Duality

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

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

Once upon a time, Bhagava,
Sāvatthi-town revisiting,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Jeta grove.

There to the Beggars gathered round,
Bhagava said this:

"I will teach you, beggars,
duality.

Pay heed!

This, Beggars,
is duality:

The eye and visible objects
the ear and sounds
the nose and scents
the tongue and tastes
the body and touch
the mind and things.

This, beggars, is duality.

Any Beggar, Beggars, who came along saying:

'Rejecting this duality
I will show you another duality'

Would be unable to do so,
and furthermore
would find himself
over the Abyss!

How Come?

Because this is beyond scope.

That's how come."