Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
24. Diṭṭhi Saṃyutta
1. Sotāpatti Vagga
The Constituent Aspects of Individuality
Sutta 5
N'atthi Suttaṃ
Non-Existence
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time, The Lucky man,
Sāvatthi-town revisiting,
Jeta Grove,
Anathapiṇḍika's Sporting Grounds.
There then The Lucky Man addressed the beggars, saying:
"Beggars!"
And the beggars responding "Bhante!"
The Lucky Man said this to them:
"There being what, beggars,
bound to what
adhering to what
does this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,[1]
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces[2] go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'?"
"For us Bhante,
things are best resorted to
rooted in The Lucky Man,
channeled through The Lucky Man.
It would be good, Bhante,
if further explanation of this point
were given by The Lucky Man.
That which is said
by the Lucky Man
will be held in memory
by the beggars."
"Then give ear, beggars,
pay good attention!
I will speak!"
Then, the beggars saying
"Even so, Bhante!"
in response,
the Lucky Man said this to them:
"There being form, beggars,
bound to form,
adhering to form,
even thus does this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'
There being sense-experience, beggars,
bound to sense-experience,
adhering to sense-experience,
even thus does this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'
There being perception, beggars,
bound to perception,
adhering to perception,
even thus does this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'
There being own-making, beggars,
bound to own-making,
adhering to own-making,
even thus does this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'
There being consciousness, beggars,
bound to consciousness,
adhering to consciousness,
even thus does this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'
■
What do you think, beggars?
Is form permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent —
painful or
pleasant?"
"Unpleasant, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent,
painful,
a thing subject to change —
without being bound to that —
can this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'?"
"No indeed, Bhante."
■
"Is sense-experience permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent —
painful or
pleasant?"
"Unpleasant, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent,
painful,
a thing subject to change —
without being bound to that —
can this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'?"
"No indeed, Bhante."
■
"Is perception permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent —
painful or
pleasant?"
"Unpleasant, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent,
painful,
a thing subject to change —
without being bound to that —
can this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'?"
"No indeed, Bhante."
■
"Is own-making permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent —
painful or
pleasant?"
"Unpleasant, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent,
painful,
a thing subject to change —
without being bound to that —
can this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'?"
"No indeed, Bhante."
■
"Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent —
painful or
pleasant?"
"Unpleasant, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent,
painful,
a thing subject to change —
without being bound to that —
can this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'?"
"No indeed, Bhante."
■
"That which is seen,
heard,
sensed,
cognized,
attained,
yearned after,
pondered over in mind —
is that permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent —
painful or
pleasant?"
"Unpleasant, Bhante."
"That which is impermanent,
painful,
a thing subject to change —
without being bound to that —
can this view arise:
'Giving is non-existent,
sacrifice
is non-existent,
offering
is non-existent,
fruition or result
of intentional deeds,
whether well or badly done,
is non-existent,
this world
is non-existent,
the world beyond
is non-existent,
mothers
are non-existent,
fathers
are non-existent,
spontaneously arising beings
are non-existent,
Shamans or Brahmans
who have got the Highest,
who, having attained the highest,
can explain this world and
the world beyond
from personal experience
of super-powers
are non-existent.
Of the four great components
of animated life,
is this person!
When his time is up
the solids that went into the body
return to earth
the liquids that went into the body
return to water
the heat that went into the body
returns as fire
the motion that made up the body
returns as wind
the forces go into space.
Five persons,
including the dead,
accompany the bier
going as far as the funeral ground.
They sing his praises
as far as his wisdom went.
Dull white
his bones become —
ground up sand.
The funeral offerings
end in ashes.
A doctrine of fools,
false lipflapping,
namely this business of giving,
spoken of by some as profitable.
Fools and
the wise,
at the break-up of the body,
are cut down and vanish,
become not after death.'?"
"No indeed, Bhante."
§
So then, beggars,
when in the student of the aristocrats
doubt as to these six positions has been abandoned,
doubt as to pain[3] has been abandoned,
doubt as to the arising of pain has been abandoned,
doubt as to the ending of pain has been abandoned,
doubt as to the walk-to-walk to the ending of pain has been abandoned —
this is said to be, beggars,
a student of the aristocrats
a stream-winner
one aimed at self-awakening."
[1] "... components of animated life," bhutiko. Not a great translation, but the best I could come up with that reflects the meaning.
[2] Indriyāni. Usually translated (Woodward and Bhikkhu Bodhi) "faculties" meaning the senses, and here most likely meaning just that, but this accounts for only a fraction of those things thought of as indriyanis.
[3] For details see my translation of SN 3.24.1 footnotes. All the suttas of SN.24 should be read (slowly!) together.
