1
Māra Suttaṃ
Māra
[1.1][pts][bodh][than] I Hear Tell:
Once upon a time, The Lucky man, Sāvatthi-town revisiting,
Jeta Grove,
Anathapiṇḍika's Park.
Then one time there the Ancient Rādha drew near Bhagava,
gave salutation,
and took a seat to one side.
At that time, so seated,
the Ancient Rādha said this to Bhagava:
"'Māra! Māra!' is the expression.
To what extent, Bhante, can there be said to be Māra?"
"Where there is form, Rādha,
there is Māra,
or death
or such as dies.
Therefore, Rādha, you should see form as Māra,
see it as death,
see it as such as dies,
see it as disease,
see it as a boil,
see it as an arrowhead,
see it as the forefront of woe,
see it as the forefront of much woe.
Those thus seeing are seeing the best way.
Where there is sense experience, Rādha,
there is Māra,
or death
or such as dies.
Therefore, Rādha, you should see sense experience as Māra,
see it as death,
see it as such as dies,
see it as disease,
see it as a boil,
see it as an arrowhead,
see it as the forefront of woe,
see it as the forefront of much woe.
Those thus seeing are seeing the best way.
Where there is perception, Rādha, there is Māra,
or death
or such as dies.
Therefore, Rādha, you should see perception as Māra,
see it as death,
see it as such as dies,
see it as disease,
see it as a boil,
see it as an arrowhead,
see it as the forefront of woe,
see it as the forefront of much woe.
Those thus seeing are seeing the best way.
Where there is own-making, Rādha, there is Māra,
or death
or such as dies.
Therefore, Rādha, you should see own-making as Māra,
see it as death,
see it as such as dies,
see it as disease,
see it as a boil,
see it as an arrowhead,
see it as the forefront of woe,
see it as the forefront of much woe.
Those thus seeing are seeing the best way.
Where there is consciousness, Rādha, there is Māra,
or death
or such as dies.
Therefore, Rādha, you should see consciousness as Māra,
see it as death,
see it as such as dies,
see it as disease,
see it as a boil,
see it as an arrowhead,
see it as the forefront of woe,
see it as the forefront of much woe.
Those thus seeing are seeing the best way."
"But 'seeing in the best way,' Bhante,
what is the point of that?"
"The point of seeing in the best way, Rādha,
is indifference."
"But 'indifference,' Bhante,
what is the point of that?"
"The point of indifference, Rādha,
is dispassion."
"But 'dispassion,' Bhante,
what is the point of that?"
"The point of dispassion, Rādha,
is freedom."
"But 'freedom,' Bhante,
what is the point of that?"
"The point of freedom, Rādha,
is Nibbāna."
"But 'Nibbāna,' Bhante,
what is the point of that?"
"That is the question, Rādha!
But a question unanswerable
within graspable limits.
Indeed it is for a ford to Nibbāna, Rādha,
that one lives the Godly life,
Nibbāna is the ultimate end,
Nibbāna is the final conclusion."
