Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
43. Asaṅkhata Saṃyutta
2. Dutiya Vagga

Sutta 16

Pāra Suttaṃ

The Beyond

Translated from the Pāḷi by Michael M. Olds

 

---

 

Translator's Introduction

This sutta, in the Pāḷi presents each angle of each Dhamma with the same introductory and terminal wording. I have included only the first and the last and the important statement given for each that it is one means for attaining The Beyond.

The interesting thing to think about with these suttas is the fact that each of these "angles" is by this stated to be a full path to the end of lust, anger and delusion (in other words, arahantship). Then further, suttas 12—44 present this same structure for 34 different names for the goal of the system.

By itself this is not easy to see, but if you go into the details of each you will see that there are conditions: most will require that for this one dimension to be a full path it must be based on solitude, dispassion, ending, and culminate in letting go or in some way ropes in the other dimensions of that unit of Dhamma. Footnotes for these important terms are given for my translation of Sutta 12: The Not-Ownmade.

The Woodward, Bhikkhu Bodhi and the BJT Pāḷi all have the various Dhammas given a heading. Headings were not given at the time these suttas were originally taught and I think here they defeat the idea that each angle can be taken as a full path in itself

 

---

 

[1][pts][bodh] I hear tell:

Once upon a time The Lucky Man,
Savatthi-town revisiting.

There then, The Lucky Man, said this to the beggars gathered round:

"Beggars!".

"Elder!"
said the beggars in response to The Lucky Man.

The Lucky Man said this to them:

"I will explain
The Beyond^[1] to you, beggars, and
the ways to go to The Beyond.

Listen carefully!'

And what, beggars,
is The Beyond?

Whatever, beggars, is
lust's destruction,
anger's destruction,
confusion's destruction.

This, beggars,
is what is called
"The Beyond".

And what, beggars,
are the ways to go
to The Beyond?

Calm

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Insight.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Serenity with thought and pondering.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Serenity without thought and just a measure of pondering.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Serenity without thought or pondering.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Empty Serenity

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Signless Serenity

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Aimless Serenity

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Minding the Body
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Minding sense experience
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Minding the heart
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Minding Dhamma
seeing how it comes to be,
seeing how it burns out,
living above it all,
careful (Appamāda,)
insightful and calmed down,
overcoming any hunger and thirst that may appear,
downbound to nothing at all in the world.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Effort to remove bad conditions.
Here beggars,
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
getting rid of arisen bad
unskillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Effort to prevent the arising
of bad conditions.
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
the non-arising
of unarisen bad,
unskillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Effort to attain good conditions.
Here beggars,
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
the arising of
unarisen skillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Effort to preserve good conditions.
Here beggars,
a beggar intends to struggle
to create and exert energy,
to take a stand against,
set his mind on
and strive after
the establishment,
clarification,
greater development,
fruitful development
and perfection of
arisen skillful things.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here beggars, a beggar develops
the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of faith
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of fear of blame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of sense of shame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of energy
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the force of wisdom
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of faith
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of fear of blame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of sense of shame
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of energy
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here, beggars, a beggar has
the power of wisdom
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending,
culminating in giving up.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is minding
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is Dhamma research,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is energy building,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is enthusiasm,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is impassivity,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is serenity,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar develops
the dimension of self-awakening
that is detachment,
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate working hypothesis
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate principles
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate speech
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate works
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate lifestyle
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate self-control
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate mind
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Here a beggar has consummate serenity
seated on solitude,
seated on dispassion,
seated on ending
culminating in letting go.

This, beggars,
is what is called
a way to The Beyond.

Whatever, beggars,
ought to be done
for his students
by a kindly master,
out of compassion,
with compassion,
that I have done.

These, beggars,
are the roots of trees,
these are empty huts.

Meditate, beggars,
do not be careless,
do not provide grounds for later regret.

This then is my advice."

 

---

 

^[1] Sacca. PED: "... real, true;... a solemn asseveration ... (cattāri) saccāni the (four) truths ... The four ariya-saccāni are the truth about dukkha, dukkha-samudaya, dukkha-nirodha, and dukkha-nirodha-gāmini-paṭipadā. ... a shortened statement as dukkha, samudaya, nirodha, magga is frequent found."