Aṇguttara Nikāya
VIII. Atthaka Nipāta
IX. Sati-Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
VIII. The Book of the Eights
Chapter IX: Mindfulness

Sutta 83

Kiṃ Mūlaka? Suttaṃ

The Root of Things

Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.

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[221]

[1][olds] Once the Exalted One was staying in Sāvatthi.

There the Exalted One addressed the Monks saying:

"Monks, if wanderers of other views should question you thus:

'Wherein, sirs, are all things^[1] rooted?

What is their origin?

What gives rise to all things;

what is their confluence;

what is their chief state;

what their master state;

what their further state;

and of all things what is most precious?'

Monks, thus questioned,
how would you answer those wanderers of other views?"

■

"Lord, our ideas have their foundation in the Exalted One;
they are guided by the Exalted One
and are protected by him.

[222] Well indeed were it for us,
if the Exalted One were to make clear
the purpose of this speech;
then, on hearing it,
the monks would bear it in mind!"^[2]

■

"Wherefore, monks,
listen,
pay heed,
I will speak."

 

§

 

'Yea, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"If, monks, wanderers of other views should question you thus:

'Wherein, sirs, are all things rooted?

What is their origin?

What gives rise to all things;

what is their confluence;

what is their chief state;

what their master state;

what their further state;

and of all things what is most precious?'

Answer them thus:

'Reverend sirs,
all things are rooted in desire;^[3]

they have their origin in attention;

contact gives rise to them;

their confluence is feeling;^[4]

their chief state is concentration;

mindfulness is their master state;

wisdom their further state;^[5]

and of all things emancipation is the most precious.'^[6]

Monks, thus questioned, so answer."

 

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^[1] Sabbe dhammā, Mrs. Rhys Davids' Buddhism 222, states of consciousness; Comy. pañca-k-khandhā. The whole sutta with one other clause recurs at A. v, 106.

^[2] Above, p. 108.

^[3] Chanda. Comy. the desire to do; see Buddhism, loc. cit., Cpd. 244.

^[4] See D. ii, 61; Dial, ii, 58 and note there.

^[5] This is quoted at Sn.A. 146 and S.A. i, 251, but both with kusala.

^[6] Cf. It. 40; A. ii, 243 for these last three; also below, p. 257.